SERMON SERMON Toorak UCAToorak UCA

Don IkitoelagiDon Ikitoelagi29 March 200929 March 2009

““The New Covenant”The New Covenant”““The hour has come that the son of man be glorified”The hour has come that the son of man be glorified”

Jeremiah 31: 31-34Jeremiah 31: 31-34• 33 “This is the covenant I will 33 “This is the covenant I will

make with the house of Israel make with the house of Israel        after that time,” declares        after that time,” declares the LORD. the LORD.        “I will put my law in their        “I will put my law in their minds minds        and write it on their hearts.        and write it on their hearts.        I will be their God,        I will be their God,        and they will be my people.        and they will be my people.

• 34 No longer will a man teach his 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbour, neighbour,        or a man his brother, saying,        or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ ‘Know the LORD,’        because they will all know        because they will all know me, me,        from the least of them to the        from the least of them to the greatest,” greatest,”        declares the LORD.        declares the LORD.        “For I will forgive their        “For I will forgive their wickedness wickedness        and will remember their sins        and will remember their sins no more.”no more.”

• 31 “The time is coming,” 31 “The time is coming,” declares the LORD, declares the LORD,        “when I will make a new        “when I will make a new covenant covenant        with the house of Israel        with the house of Israel        and with the house of        and with the house of Judah. Judah.

• 32 It will not be like the 32 It will not be like the covenant covenant        I made with their        I made with their forefathers forefathers        when I took them by the        when I took them by the hand hand        to lead them out of        to lead them out of Egypt, Egypt,        because they broke my        because they broke my covenant, covenant,        though I was a husband        though I was a husband to [to [aa] them, [] them, [bb]” ]”        declares the LORD.        declares the LORD.

John 12: 20-33John 12: 20-33• 20 Now there were some 20 Now there were some

Greeks among those who Greeks among those who went up to worship at the went up to worship at the Feast.Feast.

• 21 They came to Philip, who 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”see Jesus.”

• 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus.

• 23 Jesus replied, “The hour 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. to be glorified.

• 24 I tell you the truth, unless 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.dies, it produces many seeds.

• 25 The man who loves his life 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal world will keep it for eternal life.life.

• 26 Whoever serves me must 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one Father will honour the one who serves me.who serves me.

John 12: 20-33John 12: 20-33• 27 “Now my heart is 27 “Now my heart is

troubled, and what shall I troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this very reason I came to this hour.hour.

• 28 Father, glorify your 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it glorified it, and will glorify it again.”again.”

• 29 The crowd that was there 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had and heard it said it had thundered; others said an thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. angel had spoken to him.

• 30 Jesus said, “This voice 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not was for your benefit, not mine.mine.

• 31 Now is the time for 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; judgment on this world; now the prince of this now the prince of this world will be driven out.world will be driven out.

• 32 But I, when I am lifted 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”draw all men to myself.”

• 33 He said this to show the 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going kind of death he was going to die.to die.

New CovenantNew Covenant• ““The time is The time is

coming,” declares coming,” declares the LORD, the LORD,        “when I will        “when I will make a new make a new covenant covenant        with the        with the house of Israel house of Israel        and with the        and with the house of Judah.house of Judah.

• For I will For I will forgive their forgive their wickedness wickedness        and will        and will remember remember their sins no their sins no more.”more.”

New CovenantNew Covenant• Wiping the plate clean.Wiping the plate clean.• Start afreshStart afresh• A A covenantcovenant, in its most , in its most

general sense, is a general sense, is a solemn promise to solemn promise to engage in or refrain from engage in or refrain from a specified action.a specified action.

• More specifically, a More specifically, a covenant, in contrast to covenant, in contrast to a a contractcontract, is a one-way , is a one-way agreement whereby the agreement whereby the covenanter is the only covenanter is the only party bound by the party bound by the promise.promise.

• A covenant may have A covenant may have conditions and conditions and prerequisites that prerequisites that qualify the undertaking, qualify the undertaking, including the actions of including the actions of second or third parties, second or third parties, but there is no inherent but there is no inherent agreement by such agreement by such other parties to fulfill other parties to fulfill those requirements. those requirements. Consequentially, the Consequentially, the only party that can only party that can break a covenant is the break a covenant is the covenanter.covenanter.

