ARE WE IN THE NEW COVENANT?
This may sound like a silly question to some people, especially those who were brought up in Christianity. That religion is based on the premise of there being a new covenant, and that the old covenant in some shape or form being done away in preparation for the current new covenant in “Jesus.”
THE MEANING OF THE WORD COVENANT
Before we continue though, let us see what the word covenant means.
G1242
διαθήκη
diathēkē
dee-ath-ay’-kay
From G1303; properly a disposition, that is, (specifically) a contract (especially a devisory will): – covenant, testament.
Covenant means a contract. It is the same word diathēkē used for testament, so covenant and testament are the same. Whenever we see “testament” it means covenant.
Most importantly though is the meaning of being in a contract. A covenant is a contract between us and the Most high binding us to an agreement. It is an agreement for us to obey his laws, statutes and commandments and his judgments.
From his end, it is for him to be our Aluahym and for us to be his people. We are his portion, his responsibility.
Critical to covenants with the Most High’s is provision for the atonement (forgiveness) of our sins. This is only available through his covenants. Our sins can only be atoned for if we are in covenant with him.
If we are not in covenant with him, it means we don’t have an agreement AND OUR SINS CANNOT BE ATONED FOR.
PROPHECY OF THE NEW COVENANT
However, when we get to know what the new covenant entails, the question of whether or not we are in the new covenant is no longer so clear-cut. In fact, after seeing the prophecies of the new covenant below, we might be strongly tempted to believe we are not yet in the new covenant. Take a look at the prophecies of the new covenant.
Jer 31:31-33 Behold, the days come, saith YAHUAH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YAHUAH:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Aluahym, and they shall be my people.
It is the very next verse that causes doubt that we are actually in the new covenant. The Hebrew Israelites I have seen, do not believe we are in the new covenant. I do not know if this is the consensus of all of them.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YAHUAH: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith YAHUAH: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
They say that we still have to be teaching our neighbour and brother. To them, that is sure proof that we are not yet in the new covenant. However, right beside that, we have the prophecy of remission of sins (I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more). This we have here below through Yahusha HaMashiach.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahusha HaMashiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So right away we have a conflict.
- We are still teaching our neighbour – implies we are not yet in the new covenant.
- Our sins have been remitted at baptism – which implies we are in the new covenant.
So why are groups like the Hebrew Israelites saying we are not yet in a covenant? Why do we not search out the matter more diligently to resolve what appears to be a contradiction?
One implies that we are not, the other implies that we are. The Bible does not contradict itself and can be resolved through precepts upon precepts upon precepts, line upon line upon line, here a little, there a little (Isaiah 28:9-13). That is what we will do today.
IF WE ARE NOT IN THE NEW COVENANT, THEN WHAT COVENANT ARE WE IN?
The question is though, if we are not in the new covenant, then what covenant are we in?
We must know that the Most High only has a relationship with his people through covenants. If, therefore, we are not in the new covenant, then it must be that we are under the law covenant.
But where is the sacrificial system? A covenant with YAHUAH is not complete without a sacrificial system. There must be a way for us to atone for our sins. If we are not in the new covenant, we need a temple and priest and sacrifices for atonement.
YAHUSHA THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE NEW COVENANT
We have no physical temple, as YAHUAH allowed the Romans to destroy the temple as prophesied by the Messiah in Mark 13:2. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that this was because it was no longer needed. Why?
Heb 9:11 — Heb 9:15
But Messiah being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living Aluahym?
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament (covenant), that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:15 tells us clearly that we are in the new covenant.
OUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
By following the instructions for baptism in Acts 2:38, we access the remission of sins that was promised in Jer 31:34. Otherwise, we will need the sacrificial system of Leviticus 16.
So anyone saying Messiah is their mediator must accept they are in the new covenant. He is the great High Priest who has replaced the sacrificial system of the old covenant.
So where is the temple of those who say they are not in the new covenant? That temple was allowed to be destroyed in 70 AD as prophesied by the Messiah:
Mar 13:2
And Yahusha answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
So those who do not do what is required to enter into the new covenant/testament/agreement are not in the new covenant.
What about those who are in the new COVENANT?
1Co 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of YAHUAH, and ye are not your own?
Now how do we receive the Holy Spirit? By entering into covenant with the Father through repentance and baptism in the name of his son:
Act 2:37 — Act 2:39
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
That promise is the same promise from Abraham coming down, the promise of his seed, the promised Messiah to fulfill prophecies like this:
Jer 31:31 — Jer 31:34
Behold, the days come, saith YAHUAH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YAHUAH:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YAHUAH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Aluahym, and they shall be my people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying,Know YAHUAH: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith YAHUAH:
for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
LAWS ALREADY WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS
One of the arguments put forward by the Hebrew Israelites is that the laws are not yet written on our hearts. However, there has always been a remnant who have the laws written in their hearts. Here is proof:
Isa 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
Even from the time of Yasha’Yahu (Isaiah), there were those righteous who had the law written in their hearts. What’s more, no matter what, there will always be his righteous people in whose hearts is his law:
Isa 51:8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever (his people will always have his laws in their hearts), and my salvation from generation to generation.
