Our understanding of the Bible is loaded down with many wrong concepts that in reality fracture our relationship with God. In particular our search for an easy way to gain entry into eternity is fraught with failure and even Jesus warned against it when he said: -
Matthew 7:13-14: - 13"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
The �New Covenant� theology is one such way we look for an easy way into heaven. We say that the �Law� no longer applies to us and that we are under grace but even that �grace� has boundary conditions. For example, Jesus taught a number of times that, �unless you can forgive, then God cannot forgive you.�[1] That is conditional and is a boundary condition for our righteous and entry into eternity with the Lord.
Jesus also stated: -
Matthew 5:17-18: - 17"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
Because the Israelites did not fully grasp God�s grace of redemption, He spelt out the boundary conditions that applied for them and these boundary conditions were used by the �righteous� people among the Israelites to determine their acceptance to the Lord and so the �Law� was entrenched into their psyche as their means of entering into �heaven�.
Jesus actually applied a stricter code of behaviour than was contained within the Mount Sinai revelation of the Law and its expansion by the Scribes and Pharisees. For example:
In Matthew 5:21-22[2]Jesus taught two aspects about killing a person:
that holding enraged anger against our brother is equivalent to actually killing him which is why we should never let the sun go down when we are angry but that we should quickly forgive our brother lest we are found guilty of our sin, and
that considering your brother as foolish, [which from a Biblical perspective is to consider that the person is walking contrary to God], without attempting to encouraging him to repent and return to God is equivalent to physically killing him because we condemned him to death and did nothing to save him we ourselves will be found guilty of killing that person.[3]
In Matthew 5:27-28[4]Jesus taught that the lustful desire of a woman was also adultery and was just as sinful as the physical act of adultery with the woman.
As such he pointed out that the Law still applied but that God�s expectations were such that it would only be by His Grace that we would be able to keep the �Law.�
Yes God�s love for us is unconditional in that he �Loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son to dies for us so that whoever believes in him will be saved[5]
Let us now consider the references to the �new covenant.�
References to �New Covenant� in the Bible
The following references refer to the �New Covenant� in the English translations. The author has also provided his translation for these same References to reflect what he believes is the true position of God on this matter.
Qualification
Just as the theological understanding of the Bible translators influenced the translation outcomes for each of the translators and the translation versions, I also must not let my theological understanding determine the way I would translate the original Hebrew and Greek versions of the Bible otherwise I will display the same error as they have.
Wherever possible I have attempted to allow the context of the original text to uncover the English translation that I have suggested. Given that I am fallible, I trust that I have provided a better translation and understanding of the references quoted below.
Old Testament References
Jeremiah 31:31-34: -
31"Behold, the days[6]are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new[7] covenantwith the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.[8] 34And no longer shall each man teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, `Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
A better translation of verse 31, which the Jewish scholars also hold too, is: -
Behold the day is coming says the lord when I will make the covenant like new with the house of Israel and the House of Judah
A better translation of verse 33a, which follows on from verse 31, is: -
But this is the covenant which I will remakewith the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD:
The fulfilment of Jeremiah 31:31-34
The question that has to be answered is, �When will this prophecy be fulfilled?�
The author�s understanding is that this prophecy is still to be fulfilled and that it will happen after Jesus� second return to earth to rule as the Messianic king. Jesus himself hinted at this in Luke 14:31-33, when he claimed that the Jewish people would seek his terms of peace[9]when he returns as the conquering king[10]in the future. But before that can happen, the children and the children�s children must suffer the iniquity of the fore fathers during the third and fourth age of Israel. At the start of the fifth age of Israel Jesus will return and the Lord will renew his covenant with the House of Judah and Israel.
New Testament References
Introduction
Most of the references to the �new� covenant in the following New Testament passages have been translated from the Greek word �kainh�{{kaine�}, which has the meaning of �made new� or �refreshed�. Of the forty-five times that Strong�s NT2537 is found in the New Testament, the Author has only identified six instances where it is directly associated with the word �covenant�
There are only twenty-three references to the Greek word �>ne/a$� {n�as}, which has the meaning of �brand new�, in the New Testament and of these only 1 is associated with the word �covenant/testament�.
To highlight this distinction between ne/on {brand new} and kainou/$ {made like new/renewed} in the New Testament we only have to refer to the following one verse parable:
Matthew 9:17: -Neither is [brand] new wine put into old wineskins; if it is, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine {ne/on} is put into [re]fresh[ed] {kainou/$} wineskins, and so both are preserved."
