I hear this phrase often; ‘it’s about a relationship!’ to describe what it means to be saved.  For the most part, this is true, that through the blood of Jesus, He has built a bridge between God and man, to restore us through His life and spilt blood – so we can come to God no longer in fear, but in peace.  The issue begins I believe, through ignorance in what constitutes such a relationship and that essentially, is called the New Covenant. The very name of covenant means interaction between the participating parties; each give, each take and agree to the terms. 

Picture a husband and wife.  They have said they love each other in their marriage ceremony. Once they have settled into their new life together, we see the husband committing all he is and has to his wife; he tirelessly works and is thoughtful towards her throughout the day and enjoys being with her.  On the other hand, the wife thinks only of herself; she makes her dinner and leaves nothing for him.  All her hobbies and friends occupy her that she gives no thought throughout her day for her husband.  She takes what he gives to her thanklessly because she expects him to provide for her needs.  She brings no joy for her husband, nor does she respect him.  Would you say that the wife is honoring the marriage covenant?   Of course not!

In the same way, when we say ‘I do’ to the Lord and receive His blood to wash our sins and His life for a new life – we now walk in agreement to the terms of the New Covenant of God.  The Old Covenant was more of a list of dos and don’ts where our heart was not able to love God as He desires and served Him more out of obligation.  Where in the new, He has provided all we would need so we can love Him as He wants from us by giving us a brand new heart and become new creations; call this the New Covenant benefits package!  With such, we now can love the Lord with ALL our entire being willingly and joyfully.  A love we give not out of obligation but because we want to.

God has done all He could, to set us up in the bond of perfection, which is in His love;  – through Jesus Christ and all we need to do is join Him to participate in His love and grace He extends to us.

When we are still caught in our sins, in bondage to them, we are driven by fear and have not committed ourselves to the New Covenant.  The desire to walk in sin will remain if we do not commit to the Lord as He asks us to.  If we make a concession for sin, or debate on what is sin or not – is a good indicator we have not yet joined the Lord in the New Covenant relationship He has died to give us.    

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18.  

For many professors of the faith, they have created their terms of the agreement, which in effect is self-seeking and one-sided and a lie against the truth; James 3:13-15, Romans 2:8.  They do not have the testimony of Christ – that will testify and witness to the lost around them. 

Verification that we walk in the New Covenant is simple; we will have the desire and will to walk in the Light and not in darkness, will practice the confessing of sin and following Jesus and His commands; 1 John 1: 5-10,  1 John 2: 3-5.