The New Covenant Is The same as the Old Covenant but Internalized in our hearts

[LoveYeshua]

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.

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.

 

[Wick Stick]

The major difference is enforcement. In the covenant mediated by Moses, the people were required to enforce the Law AGAINST ONE ANOTHER:

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. (Deuteronomy 17)

"Put the evil away from among you" is the defining teaching of Deuteronomy, and it means to accomplish it with well-aimed rocks.

 

[PS95]

Yes, it is all an inward transforming work of God. It is not about the externals. Look at me how holy I am. It's look at Him how holy He is! We love Him because he first loved us!
His Spirit leads us as we go on this walk. Such Amazing grace to give us of His Spirit. We are so richly blessed to have a God who loves us and is patient with us and merciful and tender hearted.

However, I don't agree that the first covenant is not obsolete. When Jesus fulfilled it it became obsolete as the New Covenant is better. You quoted Hebrews 8 but what does it say?
Hebrews 8-
I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
11“AND THEY WILL NOT TEACH, EACH ONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
AND EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’
FOR THEY WILL ALL KNOW ME,
FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
12“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TOWARD THEIR WRONGDOINGS,
AND THEIR SINS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER.” 13When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.

If God in the time of Jeremiah already designated the Old Covenant as growing old and almost disappearing, I think by implication, that now, after so long a time is passed and the New Covenant has been brought in fully, the Old Covenant is already entirely abrogated. It is impossible to have both covenants in effect at once. Apostle Paul called it the "old" covenant 2000 yrs ago. -2 Cor 3:14

Agree?

 

[Wick Stick]

If God in the time of Jeremiah already designated the Old Covenant as growing old and almost disappearing, I think by implication, that now, after so long a time is passed and the New Covenant has been brought in fully, the Old Covenant is already entirely abrogated. It is impossible to have both covenants in effect at once. Apostle Paul called it the "old" covenant 2000 yrs ago. -2 Cor 3:14

Agree?

The Ten Commandments seem to endure. They never get abrogated. The the priesthood changes, the way they are enforced changes, but the rules themselves remain the same.

 

[PS95]

The Ten Commandments seem to endure. They never get abrogated. The the priesthood changes, the way they are enforced changes, but the rules themselves remain the same.

The commands were enlarged to hate being murder etc and are covered in loving one another by the Spirit. there is no need for the individual commands when love covers them.

Ro 13-8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves [g]his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. 9For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 10Love [h]does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.

As to the Sabbath day - also expanded- Sabbath rest is daily now when we rest from our works. Heb 4
If someone prefers to hold one day above another- that's fine and we should never judge over that, but it will not earn righteousness.
Gathering with other believers is always good any day! Even when 2 or more are gathered in his name- Jesus is there among us.
Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 4:9-10
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. / For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

 

[PS95]

The Ten Commandments seem to endure. They never get abrogated. The the priesthood changes, the way they are enforced changes, but the rules themselves remain the same.

My reply to Love Yeshua was merely about the word used, "obsolete". It is obsolete. The new has come!

 

[LoveYeshua]

Yes, it is all an inward transforming work of God. It is not about the externals. Look at me how holy I am. It's look at Him how holy He is! We love Him because he first loved us!
His Spirit leads us as we go on this walk. Such Amazing grace to give us of His Spirit. We are so richly blessed to have a God who loves us and is patient with us and merciful and tender hearted.

However, I don't agree that the first covenant is not obsolete. When Jesus fulfilled it it became obsolete as the New Covenant is better. You quoted Hebrews 8 but what does it say?
Hebrews 8-
I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
11“AND THEY WILL NOT TEACH, EACH ONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
AND EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’
FOR THEY WILL ALL KNOW ME,
FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
12“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TOWARD THEIR WRONGDOINGS,
AND THEIR SINS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER.” 13When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.

If God in the time of Jeremiah already designated the Old Covenant as growing old and almost disappearing, I think by implication, that now, after so long a time is passed and the New Covenant has been brought in fully, the Old Covenant is already entirely abrogated. It is impossible to have both covenants in effect at once. Apostle Paul called it the "old" covenant 2000 yrs ago. -2 Cor 3:14

Agree?

Paul to my knowledge is the only one who uses obsolete, The New Covenant is considered better than the Old Covenant—it offers internal transformation, direct access to God, and lasting forgiveness. The heart of the matter is not just about external actions, but a renewed heart and spirit that desires to follow God's ways. But the laws within the covenant are the same—the ten commandments and serve as a moral compass, if we let GOD through the Holy Spirit transform us, they become part of us and we follow them without need for the letter of the law. This is what Jeremiah 31:31-34 is all about.

Blessings.

 

[PS95]

Paul to my knowledge is the only one who uses obsolete, The New Covenant is considered better than the Old Covenant—it offers internal transformation, direct access to God, and lasting forgiveness. The heart of the matter is not just about external actions, but a renewed heart and spirit that desires to follow God's ways. But the laws within the covenant are the same—the ten commandments and serve as a moral compass, if we let GOD through the Holy Spirit transform us, they become part of us and we follow them without need for the letter of the law. This is what Jeremiah 31:31-34 is all about.

Blessings.

Your answer confuses me a bit. Do you consider the writer of Hebrews- (Paul?) as mistaken there?

Yes, it is an inward renewal of that I am certain! It is not of man! It's been very obvious to me in my case- wonderful actually, difficult at times, but worth it, and I'm grateful! God's places His laws are on our hearts and shows us that love fulfills the law.
I'm not sure where we are disconnecting or if we are at all.

 

[LoveYeshua]

Your answer confuses me a bit. Do you consider the writer of Hebrews- (Paul?) as mistaken there?

Yes, it is an inward renewal of that I am certain! It is not of man! It's been very obvious to me in my case- wonderful actually, difficult at times, but worth it, and I'm grateful! God's places His laws are on our hearts and shows us that love fulfills the law.
I'm not sure where we are disconnecting or if we are at all.

why because he used the word obsolete?, Paul as you know is difficult to understand and wrote in a style made co convince and he used these words or by rephrasing concepts to attract attention. CERTAINLY PAUL MEANT THE REST OF THE LAW OF MOSES WAS OBSOLETE but never said the ten commandments, that God defined at the Covenent was onsolete, if he did it would contradict Christ who was teaching the ten commendments and theit true intended meaning and how we should keep them. Obsolete is the way to follow the commandments, the Covenant, by the letter. Instead ,the new covenant with the help of the spirit we keep them in our hearts.

 

[Dash RipRock]

The New Covenant Is The same as the Old Covenant

What animals will you be killing to cover your sins?

 

[Dash RipRock]

The new has come!

The Bible teaches the old covenant was done away with so the new covenant could be established.

Anybody where we see this statement made in God's Word?

This statement is foretold in the old covenant and it's in the new covenant