His Testament Is His Promise

by John Michalak

Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Did you know that the word “testament” in the Old and New Testament wasn’t used for Scripture until a few hundred years after Christ? The reference to Old and New were used previously, but the word first enjoining them was the word “covenant.”

What is a covenant? It is a binding agreement between two parties. It is a mutual promise. For example, a business contract or marriage vows.

But what makes a covenant special is that it is sealed with some type of surety or bond. When you borrow money, you typically offer a down payment to show your good faith to pay it back. When you get married, you wear a ring as a sign that your romantic bond is true. When we as Christians entered into a covenant with God, Christ’s blood had to be shed as a surety of our acceptance.

But because of Christ’s sacrifice, we don’t have to wonder about the integrity of our relationship with the Almighty. We don’t even have to offer a down payment. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is our assurance that we can be at rest in God and trust that His promises to us will never fail.

In this way, God’s testament is also God’s promise.