Even the word �new� in our own expressive usage has to be qualified. For example: -
the statement, �This is my new car.� Could be understood to mean either,
� �This is my {brand} new car.� Or
� �This is my new {second hand} car.�
So it is with the Greek Bible, we have to consider the circumstances and context of the language used for the word and the modifiers used in conjunction with the word. Our understanding of the �new Covenant� is just one example of that.
References
1 Matthew 26:27-28: - {blank}
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the {new} covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins
The expression �new covenant� is not found in all English translation of the Bible for this passage and is not present in the Greek Translation of the New Testament. It has been added to some translations to reflect the Theological understanding of the translators of that time.
2 Mark 14:24-25: - {blank}
And he said to them, "This is my blood of the {new} covenant, which is poured out for many.
The expression �new covenant� is not found in all English translation of the Bible for this passage and is not present in the Greek Translation of the New Testament. It has been added to some translations to reflect the Theological understanding of the translators of that time.
3 Luke 22:20: - [kainh]}
And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant[11] in my blood.
Again the word �new� as translated here should be �made new� As Jesus came initially for the Jewish people. A better translation for me is: -
�This cup which is poured out for you is the covenant made new [refreshed] in my blood.
4 1 Corinthians 11:25: - [ kainh]}
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Again for me the better translation is: -
�This cup is the covenant made new in my blood�
5 2 Corinthians 3:6: - [kainh=$]
who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The same argument can be mad here: -
�Who made us competent to be ministers of the covenant made new,�
6 Hebrews 8:8: - [kainh/n]
For he finds fault with them when he says:
"The days will come, says the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenantwith the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah;
This verse is a reference to Jeremiah 31:31 and a better translation based on the Greek word �kainh/n� is
The days will come, says the Lord,
when I will make with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah
a renewed covenant;
7 Hebrews 8:13: ["Kainhn"]
In speaking of a new {covenant}[12]he treats the first as obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
A better translation of this verse is: -
In speaking of a �renewed� [covenant]he treats the former as obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
To understand this verse we should consider the following parable: -
A man and a woman enter into a marriage covenant and after a number of years the woman leaves the man and goes to live in another house. The man loves his wife very much and he does not devoice her but he wisely begins to court his wife and to draw her back. After a period of time the husband and the wife reconcile the relationship and the wife once more appreciates and loves her husband. When the man and the woman begin to live again as husband and wife they renew their marriage covenant which they had made initially, but the renewed marriage covenant they made was slightly different from their previous covenant.
As the years passed the former marriage covenant they had made became obsolete and the renewed marriage covenant came to the for in their lives.[13]
Confirming Old Testament scripture passages:-
Isaiah 54:5-8 5 For your Maker is your husband,
the LORD of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
6For the LORD has called you
like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
7 For a brief moment I forsook you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing wrath for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
says the LORD, your Redeemer.
Hosea 2:16-20: - 16"And in that day, says the LORD, you will call me, `My husband,' and no longer will you call me, `My Baal.' 17For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. 18And I will make for you a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. 19 And I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 20I will betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD.
8 Hebrews 9:15: - [kainh=$]
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.
A better understanding of the this verse is gained if it is translated as: -
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the covenant made new, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first testament/covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
9 Hebrews 12:24: - [ne/a$]
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.
The word �new� here is translated from �neo� which has the meaning of �brand new� and this is the only time it is found in a verse in the New Testament where the word covenant is also found in close proximity. A better translation is: -
�And to Jesus the newmediator of the covenant, ��
Conclusion
The references quoted above suggest that there has been no �new� covenant undertaking by God and that the language used in the Bible confirms this understanding. Jesus himself, as quoted by the New Testament writers, did not state that he was ushering in a new covenant but that he was fulfilling the existing covenant and Law that had previously been written by Moses and the Prophets.
We cannot claim that the Law has been done away with, only that the Law has been fulfilled through Christ�s first visitation here on earth.
We cannot claim that the Law no longer applies to us because of a supposed �New Covenant� which we claim has done away with the Law if no �New Covenant� has been established.
As such the Law still applies but God enables us to keep the Law through his grace as we rely on Him to help us to comply with the Law, as we are unable to keep the Law in our own strength.
