The message : We have seen successively the three great themes of God’s work for mankind, which are « his redemption », « his blessing », and now « his salvation ». These are all forms of manifestation of God’s grace towards mankind. Therefore, in order to establish and perpetuate them in man
and his offspring, God seals them by means of the « Covenant », which means common guarantee and symbiosis with man. This covenant will never waver, because He built it on an important and meaningful statement: « I will be your God, and you shall be my people » Jer 7:23a. Indeed, it is all
that constitutes His Divinity that He invested to build His covenant with His people and to make common cause with them, namely « God the Spirit » (Jn 4:24) and at the same time « God the Word » (Jn 1:1). This is how He expressed Himself when He said: « This is my covenant with them, says the Lord: my spirit that is upon you and my words that I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth or out of the mouths of your children or out of the mouths of your children’s children, says the Lord, from now on and forever » Isa 59:21. His « Divinity as Spirit » is because He is « God Love » (1 Jn 4:16), and « eternal Love » (Jer 31:3). His « Divinity as Word » on the other hand reveals His righteousness and His holiness,
when He declares: « So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose » Isa 55:11. So then: The « covenant of redemption » means that God redeems the sinner to return to Him and to enable him as His child who inherits
from Him and is a joint heir with Christ (Rom 8:17); the « blessing » is God’s concern for his life (Deo 28:12); finally, « eternal salvation » consists in God’s guarantee of his faith, so that all his promises may be fulfilled in order to establish his union with God, and that he may receive his kingdom, in view of eternal life (Jn 3:16). « For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God » 2 Cor 1:20.
Monday, 03rd: Rejoice for the Lord is coming to bring salvation.
« See, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he » Zech 9:9b.
Reading 1: Jn 1:19-29. Reading 2: Zech 9:9-10. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Zech 9:9.
Introduction: The people of Israel have been waiting for a long time for the coming of the Messiah, their King, to free them from the yoke of their enemies who had taken them captive and made them suffer, namely mainly the Assyrians. Even today, God gives a great promise of joy to the believers as well as to all men in the fact that the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in the person of Jesus Christ has come and declares: « So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed » Jn 8:36.
Tuesday, 04th: Salvation, the reward that the Lord gives to his people.
« Look, your savior comes; his reward is with him and his recompense before him » Isa 62:11b.
Reading 1: Rev 22:10-14. Reading 2: Isa 62:10-12. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Isa 62:11.
Introduction: God’s salvation is with him who believes in Him. Indeed, He recompenses men according to their works. He gives salvation and approval to all those who accept Him as their Lord and Saviour, serve Him and do His works. He raises them up as « vessels of honour » (2 Tim 2:20), and exhorts them saying: « Enter into the joy of your master » Mt 25:21c. The joy of their Lord is to make them inherit His eternal salvation.
Wednesday, 05th: Praise the King who brings salvation.
« Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel » Jn 12:13
Reading 1: 1 Tim 1:12-17. Reading 2: Jn 12:1-16. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 12:12-13.
Introduction: « To praise » means to exalt in the highest degree the Lord and Saviour of the world, who is Jesus the Messiah, and to give Him glory with songs of immense adoration that will echo « throughout the earth and in heaven ». When the children of Israel had just crossed the Red Sea, they sang the song of their leader Moses: « The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him;my father’s God, and I will exalt him » Exo 15:2.
Thursday, 06th: The King makes a covenant for eternal salvation.
« This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins » Mt 26:28.
Reading 1: Exo 12:3-14. Reading 2: Mt 26:17-29. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Mt 26:26-28.
Introduction: He gave us an Eternal Saviour (Isa 9:5). So the Father sent Jesus Christ His Son to accomplish His will which is to give eternal salvation. He said: « This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day » Jn 6:40. He sealed this with His blood, because it is written: « Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins » Heb 9:22b.
Friday, 07th: The King Master of salvation, life for the world.
« For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world » Jn 6:33.
Reading 1: Isa 55:1-3. Reading 2: Jn 6:26-35. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Jn 6:33.
Introduction: The main and fundamental idea contained in the word « salvation » is the deliverance from death and the salvation of the soul from perdition. This is accomplished by the saving work of Jesus Christ, which is revealed by his statement: « Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come under judgment but has passed
from death to life » Jn 5:24.
Saturday, 08th: SATURDAY OF SILENCE.
INTERCESSION: REPENTANCE AND RENEWAL OF CONSECRATION.
Theme to be observed: « CHRIST, PAIN FOR US: ALLIANCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION ».
Content: The redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ: his intercession for sinners, his suffering and death. Readings: Isa 53:4-6;10-12 / Mt 26:36-46;47-56 / Mt 27:27-37/ 1 Cor 5:1-8.