New Covenant is Second Covenant with Israel

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of ISRAEL and the house of JUDAH…And I will be their God, and they shall be my people…I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”  (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

“In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away…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 that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 8:13; 9:15)

I think Christians should be careful in talking about the Old and New Covenants.  Some even name their churches “New Covenant Church”.  And they generally teach that the New Covenant is one of Grace and is the Covenant mentioned in Jeremiah and Hebrews.  They assume the New Covenant is the covenant which the Body of Christ (Church) now has with God. That is just not the case as I read and understand the Scripture.  

Both the Old and New Covenants have to do with God’s unique dealing with Jacob and his descendants who collectively are the nation of Israel, God's chosen people.  It is to the “house of Israel and the house of Judah” alone that the Old and New Covenants were given. That is made clear in Jeremiah chapter 31 above, and it is clear to me that the reference to “a new covenant” in the book of Hebrews is also speaking of Israel because it says that the death of Jesus the Messiah “redeems them from the transgressions committed UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT”.  

Gentiles have never been, nor are we now, subject to the first covenant made to Israel through Moses.  Nor are Gentiles the object of the second (New) covenant spoken of by Jeremiah the Prophet. The book of Hebrews is clearly written to Messianic Jews who had been scattered, that’s why it is called Hebrews.

When Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, uses the term in his letter to Corinth it is either in reference to the covenants with Israel or as a “figure of speech” for the GRACE of God which has appeared bringing salvation to all mankind. Paul says of the New Covenant...

“In the same way also he took 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.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)

Paul was speaking of the words of Jesus to the Jewish disciples at the last Passover meal he shared with them and was reminding them that his shed blood redeems Israel “from the transgressions committed under the first covenant”.

In speaking of his ministry to the Gentiles Paul says that God “has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter (given to Israel only) but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

When Paul uses the term “new covenant” in 2 Corinthians 3:6 above it seems to be a figure of speech for the “new” revelation that all men are recipients of salvation by the Grace of God.  This was a mystery previously hidden from men and a “new” revelation first given to Paul. I do not find in Scripture any formal “covenant of grace” with anyone.  But there is the revealing that God intends the salvation of sinners as the benefit of God’s amazing GRACE alone. Paul writes of this mystery, grace and salvation as follows…

“…you have heard of the stewardship of God’s GRACE which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the MYSTERY…which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men… the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace…to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing SALVATION to all men… It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (Ephesians 3:1-9; Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 1:15; 4:9-10)

“Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, and they were written for our (all of mankind) instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

God’s dealings with Israel are an illustration of what He intends to do for ALL. The Old and New Covenants were made and written for and to ISRAEL as an example and to instruct ALL mankind what God is going to do for us at the close of the ages.

“But now He (Christ Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

The basic promises of the old covenant Law of Moses can be summarized as "do this, and you will live." The promises under the law were contingent upon the performance of Israelites. If they were able to keep the Law, the promises of long life and blessing during this age were fulfilled. Ultimately, the children of Israel demonstrated the inability of man to live up to the standards of the Law of Moses and of course all of them died and continue to die.

"Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against me; they did not walk in my statutes, and were not careful to observe my judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them" (Ezekiel 20:21).

The promises under the New Covenant made to Israel are immeasurably better than those under law, because they DO NOT depend upon man's performance.

"I will make a new covenant… I will put my law in their minds…I will be their God…I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more". (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

What God has promised to do for Israel under the New Covenant he will do for ALL mankind because He has no favorites and what God does for them is an “example” for us all. It “instructs” us on what God is going to do for mankind at the end of the ages. He will forgive mankind’s iniquity and He will remember our sin no more. Paul was given this good news to tell to us Gentiles.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not ; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:3-7)

It continues to astound me as to how few in institutional Christianity understand the gospel when it is so clearly explained by our apostle Paul! Satan is indeed a clever deceiver of even the most intelligent religious leaders of mankind.