The beginning of a new year suggests the idea of newness — new resolutions, new beginnings, new expectations, new achievements and such.
We know that our Bibles have two major sections, the second of which is the New Testament. When we recognize that the term “testament” is another way of translating into English the Greek word that also translates as the term “covenant.” Thus, we might think of the second section of the Bible as being God’s new covenant, just as the first section could be termed God’s old covenant.
Promises and pledges
The Old Testament introduces God as a covenant-making God. As such, He took the initiative and determined the contents of the covenants He made. For instance, He made a covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:8–13). He also made a covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15:18–21; 17:1–13). Preeminently, God through Moses made a covenant between Himself and the nation Israel (Ex. 24:3–8). God pledged in that covenant that He would be Israel’s God, and Israel would be His people.
We often think of that old covenant as a covenant of law, the terms of which were spelled out in commandments, ritual ceremonies, animal sacrifices and specification for periodic renewal of that covenant.
In the old covenant — or Old Testament — God is revealed not only as a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God but also as a covenant-promising God. Through Jeremiah, God promised, “Behold, the days are coming … when I will make a new covenant … This is the covenant that I will make: I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jer. 31:31, 33).
Mediator of grace
A short way of describing the new covenant is to speak of it as a covenant of grace in contrast to the old covenant of law. Chapters 7–10 of Hebrews speak to us at some length about the new covenant. Whereas Moses was the mediator of the old covenant that God gave at Sinai, Christ became the Mediator of the new covenant.
Thus, the new covenant has a better mediator and is based on better promises. It also has a better Priest (Christ) ministering at a better altar (a heavenly one), having offered a better sacrifice (Himself) that has achieved better results (once for all remission of sins for individuals) while forming a better community (the Church).
In summary, we might say that the terms of the old covenant were etched in stone (the Ten Commandments), while the core of the new covenant is being etched in the hearts of believers by the Spirit of God (2 Cor. 3:3).
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