By The Aid Of The Holy Spirit Series

A COVENANT WITH GOD

PART 3

“THE CHURCH COVENANT”

Date: June 2, 2002 A.M. Service

Place: Allendale Baptist Church

Text: Ephesians 5: 8-14

Introduction

We have for the last several weeks we have studying through the church covenant. I gave a definition of the word covenant as a binding agreement between two parties. All throughout time God has made covenant agreements with His chosen people.

Hebrews chapter 7-8 tell us of the “Better Covenant”, made available to all through the sacrificial death of God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This covenant can never be broken.

This week we will continue to look at our church covenant. I mentioned that the covenant involves several aspects of our life.

1. Spiritual – our relationship with God. I said last week, salvation, a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, is of the utmost importance. That is the only thing that can get you into heaven. Knowing for certain that at one time in your life you have come to understand. I also said salvation & baptism, in that order, are a prerequisite for church membership.

2. Personal/ Family – As children of God, everything we do, being lead by the Holy Spirit of God, should be for His glory.

3. Church – our relationship to the Body of Christ.

This is what we will look at today in the second paragraph of the church covenant.

Read second paragraph…

I. By the aid of the Holy Spirit

A. Who and what is the Holy Spirit- The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine (Gen. 1:2). He inspired holy man of old to write the Scriptures (2Tim. 3:16-17). Through illumination He enables man to understand truth (2 Pet.3:16). He exalts Christ. He convicts man of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He calls men to the Savior, & effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, & bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens & empowers the believer & the church in worship, evangelism, & service.

B. As a church, as the Body of Christ all that we do is for the glory of God.

C. The same applies in our personal life.

Then it goes on to say…

II. To Walk Together in Christian Love.

A. Again going back to the illustration of the Old Testament covenant. The 2 parties would walk together through the cut pieces arm & arm as a symbol of the covenant agreement.

B. In Ephesians, the writer Paul mentions 7 times how we as believers in Christ should walk.

C. That word is defined to behave

D. He uses these examples of how to walk

1. The Old Walk- Ephesians 2:1-2

2. The Good Works Walk – Ephesians 2:10

3. The Worthy Walk – Ephesians 4:1-2

4. The New Walk – Ephesians 4:17

5. The Love Walk – Ephesians 5:1

6. The Children of the Light Walk - Ephesians 5:8

7. The Wisdom Walk – Ephesians 5:15

III. We Are to Walk Together.

A. It does not say crawl – it says walk.

B. It does not say alone – it says together.

C. Every one of us needs a walking partner. Someone to encourage us. Someone to motivate us. Someone to hold us up when we are weak. Someone to carry us when we are hurt.

We are one body with many parts…….

Let me ask this question…

Which part are you?

Invitation