So just what is the new covenant? What are the terms of this coevenant?
The answer to these questions is found in three verses in scripture. There are two in Hebrews.
Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put My Laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
and
Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9Â Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10Â For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Both of these have their source in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah,
32 not according to the covenant that I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Yahweh;
33 but this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, says Yahweh, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
I have heard some say that the law in Hebrews was the law of Christ as if God has one law and Christ another. However one has to deal with the fact that the only law in the time of Jeremiah was the law of God. It is the law of God that is written on the heart that makes up the new covenant. Verse 33 plainly says “my law”.
Sometimes the next question from someone is, “So are we supposed to be offering sacrifices?” I think that question is asked many times before the person really has a chance to think about what they are asking. The quick answer is of course not. In the next post we will talk about what was nailed to the cross and what was added 430 years after the promises to Abraham.
Tim