Thursday: The New Covenant – Part 2
The prophecy of Jeremiah about the new covenant contains a double application: first, it refers to Israel’s return to God and His bringing them home; second, it refers to the work of Jesus the Messiah, whose death ratified the covenant and would change the relationship between humans and God.
Image © Graham Braddock from GoodSalt.com
It’s in the New Covenant that we get the fullest expression of the plan of salvation, which before had been revealed only in shadows and types (Heb. 10:1).
Read Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:24-26. How do these texts link back to Jeremiah’s prophecy?
The broken body of Christ and His shed blood were revealed in the Old Testament in the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. The juice of the vine represents the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, revealed in the New Testament. The work of Jesus did not begin with the New Testament; it embraced the Old as well, and in the communion service we can see the link that unites what Jesus has done all through salvation history.
The bread and the juice, then, provide the shortest summary of that salvation history. Though they are just symbols, it is still through these symbols that we understand God’s incredible work in our behalf.
The Communion service points not just to Christ’s death, but also to His return, without which His death would be all but meaningless. After all, what good would Christ’s first coming be without the second, when we are resurrected from the grave (1 Thess. 4:16, 1 Cor. 15:12-18)? Jesus established the link when He said, But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom
(Matt. 26:29). No question, Christ’s first coming is inseparably tied to His second. The first finds its ultimate fulfillment only in the second.
Next time you partake of the communion service, think about Christ’s vow not to drink of the fruit of the vine until He does so with us in the kingdom of God. How does that make you feel? What does that say about the closeness that Christ seeks with us?
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Blessed assurance that Jesus is coming again to redeem us from this evil unpleasant, exploited world which we call home for the tym being
I'm glad that I serve THE GOD OF COVENANT.
The covenant keeps and helps me to rely on Jesus and the Holy Spirit.I thank God for loving me so much more than I deserve and giving His Only Son Jesus Christ to die for me,so I can have a another chance to life eternal.
Since the Bible says "flesh and blood can't enter into Heaven" does this mean that the saved in Christ will be living not in Heaven but on the new Earth, where there will be bodies that can drink the juice of the vine that grows in the soil of Earth and that Jesus will be in a human body form again at that time?
Is that also the time when the lamb and the lion will lay down together and eat straw?
If this is right, why are we taught that those saved will go to Heaven?
I'm looking forward to your answer.
Much thanks.
I am unclear as to where you are referring but Romans 8 references dieing to flesh now and being made new! And Thessalonians talks about being changed at Christ's second coming! Seems clear to me that God has a new body and new mind to give me! Just has Jesus had a glorified body after His resurrection!! After my resurrection, my human flesh and blood are transformed into a glorified body and human (i.e. sinful) flesh and blood are no more! God restores us to original! Woo hoo praise God for grace beyond my human imagination! Heavenly things are possible because of Jesus!
1Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Royce
Hi Gail, I think what Paul was speaking of in 1 Corinthians 15:50 was our sinful nature. Galatians 5:19-21 speaks of the manifestations of flesh and blood which cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. He was referring to a particular topic that was plaguing the members of the Corinthian church; that of Christ's resurrection, resurrection of the dead, and the manner of the body after the resurrection; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. The context of what Paul was speaking should never be overlooked. Mortal will put on immortality, and corruption will put on incorruption to enter the kingdom of heaven.
At His coming, some people will return with Him to heaven, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. Matthew 7:21, Revelation: 15: 2, 3, 22:14. They will spend a thousand years while the earth is being renewed, Revelation 20: 7-9.
The saints will then return to earth that has been redeemed for the purpose it was created; Numbers 14:21, Psalm 37:11, Isaiah 45:18, Matthew 5:5.
We will be in human form, build homes and inhabit them, and plant vineyards to eat the fruit of them; Isaiah 65:21-22.
Animals will be different; Isaiah 11:6-9, 65:25
There will be no sickness; Revelation 21:4
There will be nothing to disturb; Isaiah 32:18
(Basic Bible Study Helps)
If I recall and understood my Sabbath School lessons and bible studies, Jesus is now our High Priest Hebrew 9:24, and His love and sacrifice for sinful man have now made Him identifiable with us in human form for the rest of eternity; Hebrew 2:16-17.
Gail, in the context of that passage, Paul is speaking of our mortal state vs the immortal state which will be given to all when Jesus returns to gather His redeemed.
The very next verse states that we all will be changed into an immortal and glorified state, which will be a physical state just "as the angels" who dwell in the presence of God.
The New Earth will become "heaven", or the dwelling place of God eventually. This is the "new heavens and new earth" as God will make this redeemed earth His abode forever.
Though it may not be given much thought by most, human beings are not alone in the universe, and the Creator also has a covenant with the unfallen worlds. Of the angelic hosts we understand that one third have broken the covenant with their Maker, being deceived and influenced by the Dragon (Revelation 12:3-4).
If God’s dealing with the human race is anything to go by no doubt there was ample opportunity for repentance and restoration among the errant angels. That the deviant angels (demons) were not immediately destroyed (Revelation 12:7-9) or at the Cross presents a picture of a forbearing Potentate who had greater plans for the universe than just to abide with compliant beings.
The fallen angels used their probation to harden their position in rebellion against God and were therefore sentenced to eradication along with the sin they embraced (Matthew 25:41). It is Jehovah’s desire that He should dwell with beings who do right because they genuinely desire to and not by coercion or just to escape punishment (Ezekiel 33:11). He is looking for love.
To this end God keeps the protagonists of sin around to make their case for evil beyond the Cross and the Second Coming of Jesus (Revelation 20:1-10). Greater still God makes His case through Christ and His supreme sacrifice (John 3:16). This forms the backdrop against which the Lord invites humans into a new covenant, really a renewal of an everlasting intent (Hebrews 8:8-12; Jeremiah 31:3).
The Lord’s offer of a new covenant is a divine proposal made to the object of His great affection. Jehovah provided the means of ratification of the covenant (Matthew 26:28) and took care of all the arrangements (Matthew 22:11-12; Isaiah 61:10). He only asks that those who have the desire to enter into marriage with Him demonstrate that they love Him back (John 14:15; 15:10).
If you have the heart to love the Lord forever the new covenant is for you.
The "new" covenant that Jesus introduces in these passages (Luke 22 & 1 Cor 11) is the ending of types as He would become the propitiation for sinners before God. The true and living way, the Promised Redeemer has come and no longer are animals and earthly priests required as we place our faith directly in Christ, praying in His name.
No change in the covenant made with Adam and Eve the day they sinned, but only the realization of the promised Seed who would now bruise the serpent's head.
What was promised in Jeremiah 31 was for both those who worshiped with types and those who worship without them now. In either era, the covenant is entered though believing God's promises, as revealed by the obedience of faith.
Thank you. This goes to all who have just made it simple for some of us to comprehend the mysterious ways in which the Lord works. Once again, thank you.