Cont..Cont..• In certain religions, a covenant is a formal In certain religions, a covenant is a formal

alliancealliance or agreement made by or agreement made by GodGod with that with that religious community or with humanity in religious community or with humanity in general. This sort of covenant is an important general. This sort of covenant is an important concept in concept in JudaismJudaism and and ChristianityChristianity, derived in , derived in the first instance from the the first instance from the biblical covenantbiblical covenant tradition. An example of a covenant tradition. An example of a covenant relationship in Judaism and Christianity is that relationship in Judaism and Christianity is that between Abraham and God, in which God between Abraham and God, in which God made a covenant with Abraham that He would made a covenant with Abraham that He would bless Abraham's descendants making them bless Abraham's descendants making them more numerous than the stars. more numerous than the stars.

Cont..Cont..• Also Job made a covenant with his eyes (Job Also Job made a covenant with his eyes (Job

31:1).[1] Christianity asserts that God made 31:1).[1] Christianity asserts that God made an additional covenant through Jesus Christ, an additional covenant through Jesus Christ, called the “new covenant”, in which Jesus’ called the “new covenant”, in which Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross would atone for the sacrifice on the cross would atone for the sins of all who put their faith in him (Matthew sins of all who put their faith in him (Matthew 26:28). In Islam God reminds all humanity of 26:28). In Islam God reminds all humanity of their covenants with him.[2]their covenants with him.[2]

• A covenant may also refer to an agreement A covenant may also refer to an agreement between members of a congregation to work between members of a congregation to work together according to the precepts of their together according to the precepts of their religion religion

Covenant Covenant • Covenant in contrast to a Covenant in contrast to a

contract is clearly based contract is clearly based on an unconditional love on an unconditional love concept.concept.

• That my action to do That my action to do something is what I something is what I believe and trust is of believe and trust is of God’s will.God’s will.

• That I am not doing it to That I am not doing it to satisfy an agreement satisfy an agreement (Contract)(Contract)

• Contract is a legal Contract is a legal agreement between two agreement between two or more parties. Where or more parties. Where there is clearly an offer, there is clearly an offer, as well as there is an as well as there is an acceptance of this offer.acceptance of this offer.

• Both parties are then Both parties are then bound to satisfy the bound to satisfy the terms that both agree terms that both agree to in the execution of to in the execution of the said contract. the said contract.

Both sets out criteria of the Both sets out criteria of the RELATIONSHIPRELATIONSHIP• CovenantCovenant• Where the parties Where the parties

involve offer an involve offer an outpour of love in outpour of love in what they will do what they will do toencourage good toencourage good relationshiprelationship

• ContractContract• On the other hand On the other hand

form special form special relationships that relationships that they are legally they are legally bound to in terms bound to in terms of their agreement.of their agreement.

Gods willGods will

•““I will put my law in their I will put my law in their minds minds        and write it on their        and write it on their hearts. hearts.        I will be their God,        I will be their God,        and they will be my        and they will be my people.”people.”

Human responseHuman response• That we will honour God, respond to That we will honour God, respond to

his teaching in Christ Jesus, obey his his teaching in Christ Jesus, obey his basic principal of “LOVE”basic principal of “LOVE”

• Love our neighbourLove our neighbour• LOVE GOD!LOVE GOD!

God offer a second chanceGod offer a second chance• ““For I will For I will

forgive their forgive their wickedness wickedness        and will        and will remember remember their sins no their sins no more.”more.”

• Forgive and Forgive and forgets…forgets…

• Again this is in the Again this is in the understanding of understanding of covenant – where covenant – where obviously there is a obviously there is a willingness of God willingness of God to heal and to heal and transform someone transform someone into a new “born into a new “born again” state.again” state.

What may be asked of usWhat may be asked of us• That we respond That we respond

by our by our OBEDIENCE to OBEDIENCE to the LAW of Godthe LAW of God

• LOVE GOD AND LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOUR. NEIGHBOUR.

