A New And Better Covenant

 

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one. But showing its fault, God says to them, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord. “For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people. “And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. “For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer. When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.” Hebrews 8:7-13 NET

The writer of Hebrews powerfully references a passage from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, in particular verses 31:31-34 to underscore a profound truth: God promised to abolish the written law because the people failed to uphold it, unlike their forefathers who demonstrated unwavering faith when they left Egypt to follow after the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This prophecy starkly highlights the tragic reality that the lack of believing loyalty to God in the majority of the people resulting in His disfavor toward them. It stands as a monumental indictment—yet God graciously provided a different path for His people to follow, a path that they might still love Him and to come to know Him.

The kingdom of Israel was fragmented into two distinct kingdoms following Solomon's death, driven by his excessive polygamy and the crushing tax burdens he placed on his people. Jeremiah's poignant prophecies specifically targeted both the southern and northern kingdoms  in their twilight years. Throughout this tumultuous period, various dynasties rose and fell from the misuse of power from different families, yet all exhibited the same profound rebellion against Yahweh. It was this deep-rooted moral and spiritual decay that served as the foundation for Jeremiah's urgent messages.

God chose a revolutionary way to establish a new covenant with His people—one that transcends mere adherence to rules and ordinances. Instead, He invited men into a deep, heart-to-heart connection with Him. His desire was to cultivate a relationship that is profoundly personal and intimate, intimately touching the very hearts of His people, not just their minds. This marked a transformative moment, as God offered His people an opportunity of intimacy unlike anything they had ever known before if they would only believe.

This new covenant was not just about a distant God who was depending upon people following His rules; it embodied a relationship closer than they could have imagined. God was unveiling a vision of living in their hearts, transforming them into sacred spaces where His presence could dwell—rather than merely existing within the confines of a physical building or tent. He yearned for them to understand that true communion with Him is about connection and closeness, inviting them into an extraordinary and life-changing relationship

In contrast to the previous old covenant, this new revelation regarding the mystery of Christ is entirely new and remarkably different. Many details were not explicitly outlined in the old covenant but were oblique and ambiguous. Paul clarifies the reason for this: “To me—less than the least of all the saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:8-11 NET

God kept His redemption plan a mystery to prevent the spiritual powers that had usurped authority from mankind from discovering the secret of their impending defeat. His grand design is aimed at liberating humanity from the grip of demonic forces that have dominated the earth and restoring us to our rightful position of power—an intimate relationship with God Himself. This restoration transcends merely reclaiming the past; it unfolds as a profound transformation into a new and elevated state where we can experience a deeper communion with the Divine. Through Christ, we become sons and daughters of God, a position that far surpasses Adam’s experience in the Garden of Eden. While Adam walked alongside God in the garden, we have the opportunity to see Jesus, the perfect reflection of the Father. “For when he (God) put all things under his (Jesus’) control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control, but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.” Hebrews 2:8-9 NET

We have an incredible advocate with the Father, our King Jesus. The Father has given Him authority over all things, which also speaks of the supremacy of Jesus. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.” Colossians 1:15-17

God’s divine plan is to embed the law of love deeply within our hearts; this is Christ steering us toward the glorious kingdom of God. This profound love will empower us to truly know Him, from the least among us to the greatest. This love will conquer condemnation and blame, as God's boundless mercy will encompass all our misdeeds. Our sins will be completely atoned for through the profound sacrifice of Jesus, who chooses not to remember them, because in the end, love wins.

Stephen Barnett