The New Covenant
The new covenant guarantees Israel a converted heart as the foundation of all her blessings. According to the Old Testament principle that such a conversion can not be affected permanently without the shedding of blood, this covenant necessitates a sacrifice, acceptable to God, as the foundation on which it is instituted.
If the church fulfills this covenant, she may also fulfill the other covenants made with Israel and there is no need for an earthly millennium. It also requires that God does not fulfill his promises to Israel.
The following provisions for Israel, the people of the new covenant, to be fulfilled in the millennium, the period of the new covenant, are found in the Old
Testament:
(1) The new covenant is an unconditional, grace covenant resting on the “I
will” of God. The frequency of the use of the phrase in Jeremiah 31:31-34 is
striking. Cf. Ezekiel 16:60-62.
(2) The new covenant is an everlasting covenant. This is closely related to the
fact that it is unconditional and made in grace…(Isa. 61:2, cf. Ezek. 37:26; Jer. 31:35-37).
(3) The new covenant also promises the impartation of a renewed mind and
heart which we may call regeneration…(Jer. 31:33, cf. Isa. 59:21).
(4) The new covenant provides for restoration to the favor and blessing of God…(Hos. 2:19-20, cf. Isa. 61:9).
(5) Forgiveness of sin is also included in the covenant, “for I will remove their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:34b).
(6) The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is also included. This is seen by comparing Jeremiah 31:33 with Ezekiel 36:27.
(7) The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit will be manifested, and the will of God will be known by obedient hearts…(Jer. 31:34).
(8) As is always the case when Israel is in the land, she will be blessed materially in accordance with the provisions of the new covenant…Jeremiah 32:41;
…Isaiah 61:8…Ezekiel 34:25-27.
(9) The sanctuary will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, for it is written “I…will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with
them” (Ezek. 37:26-27a).
(10) War shall cease and peace shall reign according to Hosea 2:18. The fact that this is also a definite characteristic of the millennium (Isa. 2:4) further supports the fact that the new covenant is millennial in its fulfillment.
(11) The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of all the blessings of the new covenant, for “by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water” (Zech. 9:11).
By way of summary, it may be said that as far as the Old Testament teaching
on the new covenant is concerned, the covenant was made with the Jewish
people. Its period of fulfillment is yet future beginning when the Deliverer shall
come and continuing throughout all eternity. Its provisions for the nation Israel are
glorious, and they all rest and depend on the very Word of God.
Confirmation of this covenant is given in the statement in Isaiah 61:8-9, where it is
called everlasting, and again in Ezekiel 37:21-28. There the following points are to be observed:
(1) Israel to be regathered: (2) Israel to be one nation, ruled by one king; (3)
Israel no longer to be idolatrous, to be cleansed, forgiven; (4) Israel to dwell
“forever” in the land after regathering; (5) the covenant of peace with them to be
everlasting; (6) God’s tabernacle to be with them, i.e., He will be present with them
in a visible way; (7) Israel to be known among Gentiles as a nation blessed of God.
All of these promises are implicit in the basic passage of Jeremiah, but they
confirm, enrich, and enlarge the covenant.
This covenant, then, has to do with the regeneration, forgiveness, and justification of Israel, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with His subsequent ministries, Israel’s regathering and restoration to the place of blessing, all founded on the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament teaches that the new covenant is for Israel is also seen by the fact of its very name…contrasted with the Mosaic covenant (the old one has become obsolete)…the new covenant is made with the same people as the Mosaic…the Scripture clearly teaches that the Mosaic covenant of the law was made with the nation Israel only. (Romans 2:14…Romans 6:14 and Galatians 3:24-25…2 Corinthians 3:7-11…Leviticus 26:46…Deuteronomy 4:8.
The time of the fulfillment of the New Covenant. It has been agreed that the time of the new covenant was future. It was always viewed as future when reference is made to it in the Old Testament prophecies. Hosea (2:18-20), Isaiah (55:3), Ezekiel (16:60, 62; 20:37; 34:25-26) all spoke of it as future. It must be viewed as yet future, for this covenant can not be realized by Israel until God has affected her salvation and restoration to the land.
