Living in Covenant Today, pt. 1
WEEK 11: Living in Covenant Today – Identity, Obedience, and Mission
Primary Texts
Romans 12:1–2
1 Peter 2:9–12
Matthew 28:18–20
Hebrews 10:19–25
Expositional Outline
I. Covenant Identity Shapes How We Live (1 Peter 2:9–10)
v.9: Peter applies Exodus 19:6 to the church — “chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation.”
v.10: Echo of Hosea — once not a people, now God’s people. Covenant status redefined by union with Christ.
II. Covenant Worship: Living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1–2)
v.1: “By the mercies of God” — summary of covenant theology (Romans 1–11). Worship is now total-life offering.
v.2: Covenant life means nonconformity to the world and transformation by God's will — internal, Spirit-led.
III. Covenant Mission: Go and Make Disciples (Matthew 28:18–20)
v.18: Jesus, the Davidic king, now has all authority.
vv.19–20: The church continues the covenant mission — to be a light to the nations (Isa. 49:6), fulfilled in disciple-making.
IV. Covenant Community: Draw Near and Hold Fast (Hebrews 10:19–25)
vv.19–22: Because of the New Covenant (cf. Heb. 8–10), we now have full access to God — priestly privilege for all.
vv.23–25: Corporate covenant faithfulness: hold fast, stir one another up, gather regularly.
Original Language Insights
λογικὴν λατρείαν (logikēn latreian) – “spiritual worship” or “rational service” (Rom. 12:1). Worship is now seen in reasoning, obedience, sacrifice — not confined to location or ritual.
διαθήκη (diathēkē) – The concept of “covenant” continues to undergird the community of believers, even when not named. Hebrews 10 assumes covenantal access and responsibility.
παροίκους (paroikous) and παρεπιδήμους (parepidēmous) – “Sojourners and exiles” (1 Pet. 2:11). The church is not at home in the world — an echo of Abraham’s covenant journey (Heb. 11:13).
Cross-References
Genesis 12:1–3 → Matthew 28:19–20 – The blessing to the nations now becomes explicit in the Great Commission.
Exodus 19:5–6 → 1 Peter 2:9 – Same titles applied to the church.
Jeremiah 31:33 → Romans 8:3–4; 12:2 – New hearts produce new lives.
Hebrews 8–10 → Hebrews 10:19–25 – Full access to God leads to full participation in covenant life.
Hermeneutical Analysis
Historical-Grammatical
The New Testament epistles assume covenant categories even when not always using the terminology — identity, promise, responsibility, mission.
Canonical
The identity of the church is not invented in Acts; it is the continuation of the covenant people, now reconstituted around Jesus. Their purpose remains the same: to glorify God among the nations.
Redemptive-Historical
Living in covenant today means embracing what has already been fulfilled in Christ (atonement, priesthood, Spirit) and what is still to come (full restoration in the new creation).
Obedience is no longer out of fear but out of participation in a covenant already secured.
Deep-Dive, Theologically Rich Insights
1 Peter 2 – The church as Israel-in-Christ
Peter applies Israel’s identity markers directly to Gentile believers. The church doesn’t replace Israel; it fulfills Israel’s mission through union with the true Israelite, Jesus (Isa. 49:3–6).
Romans 12 – Covenant Ethics
The call to present our bodies comes after 11 chapters of gospel theology. This mirrors the structure of Exodus: rescue, then response. Ethics flow from election.
Matthew 28 – The covenant mission goes global
Jesus echoes the Abrahamic covenant (“all nations”) and Mosaic themes (teaching obedience). Baptism replaces circumcision as the covenant sign of inclusion.
Hebrews 10 – Priestly Access as Corporate Responsibility
Drawing near is not only individual but communal. We live out the covenant by assembling, encouraging, and persevering — together.
Teaching or Preaching Application
Hook: Ask, “Now that we’ve seen what God has done in covenant — what kind of life does that call us to?” Then walk through covenant identity, worship, mission, and community.
Application Points:
You are part of God’s covenant people — not just individually saved, but corporately called.
Worship includes all of life: work, service, sacrifice.
Mission is not optional — the church exists to expand the covenant community.
Covenant living is shared — community is where covenant obedience matures.
Discussion Questions:
How does understanding yourself as part of God’s covenant people shape your daily life?
What does it mean to “offer your body as a living sacrifice”?
In what ways is your local church living out its covenant identity and mission?
