The New Covenant

STATEMENT OF USE: This blog contains condensed material from manuscripts owned and copyrighted by Ariel Ministries USA and is used with permission. The material referenced within is from Ariel’s Come and See series, and is available, along with fifty other texts, free of charge to anyone who desires to use them. If you haven’t already, please check them out here: https://www.ariel.org/resources/come-and-see/studies?navid=2390956

It is my fervent hope that you will not stop with my blog but that you will take full advantage of the wealth of wisdom offered through the faithfulness of Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, who is a teacher to the best of Biblical teachers! Please go to ariel.org for the complete and full teaching on the 8 Covenants of God. 

Oh, how grateful I am for the New Covenant!  You see, even in the beginning, God designed a way for me, a Gentile woman, to be reconciled to Himself…to be made His adopted child!  While the covenant was made between God and Israel, there was an “adoption” clause in there for me and for you!! 

Why do I repeat that word “adoption”?  Let’s go to Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!").  Complete Jewish Bible

There is no process for adoption set forth in the ancient Jewish culture. There were Kinsman Redeemers. For example, if a man died, his brother automatically became the head of his household as well, so there was no need for a legal adoption process.

Paul, in the New Testament speaks of the Roman concept of adoption. It was a very significant process with a powerful back story.Why a Roman concept? Rome at the time of Yeshua/Jesus ruled Israel. The Jews were under Roman law. Let's continue...

If a child was born biologically, the parents could actually disown or do away with the child for a variety of reasons. It put the relationship between parent and child on pretty shaky ground.  But such was not the case for an adopted child.

Under Roman law, when a child was adopted, it meant that the child was chosen and desired by the parents. Adoption could not be dissolved. The child became a permanent member of the family. The child had a new identity and any prior encumbrances were totally erased. Every right of inheritance transferred to the child.

Hmmmm…inheritance??? In ancient Rome, the concept of inheritance was a natural part of daily living and not just something that transferred through death. Adoption granted every right in the inheritance of the father, and full share of his possessions.

What a glorious reality is that for us who have been adopted into the family of our God!  Think on that!  We were fully desired, fully loved!  We have a new identify in Christ!  Not only are we heaven-bound but Romans 8:17 tells us, “...and if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus—provided we are suffering with him in order also to be glorified with him. 

Our family tie as adopted sons and daughters of God is intimately centered in the salvation Jesus alone provided for us. It is through Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, the Son of God, that we can now be called sons and daughters of God. Remember that as we study the last of the eight Biblical Covenants.

THE NEW COVENANT

Scripture

A number of passages speak of or relate to the New Covenant and many  of  these  will  be  referenced  below, but the foundational passage is Jeremiah 31:31-34: “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart. I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

The Participants in the Covenant

This covenant is made between God and Israel, and it receives further confirmation in other passages including: Isaiah 55:3; 59:21; 61:8-9; Jeremiah 32:40; Ezekiel 16:60; 34:25-31; 37:26-28; and Romans 11:26-27.

The Provisions of the Covenant

From the original covenant, its various confirmations, and its inauguration in the New Testament, a total of nine provisions can be listed.

