The new covenant

Text

Galatians 3:15–18 ESV

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

The new covenant fulfils the OT covenants

God’s covenant with Noah

Is 54:9–10; Ho 2:18

Hosea 2:18 ESV

18 And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety.

Isaiah 54:9–10 ESV

9 “This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. 10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

God’s covenant with Abraham

Lk 1:72–73; Ac 3:25–26; Ga 3:14–16

Luke 1:72–73 ESV

72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

Acts 3:25–26 ESV

25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Galatians 3:14–16 ESV

14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

God’s covenant at Sinai

Eze 16:60; Eze 16:62; Eze 20:37

Ezekiel 20:37 ESV

37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

God’s covenant with David

Is 55:3; Eze 34:24–26; Eze 37:25–26; Lk 1:69

Luke 1:69 ESV

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant

The new covenant fulfilled in the Messiah

Malachi 3:1 ESV

1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

See also Is 42:6; Is 49:8

The new covenant effected through Jesus Christ’s death

Hebrews 9:15 ESV

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

See also Heb 9:16–17

The new covenant sealed in Jesus Christ’s blood

Luke 22:20 ESV

20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

See also Ex 24:8 Blood was an important element in sealing the Sinaitic covenant; Jn 6:54; 1 Co 10:16; 1 Co 11:25; Heb 10:29

The ministry of the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

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.

See also Is 59:21; Eze 36:26–27; Ro 8:2–4; 2 Co 3:8

The superior blessings of the new covenant

God’s grace and mercy

Heb 12:24 The blood of Abel cried out to God for justice and retribution; the blood of Jesus Christ, shed to seal the new covenant, cries out for mercy and forgiveness.

A complete forgiveness

Hebrews 8:12 ESV

12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

See also Je 31:34; Ro 11:27; Heb 10:17

Release from the law’s condemnation

2 Co 3:9; Ga 3:13–14

An inward enabling to obey God’s laws

Je 31:32–33 The old covenant was broken because its demands were not met. Under the new covenant the requirements of obedience are not abolished, but in writing his laws on human hearts, God gives the ability to meet the covenant demands.

See also Heb 9:14; Je 32:38–40; Eze 11:19–20; 2 Co 3:3; Heb 8:9–10; Heb 10:16

A new knowledge of God

Hebrews 8:11 ESV

11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

See also Je 31:34; 2 Co 3:15–16

A renewed relationship with God

Eze 37:26–27 “peace” refers to spiritual and material well-being; real peace is possible only for those in a right relationship with God. The formula “I will be their God, and they will be my people” is associated also with the Abrahamic and especially the Sinaitic covenants.

See also Je 24:7; Je 31:1; Eze 34:30–31; Ho 2:19–23

A superior priesthood

Hebrews 8:6 ESV

6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

See also Heb 7:22; Heb 9:24–25

A superior sacrifice

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

See also Heb 9:26–28; Heb 9:20–23; Heb 10:4; Heb 10:8–14

A lasting covenant

Is 61:8; 2 Co 3:11

See also Heb 13:20; Je 50:5; Heb 8:7; Heb 8:13