The concept of the New Covenant has often been misunderstood. Many believe it represents a departure from the laws of the Old Covenant, claiming that God’s commandments were abolished or replaced. However, this interpretation conflicts with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the foundational truths of Scripture. In this article, we will explore how the New Covenant upholds the same divine laws as the Old Covenant, but with a profound transformation: these laws are internalized within the hearts and minds of God’s people.
"Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, 'All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.'"
Deuteronomy also underscores the centrality of the Ten Commandments within the covenant:
"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone." (Deuteronomy 4:13, NKJV)
The Old Covenant was a relationship rooted in obedience to God’s law, but its outward nature often led to mere compliance rather than a transformation of the heart.
"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jeremiah 31:33, NKJV)
This prophecy reveals the essence of the New Covenant: God’s law remains unchanged, but it is now written within, fostering a deep, personal relationship with Him. Rather than relying solely on external adherence, the New Covenant emphasizes a transformation of character and desires, aligning believers with God’s will.
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17, NKJV)
To fulfill the law does not mean to nullify it but to bring it to its full meaning and intent. Jesus demonstrated how to live out God’s commandments with love and integrity, addressing not just outward actions but also the motives of the heart. For instance, He expanded the understanding of the sixth and seventh commandments by teaching that anger is akin to murder and lust is akin to adultery (Matthew 5:21-28, NKJV).
Moreover, when asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus summarized the entire law as love for God and love for neighbor:
"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40, NKJV)
This summary does not replace the commandments but highlights their purpose: love as the fulfillment of the law.
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Hebrews 8:10, NKJV)
James, the brother of Jesus, also upheld the importance of God’s law, describing it as "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25, NKJV). Far from being abolished, the law becomes a source of freedom when internalized and practised through the empowering grace of Christ.
As Ezekiel prophesied:
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27, NKJV)
Rather than dismissing the commandments, we should embrace them as a reflection of God’s unchanging character and a guide for righteous living. The New Covenant invites us into a deeper relationship with God, where His law is no longer a burden but a joy, fulfilled through love and the enabling grace of Jesus Christ.
Blessings Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you.
The Old Covenant: A Foundation of Law
In the Old Testament, God established the Old Covenant with Israel through Moses. This covenant was characterized by the giving of the Law, including the Ten Commandments, written on tablets of stone. These laws were designed to reflect God’s character and provide a framework for living righteously. As stated in Exodus 24:7 (NKJV):"Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, 'All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.'"
Deuteronomy also underscores the centrality of the Ten Commandments within the covenant:
"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone." (Deuteronomy 4:13, NKJV)
The Old Covenant was a relationship rooted in obedience to God’s law, but its outward nature often led to mere compliance rather than a transformation of the heart.
The New Covenant: A Law Written on Hearts
The New Covenant does not abolish the law but fulfills and internalizes it. The prophet Jeremiah foretold this transformation:"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jeremiah 31:33, NKJV)
This prophecy reveals the essence of the New Covenant: God’s law remains unchanged, but it is now written within, fostering a deep, personal relationship with Him. Rather than relying solely on external adherence, the New Covenant emphasizes a transformation of character and desires, aligning believers with God’s will.
Jesus and the Continuity of the Law
Jesus Christ’s teachings affirm the continuity of God’s law under the New Covenant. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared:"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17, NKJV)
To fulfill the law does not mean to nullify it but to bring it to its full meaning and intent. Jesus demonstrated how to live out God’s commandments with love and integrity, addressing not just outward actions but also the motives of the heart. For instance, He expanded the understanding of the sixth and seventh commandments by teaching that anger is akin to murder and lust is akin to adultery (Matthew 5:21-28, NKJV).
Moreover, when asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus summarized the entire law as love for God and love for neighbor:
"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40, NKJV)
This summary does not replace the commandments but highlights their purpose: love as the fulfillment of the law.
The Apostles’ Teachings on the New Covenant
The New Covenant’s internalization of the law is further explained in the writings of the apostles. The author of Hebrews directly connects Jeremiah’s prophecy to the New Covenant established through Christ:"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Hebrews 8:10, NKJV)
James, the brother of Jesus, also upheld the importance of God’s law, describing it as "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25, NKJV). Far from being abolished, the law becomes a source of freedom when internalized and practised through the empowering grace of Christ.
The Misunderstanding of Abolished Law
Some misunderstand Paul’s writings to mean that the law has been abolished under the New Covenant. However, this misinterpretation ignores the broader context of his teachings. Jesus’ own words take precedence, and He consistently upheld the enduring validity of God’s commandments. The problem under the Old Covenant was not the law itself but the people’s inability to fully keep it due to their untransformed hearts. The New Covenant resolves this issue by providing the Holy Spirit to empower believers to obey God from the heart.As Ezekiel prophesied:
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27, NKJV)
Continuity and Fulfillment
The New Covenant does not abolish God’s law but brings it to life within His people. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live in harmony with God’s eternal principles. The same laws that were once written on stone tablets are now inscribed on hearts and minds, transforming obedience from an external duty to an internal delight.Rather than dismissing the commandments, we should embrace them as a reflection of God’s unchanging character and a guide for righteous living. The New Covenant invites us into a deeper relationship with God, where His law is no longer a burden but a joy, fulfilled through love and the enabling grace of Jesus Christ.
Blessings Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you.