1. It is an unconditional covenant involving God and both Houses of Israel (Jer. 31:31). It is not made merely between Judah and God or between Israel and God and included both Houses of Israel; or the entire Jewish nation.
2. It is clearly distinct from the Mosaic Covenant (Jer. 31:32). It is not merely an elaboration of the Mosaic Covenant, but it is distinct from it. It ultimately replaces the broken Mosaic Covenant.
3. It promises the restoration of Israel (Jer. 31:33; Is. 59:21). The key aspect of this entire covenant is the blessing of salvation, which includes Israel's nation when she is saved.
4. The regeneration of Israel is to be universal among all Jews (Jer. 31:34a; Is.61:9). The national salvation will extend to every Jew and their generations from the time that the initial regeneration of Israel occurs. This confirming Rom. 11 and stated in Matthew 23:38-39 says, “…See! Your house is left to you desolate;39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”, During the Millennial Kingdom, the unregenerate people will all be Gentiles; in the entire period of the Kingdom, there will be no unsaved Jews. That is the reason there will be no need for one Jew to say to another “know the Lord”, for they shall all know Him.
5. There is provision for the forgiveness of sin (Jer. 31:34b). The New Covenant does the very thing that the Mosaic Covenant couldn’t do. The Mosaic Covenant was able to cover the sins of Israel, but the New Covenant will take them away. This is a corollary blessing to the blessing of salvation.
6. There is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:27). The reason Israel failed to keep the Law under the Mosaic Covenant was that the people lacked the power to comply with the righteous standards of God. The Mosaic Law did not provide the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; that was not its purpose. But the New Covenant does, and every Jew will be enabled to do the righteous work of God. This is a blessing resulting from the blessing of salvation.
7. Israel will be showered with material blessings (Is. 61:8; Jer. 32:41; Ezek. 34:25-27). The Mosaic Law did provide material blessings for obedience, but generally, Israel was in disobedience because of her failure to keep the Law. Such failure will not exist under the New Covenant. Along with Israel's regeneration and empowerment to keep the Law, material blessings will be given by the Lord.
8. The Temple will be rebuilt (Ezek. 37:26-28). The Mosaic Covenant provided for the building of the Tabernacle. The Davidic Covenant provided for the building of the First Temple by Solomon. The New Covenant will provide for the building of the Messianic or Millennial Temple. This Temple will be a continual reminder to Israel of all that God has done.
9. Just as the Mosaic Covenant contained the Law of Moses, the New Covenant contains the Law of Messiah (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 6:2). Like the Law of Moses, the Law of the Messiah contains many individual commandments that are applicable to the New Testament believer. These commandments were given either by Yeshua directly or by the apostles. A simple comparison of the details will show that it is not and cannot be the same as the Law of Moses.

Four observations are worth noting. First, many commandments are the same as those of the Law of Moses.

• For example, nine of the Ten Commandments are also in the Law of the Messiah.

• But, (many are different from the Law of Moses. For example, there is no Sabbath law now (Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:16) and no dietary code (Mk. 7:19; Rom.  14:20).

• Some commandments in the Law of Moses are intensified by the Law of the Messiah. For example, the Law of Moses said love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18); this made man the standard. The Law of the Messiah said: love one another, even as I have loved you (Jn. 15:12); this makes Yeshua/Jesus the standard and He loved man enough to die for him.

• The Law of the Messiah provides a new motivation. For example, the Law of Moses was based on the conditional Mosaic Covenant and so the motivation was: Do, in order to be blessed. The Law of the Messiah is based on the unconditional New Covenant and so the motivation is: You have been and are blessed, therefore, do. The reason there is so much confusion over the relationship of the Law of Moses and the Law of the Messiah is that many commandments are similar to those found in the Mosaic Law; and many have concluded that certain sections of the Law have therefore been retained. It has already been shown that this cannot be the case, and the explanation for the sameness of the commandments is to be found elsewhere.

This explanation can best be understood if it is realized that there are a number of codes in the Bible, such as the Edenic Code, Adamic Code, Noahic Code, Mosaic Code, New Code, and Kingdom Code. A new code may contain some of the same commandments of the previous code, but this does not mean that the previous code is still in effect. While certain of the commandments of the Adamic Code were also found in the Edenic Code, it did not mean that the Edenic Code was still partially in force; it ceased to function with the Fall of Man.

The same is true when we compare the Law of Messiah with the Law of Moses. There are many similar commandments. For example, nine of the Ten Commandments are to be found in the Law of the Messiah, but this does not mean that the Law of Moses is still in force. The Law of Moses has been rendered inoperative and we are now under the Law of the Messiah. There are many different commandments. For example, under the Law of Moses, we would not be permitted to eat pork, but under the Law of the Messiah, we may. There are many similar commandments, but they are nonetheless in two separate systems. If we do not kill or steal today, it is not because of the Law of Moses but because of the Law of the Messiah. On the other hand, if someone steals, he is not guilty of breaking the Law of Moses, but of breaking the Law of the Messiah. The present obligation to obey the Law of the Messiah is due to the present outworking of the New Covenant.

