The New Covenant

what is covenant in Biblical perspective:

·       Covenant is a solemn binding agreement or promise made between two or more parties.

·       As Christians, we are more concerned with the covenant made between God and man.

·       Covenant is an agreement between man and God.

·       Covenants are characterized by specific characteristics and obligations. 

·       Most Covenants with God are preceded by worship and honor to God. Worship. Sacrifice.

Covenants from Old to New Testament serves as foundational theme in God’s relationship with man.

Covenants have been instrumental in establishing new beginnings between man and God.

The first covenant was initiated by God to Noah. This is the way God binds with man to partner with him in what he wants to be done.

THE WALK OF GOD AND MAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN MARKED BY COVENANTS 

1: Noahic Covenant -unconditional.

Genesis 9:11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

 God promised never to destroy the earth again with the flood and gave a sign of a rainbow.

·       Unconditional-Remind us of His Grace.

·       Promise. -Promise keeper

·       Signs-

2: Abrahamic covenant -UNCONDITIONAL.

Genesis 15:9-10, 17-18 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.10 And he took into him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and ^pin you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”³

Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made ^bto Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, ^c“And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

3: Mosaic covenant-CONDITIONAL.

 Exodus19:24 this included the ten commandments establishes Israel as Gods chosen people. It emphasizes obedience, blessing and curse on the part of disobedience .

Deuteronomy 28:1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. ² All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:³ You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.⁴ The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

Exodus19:24 The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

·       The mosaic covenant served to inform the people that they would never be able to obey all the rules.

·       They needed a savior to die for their sins, and they could be saved by Grace.

·       It showed the nation of Israel (and us) the impossibility of keeping God’s law perfectly and the need for a savior and

·       It provided a forum for Christ to come and be the perfect Son of Israel who would obey God’s law in all things and be the once-for-all sacrifice for sin.

4: Davidic Covenant God-unconditional.

 God promises David that his descendant will reign forever leading to Messianic hope in Jesus Christ.

2 Samuel 7:12-16  When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. ¹⁵ But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[a]; your throne will be established forever.’”

5: New Covenant -The covenant of grace.

This was prophesied in Jeremiah 31 and fulfilled in Christ .

Luke 22:20 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.

This is the covenant the Lord spoke to us today.

This covenant emphasizes on Internal transformation, forgiveness of Sins, and a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

·       The new covenant ushered in the new creation.

·       This covenant is new in relationship to the old (Mosaic) covenant, but both are part of the covenant of grace.

·       While Moses was the mediator of the old covenant between God and the nation of Israel, Christ is the mediator of the new covenant between God and believers through his finished work of redemption in his life, death, and resurrection. While the old covenant required national obedience, the new covenant requires faith in Christ, the perfectly obedient Son of Israel.

God uses covenant to partner with man because:

1: Covenant legalize the agreements/ promises and makes them binding,

Once you enter in covenant with God or man, just know you have entered into a legal agreement that is recognized in heaven and on earth.

2: Covenants have a transgenerational implication:

Once a covenant is initiated it will drip down to generations affecting positively or negatively. Your children and the children after them.

·       Israel and Gibeonites Exodus 9.

·       David and Jonathan 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. ⁴ And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 

·       Saul kills the Gibeonites and brings famine on Israel. (2 Samuel 21:7).

·       David hands over 7 sons of Saul to be killed by the Gibeonites except Mephibosheth because he also had a covenant with Jonathan.  (2 Samuel 21:8-9).[Rizpah mourns and breaks the heart of David]

·       Be careful to keep the agreements that you make before the Lord God, they are binding for generations.

·       Some of you suffer because of the blood covenants made even by your fathers-you must denounce them in the name of Jesus.

3: Covenants are non-emotional.

·       You cannot enter into a covenant emotionally.

• Marriage is a covenant: children are fruits of the covenant.

