The Messiah and the Covenants of Israel (Continued)

The New Covenant - Its Purpose and Effect

The Jeremiah text implies it is a covenant that was designed to replace the Mosaic Covenant which was described as being ‘broken’.  The Jewish nation had been under the Mosaic economy for a considerable time, and no doubt could not envisage a day when the Law would not apply, but one fact is clear – because of the weakness of the flesh the dispensation of Law did not succeed in its main aim - to prepare the nation to receive her Messiah. That a conditional covenant should be replaced because one of the parties to the covenant could not fulfill her part of the contract is quite reasonable. Especially as it is to be replaced by a new covenant which essentially was unconditional, inasmuch as the terms laid down, placed the responsibility for the fulfilling of the covenant on one party only, and that was the party that had been faithful to the previous covenant. The Lord Himself would take responsibility to ensure Israel kept the Law by engraving its demands on the hearts of His people and then indwelling them Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit to provide the motivation, energy and ability to keep it. This is new for old, and the new is so much better, so much more comfortable, so much more fruitful, so much more God-glorifying and so much more satisfying.

The promise of this new covenant was a clear indication that God is faithful to His earlier promises for it envisages a time when the Abrahamic Covenant would be fulfilled in its entirety.  The New Covenant gives an assurance to Israel that their future is safe in the hands of their God, that there is no way He has forgotten them and that they remain, as always, engraved on the palms of His hands.[1]

The question naturally arises here – if the New Covenant is to replace the Mosaic Covenant because Israel had broken the conditions of the Covenant, what law is envisaged in these prophecies? YHWH described it as ‘My law’; ‘My statutes’, ‘My ordinances’. What laws, statutes and ordinances prevail under the New Covenant? They are best described as the laws of the Messiah. Jesus Himself described them as “My commandments”. (John 14.15,21; 15.10,12) The motivation for keeping these commandments is love of the Savior. “If you love Me, keep My commandments”. (John 14:15) In this way the Jewish believer would reflect the attitude and relationship that exists between the Son of God and the Father. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love”. (John 15:10) And love is at the heart of the Messiah’s law. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”. (John 13:34) It is a high standard – to love as Christ loves – but with His command He provides the enabling – the indwelling Holy Spirit. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever”. (John 14:15-16) Again, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him”. (John 14:23) This is part of the mechanics of the operation of the New Covenant, where He promised to put His law in Jewish hearts.

Next Time : The Messiah and the Covenants of Israel

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[1] Isa. 49.15,16