Think about going by 12 years of faculty and by no means being taught easy methods to learn or write. Your academics taught you maths, music and bodily schooling, however they uncared for to show you the fundamentals of studying and writing.
That might be a severe oversight. You would depart college illiterate and ill-equipped for all times.
You wouldn’t have the ability to apply for jobs, full a mortgage software, obtain texts, learn contracts, or examine the labels on medication bottles.
Your life could be significantly impaired.
In the identical method, there are some who’ve been in church for years who’ve by no means been taught in regards to the covenants. Which basically means they don’t know easy methods to learn the Bible. They’re biblically illiterate and ill-equipped for all times.
Okay, positive, they’ll learn the Bible, however they see it as a single guide when actually it’s a assortment of covenants. (Take a look at the contents web page of your Bible if that is information to you.)
Listed here are three questions each believer ought to have the ability to reply.
- What are the Biblical covenants?
- What’s the New Covenant?
- How does the New Covenant differ from the Previous Covenant?
On this article, we’ll take a look at the primary two questions. In my subsequent article, I’ll evaluate the Previous vs the New Covenant.
What are covenants?
Some folks say a covenant is sort of a contract. That’s like saying “getting married is like shopping for a automotive.” There could also be some similarities, however they’re very completely different.
A covenant is a binding settlement between folks or teams that includes making guarantees and which is usually accompanied by ceremonies and rituals.
Not like a contract, which is transactional, a covenant is relational. A contract is an trade of possessions (that is now yours), whereas a covenant is extra an trade of individuals (I’m now yours).
An instance is a wedding covenant the place two folks bind themselves collectively in a proper settlement (vows) that’s often marked with a ceremony and numerous rituals (e.g., the trade of rings).
As you may see, a covenant is far more than a mere contract.
Covenants within the Bible
Within the Bible, there have been covenants between folks (e.g., David and Jonathan, see 1 Sam. 18:3), tribes (Jos. 9:1–15), and kings (1 Kgs. 5:12, 20:34).
Relying on the way you outline a covenant, there have been no less than 5 covenants made between God and man: (1) the Noahic Covenant, (2) the Abrahamic Covenant, (3) the Mosaic Covenant, (4) the Davidic Covenant, and (5) the New Covenant. You’ll be able to be taught extra about these covenants in the Grace Glossary.
What’s the New Covenant?
For fourteen centuries, the kids of Israel associated to God by the Mosaic or Previous Covenant. This was a burdensome covenant based mostly on the observance of legal guidelines and rituals. Throughout this time, the prophets of God spoke of a coming covenant that may be a brand new type of covenant:
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I’ll make a brand new covenant with the home of Israel and with the home of Judah.” (Jeremiah 31:31)
What’s the New Covenant? The New Covenant is a covenant of grace the place God blesses us with new life and divine favor for no purpose apart from it pleases him to take action.
I’ll make an eternal covenant with them: I’ll by no means cease doing good to them… (Jeremiah 32:40)
The New Covenant is completely not like the law-keeping covenant of Moses. As an alternative of a regulation written on stones, God writes his regulation on the hearts of his folks (Jer. 31:33).
As an alternative of being separated from God by the priestly-caste, we are able to all know God instantly (Jer. 31:34).
As an alternative of being held accountable for our failings, God forgives and forgets and cleanses us from all our sin (Jer. 31:34, Eze. 36:33).
Maybe the perfect characteristic of the New Covenant is God’s promise to present us his Spirit and make us model new (Eze. 36:26). He actually provides us himself and invitations us to stay in fellowship with him.
There actually is nothing just like the New Covenant!
The New Covenant made by Jesus
I think about the Israelites couldn’t look ahead to the New Covenant. When would it not begin? For a whole lot of years there have been no bulletins. Then on the evening earlier than he died, Jesus lifted the cup and mentioned:
This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood (Luke 22:20)
The New Covenant started with Christ’s demise and resurrection. From that second, the whole lot was completely different.
As an alternative of God blessing one tribe (the Israelites) in the event that they did good, God would now bless the entire world as a result of Jesus did good.
As an alternative of asking for sacrifices that by no means atoned for our sins, God mentioned “Look to my Son whose sacrifice has executed away with all sin ceaselessly” (Heb. 9:26).
And lest there be any confusion about the top of the Previous Covenant, God tore the temple veil from high to backside exhibiting that the best way to him was now open to all. Good instances!
A grace-based covenant
God by no means modifications, however the best way we relate to him could change. God’s covenant with Abraham was based mostly on grace, however his covenant with Moses was based mostly on regulation.
What about us? Does God relate to us by regulation or grace?
On this query the scriptures are clear: We aren’t underneath regulation however grace (Rom. 6:14). We aren’t underneath the Previous Covenant of regulation however the New Covenant of grace.
As believers, we’re the non secular descendants of Abraham and the heir of all God’s guarantees to the daddy of the religion. However that’s only the start. In union with the Lord, we’re the heirs of all issues by Christ. Excellent news!
If you happen to don’t know what makes the New Covenant new, you’ll be confused when studying the Bible. You’ll take different folks’s medication and find yourself lukewarm and barren.
Fortunately, there’s a easy check to inform in case you are strolling within the New Covenant.
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Additional studying:
The highest 12 blessings within the new covenant
The highest 12 verses on the brand new covenant
Do we want a brand new covenant examine Bible?