• Salvation: once you confess Christ as Lord and savior of your life you enter covenant with God,s  

John 3:16 For so God loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

·       Whosoever believe regardless of their origin, whether rich or poor

·       Even though you are the worst person in the community, if they believe they will be saved.

·       There will be a covenant in all that God wants to do with you.

A COVENANT PLACE IS AN ALTAR

·       Since covenants are preceded by sacrifice and worship then where there is a covenant, there is an altar.

·       An altar defines authority and a point where divinity meets with humanity.

The greatest problem with us is that some take the covenant and the covenant place for granted

Covenants are ratified by the blood.

Blood bears witness here on earth. Jesus told the disciples take this in remembrance of me and as a witness that you are mine.

Blood speaks and God hears its voice:

Genesis 4:10 And he said what hast thou done. The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 

·       But we know of the blood that speaketh better things, the blood of Jesus Christ.

The devil understands the power of a covenant, and he uses the same to get access to the individual’s life’s family or nation. 

·       You must be conversant with covenant to understand God dealings with man.

Our god is a covenant keeping GOD.

Jeremiah 31:31-34  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, 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 the Lord. ³³ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: 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.³⁴ And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 -setting.

takes place in the ancient kingdom of Judah, during a time of great turmoil and uncertainty.

The prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah, delivering a message from God about a new covenant that will be made with them.

The setting is a bustling marketplace in Jerusalem, with vendors selling their wares and people going about their daily business.

Jeremiah, a respected and often persecuted prophet, has gathered a crowd around him as he proclaims the words of the Lord.

The people of Judah, weary from years of war and exile, listen intently as Jeremiah speaks of a future where God will write His law on their hearts, where forgiveness and mercy will abound, and where a deep and personal relationship with God will be established.

Unlike the conditional and unconditional covenants-this sums them all up. Grace sounds a call to respond.

Among the crowd are men and women of all ages, from the elderly who remember the glory days of Judah to the young children who have only heard stories of their ancestors.

They have come to hear Jeremiah speak, drawn by the hope and promise of a new covenant that will bring restoration and renewal to their land.

The sun beats down on the dusty streets of Jerusalem as Jeremiah’s words echo through the marketplace, stirring hearts and minds with the possibility of a brighter future for the people of Judah.

What is Jeremiah 31:31-34 about?

Imagine the incredible promise of God to create a new covenant with His people, one that goes beyond external rules and rituals.

This verse speaks to a deep transformation that will take place within individuals, where the laws of God will be written not on stone tablets but on their very hearts. The sign of the covenant is the manifested Christ.

It signifies a profound and intimate connection with God, where His presence will be felt within each person, guiding and shaping their thoughts and actions.

·       This new covenant comes with the immense grace of the promise of forgiveness of sins.

·       It is a reminder of God’s boundless mercy and love, offering the chance for a fresh start and a renewed relationship with Him.

·       Through this covenant, people will have the opportunity to truly know God on a personal level, experiencing His guidance, presence, and love in a way that surpasses any previous understanding.

the magnitude of this promise and the depth of God’s commitment to His people. 

·       How does the idea of having God’s laws written on your heart impact your relationship with Him?

·       How does the promise of forgiveness of sins and a deeper knowledge of God inspire you to seek a closer connection with Him?

·       Take heart in the reassurance that God’s new covenant brings, knowing that His love and grace are always present and available to guide and transform your life.

This comes after a long history of broken covenants and disobedience. To fully understand its significance, it’s important to remember the context: the Israelites had continually broken the old covenant, which was based on the Law given through Moses. This new covenant represents a profound shift in how God relates to His people.

Key Phrases

·       “I will make a new covenant” signifies a renewal and transformation.

·       Unlike the old covenant written on stone tablets, this new covenant is to be written “on their hearts.”

·       This change from external adherence to internal transformation highlights a deeper, more personal relationship with God.

