THEOLOGY - continued

Covenant, 1st paragraph - continued

Therefore God also highly exalted [Christ Jesus] and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

It is both the simplest and most profound of confessions. Jesus is Lord, and in light of that we respond with kindness, love, devotion and fidelity. The Covenant makes it clear that our relationship with God is one of stability, strength and firmness. We confess Jesus is Lord and in response to that live our lives as Jesus would have us live them.

The Covenant is written in the first person singular. It speaks of “I” and not “we.” But when the Covenant is recited it is recited in community. We are called by Christ not to live alone but in fellowship with one another. So it is that we come together as the Body of Christ and it is through this Body that much of Christ’s work is done within our world and lives today. To believe in Christ is to become a part of the fellowship and live as a member of the family of believers.

The local church is to be taken seriously. It is organized for worship, teaching, and enabling Christians to live their everyday lives under the parenthood of God. It is a special company of believers with a unique calling and task. When we gather together in worship, the Word of God, Jesus Christ, is supreme. Jesus is Lord! We respond to that absoluteness of God.