Covenants: New Covenant

The New Covenant

Following God's covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, we can see His faithfulness through the Old Testament. However, often repeated in the story of the Old Testament is the theme of people who rebel against God's word and wisdom. Yet, amid rebellion, God's prophets spoke of future hope and a future covenant.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 (NKJV)

Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

The anticipation and expectation of the Scriptures push forward to the New Covenant and Jesus. Jesus is the faithful Covenant Partner as the author of Hebrews outlines. But not only is Jesus the trustworthy Covenant Partner, He is also more excellent and high above all.

Jesus is superior to the Angels:

Hebrews 1:1–4 (NKJV)

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

One greater than Moses:

Hebrews 3:1–6 (NKJV)

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Jesus is our Great High Priest:

Hebrews 5:7–10 (NKJV)

who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek

Jesus is Mediator of a New and Better Covenant:

Hebrews 8:1–6 (NKJV)

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus established a new covenant (see: Lk. 22:20). The covenant in which Christians today receive the forgiveness of their sins, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and experience the love of God through the sacrificial act of Jesus (ref. Jn. 3:16). In the New Covenant, we partner with God as He continues to renew and restore all things through His Son, Jesus.

Helpful Resources:

BibleProject: Video-Covenants

BibleProject: Video Overview-Hebrews

Got Questions: What does it mean that Jesus is prophet, priest, and king?

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