Jeremiah: Everything Finds Its Purpose in Christ

Introduction

Open your bibles to Jeremiah 31. Will be starting in verse 31. That Jeremiah 31:31.

What makes us righteous.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This truth will be very important this evening as we examine the new covenant.

Last time the bloody King came with judgement for those hypocrites who lived among his people, even carried his peoples name, but in the end are false.

putting the words of Jeremiah in context

The people find themselves in exile. The are realizing that the hypocrites Isaiah talked about were them.

So the words of the Prophet come with clarity and hope.

Let’s Read

Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV

31 “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. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy, Infallible, and Sufficient Word

Let’s Pray

Transition

The day are coming says the lord, we will need to ask what days, but first lets read verse 31-32.

Body

What Covenant is this?

Jeremiah 31:31–32 ESV

31 “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.

What are those days?

What is the purpose of the author here, Calvin helps.

“We hence see why the Prophet added this passage to his former doctrine. For had he not spoken of a new covenant, those miserable men, whom he sought to inspire with the hope of salvation, would have ever vacillated; nay, as the greater part were already overwhelmed with despair, he would have effected nothing. Here then he sets before them a new covenant, as though he had said, that they ought not to look farther or higher, nor to measure the benefit of God, of which he had spoken, by the appearance of the state of things at that time, for God would make a new covenant. [1]

Did they have peace even after the return?

Amazing how the message of Hope ring true here

Do you see the west in upheaval?

Do you see evil creeping in on every side?

Are the Godless in charge?

There is hope in the new covenant.

They look forward to it and we live in it.

More on the new Covenant when we get to verse 33, now.

The Old Covenant

Jeremiah is writing from the remnant about to go into exile to the ones already in exile. and he said in verse 32 that this covenant now not be like the old and he does on to say they broke it, he was their husband.

The best example of a covenant we have int he word today in marriage.

Whenever you hear covenant think marriage that is what God does here.

Vows where exchanged.

“3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Ex 24:3–8)

They broke it.

The very next time the words, “new covenants” are Luke 22:20

There is a varent in Mathews account where is just says, the covenant.

Transition

In verse 33 we are giving the difference in the covenant.

The Law Within

Jeremiah 31:33 ESV

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.

Calvin is again helpful here.

“He now shews a difference between the Law and the Gospel, for the Gospel brings with it the grace of regeneration: its doctrine, therefore, is not that of the letter, but penetrates into the heart and reforms all the inward faculties, so that obedience is rendered to the righteousness of God.”[2]

“ A question may however be here moved, Was the grace of regeneration wanting to the Fathers under the Law? But this is quite preposterous. What, then, is meant when God denies here that the Law was written on the heart before the coming of Christ? To this I answer, that the Fathers, who were formerly regenerated, obtained this favour through Christ, so that we may say, that it was as it were transferred to them from another source.” [2]

Paul furnaces Jeremiah 31 in 2 Cor 3:4-6

“4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Co 3:4–6, ESV).

In these two passage the doctrine of regeneration shines.

Just as the Melchizedek Priesthood predates the arronic priesthood, The promise predates the Law.

Calvin again, just cause, “Now, as to the new covenant, it is not so called, because it is contrary to the first covenant; for God is never inconsistent with himself, nor is he unlike himself. He then who once made a covenant with his chosen people, had not changed his purpose, as though he had forgotten his faithfulness. It then follows, that the first covenant was inviolable; besides, he had already made his covenant with Abraham, and the Law was a confirmation of that covenant. As then the Law depended on that covenant which God made with his servant Abraham, it follows that God could never have made a new, that is, a contrary or a different covenant. For whence do we derive our hope of salvation, except from that blessed seed promised to Abraham? Further, why are we called the children of Abraham, except on account of the common bond of faith? Why are the faithful said to be gathered into the bosom of Abraham? Why does Christ say, that some will come from the east and the west, and sit down in the kingdom of heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and V 4, p 127 Jacob? (Luke 16:22; Matt. 8:11.) These things no doubt sufficiently shew that God has never made any other covenant than that which he made formerly with Abraham, and at length confirmed by the hand of Moses. This subject might be more fully handled; but it is enough briefly to shew, that the covenant which God made at first is perpetual.[3]

“And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

In the covenant they broke, it was if you keep my,

“The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.” (Dt 28:9, ESV)

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (Jn 15:10, ESV)

If it is the same as the old what hope then, Paul said it.

“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Co 3:4–6, ESV)

Transition

Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (Jn 10:27, ESV)

This is the evidence God give through Jeremiah in verse 24.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Jeremiah 31:34 ESV

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. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The question being how do we know when those days are?

What is the sign of this new covenant.

They will know me.

“We therefore consider that the object of the Prophet is mainly to shew, that so great would be the light of the Gospel, that it would be clearly evident, that God under it deals more bountifully with his people, because its truth shines forth as the sun at noon-day. The same thing Isaiah promises, when he says that all would become the disciples of God. (Is. 54:13.)” [4]

“from the least of them to the greatest”

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.” (Ro 10:12, ESV)

“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more”

The problem in all of scripture, how can a just God forget pass over sin

Conclusion

Its all about Christ,

The promise to Abraham in which we live, about Christ.

The Law about Christ to show what he accomplished for us.

He righteousness and the perfect law.

His coming gloriously is as says as Calvin, “clearly evident, that God under it deals more bountifully with his people, because its truth shines forth as the sun at noon-day.”

He is that noon day light, John said,

When you look around you friends,

Everything finds its purpose in Christ

“Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Co 15:24–26 ESV)

References

[1] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Prophet Jeremiah and the Lamentations, vol. 4 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 125.

[2] Ibid, 130–131.

[3] Ibid, 126–127.

[4] Ibid, 134.

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Prophet Jeremiah and the Lamentations. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.