The Importance of the Covenant

The importance of the New Covenant is that it amplifies the Blessing aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant, especially in relationship to salvation. It shows how the spiritual blessings of the Jewish covenants extend to the Gentiles.

The Relationship of the Church to the New Covenant

It is at this point that confusion has arisen among believers as to the relationship of the Church to the New Covenant. According to Jeremiah, the covenant is made, not with the Church, but with Israel. Nevertheless, a number of Scriptures connect the New Covenant with the Church (Mat. 26:28; Mk. 14:24; Lk. 22: 14-20; I Cor. 11:25; II Cor. 3:6; Heb. 7:22; 8:6-13; 9:15; 10:16, 29; 12:24; 13:20).

Sadly, the most popular solution in church history has been to generate replacement theology or transference, which is a false doctrine that teaches that the Church has replaced Israel in its covenant standing. Thus, the covenant promises are now being fulfilled in, by, and through the Church. Anyone with eyes to see, however, knows that they are not being fulfilled literally and so they teach that the intent was for them to be fulfilled spiritually. But this solution requires an allegorical interpretation of the covenants and requires the ignoring of all the details such as the Land promises.

This view has rightly been rejected by those who accept a literal approach to the covenants, and these have offered two other solutions. First: some writers teach that there are two new covenants, one made with the Church and one made with Israel. This view is not supported by the teachings of Scripture. Second: others have said that there is only one covenant but that it has two aspects, one related to Israel and one related to the Church. Yet nothing in the covenant seems to teach that there are two completely different aspects. Furthermore, even those who hold this view are unable to say which aspect relates to the Church and which relates to Israel.

Actually, the solution is not so difficult, for it is clearly explained in two passages.  The first is Ephesians   2: 11-16:  Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

The second passages is Ephesians 3:5-6: “which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

This could be called the "partaker view." The point of these passages is in four of the unconditional covenants with Israel: the Abrahamic Covenant, the Land Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant. All of God's blessings, both physical and spiritual, are mediated by means of these four covenants. However, there is also a fifth covenant, the conditional Mosaic Covenant. This was the middle wall of separation. Essentially, it kept the Gentiles from enjoying the spiritual blessings of the four unconditional covenants.

They did not receive any of the spiritual benefits contained in the covenants. However, when Messiah died, the Mosaic Law, the middle wall of separation, was broken down. Now by faith Gentiles, as Gentiles, can enjoy every spiritual blessing of the four unconditional covenants. That is why Gentiles today are partakers of Jewish spiritual blessings, not "takers over."

The concept of partaking is also found in Romans 11: I7: “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree.” The Olive Tree represents the place of spiritual blessings of the Jewish Covenants. The types of branches partaking of the blessings: natural branches, which are the Jewish believers and wild olive branches, which are the Gentile believers. However, the   Olive Tree itself   still belongs   to Israel according to verse 24: For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

The relationship of the Church to the New Covenant is the same as the Church's relationship to the Abrahamic Covenant, the Land Covenant, and the Davidic Covenant. The physical promises of the Abrahamic Covenant, as amplified by the Land and Davidic Covenants, were promised exclusively to Israel. However, the Blessing aspect, as amplified by the New Covenant, was to include the Gentiles. The Church is enjoying the spiritual blessings of these covenants, not the material and physical benefits.  The physical promises still belong to Israel and will be fulfilled exclusively with Israel, especially those involving the Land. However, all spiritual benefits are now being shared by the Church. This is the Church's relationship to these four unconditional covenants between God and Israel.

The blood of Christ is the basis of salvation in the New Covenant and this was shed at the cross. The blood of the Jewish Messiah and our Lord and Savior ratified, signed, and sealed the New Covenant (Heb. 8:1-10:18). The provisions of the New Covenant cannot be fulfilled in, by, or through the Church, but have to be filled in, by, and through Israel.

While it is true that the Covenant is not now fully fulfilled with Israel, it does not mean it is therefore being fulfilled with the Church. Again, not all provisions go immediately into effect. The Church is related to the New covenant only insofar as receiving the spiritual benefits of the Covenant, such as the salvation benefit, but the Church is not fulfilling it. The Church has become a partaker of Jewish spiritual blessings, but the Church is not a replacer for the Jewish covenants. The Church partakes of the spiritual blessings and promises, but not the material or physical blessings.