This covenant must follow the return of Christ at the second coming. The blessings anticipated in the covenant will not be realized until Israel’s salvation, and this salvation follows the return of the Deliverer. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins [Rom. 11:26-27].
The relation of the church to the new covenant. There are five clear references to the new covenant in the New Testament: Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8; 9:15. In addition to these there are six other references to it: Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Romans 11:27; Hebrews 8:10-13, and 12:24. The question arises as to the relationship of the believers of this present age to the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34. This question is important, for, as has been seen previously, the contention of the Amillennialist is that the church is now fulfilling these Old Testament prophecies and therefore there need be no earthly millennium.
Remember, the gospel is not a covenant, but the revelation of the salvation of God. It proclaims the great salvation. We enjoy indeed all the essential privileges of the new covenant, its foundation being laid on God’s part in the blood of Christ, but we do so in spirit, not according to the letter. The new covenant will be established formally with Israel in the millennium.
The blood of the New Covenant shed upon the cross of Calvary is the basis of all of the blessings of the believer in the present age. The believer, therefore, participates in the worth to the sinner of the New Covenant, so that he partakes of the Lord’s supper in remembrance of the blood of the New Covenant, (I Cor. 11:25), and he is also a minister of the New Covenant, (II Cor. 3:6). It is also said of the believer that he is a child of Abraham because he is of faith (Gal. 3:7), and of Christ, (Gal. 3:29).
The believer has been made near by the blood of Christ, (Eph. 2:13). He benefits in the New Covenant as a fellow-citizen of the saints and of the household
of God, (Eph. 2:19), and not as a member of the commonwealth of Israel, (Eph. 2:12)
When the covenants are studied analytically we find seven great features which are determinative: (1) a nation forever, (2) a land forever, (3) a King forever, (4) a throne forever, (5) a kingdom forever, (6) a new covenant, and (7) abiding blessings
The new covenant guarantees Israel a converted heart as the foundation of all her blessings. According to the Old Testament principle that such a conversion can not be affected permanently without the shedding of blood, this covenant necessitates a sacrifice, acceptable to God, as the foundation on which it is instituted.
If the church fulfills this covenant, she may also fulfill the other covenants made with Israel and there is no need for an earthly millennium. It also requires that God does not fulfill his promises to Israel.
The following provisions for Israel, the people of the new covenant, to be fulfilled in the millennium, the period of the new covenant, are found in the Old
Testament:
(1) The new covenant is an unconditional, grace covenant resting on the “I
will” of God. The frequency of the use of the phrase in Jeremiah 31:31-34 is
striking. Cf. Ezekiel 16:60-62.
(2) The new covenant is an everlasting covenant. This is closely related to the
fact that it is unconditional and made in grace…(Isa. 61:2, cf. Ezek. 37:26; Jer. 31:35-37).
(3) The new covenant also promises the impartation of a renewed mind and
heart which we may call regeneration…(Jer. 31:33, cf. Isa. 59:21).
(4) The new covenant provides for restoration to the favor and blessing of God…(Hos. 2:19-20, cf. Isa. 61:9).
(5) Forgiveness of sin is also included in the covenant, “for I will remove their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:34b).
(6) The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is also included. This is seen by comparing Jeremiah 31:33 with Ezekiel 36:27.
(7) The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit will be manifested, and the will of God will be known by obedient hearts…(Jer. 31:34).
(8) As is always the case when Israel is in the land, she will be blessed materially in accordance with the provisions of the new covenant…Jeremiah 32:41;
…Isaiah 61:8…Ezekiel 34:25-27.
(9) The sanctuary will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, for it is written “I…will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with
them” (Ezek. 37:26-27a).
(10) War shall cease and peace shall reign according to Hosea 2:18. The fact that this is also a definite characteristic of the millennium (Isa. 2:4) further supports the fact that the new covenant is millennial in its fulfillment.
