A covenant is a legal document. We know that a secular legal document is binding. A heavenly legal document is much more so. God created the world that has legal documents, God is much more reliable, honest, trustworthy than any law court we have on earth. His covenants can absolutely be trusted. Yet, there are people who say that a covenant has bee replaced by a new one!!!
There are many covenants we have with the Lord but the one most often referred to is the Mosaic Covenant that is called the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The old covenant is given to us in Deuteronomy 11:26-28. The New Covenant is promised to the Hebrew people in Jeremiah 31:31-34. We have been adopted into the Hebrew family so we can consider this covenant with us, also.
The Mosaic Covenant promises blessings on the condition of obedience, and curses for disobedience. We know this is so, we learn it from the time we are tiny children. When we are too old to be spanked by parents for doing wrong life itself spanks us. There is not one single word of salvation spoken of in this covenant and even if a legal document could be cancelled, there is no attempt by scripture to cancel this. The only way it is related to salvation is that it outlines a way to make ourselves unacceptable for salvation.
The protestant church has done all it could to change God's word. They are very knowledgeable about the grace and salvation of the new covenant, even though salvation is only in God's hands and obedience is in our hands. They do not earn salvation, it is a gift. Yet protestants wave their salvation in front of everyone as if it is something they did and could brag about. They have no understanding that rebellion is deadly for it makes the soul unacceptable.
I think it is important to read Jer. 31, as the Word which became Flesh tells us what the New agreement with His people is.
Jer. 31:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I (Word which became Flesh) will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD,
I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Notice He said He would write HIS Laws on our hearts of those of the house of Israel. No mention of different laws, or new laws.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:
for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
One Agreement that was make through Moses was what Hebrews calls the "Levitical Priesthood". This was a set of instructions which were given specifically to the Levites. It had to do with two things.
#1. the administration of God's Laws.
#2. the atonement of sins.
In Jeremiah the Word is saying that there would come a day when we would no longer rely on "Levites" to administer God's Instructions, Jesus would intervene and write them on our hearts.
Also, we would no longer rely on the Levitical Priesthood sacrificial, ceremonial "Works of the Law" for remission or atonement of sins, Jesus would intervene directly and forgive our sins Himself with His own Blood.
This is because the Levite Priests had corrupted God's Words and were creating their own religion. Hebrews explains it perfectly.
Heb. 7:
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi,
who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people
according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (
for under it the people received the law,) what further need
was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
There was a problem with the Priesthood, what was it?
Jer. 5:
30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The
prophets prophesy falsely, and the
priests bear rule by
their means; and my people love
to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jesus spoke of this problem.
Matt. 15:
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with
their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Not from God.)
So the Word which became Flesh c
hanged this Priesthood because they corrupted it, and created another agreement, as He promised in Jeremiah.
Heb. 8:
7 For if that first
covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault
with them,(Levite Priests) he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when
I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the
house of Judah:
But the Priesthood given to Moses was specifically for the Levite. Jesus was from Judah, so there also had to be a change of the Law as it is written.
Heb. 7:12 For the
priesthood being changed,
there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to
another tribe, of
which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For
it is evident that our Lord
sprang out of Juda; of
which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
I think it is important to read what the Word which became Flesh says about what the New Covenant is and be careful not to add to it or take away from it.
Heb. 7:
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth
another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the
law of a carnal commandment, (Appointed because of a certain bloodline) but after the power of an endless life. (Raised from the dead because He didn't sin)
18 For there is
verily a disannulling of the commandment (Levitical Priesthood) going before for the
weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Human priests with carnal minds, appointed to the Priesthood according to this Law..
19 For the law (Levitical Priesthood) made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope
did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
22 By so much was Jesus made a
surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests,
because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: (They were sinners)
24 But this
man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity;(The Law of the Priesthood) but the word of the oath, which was since the law,
maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
This New Covenant, according to God's Word, is this wonderful change in the Priesthood. No more Levite Priests, scribes or Pharisees to filter God's Word. He writes them on our hearts.
No more Levitical Priesthood sacrificial "works of the Law" that the Jews were "bewitching" the Galatians with and harassing the Gentile converts with.
Messiah, with His blood, makes atonement for the sin's of His People once and for all.
There are many who preach the Word which became Flesh destroyed God's Laws in the New Covenant. We were warned of such preachers.
If you read the Word you will find this is a false teaching.
Great topic, thank you for sharing.
