Although God is yet to fulfill His promises in the New Covenant to the
Although God is yet to fulfill His promises in the New Covenant to the nation of Israel (and He will!), Jesus instituted and inaugurated the New Covenant at the Last Supper and by His death on the cross. The New Testament writers comment strongly on the subject and view the church as both ministers of the New Covenant (2 Cor 3:6) and beneficiaries of some of its blessings. How are you depending on the Holy Spirit of God (who lives within you!) to walk in God’s ways and experience all of His blessings and joy? The Spirit also opens up God’s Word to you and communicates it to your heart. Are you consistently in the Scriptures, asking God to speak to you?
Are you regularly enjoying the intimate joy of worshipping God? Worship has nothing to do with being able to sing, but is the true response of a heart that makes much of God.
Are you living in the sweet freedom that is born out of being convinced of your worth and identity in Christ? You are wholly loved, completely forgiven, fully accepted, and considered in perfect standing with God because of Christ Jesus. That is who you are as a Christian. That is your identity.
Unfortunately, most conversations around Biblical Covenants involve the conditional/unconditional distinction. This is an unhelpful oversimplification of Biblical Covenants. It is better to speak of an obligatory/promissory distinction, or even better “obligation of Servants to King/obligation of King to Servant.” Technically, these are called Suzerain-Vassal Treaties and Covenant of Grant, respectively. S-V Treaties obligate the servants or nation to the King. A Covenant of Grant obligates the King to the Servant. The former is based on future obedience. The latter is based on past obedience/faithfulness. The Mosaic Covenant is a S-V Treaty. In fact, the Book of Deuteronomy is in the form of this ancient treaty. The Abrahamic, Davidic and New Covenant are Covenants of Grant. And that’s enough preface. Jeremiah 31:31-34 is the chief Old Testament passage describing the New Covenant and the only one to use that title. See also Jeremiah 32:37-40; Isaiah 61:8-9; Ezekiel 36:22-28; 37:21-28; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6, and especially Hebrews 8-10; 12:24. “The short passage which develops from the simple announcement in [Jeremiah 31:31] is one of the most important in the book of Jeremiah. Indeed it represents one of the deepest insights in the whole OT.” J.A.T. 31:31—Two things are critical in this verse: 1) this promise-event is yet future to Jeremiah, and 2) it is a promise made to Israel and Judah. 31:32—This covenant will be different than the Mosaic Covenant (Law of Moses described in Exodus-Leviticus-Deuteronomy), which is a Suzerain-Vassal treaty/covenant. (See Galatians 3:19) 31:33—Notice all of the “I will” statements that follow. The Sovereign LORD God is the active partner in all of these promises. The foundational part of this covenant is a new heart. This is a stark contrast to Jeremiah 17:1. God will write “His Law” on their heart. 31:34—This covenant is characterized by such an intimate knowledge and fellowship that no instructors are necessary. All of this is based on forgiveness. That God chooses to forgive and un-remember is amazing. 31:35-37—These lines of poetry support the everlasting/unconditional aspect of these promises. God will fulfill these to Israel in the last days.
Are you regularly enjoying the intimate joy of worshipping God? Worship has nothing to do with being able to sing, but is the true response of a heart that makes much of God.
Are you living in the sweet freedom that is born out of being convinced of your worth and identity in Christ? You are wholly loved, completely forgiven, fully accepted, and considered in perfect standing with God because of Christ Jesus. That is who you are as a Christian. That is your identity.
Unfortunately, most conversations around Biblical Covenants involve the conditional/unconditional distinction. This is an unhelpful oversimplification of Biblical Covenants. It is better to speak of an obligatory/promissory distinction, or even better “obligation of Servants to King/obligation of King to Servant.” Technically, these are called Suzerain-Vassal Treaties and Covenant of Grant, respectively. S-V Treaties obligate the servants or nation to the King. A Covenant of Grant obligates the King to the Servant. The former is based on future obedience. The latter is based on past obedience/faithfulness. The Mosaic Covenant is a S-V Treaty. In fact, the Book of Deuteronomy is in the form of this ancient treaty. The Abrahamic, Davidic and New Covenant are Covenants of Grant. And that’s enough preface. Jeremiah 31:31-34 is the chief Old Testament passage describing the New Covenant and the only one to use that title. See also Jeremiah 32:37-40; Isaiah 61:8-9; Ezekiel 36:22-28; 37:21-28; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6, and especially Hebrews 8-10; 12:24. “The short passage which develops from the simple announcement in [Jeremiah 31:31] is one of the most important in the book of Jeremiah. Indeed it represents one of the deepest insights in the whole OT.” J.A.T. 31:31—Two things are critical in this verse: 1) this promise-event is yet future to Jeremiah, and 2) it is a promise made to Israel and Judah. 31:32—This covenant will be different than the Mosaic Covenant (Law of Moses described in Exodus-Leviticus-Deuteronomy), which is a Suzerain-Vassal treaty/covenant. (See Galatians 3:19) 31:33—Notice all of the “I will” statements that follow. The Sovereign LORD God is the active partner in all of these promises. The foundational part of this covenant is a new heart. This is a stark contrast to Jeremiah 17:1. God will write “His Law” on their heart. 31:34—This covenant is characterized by such an intimate knowledge and fellowship that no instructors are necessary. All of this is based on forgiveness. That God chooses to forgive and un-remember is amazing. 31:35-37—These lines of poetry support the everlasting/unconditional aspect of these promises. God will fulfill these to Israel in the last days.
