It is competent to collective bodies of people as well as individuals to 'take hold of God's covenant,' Is. 56:4.
A family, church or nation, being a moral person, has a warrant from God to enter into his covenant. Deut. 29:12. And all individuals, families, churches or nations that refuse to do so, he expressly disowns. They are Lo-ammi, 'not my people.' Hos. 1:9. They are 'aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise.' Eph. 2:12.
And since this is true of all who reject the offer of the gospel, 'They are not my people;' how great is the guilt of those who violate the covenant! By the infidelity of a wife to her husband, our gracious God often teaches us how to estimate breach of covenant with him.
Moreover, God has endowed man with power to 'bind his soul with a bond.' Num. 30:2; and more, to bind others. Deut. 5:2, 8; and he commands us to exercise this power; for the first precept of the moral law 'requires us to know and acknowledge the Lord (Jehovah) to be the true God and our God.'
Provision has been made in our social and moral nature for the use of this divine ordinance.
All nations, barbarous or civilized, for confirmation, resort to oaths, vows, lots, and covenants. 'Men verily swear,' not Jews and Christians only; and we read of 'a man's covenant.' Heb. 6:16, Gal. 3:15.
***************************************
Please visit SWRB's home page at the 'Outside Web Link' below.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
