Main Passage: Exodus 19:5-6 'Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.

Core Message: This message highlights God’s desire to be near His people, moving from the Old Covenant to the intimate New Covenant established through Jesus Christ, who holds the unchangeable and permanent priesthood. The Old Covenant described in the Old Testament of the Bible revealed God’s holiness and man's separation and inability to uphold the laws of God. The New Covenant we read of in the New Testament, however, makes a way for believers to be transformed and enables us to draw near to God through the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Old Covenant Proposal

• The Basis for the Old Covenant: Every contract needs a foundation, and God first establishes His covenant by demonstrating His proven track record. He reminds the Israelites of His power and care, having carried them "on eagles' wings" out of Egypt (Exodus 19:4). This act of deliverance is the basis upon which the covenant relationship is built.
• The Contract Terms: The covenant is a conditional, two-sided agreement. God explained this in Exodus 19:5-8. If the people obeyed Him, then they would become His "treasured possession," a "kingdom of priests," and a "holy nation.” The people accepted these terms with a resounding, "We will do everything the Lord has said," pledging full obedience and thus establishing the commitment from both parties.
• The Cost and Reward: This commitment involved both a cost and an overwhelmingly generous reward. The cost was the surrender of pride, selfishness, and living for one’s self. The resulting benefit was a complete blessing in every area of life—wisdom (mind) and stature (body), both with God (spirit) and with men (social)—resulting in a reward that far outweighed what would be given up.

From Fear at Sinai to Freedom in Christ

• The Unapproachable Mountain: Under the Old Covenant, the people were strictly forbidden from touching Mount Sinai (also known as the mountain of God), even though they consecrated themselves in preparation for God’s great holiness (Exodus 19:10-12). Terrified by the severe consequences of approaching His holy presence in a wrong manner, the people begged Moses to mediate on their behalf. 
• Jesus, the Better Mediator: The role Moses played at the mountain as a priestly intermediary between God and the people was a foreshadowing of Jesus, who would be the ultimate Peacemaker. While Moses was a temporary bridge, Jesus established a permanent one. Upon His death on the cross, His blood confirmed the New Covenant based on "better promises" (Hebrews 12:24), giving us direct access to God without fear, achieving the reconciliation that was impossible at Mount Sinai.
• Bold Access to Grace: Because Christ's sacrifice achieved total reconciliation, perfecting the Old Testament system of priesthood in the New Testament, and fully meeting the demands of God's holiness, believers can be completely forgiven and invited to Mount Zion, a ‘new mountain of joy.’ We can now boldly "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16), relying on the cleansing power of Jesus' blood to grant us full, direct access.

The New Covenant Proposal

• • The Basis for the New Covenant: God saw that under the Old Covenant, mankind was unable to uphold His laws and, therefore, they could not approach a holy God. However, His desire has always been to have His people with Him. So, He made a promise to establish a New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31), which would be sealed by the blood of His son, Jesus.
  • The Contract Terms: In this New Covenant, God makes provision to help enable us to keep our end of the contract. Jeremiah 31:33 tells us that He puts His law in our minds and writes it on our heart, shifting the focus from written rules to internal conviction. As believers, we are called to respond immediately to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, being consecrated as a ‘holy priesthood’ (1 Peter 2:5). This priesthood in the New Testament is maintained through continuous obedience and submission to the Holy Spirit of God.

• The Cost and Reward: This consecration means that we are no longer ruled by our emotions or desires, but instead we prioritize God’s Word in our lives, actively seeking to be in His presence. Apathy cannot exist in this new relationship. In return, we receive the greatest reward—the fulfillment of God’s plan to dwell inside His people, ending the former separation and giving us the same intimacy Christ has with the Father!

Next Step: Reflect on God’s new covenant proposal. Are you still under the Old Covenant, or have you entered into the New Covenant? Let us enter into the new covenant this day, where we will find a blessed, intimate relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ!