Definition of a Covenant
A covenant is defined as: “A written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action.” Websters
A Biblical covenant is more specifically: “A contract between God and man drawn up by God and presented to man. Man can either accept it or reject it, but he cannot change it.” (The Covenants, page 2)
There are about 9 covenants in the Bible but the New Testament focuses largely on the “Old” and the “New”. For more information about covenants in the Bible see 6 Facts about God’s Covenants.
Instituted by Christ
The New Covenant was instituted by Jesus Christ Himself at the Last Supper before His crucifixion and resurrection.
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:19-20
It was by Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection that the New Covenant is made possible to Christians today. The New Covenant is essentially the Gospel properly and fully understood.
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| The Eucharist/ Lord Supper - by Nheyob, cropped by Tahc |
Prophesied in the Old Testament
God foretold the New Covenant in Jeremiah chapter 31 when He declared:
“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.
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.” Jeremiah 31:33-34
The Old Covenant
The Old Covenant is essentially the Law given to Moses (Exodus 24, Hebrews). A summarization of it is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). It is not that we don’t try to keep the Law anymore but now it is “written in our hearts” as Jeremiah told us.
It is now a matter of faith in God’s grace, the promises of the New Covenant and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about our holiness. Trying to please God by our own works and attempts to keep the Law (apart from faith and grace) is called “Legalism”. Legalism can be actions or, more subtly, an attitude.
“…yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 2:16
The Book of Hebrews
The letter to the Hebrews is crucial in understanding the differences between the Old and New covenants. This letter was written to Jews scattered about. Some of them believed in Jesus but it was hard for them to break off from the Old Covenant and enter fully into the new one. Paul encourages them about the “better” way of Jesus Christ and His New Covenant.
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15
The Galatians
The book of Galatians speaks much about the New Covenant as opposed to the Old Covenant. The Galatians were Christian believers who had been seduced by those who would keep the Law by works. The Church at Galatia seemed to understand that they were justified (or saved) by faith and grace but they had been failing to see that the only way they could be sanctified (made holy in Christian living) was also by faith and grace – i.e. the New Covenant.
Paul, the author, is very direct with the Galatians:
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
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| Christians often struggle under legalism like a yoke of bondage |
The Importance of the New Covenant
The New Covenant is the way that God has chosen to relate to us today as believers in Jesus Christ. Yet so many of us live by the Old Covenant under a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). We fail to see all that holiness and power and liberty that is available to us through the promises of the New Covenant.
Andrew Murray wrote about this in his book “The Believer’s New Covenant” which has been of supreme importance in my life. He writes:
“I would admonish all believers who long to know to the utmost what the grace of God can work in them, to study carefully the question as to whether… that our being in the bondage of the Old Covenant is the reason for our failure, and whether a clear insight into the possibility of an entire change in our relation to God (via the New Covenant) is not what is needed to give us the help we seek."
My Personal Experience
I struggled for many years not understanding God’s grace given in the New Covenant. To this day I still fail and crawl back to the works of the Law (or the "Do it myself" attitude) in order to please God. But I believe God taught me the beauty of this “new” covenant while reading Andrew Murray one day (see 5 Thoughts on Grace).
After a spiritual breakdown in my early twenties, the concept of grace slowly began to sink into my heart. Not just for my justification but also for my sanctification (i.e. becoming more like Jesus, striving for holiness, evangelism and living the Christian life more and more effectively). I kid you not, as this truth slowly saturated into my heart and mind, I felt a powerful force was lifted off of me… chains of bondage were shattered and I was free. I understood (or at least began to understand) grace.
May the rich blessings of the New Covenant be yours by faith and grace.
