Alfred Shropshire
The Lord says, "The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the people. ... I will be their God and they will be my people."
Biblical covenants spell out what God will do. A covenant is God's pronouncement: "I will." But, the fulfillment of covenant promises often lies far ahead in time. The Law Covenant told Israel how to behave and specified blessings for Israelites who obeyed God's Law and punishments for those who disobeyed.
In contrast, under the New Covenant, God promises believers inner transformation. In a New Covenant relationship, the believer will know God in a personal way; his sins will be forgiven; he will respond to God's inner prompting from the heart.
Jeremiah says this New Covenant is to be made with "the house of Israel." The covenant looks forward to a time when Messiah appears and a national conversion takes place. The all the benefits described by Jeremiah will be made available to that people, who at last recognize and acknowledge their redeemer.
Jeremiah predicted a New Covenant would be made and described what would happen when the covenant promises were fulfilled. Jesus identified His death on the cross as the institution of the New Covenant [Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:25). The fulfillment of the New Covenant promises made when Jesus sacrificed Himself awaits history's end.
Its benefits are experienced today by those who put their trust in Christ the promised Old Testament Messiah. Hebrews 10:16-17 applies the central promises of the New Covenant to believers today. God forgives the sins of those who believe in Jesus now, and He begins His transforming faith in Chris we enjoy a New Covenant relationship with God. *
*The Bible Reader's Companion Lawrence 0. Richards
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