• This according to This according to the prophet the prophet Jeremiah is a Jeremiah is a condition in that condition in that God has placed God has placed in our heart…. in our heart…. And that is his And that is his laws.laws.

Further outflow of God’s Further outflow of God’s covenantal relationship.covenantal relationship.• For God so love For God so love

the world that he the world that he gave his gave his begotten son begotten son Jesus who died Jesus who died on the cross in on the cross in order for us to order for us to enjoy everlasting enjoy everlasting life.life.

• OUR RESPONSE?OUR RESPONSE?• To obey seem To obey seem

difficult with us.difficult with us.• We don’t wish to be We don’t wish to be

told what to do in this told what to do in this relationship, yet our relationship, yet our whole lives we are whole lives we are controlled and controlled and dictated by general dictated by general and moral principals and moral principals of life.of life.

UCA a multicultural CHURCHUCA a multicultural CHURCH• What does this mean?What does this mean?• Inclusion of the otherInclusion of the other• Open embrace of the Open embrace of the

strangerstranger• Share what we haveShare what we have• Encourage and Encourage and

empowerempower• Assist in the Assist in the

transition to living in transition to living in Australia.Australia.

• BUT…..BUT…..• Should they learn to Should they learn to

behave like us?behave like us?• Should they show Should they show

appreciation by adopting appreciation by adopting our ways and discarding our ways and discarding theirs as archaic?theirs as archaic?

• Should they learn to Should they learn to assimilate to our assimilate to our systems and our systems and our worldview?worldview?

The work of the Synod in The work of the Synod in realising the vision of this realising the vision of this multicultural churchmulticultural church• CROSS CULTURAL CROSS CULTURAL

MISSION AND MISSION AND MINISTRYMINISTRY

• Encourage all aspects of the Encourage all aspects of the synod Presbytery and local synod Presbytery and local congregations to take congregations to take collective responsibilities in collective responsibilities in reaching out to other offering reaching out to other offering a covenant relationship.a covenant relationship.

• Offer and await for the other Offer and await for the other parties responseparties response

• Be prepared to listen and Be prepared to listen and change our thinking and our change our thinking and our ways.ways.

• 32 “But I, when I 32 “But I, when I am lifted up from am lifted up from the earth, will draw the earth, will draw all men to myself.”all men to myself.”

• As was the bronze As was the bronze serpent lifted up for serpent lifted up for the salvation of the the salvation of the children of Israelchildren of Israel. .

• Jesus spoke of his Jesus spoke of his strugglestruggle

• His hidden thoughts His hidden thoughts about asking to be about asking to be taken from the path taken from the path and responsibility in and responsibility in deathdeath

The hour has come for the Son The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. of Man to be glorified. • Jesus cannot allow his Jesus cannot allow his

own thoughts and own thoughts and sentiments distract sentiments distract him from this act of him from this act of sacrifice.sacrifice.

• God must be glorified.God must be glorified.• His birth, his life and His birth, his life and

death all point to his death all point to his dedication to the dedication to the father and desire to father and desire to Glorify God.Glorify God.

• His healing was to His healing was to glorify Godglorify God

• His teaching His teaching ministries were ministries were also geared to the also geared to the glorification of God glorification of God being and God’s being and God’s name.name.

The stage is setThe stage is set• Our covenant with Our covenant with

God is to obey, to be God is to obey, to be faithful and to open faithful and to open our lives to his love.our lives to his love.

• We are also called We are also called to embrace each to embrace each other with an other with an unconditional love unconditional love principalsprincipals

• So rather than say, So rather than say, be like me in being be like me in being Australia, how Australia, how about learning of about learning of each others ways each others ways in order for natural in order for natural integration to take integration to take place?place?

The love of GodThe love of God• Jesus is the love of GodJesus is the love of God• He came to make us wholeHe came to make us whole• He sacrificed as he accepted deathHe sacrificed as he accepted death• We need to set our own part of the We need to set our own part of the

covenantcovenant• Learn to live in harmony, live in loveLearn to live in harmony, live in love• Learn to be honest, be kind, be accepting Learn to be honest, be kind, be accepting

of others and of new ways.of others and of new ways.

AMENAMEN