(11) The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of all the blessings of the new covenant, for “by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water” (Zech. 9:11).
By way of summary, it may be said that as far as the Old Testament teaching
on the new covenant is concerned, the covenant was made with the Jewish
people. Its period of fulfillment is yet future beginning when the Deliverer shall
come and continuing throughout all eternity. Its provisions for the nation Israel are
glorious, and they all rest and depend on the very Word of God.
Confirmation of this covenant is given in the statement in Isaiah 61:8-9, where it is
called everlasting, and again in Ezekiel 37:21-28. There the following points are to be observed:
(1) Israel to be regathered: (2) Israel to be one nation, ruled by one king; (3)
Israel no longer to be idolatrous, to be cleansed, forgiven; (4) Israel to dwell
“forever” in the land after regathering; (5) the covenant of peace with them to be
everlasting; (6) God’s tabernacle to be with them, i.e., He will be present with them
in a visible way; (7) Israel to be known among Gentiles as a nation blessed of God.
All of these promises are implicit in the basic passage of Jeremiah, but they
confirm, enrich, and enlarge the covenant.
This covenant, then, has to do with the regeneration, forgiveness, and justification of Israel, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with His subsequent ministries, Israel’s regathering and restoration to the place of blessing, all founded on the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament teaches that the new covenant is for Israel is also seen by the fact of its very name…contrasted with the Mosaic covenant (the old one has become obsolete)…the new covenant is made with the same people as the Mosaic…the Scripture clearly teaches that the Mosaic covenant of the law was made with the nation Israel only. (Romans 2:14…Romans 6:14 and Galatians 3:24-25…2 Corinthians 3:7-11…Leviticus 26:46…Deuteronomy 4:8.
The time of the fulfillment of the New Covenant. It has been agreed that the time of the new covenant was future. It was always viewed as future when reference is made to it in the Old Testament prophecies. Hosea (2:18-20), Isaiah (55:3), Ezekiel (16:60, 62; 20:37; 34:25-26) all spoke of it as future. It must be viewed as yet future, for this covenant can not be realized by Israel until God has affected her salvation and restoration to the land.
This covenant must follow the return of Christ at the second coming. The blessings anticipated in the covenant will not be realized until Israel’s salvation, and this salvation follows the return of the Deliverer. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins [Rom. 11:26-27].
The relation of the church to the new covenant. There are five clear references to the new covenant in the New Testament: Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8; 9:15. In addition to these there are six other references to it: Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Romans 11:27; Hebrews 8:10-13, and 12:24. The question arises as to the relationship of the believers of this present age to the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34. This question is important, for, as has been seen previously, the contention of the Amillennialist is that the church is now fulfilling these Old Testament prophecies and therefore there need be no earthly millennium.
Remember, the gospel is not a covenant, but the revelation of the salvation of God. It proclaims the great salvation. We enjoy indeed all the essential privileges of the new covenant, its foundation being laid on God’s part in the blood of Christ, but we do so in spirit, not according to the letter. The new covenant will be established formally with Israel in the millennium.
The blood of the New Covenant shed upon the cross of Calvary is the basis of all of the blessings of the believer in the present age. The believer, therefore, participates in the worth to the sinner of the New Covenant, so that he partakes of the Lord’s supper in remembrance of the blood of the New Covenant, (I Cor. 11:25), and he is also a minister of the New Covenant, (II Cor. 3:6). It is also said of the believer that he is a child of Abraham because he is of faith (Gal. 3:7), and of Christ, (Gal. 3:29).
The believer has been made near by the blood of Christ, (Eph. 2:13). He benefits in the New Covenant as a fellow-citizen of the saints and of the household
of God, (Eph. 2:19), and not as a member of the commonwealth of Israel, (Eph. 2:12)
When the covenants are studied analytically we find seven great features which are determinative: (1) a nation forever, (2) a land forever, (3) a King forever, (4) a throne forever, (5) a kingdom forever, (6) a new covenant, and (7) abiding blessings
