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The New Covenant and How we Enter into it with God
Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that 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 bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Yahweh. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yahweh: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people: and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh; for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
This topic can be written about for many pages, but for now, in the interest of brevity, I’m just going to point to the verses, for the Word God speaks clearly on this topic where we don’t need to reiterate, rephrase, or emphasize too much.
So, above, we heard the prophet Jerimiah forecast the new covenant. Now let’s hear Messiah himself speak about it during the last supper right before he was crucified.
He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26-27-28
Just to emphasize, Yeshua is saying here that the new covenant requires that he pour out his blood for the remission of sins for many.
As you know, the old covenant was different in that it was based on the law of Moses, and forgiveness required (mostly) animal sacrifice. All of that is established in the Old Testament books of Exodos, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Now let’s see what the Apostle Paul says about the new covenant.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he said, "Behold, the days come," says Yahweh, "that 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; for they didn't continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them," says Yahweh. "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days," says Yahweh; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people. They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know Yahweh,' for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more." In that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.
Hebrews 8:7-13
How, then, do we enter into this new covenant?
. . . that if you will confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10
What happens next at the moment you are saved?
Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit.
Acts 2:38
How does this gift of holy spirit relate to the Good News of the Kingdom of God? Because the holy spirit being in you, and you being in the spirit is the Kingdom of God.
Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation: neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you."
Luke 17:20-21
That’s not to say that there won’t be a time when heaven comes to earth (that’s another topic for another time), but your citizenship into that Kingdom happens when you are born again.
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't marvel because I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
John 3:6-8
Now you know what the New Covenant is and how you enter into it. And now you also know that this is, in fact, the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
“This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14
Next, in point 4 of our mission, we look into what we’re supposed to do in this new life, this awakening, now that we have received the gift of holy spirit, and now that we have attained citizenship into the Kingdom of God, and how to live the abundant life Messiah promised. |