As we believe in Him whom he has sent and continue to receive his grace so we are made whole and acceptable and are judges as righteous like Abraham and become of his seed.
"Now is the NEW COVENANT completely new,or is this covenant just the old covenant having been 'RENEWED,as someone has stated."
"There is nothing new under the sun!"
There really is no NEW covenant, although the Second Half of the Whole has been manifested in the completion of the Eternal Dichotomy.
God has to Always function in dichotomies, this is why Jesus came teaching in parables, and it states, "And He never taught anything that was not taught in a parable".
This is why I have posted on Judaism being a false religion because of its claim to be a religion based solely on what is know known as "the Old Testament", and that Christianity is also a false religion, because of its claim to represent the truth, but only through what is termed "the New Testament".
Yes, you are correct, there is only ONE Covenant, being made up of two parts.
The people of that One and ONLY Covenant, are known as the elect:
"Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." [Paul II Tim 2:10]
God has to Always function in dichotomies, this is why Jesus came teaching in parables, and it states, "And He never taught anything that was not taught in a parable".
BECAUSE:
MT 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
MT 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
MT 13:15 For this people�s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
The word tells us that when he taught in parables, not he laways taught in parables, he did so because of some that was in the audience.
To he that hath an ear to hear and eye to see, we know he taught as men also teach today.
Hebrews 9:15,26b-28: Christ is the mediator of a **NEW COVENANT** so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant...But now He has APPEARED once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the SACRIFICE of Himself... so Christ was SACRIFICED ONCE to take away the sins of many people, and He will *APPEAR* a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
Hebrews 8:8,9,13: God found fault with the people and said: The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a **NEW COVENANT** with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will **NOT** be like the covenant I made with their forefathers.....By calling this covenant **NEW**, He made the first one **OBSOLETE**; and what is **OBSOLETE** and aging will soon disappear.� When all the words of the New Covenant were completed by the Book of Revelation in AD 96.
Hebrew 10:8-10: Jesus said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them"Although the law required them to be made. The He {Jesus} said. "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He {Jesus} set aside the first {Covenant} to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus ONCE FOR ALL!!
Isaiah 53:5,6: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all!!"
In the old covenant God's commandments were only preached to Jews but in the New Covenant Jesus commands us to preach to every nation in the world teaching them to obey *EVERYTHING* He commanded and everything would also include all of the approximately 400 NT commandments also taught in Acts to Revelation {See 2 Timothy 3-16 to 4:2.}
There were 613 OT commandments and Jesus changed many of them including all of the strict Sabbath commands and all of the commands to stone someone for sinning {Jesus says that he who is without sin should cast the first stone} Jesus also eliminated all the strict Levitical dietary laws declaring that all foods are now clean. And Jesus also commanded us not to make any vows or oaths {Matt 5:33-37}on anything Just let your Yes be yes and your no no.
Jesus also eliminated the eye for an eye laws and commanded us to always offer up the other cheek and to love {See Matt 5:38-48} our enemies. And of course Jesus eliminated all sacrifices and offerings for sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Jesus also eliminated the earthly rewards for faithful service and commanded us to sell our possessions and give to the poor and get TREASURES IN HEAVEN and **THEN** to come follow Him!
Luke 12:33,34: Jesus says, �Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted....For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.�
Matthew 20:20-24: �All these {Commandments} I have kept, the young man said. �What do I still lack?� Jesus answered, �If you want to be perfect, go, sell tour possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. **THEN** come, follow Me.� When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus says, �It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.�
Luke 6:20: Jesus says �Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.�
2 Corinthians 6:4-10: As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses, in beatings, imprisonments; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love, in truthful speech and in the power of God; genuine, yet regarded as imposters; dying, and yet we live on; beaten and yet not killed; *POOR*, yet making many rich; *HAVING NOTHING*; and yet possessing everything.�
I Timothy 6:5-10: There are men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with Contentment is great gain....If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.�
I Timothy 2:9,10: �I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.�
Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My *REWARD* is *WITH ME*, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!"
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: "So we make it our goal to please Him..For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him {Not NOW} for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad!"
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His **FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS**{See Matt 24:30-31;25:31-40}, and **THEN** {Not with earthly rewards now} He will *REWARD* each person according to what he has done,"
I Peter 1:13: �Therefore, prepare your minds for *ACTION*, and set your hope *FULLY* on the grace to be given *YOU* when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED*.:applause::angel::peace:
