Welcome to the New

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 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 31:31-34

As I reflect on my childhood, I remember my parents instilling a sense of Jewish pride in me and my siblings because we were God’s covenant people. His “chosen” people. My dad would say being a “member of the tribe” was just who we were.

Even though I hadn’t read the Bible before 2000, I did learn several Bible stories at Hebrew School and Sunday School. First, I learned the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), as it is the most fundamental expression of the Jewish faith.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

We learned about the covenants with Noah (Genesis 6:18; 9:9–10, 12–13, 15–17), Abraham (Genesis 15:18; 17:7), Moses (Exodus 19:5–8; 24:3–11; 34:10; Deuteronomy 29:1), and David (2 Samuel 7:8-16; 23:5; Psalm 89:3; 132:12; 2 Chronicles 13:5). We were taught to wear our covenant heritage as a badge of honor. However, the one with Moses at Mt. Sinai seemed to stand out and was remembered the most. God spoke to Moses at Mt. Sinai,

“And now if you will carefully listen to my voice and keep my covenant, you will be a treasured possession for me out of all the peoples, for all the earth is mine, but you, you will belong to me as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

Exodus 19:5–6 (LEB)

This was a conditional covenant. In contrast, the covenants with Noah, Abraham, and David were all unconditional. In other words, God’s promises in these three were not conditioned on Noah, Abraham, or David (or their people) doing anything. However, in the Mosaic Covenant, God tells the Hebrews, “Keep My laws, and I’ll be your God. You’ll belong to Me if you don’t break our deal.”

As far as I knew, they kept God’s laws, and we did too. And then I landed in Jeremiah 31. Remember, God has the microphone in this passage and He’s looking back at Mt. Sinai and forward to the Cross. In speaking of the covenant with Moses, He seems a little frustrated and tells His ancient audience, “It was your kin-people that committed spiritual adultery. It was your ancestors that blew it. I didn’t blow it. You did.”

The truth is, if you and I had been there, we’d have blown it too! In fact, I do blow it every day. But, PTL, He says the New is coming (v. 31), and it’s not going to be like the old...it’s not going to be dependent on you struggling to check every box on the law list.

It’s going to be internal, not external. God’s saying, “Listen ya’ll, I’m not throwing the law into the trash heap. I’m just saying that My covenant with Moses was written on stone tablets, but in the New, I will write it on your heart; I’ll put it inside you. You will know Me deeply and intimately when the New comes because My Word will saturate you to your core.” He goes on, “In the New, I will meet your covenant requirements by providing internally what you need. I will take care of it.”

The foundation of the New is absolute, complete, total forgiveness. There can be no better words for a sinner to hear than, “I will forgive [your] iniquity, and I will remember [your] sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). It will be forgiven and forgotten.

Be encouraged! The New has come—in the Father’s grace and mercy, in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, providing atonement and forgiveness, and in the Holy Spirit living inside you and me, writing His Word on our hearts. The fullness of the Godhead has come!

There is heart transformation in the New. Invite Him to work on you from the inside out, allowing your wants and priorities to line up with His Word. As He works on you internally, your daily walk will begin to reflect His character more and more.

There is intimacy and close fellowship with God in the New. Get alone with Him often...worship Him, talk with Him (prayer), and meditate on His Word. Languish in His presence.

Guilt, condemnation, and shame over your past don’t exist in the New. Freedom does. As a Christ-follower, celebrate that you are now part of the New Covenant family of God with all the rights and privileges that come along with it (Galatians 4:4-7).

Lord, I’m awestruck by Your faithfulness and mercy. You doggedly pursue us. Even when we blow it, even when we fail and fall short, and even when we break Your commands. You still provide a way for us to be in relationship with You. Holy Spirit, please never stop writing Your Law on my heart. Never stop working on me from the inside out. Thank You that the New provides me complete forgiveness for my wicked ways. Please, Jesus, don’t ever let me forget or take it for granted. And Father, allow me to live as a covenant member of Your family. Let my walk be a reflection of Your Son Jesus. In His name, Amen.