God’s New Covenant
Almighty God has written His laws in the hearts and minds of Christians through His Spirit.
“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)
A new covenant has been established for followers of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ. It was an agreement that all those who would follow the Son of God would receive the law written in their hearts and minds. That is the simplicity of the new covenant. It is not that we practice the law, rather, it is the fact that we are able to understand the intentions of God and how to behave in righteousness through the Holy Spirit giving us understanding in our hearts and minds. The new covenant will be provided to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. And it has been delivered to Christians who believe in and follow Christ. A covenant is an agreement. As defined by the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance number 1285, in Hebrew it is a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); – confederacy, a league. And, in Greek, number 1242, it is defined as a contract, especially a devisory will (a thought-out plan): – a testament.
When Christ first appeared as a human to Israel he was born as a child and became the savior for all mankind. Through his blood, we are saved and receive remission of sins once and for all time. Because of his shedding of blood, the Mosaic Law covenant was fulfilled by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice as the Passover lamb. Those people who are non-Jews, also known as Gentiles, are grafted into the house of Israel. Since Christ’s first coming, those hearing this and believing his message are Christians. How we serve now is spiritual, by faith, not the Law or old covenant.
Study 10: New Covenant
Hebrews 8:6-13
A new covenant is made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This is not like the covenant that was made with the Israelites who were in the wilderness, also known as the Mosaic Law. The new covenant is accomplished in our hearts and minds through help from the Holy Spirit. The House of Israel and the House of Judah probably relates to the ten tribes and the two tribes when the nation of Israel was split up after Solomon died. Bringing those two houses back together means that God will write the law in the hearts and minds of all His followers which includes all those who will live on the earth and in heaven. Today, we receive and learn the new covenant as Christians, hearers, doers, and followers of Christ waiting for redemption at Christ’s return.
Hebrews 10:10-17
Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was made once and for all people so that animal sacrifices would no longer continue. Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for all future generations and by faith, we now serve him and his Father because their laws are written in our hearts and minds. Christ is our High Priest and his blood sprinkles us and cleanses our hearts from sins.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
This a reference to the prophet Jeremiah which describes how the house of Israel and the house of Judah will receive a new covenant.
Ezekiel 11:14-21
The Israelite nation will be gathered again from where they were scattered. They will get new hearts and God’s spirit at that time. This appears to be in the future after the resurrection of Israel because even after Israel came out of the captivity of Babylon, they did not wholly serve God and in fact killed the Son of God. So, their hearts were not yet softened nor did they receive the Spirit to serve God.
Luke 22:15-20
Christ explained that the New Testament, covenant, or agreement was confirmed through the shedding of his blood. The cup of wine shared amongst the disciples represented his blood. And since that time, the new covenant has been established with his followers through the spirit of God writing the laws in our hearts and minds.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Through the blood of the eternal covenant or testament, we can be saved and made perfect through Christ’s sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16
We have the mind of Christ and we are able to discern all things through the Spirit of God within us. Because we have the mind of Christ the spirit instructs us.
Romans 8:1-28
To be spiritually minded in his life. When we focus on listening to God‘s Commandments, then we are able to overcome the distractions of the earthly mind or sinful mind. The Father adopts us to life through His spirit and not the spirit of bondage under the old law.
Galatians 4:3-7
Since we are no longer under the law, we live by faith through the spirit that has written the law in our hearts and minds.
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