The New Covenant

Many Christians through the ages have struggled to reconcile the moral standards of the Mosaic laws with the establishment of the New Covenant through Jesus.  Agnostics and other observers often ask if Christianity is simply Judaism plus Christ.  To clarify what exactly is written, we look to the New Testament and find Jesus has accomplished what the Old Covenant between God and the nation of Israel failed to. 

Firstly, it is important to recognize that the failure of the Old Covenant was due to Israel’s unfaithfulness and not God’s.  God keeps his promises while man has a history of not holding up his end of the bargain.  In the Old Testament we are told about the Noahic covenant (Genesis 9) with the rainbow as its sign.  Then we are shown the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12) with circumcision as the sign, followed by the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 19-24) with the Law being its hallmark and the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) with the kingship of David’s lineage as its distinguishing sign.

These promises were all honored and fulfilled through Jesus Christ as the New Testament records.  Because of Christ’s redemption on the cross as atonement once and for all for sin, the world will never again be judged through a global flood.  In the same way that the people of Noah’s day mocked him for building an ark, people today mock Christians that wait for the return of Christ, just as Peter warned. “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, ‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?  Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.  But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.  By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:3-7.

Because of Israel’s rejection of Christ, the gospel was offered to the Gentile nations thereby fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham that all the nations of the world would be blessed through him.  Jesus is a descendant of Abraham.  Next, we see that Christ’s genealogy traces back to King David both through Joseph and Mary (Mathew 1:2-16, Luke 3:23-38), therefore no matter how you perceive his lineage, his position as King of Kings has established David’s ancestor on the throne forever.  Philippians 2:9-11 tells us, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “’The time is coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.’” Jeremiah 31:31.  On the night that Jesus was betrayed, Jesus established the new covenant.  “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” Luke 22:20.  The next day he ratified the agreement with his own blood, and was sacrificed on the cross as the atonement for sin, once, for all.  I have previously written how the details of the new covenant resemble those of a first century marriage contract (The Bride of Christ, Feb 9, 2021) and how the Christian church is recognized in scripture as the bride of Christ. 

Christ has decommissioned the old covenant and replaced it with the new one.  Hebrews 8:6 informs us, “But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.  For if there was nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.”  The new covenant supersedes the old covenant.

For those who still feel compelled to obey the ten commandments, Paul has this to say, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave all our sins, having canceled the written code, with all its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14.

Paul also touches on this theme in Romans 7:6, and shares this: “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”  Additionally, Paul admonishes the believers at Galatia for regressing in their faith to obedience of the law.  “You foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you?  Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.  I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish?  After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” Galatians 3:1-3.

Scripture says that when we believe in the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters our bodies and dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 2 Timothy 1:14, Romans 8:11, Galatians 4:6).  Galatians 5:16-18 reads, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Being obedient to the Holy Spirit is what is meant by having God’s law written in our minds and on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).  Paul tells us the Holy Spirit will not lead us to sin, but to do good deeds.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

If you are obedient to the Holy Spirit, who resides inside of you, your will is bound to align itself with his will. It is this obedience that frees us to wholeheartedly enjoy life knowing we are not under law but under grace.  Again, Paul has something to say, “Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” 

When we accept Christ we are born again (John 3:3, 1 Peter 1:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:23) which means to leave our old way of living and following Christ.  In doing so we repent and become obedient to the Holy Spirit.  Repentance or “metanoia” in the Greek, means a change of mind, however, a change of mindset translates into a change in our actions as we no longer are compelled to do things the Holy Spirit would not approve.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus illustrated that even our very thoughts make us guilty of sin in God’s eyes.  Even looking at someone in lust makes you guilty of committing adultery with that person, therefore repentance addresses sin at its very root.  Repentance is a conscious decision to follow and be obedient to Jesus.  Hebrews 12 begins with the words, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles….” This is repentance.

Colossians 3:2-10, encourages us to, “Set your minds on things above, not earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life appears, then you will appear with him in glory.  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Once again we turn to Paul’s elaboration in Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love.”  The new covenant provides the freedom to serve Christ not out of fear but through a covenantal relationship.  Jesus has bridged the disconnect that the law could not; that kept men serving God with their lips, while their hearts were far from him (Mathew 15:8).

Under the new covenant we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). The Mosaic Law failed to produce the intimate relationship with God that he desires.  The Pharisees were so busy addressing the symptoms of sin that they overlooked the root cause which resides in our minds and hearts (Mathew 15:11, 19).  Paul informs us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”  In doing so, holy thoughts displace sinful thoughts and temptation fades away. 

The indwelling Holy Spirit leads us away from entertaining sinful thoughts when we surrender completely to him which in turn enables us to live guilt free under the new covenant. It is the Spirit who empowers us to overcome sin on a deeply personal level and thereby serve God in joy and exuberance in the type of relationship he created us for.