This is why Sha’ul said:
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant (the righteous with the laws written in their hearts) according to the election of grace.
MORE PROOF WE ARE IN THE NEW COVENANT
Matthew 26:28
For this is my blood of the new testament (covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28 speaks of the blood of the new covenant shed for the remission of sins. Remission of sins? Where have we heard this before?
See Acts 2:38.
And also from Jer 31:34: “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
So the blood of the Messiah WAS shed for sins, and our repentance and baptism brings us into the new covenant through Yahusha.
Related: Is water baptism necessary?
No, we haven’t forgotten; we will soon look at why we still have to be teaching our neighbours even though in the new covenant. We simply need to prove first that the Bible says we are in the new covenant. Then we will move to the next phase.
IF WE ARE NOT IN THE NEW COVENANT, WHAT DID THE APOSTLES PREACH?
2Co 3:5 — 2Co 3:6
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament (covenant); not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
The Apostles preached the new covenant/testament. They were ministers of the new covenant. Therefore, what they gave us was indeed the new covenant. How come we are saying we are not in the new covenant?
BUT WHY ARE WE STILL TEACHING OUR NEIGHBOURS?
Now we get to the really interesting part. What about the promises of the new covenant that we will be taken in the land and no one will have to teach his neighbor and so on? How come that has not happened yet?
We are at the stage of our awakening, the dry bones waking up and putting on flesh. The Most High had promised that we would be blinded because we rebelled against him:
Isa 1:2-3 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for YAHUAHhath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
He also promised that he would make them discontinue
To find out how comes we have not seen all the benefits of the new covenant, we have to go to Torah, the shadow of the new covenant.
WHEN YE COME INTO THE LAND
Before the children of Israel came into the land of Canaan, certain laws were given to them which were only applicable when they come into the land (of Canaan).
Num 15:18 — Num 15:19
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you, Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the Lord.Lev 25:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord.
The point is, they were still in covenant with him, yet there were still things to come when they finally came into the land.
Likewise, we, are in the new covenant, but there are still things remaining for us to know when the Messiah comes to gather us.
Even though we are in the new covenant, all will not be revealed to us as we will soon see. It is tempting to believe all is being revealed to us.
It is also tempting to believe that because we still have to teach our neighbours, we cannot be in the new covenant.
THE BOND OF THE COVENANT
However, there is a little detail that we are missing if we say we are not yet in the new covenant. What is this little detail?
Our covenant is a process. Just as it was a process that was revealed in Deuteronomy 29. Before we go to Deut 29, let’s start by reading the following prophecy, then explain further.
Ezk 20:33 — Ezk 20:39
As I live, saith YAHUAH Aluahym, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith YAHUAH Aluahym.
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am YAHUAH.
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith YAHUAH Aluahym; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
Even though we are in the new covenant, the Most High promised to bring us into the bond of the covenant before we can enter the land of Israel.
How do we know that? Because this is what he did with the children of Israel after their 40 years in the wilderness. That is also what is prophesied in Ezk 20:33 — Ezk 20:39 above.
ARE WE IN THE NEW COVENANT? PROOF FROM DEUTERONOMY 29
This prophecy of being brought into the bond while already being in covenant is found in Deuteronomy 29. This is what the Hebrew Israelites are missing.
They are rightly saying certain things have not happened to say we are in the new covenant. However, they are not seeing that the covenant with the children of Israel after coming out of Egypt has two phases:
- In the wilderness (Exo 24:8)
- Just before we enter the land (Deut 29:1)
Deuteronomy 29 shows us this process. I will first show the verse and then comment.
Deuteronomy 29:1
These are the words of the covenant, which YAHUAH commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
We see another covenant being made with the children of Israel before they entered the land of Israel. This is what is once again prophesied to happen (bring you into the bond of the covenant) in our new covenant (Ezek 20:37).
The children of Israel were in the wilderness 40 years and when ready to enter Israel, had to go into another covenant (Deut 29:1).
For us, entering Israel will not be when we go into the new covenant. On the contrary, but having already been in the new covenant, it is when we will be brought into the bond of the new covenant (Ezek 20:37, Deut 29:1) before entering the land. There is nothing new under the sun. What shall be is what hath been.
Ecc_1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Moses told the children of Israel that they were in covenant (from Horeb); they saw and went through the process, but were not allowed to see, hear and understand all until the day they were brought into the bond of the covenant before entering the land.
