What is the New Covenant?
The new covenant is a very misunderstood concept by churches today, which is a little strange since the scriptures clearly define it. Jeremiah perfectly identifies what the new covenant will be “after those days” or after the days of Yeshua. And it has nothing to do with abolishing God’s instructions or what we call the Torah, but everything to do with the indwelling of the Spirit.
We find the definition of the new covenant in the prophetic writings of Jeremiah chapter 31:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares YHVH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares YHVH. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
The new covenant did not change the intention of the Law, which is righteousness onto good works. It changes us! When YHVH chose to put His instructions in our heart, we gained a greater desire to obey what He has commanded. When Yeshua says, “If you love me, keep my commands”, this is a reflection of our desire obey the instructions because of our love for what Messiah did for us on the ancient tav (cross). Obedience is a response to heart change.
Ezekiel is a second witness to Jeremiah in 36:27: “And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
In the Brit Hadasha (New Testament) we read in Romans that the law is indeed spiritual!
“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.”
Paul is reminding us that without the Ruach, or Holy Spirit, it is difficult to follow God’s instructions. Our carnal flesh will do what it pleases. This is how Israel failed repeatedly. But this new covenant will cause us to keep what pleases YHVH. Yeshua will be our example, and send us a great helper!
In Hebrews 8:8-12 the verses found in Jeremiah are repeated, as the reminds of this prophecy- this “renewed” or better covenant. What we see is four promises that come with the new covenant:
1. He will establish a better covenant with Israel (this is not a gentile covenant, but all can be grafted in)
2. YHVH will put His law in our hearts (no longer stone tablets)
3. He will be our God; we will be His people (we will become One with His character)
4. YHVH will be merciful towards our iniquity (thank you, Yeshua, for the blood that covers)
It can be confusing because the newer translations say in verse 13 that the “old” covenant is now obsolete. So, isn’t that proof we can throw away those old laws? Not at all. Digging into the Hebrew context, what else changed? The priesthood. We know in the original covenant made had the Levitical priesthood providing atonement for sin through the slaughtering of animals. However, the new priesthood, from the order of Melchizedek will bring forth, Yeshua Jesus, the Messiah who would be BETTER because He is the final atonement. Once and for all. Just as atonement needed to be made in the past, Yeshua Jesus came once and for all to cover the iniquity… this is why the promise above says YHVH will be merciful towards our iniquity. The blood covers it. But that does not mean we continue to sin. We move away from the sin, which is defined in 1 John 3:4 as transgressing the law. The author of Hebrews confirms this in Hebrews 10:26-29:
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?”
I would encourage you to read Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36, and Hebrews 8-10 if you believe the new covenant has anything to do with removing Israel and/or the instructions of God. This is a false understanding and can lead you into greater sin, profaning the covenant YHVH established. Read these chapters with the mindset that the change in covenant was that instead of us relying on ourselves to be righteous and walk in obedience, we now rely on His incredible power, through our example Yeshua, and the power of His Holy Spirit. And if you think about it… isn’t that so much better?
Thank you, Father, for the power to turn from our sin through the new covenant you made with us, which is indeed better than the one you had with our Forefathers. We thank you for the blood of Messiah and the indwelling Holy Spirit, which causes us to follow your ways.
