The New Covenant - Observations

 

•       Was established by Jesus’ blood sacrifice on the cross

–        1 Corinthians 11:23-25 - The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me

•       Includes only saved people (those who “know the Lord”):

–        Jeremiah 31:31,34 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah .  . No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

 

•       Is made up of members of the “body of Christ”, members of the (universal) “church”

–        Matthew 16:18b - You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

–        Ephesians 5:23b - Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which he is the Savior

•       Is characterized by the Holy Spirit indwelling the hearts of all of God’s people.

–        2 Corinthians 3:6 - He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-- not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

–        Acts 2:17 - "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

–        2 Corinthians 1:22 – [God] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

–        1 Corinthians 12:13 - For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

 

•       Includes Jews and Gentiles on an Equal Basis Before God

–        Ephesians 2:11-18 - Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 

•       Believers in the New Covenant Are Under the Law of Christ

–     1 Corinthians 9:19-21 - Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

–     Galatians 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.