Deu 29:2 — Deu 29:4
And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that YAHUAH did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet YAHUAH hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Likewise in the new covenant, we will see things and get understanding, but the Most High will hold back some things from us until that day! That is why we still have to teach our neighbours although we are in the new covenant! It will be that day when we are brought into the bond of the covenant that we will get all understanding.
Deuteronomy 29:9
Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
“This covenant” was referring to the one on that day in Moab, not the one they made at Horeb. That does not mean that the covenant is different from the one in Horeb, but it was the signing off as it were, to officially ratify the covenant. This is equivalent to being brought into the bond of the covenant (Ezek 20:37) upon the return of the Messiah.
Deu 29:10 — Deu 29:13
Ye stand this day all of you before YAHUAH your Aluahym; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:That thou shouldest enter into covenant with YAHUAH thy Aluahym, and into his oath, which YAHUAH thy Aluahym maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee an Aluahym, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Now we see all with whom the covenant was made. This is another thing the Hebrew Israelites are missing. Strangers will also partake of the covenant! That is why Hebrew Israelites are in grave error in telling people they are not speaking to them. It is common to hear them say to Gentiles: “this is not for you, this is for the Israelites.”
However, as we see in Isaiah 14:1-2, the strangers will be the servants of the Israelites, but they will also enter the land!
Isa 14:1-2 For YAHUAH will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
Isa 14:2 And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of YAHUAH for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
That is also what the Christocentric believers are missing. The strangers cannot be Israelites even though they partake of the covenant. They will be servants of the children of Israel. See: And the Strangers Shall Be Joined With Them: What Does This Mean?
WHY WE NEED TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE BOND OF THE COVENANT
In the following verses, he tells us why the children of Israel needed this covenant before entering the promised land…
Deu 29:18 — Deu 29:20
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from YAHUAH our Aluahym, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
YAHUAH will not spare him, but then the anger of YAHUAH and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and YAHUAH shall blot out his name from under heaven.
So the strangers had to be brought into the bond of the covenant to prevent them from polluting the Israelites.
Hence, that is the similitude. The new covenant believers shall be brought into the bond of the covenant, just as the old covenant believers were in Deuteronomy 29.
There is nothing new under the sun. They were already in the covenant from Horeb, but at Moab, before entering the land, they were brought into another covenant, which is not a different covenant, but was their “passport” to enter the promised land.
Indeed, the same thing prophesied for us in Ezek 20:37 when we,are brought into the bond of the covenant. Very importantly now, let us now see how we will be brought into the bond of the covenant.
WHEN WILL WE NO LONGER HAVE TO TEACH OUR NEIGHBOURS?
The Apostle Sha’ul gave us insight into what will happen when we are brought into the bond of the new covenant. Then, we will no longer have to teach our neighbours.
1Co 15:51-53 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Our bodies will be changed (upon the return of the Messiah) and we will have the law written fully in our hearts.
1 Co 15:42-44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Then, we will become a kingdom of priests as prophesied here:
Exo_19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
This will fulfill this prophecy:
Isa 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of YAHUAH: men shall call you the Ministers of our Aluahym: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
So in summary, when the Messiah returns, we will change into a spiritual body with the laws written on our hearts. We will be a kingdom of priests, so no one will have to teach his neighbour, as all in the kingdom shall know YAHUAH. Even though we are already in the new covenant, we will not be brought into the bond of the covenant until the Messiah returns and our bodies are changed. Got it?
IF WE ARE NOT IN THE NEW COVENANT THEN WHAT?
It is easy to prove that we are already in the new covenant. All we have to do is answer the question: If we are not in the new covenant, then which covenant are we in? If we are not in the new covenant, then it means there is nothing binding us to the Most High.
Indeed, we could, therefore, go on sinning wilfully because we are not in the new covenant…
Heb 10:26 — Heb 10:29
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of Aluahym, and hath counted the blood of the (new) covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
There plainly we see it clearly shows a difference between the old covenant (Moses) and the blood of the covenant (new covenant in Yahusha). It shows we are now in a new covenant through Yahusha.
So are we in the new covenant? The Hebrew Israelites and anyone else who says they are not in the new covenant are in grave error. Not only because they say we are not in the new covenant, but because many refuse baptism, saying it is the word that baptised them!
Baptism is how you enter into the new covenant as shown by Peter’s interpretation of what the Messiah said here:
Mat 26:28
For this is my blood of the new testament (covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
And what did the Holy Spirit show Peter as its interpretation?
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahusha HaMashiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repent and be baptized to access the PROMISED NEW COVENANT!
We will look more closely at baptism in our next post: “Is Water Baptism Necessary?” Both the new covenant and baptism go hand in hand as fulfillment of the promises given to Israel through the prophets.
Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahusha HaMashiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahusha HaMashiach for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. our Aluahym shall call.
