The new covenant

The new covenant fulfils the OT covenants

God’s covenant with Noah

Is 54:9–10; Ho 2:18

God’s covenant with Abraham

Lk 1:72–73; Ac 3:25–26; Ga 3:14–16

God’s covenant at Sinai

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

God’s covenant with David

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

Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant

The new covenant fulfilled in the Messiah

Malachi 3:1 ESV

“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

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

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

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

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

A new knowledge of God

Hebrews 8:11 ESV

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

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

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

A lasting covenant

Is 61:8; 2 Co 3:11

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