Dearly beloved, the Christian life to which we are called is a life in Christ, redeemed from sin by Christ, and through Christ consecrated to God. Upon this life we have entered, having been admitted into that new covenant of which our Lord Jesus Christ is mediator, and which he sealed with his own blood, that it might stand forever.
On one side the covenant is God’s promise to fulfil, in and through us, all that God declared in Christ Jesus, who is the Author and Perfector of our faith. That God’s promise still stands we are sure, for we have known God’s goodness, and proved God’s grace in our lives day by day.
On the other side we stand pledged to live no more unto ourselves, but to Christ who loved us and gave himself for us, and has called us to serve him that the purpose of his coming might be fulfilled.
From time to time, we renew our vows of consecration, especially when we gather at the Lord’s Table: but on this day we meet expressly, as generations of our forebears have met, that we may joyfully and solemnly renew the covenant which bound them and binds us to God.
Let us then, remembering the mercies of God and the hope of his calling, examine ourselves by the light of His Spirit, that we may see where we have failed or fallen short in faith and practice, and, considering all that this Covenant means may give ourselves anew to God.
