Covenant of Grace Church

Names are important. Names identify and names define. When a child is born his or her parents don’t call the child boy or girl; they give that child a name. Usually the name has some significance for the parents and is meant to convey something about the child or the child’s family. Similarly when a business is formed the owners choose a name that will be significant. They hope to reveal something about the product and generate interest in the product. Names are important. Our name is important as well. Our name reveals our core values and it reveals what we desire to be as a church. Covenant of Grace To understand the significance of this name it will be helpful to first break it into parts. Covenant—strong, binding, irrevocable, and unbreakable promise Grace—unmerited favor The covenant of grace refers to the promise that God made to man and was accomplished in and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As part of this covenant of grace, God imputed our sin to Jesus Christ and in His death He paid the penalty for our sin in full. By faith in Jesus Christ, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers and they are forgiven of their sin and are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. Believers have peace with God and stand before Him holy and blameless because of the work of Christ on our behalf. This name is important for two reasons. It is a short hand summary of the gospel message we proclaim and it is a constant reminder to us that our standing before God is based on what Christ has done so that we are reminded that we need to walk by faith. COG But, there is also an interesting coincidence connected with our name; our initials create the word “cog.” A cog is a single part of a gear system that works together with other cogs to make something move. Here are some interesting things to know about cogs. On their own, a cog is incapable of moving anything Working together with other cogs even the smallest of cogs is essential If one cog is removed from the gear then the gear will no longer function This imagery perfectly reflects our life together as a church. In Romans 12:5 Paul says: “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Our name serves to remind us that we are connected to one another, that we have an important part to play in the corporate life of the church, and that God has placed us here for a reason. Names are important!