Doctrine: New Covenant

Tod Kennedy

1.     A covenant is a promise that one party makes with another. The new covenant is one of the four basic unconditional covenants that God made for Israel.  They are 1) Abrahamic (Genesis 12.1-3) 2) Land (Deuteronomy 30.1-10) 3) Davidic (2 Samuel 7.14-16) 4) New (Jeremiah 31.31-34). These four covenants will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom. The Mosaic covenant or law is the conditional covenant.

2.     The new covenant is God’s promise that he will graciously give Israel a future permanent relationship and fellowship with him. There seems to be just one new covenant, but the blessings of the new covenant extend beyond Israel.

3.     The new covenant (Jeremiah 31.31-34; Ezekiel 36.25-28; Hebrews 7.22; 8.8-13; 10.15-18).

3.1.   It is primarily internal and personal, not external and legal.

3.2.   Israel will enjoy personal and national relationship with the Lord.

3.3.   Israel will have forgiveness of sin.

3.4.   The Holy Spirit will indwell each believer.

3.5.   Each believer will have the Word of God in his soul.

3.6.   Israel will be in her land.

3.7.   It is a better covenant.

4.     The death, resurrection, ascension of Christ, and the subsequent coming of the Holy Spirit is basis for the new covenant and why it is possible (1 Corinthians 11.25; Hebrews 7.22; 9.15-28; 10.29; 12.24).

5.     Scripture for the new covenant: Jeremiah 31.31-34; Ezekiel 36.25-28; Matthew 26.28; Mark 14.24; Luke 22.20;  1 Corinthians 11.25; 2 Corinthians 3.6-12;  Hebrews 7.22; 8.8-13; 9.15-20; 10.29; 12.24.

6.     The church--the body of Christ and the present parenthetical form of God’s administration--participates in the spiritual benefits of the new covenant because the death, resurrection, ascension of Christ, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the basis for all spiritual life  (1 Corinthians 11.25; 2 Corinthians 3.6).

7.     Specific applications of the new covenant for the church.

7.1.   Salvation (1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:15-28).

7.2.   Christian way of life:

7.2.1.   Supernatural sufficiency – God’s ability in us (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

7.2.2.   Equal to the task – whatever God asks (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

7.2.3.   Better way of life – internal, not external (2 Corinthians 3:11).

7.2.4.   Courage – instead of fear and cowardice (2 Corinthians 3:12).

7.2.5.   Spiritual freedom – inner direction and motivation, not rule book bound (2 Corinthians 3:17).

7.2.6.   Glory of Godlikeness in us – reflection of God (2 Corinthians 3:18).