·       The declaration “I will be their God, and they will be my people” echoes the promise made throughout Scripture (e.g., Genesis 17:7, Exodus 6:7). This enduring promise assures us of God’s unwavering commitment to His people, despite their past failures.

Comparative Scriptural Insights

Hebrews 8:10-12 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel  after that time, declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds     and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord, because they will all know me,

    from the least of them to the greatest.12 For I will forgive their wickedness.

Many people in today’s world struggle with feelings of inadequacy and failure. 

·       Jeremiah’s prophecy reassures us that God desires a relationship with us that goes beyond our mistakes.

·       He wants to transform our hearts, guiding us from within rather than through external rules alone.

·       This internal guidance can offer profound peace and direction in our daily lives.

Conclusion and Reflection

Jeremiah 31:31-34 

·       calls us to reflect on the nature of our relationship with God. Are we living by external rules, or have we allowed God to transform our hearts?

·       This passage invites us into a deeper, more personal relationship with God, one that offers forgiveness and renewal. Ponder how embracing this new covenant can change your daily walk with God.

·       What steps can you take to internalize His teachings and live out this profound relationship in your life today?

·       How can we cultivate a deep personal knowledge of God?

·       ready for a fresh story.

·       God’s promise of a new covenant is the roadmap to that new chapter.

·       He wants to etch His wisdom directly onto your heart, like a guiding compass in your daily hustle.

·       Will you open yourself to truly knowing Him and living out His teachings?

·       will you Commit to this deeper relationship and let it transform the way you work, love, and live.

·       Are you ready to take that step and embrace His transformative love?

Cultivating a deep personal knowledge of God involves embracing the promise of a new covenant that Jeremiah speaks about. This new covenant is not just external rules or regulations, but a transformation of the heart. One way to nurture a deep personal knowledge of God is to seek this inner transformation by allowing God to write His laws on our hearts. This means opening ourselves up to God’s guidance, allowing His truths to become ingrained in our very being, and living in alignment with His will. Through prayer, reflection, and study of the Scriptures, we can deepen our understanding of God’s ways and develop a more intimate relationship with Him.

cultivating a deep personal knowledge of God also means recognizing and experiencing His forgiveness. God promises to remember our sins no more in the new covenant.

Colossians 2:13-15  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the ^[a]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it

·       Anything that stood in opposition over your life, he nailed it on the cross.

Isaiah 53:4-5   Surely He has borne our ^[a]griefs And carried our ^[b]sorrows; Yet we ^[c]esteemed Him stricken, ^[d]Smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But He was wounded^[e] for our transgressions, He was ^[f]bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes^[g] we are healed .

·       This is the covenant of his blood

·       There is a covenant over your life dear ones.

·       Jesus took that which belonged to you and gave you what belonged to him.

·       You will not die of sickness and misfortunes. For there is a covenant over your life.

Psalms 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. 

Psalms 23: Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me Your stuff and your rode they comfort me You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever Amen. 

·       I know who I believe can keep me from falling, I will not fear For I’m not ordinary because there is a covenant over my life.

·       My marriage will stand the test of time, for there is a covenant over my life that

Psalms 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my whoever God has brought together let no man put asunder.

·       Before that evil was done, he had already died on the cross

·       I will not give up over my children, there is a covenant over my life that

·       I and the children that God has given me we are for a sign and a wonder in this land.

·       I thirst to see the bright destiny of my life, yet I’m struggling today, there is a covenant over my life 

·       In blessing I will bless you, and in multiplication I will multiply you.

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.

·       Church that needs t go back to the old ways-no growth, you are struggling just to keep the members to stay. You need a new beginning.

·       You stood in the altar and established a covenant with God in marriage, but the children are erratic-ou need a new beginning.

The Lord will restore the voice of the church in Kenya.

The change has always been made by people who knew the power of the covenant with God.

·       Billy Graham and his three friends made a covenant, they would not let money, women and pride tarnish the gospel. They kept their word.