The Gentile Obligation

The fact that Gentile believers have become partakers of Jewish spiritual blessings places an obligation on them according to Romans 15:25-27: but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

As Paul came close to ending his letter to the Romans, he spelled out his immediate plans. In verse 25, he explained why he could not come to them immediately. While he had expressed a long-term desire to go to Rome in chapter l, his desire was subject to his duty, which was to collect an offering and take it to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. This special offering is spoken of elsewhere in I Corinthians 16:14 and II Corinthians 8-9.

In verse 26, Paul named the contributors and the recipients of the offering. The Gentile believers of Macedonia and Achaia had given the money, which was specifically for the poor Jewish believers of the City of Jerusalem in the Land of Israel. In verse 27, Paul taught Gentile indebtedness to the Jews.  He clearly stated that Gentiles are debtors to the Jews and then gave the reason for this:  Gentiles have become fellow partakers of Jewish spiritual blessings.  Earlier, in Romans 11, Paul taught that the Gentiles have become partakers of spiritual blessings, but these are Jewish spiritual blessings that are mediated through the Jewish covenants.  The very fact that Gentiles have been made partakers   of Jewish   spiritual blessings has put them into debt to the Jews. According to this verse, the way they pay their indebtedness to Jewish believers is to minister to them in material things.

The Status of the Covenant

In relationship to the Church, then, the New Covenant is the basis of the Dispensation of Grace. In relationship to Israel, the New Covenant is the basis for the Dispensation of the Kingdom. The New Covenant itself is an unconditional covenant and therefore eternally in effect.

Conclusion

All spiritual blessings are for believers in the Messiah, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. And through His death on the cross for their sins, believers reap spiritual benefits that would never be theirs otherwise. The eight covenants of the Bible are very explicit in their provisions and are critically important to rightly dividing the Word of God.

My Last thoughts

I am so incredibly grateful for anointed teachers like Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, who diligently embrace the full counsel of God and who have the dedication and devotion to share it.  How blessed I am that somehow his teaching reached my hands.

The sad fact is that if we are not worshiping the God of the Bible, if we cut and paste the scriptures that are acceptable to us and dismiss the rest, we aren’t serving God at all, but just one more idol.  I had a young woman I’m discipling say to me the other day, “I’ve never heard any of this in church, and I’ve been to many churches. Why is it not being taught?”  It was a very good question.

Here is the truth, we have become a church that is far from God.  It is a sign of the apostasy that must come before the Lord returns. The focus of the church today is a very secular based focus. John the revelator says it best in Revelation Chapter 3 as he presents the letter to the Church of Laodicea. It reads, “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵ “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore, be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ²² “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

It would be nice if we could place all the responsibility for all that is wrong in the American Church today on the pastors…but friends, we are the Church!  We are personally accountable to God to seek Him first, to know Him, to be in communication with Him, to obey the tenants of the Great Commission.

It is not enough to say, “I am a Christian.” We must know what that designation truly means.  Who is God? Who am I in God?  Only the revelation contained within His glorious Word can bring life and answers to those questions.

Soon and very soon, a new age will begin, the Millennial Kingdom.  It will occur only by God’s hand and only in His perfect timing. Until then, I encourage you to remember that Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.  I heard someone say recently (I think it may have been JD Farag) that on God’s time clock, Israel is the hour hand and Jerusalem is the second hand. The clock is about to strike 12, and a new day is about to begin!  We are so close!  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Run from false doctrines like replacement theology and dominion theology. Don’t fall into the enemy’s lies with things like Christ at the Checkpoint or the new move to BDS; Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israel.  Remember God’s encouragement, albeit a warning from…Gen. 12:3I will bless those who bless you,And I will curse him who curses you;And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

I pray that these teachings have been a blessing to you. I am well aware that they will be also be an irritant to some.

Nonetheless, my constant prayer is, “Lord, help me to be faithful as a Disciple who is equipped and prepared for true disciple making!

God bless you! K