The New Covenant

When we look at the New Covenant we see that the word "new" means just that - new. In the Old Testament the word "new" in Hebrew is hadash which has the sense of something "fresh". It is used in the case of newly harvested grain in Leviticus 23:16 and Numbers 28:26. Also it is used in referring to new songs being sung to Yahweh in Psalms 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1, and so on.

And finally it is used in speaking of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31 and speaking of the promise of the Holy Spirit in Ezekiel 11:19; 18:31; 36:26.

The other word for "new" that is used is beriah which is only found in Numbers 16:30. The usage in that passage alludes to God bringing about something completely new and in an unprecedented fashion. As we know, He caused the ground to open up and swallow those in rebellion, alive. This was definately something totally new which had not been done before.

In the New Testament the word for "new" that is primarily used (especially in regards to the New Covenant) is kainos which again has the idea of "fresh".

As we know something that is fresh is not necessarily something that is entirely new. In fact freshness has the idea that something that is already there needs refreshing. A word is always defined by the context in which it is used. Take the example of the Hebrew word for "day" which is yom. Yom is a fairly broad word which can mean a literal, 24hr day or an entire age. So how do we know that the days of the Creation Week are literal 24hr days? By the context. We find that every day in that Week is accompanied by "...so the evening and the morning were the [a number] day." Throughout Scripture, everytime the word yom is used with either a number or a time of day, it is a literal, 24hr day.
Also, as I said of the new moon. The moon is always there just because we can't see it. Every month there is not an entirely, newly created moon, but the same one that has always been there, but is new again to us. Interestingly, the new moon reminds us of God's covenant.

Now looking back at the word "new" we find the same to be true. The context gives us the definition. If we ignore what is being said before and after the word then we are ignoring God's use of that word and making up our own definition. The word new in the sense of the New Covenant must be looked at in the same way.

"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying 'Know the LORD' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34

Notice that God says "the house of Israel" the second time, compared to when He said both houses in verse 31. He is speaking of ONE house, ONE people under Him.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek...for you are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28

Earlier in that same chapter, Paul wrote, "Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham." Galatians 3:7 speaking of the fact that our heritage, whether Jewish or any other does not save us, but only by faith are we saved.

Abraham was a Gentile called out of a Gentile nation (Genesis 15:7; 11:27-32; 12:1). He was called a Hebrew (which means one who crosses, or passes, over; as in the Euphrates River). God called Abram Abraham - father of mulitudes. He was calling him to make a people unto Himself. That includes ALL who come to the LORD by faith. If we understand this concept, then we begin to realize that everything God has given to His people Israel is not just speaking of the physical nation so much as it's speaking to ANY and ALL who come to Him by faith in receiving His gift of salvation through His blood that was shed on the cross as a sacrifice on our behalf. That is why His WHOLE Law is for both Jew and Gentile who come to Him by faith.

Now when He says in Jeremiah that He will put His law in our minds and write it on our hearts - we must realize that this is a major part of the New Covenant. He accomplishes this by giving us His Holy Spirit as we read in Ezekiel.
"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." - Ezekiel 36:27
This goes right in line with Ephesians 2:10.

By God causing us to walk in His statutes and judgments (which always speak of His entire Law, not just the Ten Commandments) we can now see the connection with the word grace. The true definition of the word grace (charis in the Greek) is "a divine influence upon the heart with a reflection through the life". God's grace is not only unmerited favor, but it is especially His Spirit enabling us to walk in His ways and His light which then shines to all men that they may glorify Him (Matthew 5:16).

Notice also that a part of the New Covenant as expressed in Jeremiah is that all who are under that covenant will know God. Psalm 111:10 says, "...A good understanding have all those who do His commandments." Genesis 26:5 tells us this: "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."

Abraham knew the LORD because he not only believed in Him, but obeyed His commandments as well.
And notice that this was four hundred and some years before the law was given at Sinai!
God's law has always been, and that is what we'll look at next.

God's intention all along was to dwell with His people as He does and now and soon will forever. Some have mentioned that because there is no temple then the feasts are no longer commanded for us because everything revolved around the temple. However, WE are the temple. The body of Christ is the tabernacle in which God dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16). WE are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and Messiah is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). Jesus is THE sacrifice and we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

"You also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:5

This passage in a nutshell shows us the reality of what was changed, or rather renewed, in the New Covenant. God is getting back to what He desired all along. Not to dwell in temples made of stone, but in us. Not to have a priesthood that offered up the blood of bulls and goats, but a priesthood that walked in His good works following our great High Priest - Yeshua the Messiah. The temple, Levitical priesthood, and the animal sacrifices were all three related because they were all tied in together with people's relationship to sin. The Levites would assist in sacrificing the animal in the temple. NOW that we are the temple and the priesthood we can look to our High Priest Who offered up Himself as the ultimate sacrifice and keep the Sabbath, the Feasts, and the rest of the Law in true freedom. Read Acts 7:46-50; Hebrews 9:11-15

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." - Romans 3:31

It is by the law that we experience freedom, not bondage. We become slaves of righteousness, not of sin (Romans 6:17-23).

Remeber, James says that faith without works is dead. Works can't save us, but they prove our faith is real. Obeying the law cannot save us, but it proves to us, and those around us, that we love God and our faith in Him is real. (1 John 5:2-3)

When we place our faith and trust in Christ we enter into a relationship with Him, as heirs, by which we find peace and joy in walking with the Spirit, in obedience to His laws. "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin." Romans 7:14 "For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man." Romans 7:22 "...So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Romans 7:25 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." Romans 8:7

It is because of the constant struggle between our flesh and our spirit that we must submit to God's law in order to be free. We must be a "slave of righteousness" (Romans 6:19).
NOT that we are justified by keeping the law, but that in keeping the law, we are being obedient to the faith, and are able to crucify our flesh.

ONE law for ONE people under ONE God. HE saves us by His grace through our faith, and gives us His instructions and laws for us to live by. Jesus said in John 7:16, "My doctrine is not my own, but His who sent Me." The word 'doctrine' means teaching, or instruction. What are the Father's instructions? The commandments, statutes, judgments, laws. The Feasts of His are a part of that. This is also why we should not participate in holidays that are in opposition to His word. Easter, Christmas, etc... are clearly pagan in origin and tradition and the Lord specifically tells us not to worship HIM with those types of things (Deuteronomy 12:1-4).

Yeshua (Jesus) said, "For this is My blood of the covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Matthew 26:28. Neither Matthew nor Mark record the word 'new'. It is a 'new' covenant and one that I am very thankful for!