The New Covenant
What is the old covenant? If there is a New Covenant, there must also be an old covenant. To truly understand this New Covenant, we must first understand what covenant it replaces.
However, even before that, we must understand what a covenant is, and what the purpose of a covenant is. Also, we must understand what the purpose and function of the mediator of a covenant is. Once we understand these things, we will be equipped to understand both the covenant that has been replaced, and the New Covenant that exists now. We will also be able to understand and appreciate the mediators of these covenants, and the parties to each covenant. We will also be in an excellent position to understand how vastly superior the New Covenant is over the previous covenant.
WHAT IS A COVENANT?
A covenant is a legal term that refers to a legally binding contract. It involves two or more parties. As part of the covenant, the parties agree that certain activities will or will not be carried out. This legally binds the parties to fulfill their agreed upon obligations. If a party fails to live up to their side of the covenant, there will usually be negative consequences.
As an example, a home mortgage is a type of covenant. In very basic terms, a bank will purchase a home and the borrower will agree to pay the bank back the purchase price, plus interest, in accord with the agreed upon payment plan. If the borrower fails to make these payments, the bank may exercise its authority granted by the covenant to foreclose on the home.
Perhaps a more relatable example is the marriage covenant. Many places throughout the earth have their own customs with regard to the wedding ceremony. In the US, a minister legally authorized (usually by the State where the wedding is being performed) will administer the wedding vows. Then, after the vows are said by each party, the minister will make the following statement: “Forasmuch as [man’s name] and [woman’s name] have covenanted before Jehovah God and these witnesses to accept each other in wedlock, I, as an ordained minister and by the authority conferred upon me by the Holy Scriptures and the State (Province) of ․․․․․․, pronounce that they are husband and wife together. What God has yoked together, let no man put apart.”
Hence, the husband and wife have entered into a legal covenant. With each party agreeing to be faithful and loyal to each other, and to love and respect each other.
According to Jesus, if either party fails to live up to their legally binding marriage agreement by committing adultery, the innocent party may choose to exercise their right to pursue a legal divorce and sever the marriage covenant.
Covenants, though always involving two or more parties, can be unilateral. A unilateral covenant is one in which only one of the parties involved would be responsible for carrying out the terms of the covenant.
A covenant is in force as long as the terms of the covenant requires and are being met.
With a basic understanding of what a covenant is, we can move on to another important topic.
WHAT IS A MEDIATOR?
A legally appointed person who is responsible for acting as an intermediary between parties in disagreement for the purpose of finding a solution. Many areas require mediators to go through a training and certification process. Usually, part of a mediator's job is to help the parties to understand and recognize their underlying needs, overlapping interests and areas of agreement.
A mediator is different than an attorney in the sense that a mediator is a neutral party. Meaning they represent both sides of an issue and assist both sides to come to an agreement. The agreements of a covenant that both parties come to under the assistance of a mediator are legally binding. Although not all covenants require a mediator, as can be seen in the above example of the marriage covenant.
Now that we understand the legal nature of a covenant and a mediator, we’re in excellent position to understand how “covenant” and “mediator” are used in scripture with regard to how they apply to those in a special relationship with Jehovah.
THE COVENANT REPLACED BY THE NEW COVENANT
Our brother Paul said that Jesus “is a mediator of a new covenant”, and that Jesus death “has occurred for their release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant”. By saying this, Paul is making clear that the new covenant did away with, and replaced, the “former covenant”.
What was this “former covenant”? Transgressions occurred by those under this covenant. Paul said that the Law was added to the promise made to Abraham in order “to make transgressions manifest”.
Yes, it was the Law Covenant that was done away with by the New Covenant. So then, who were the parties to the Law Covenant? What were the terms of the Law Covenant? Who mediated the Law Covenant? Finally, what was the purpose of the Law Covenant?
Parties to the Law Covenant
Again, Paul says, “neither was the former covenant put into effect without blood. For when Moses had spoken every commandment of the Law to all the people, he took the blood of the young bulls and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the book and all the people, saying: ‘This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.’”
Therefore, when Moses says “the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep”, it is clear that Jehovah is one party to the Law Covenant, and the Israelites are the other party.
This is emphasized when Jehovah said “if you will strictly obey my voice and keep my covenant”. By saying “my voice” and “my covenant”, he is making known that not only is he party to this covenant, he is also the one taking the initiative to form this covenant. And when Jehovah says to Moses: “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and to tell the Israelites”, Jehovah is presenting the covenant to the Israelites, thus making them the other party.
Further, when Moses related to the Israelites all the words of Jehovah and all his judicial decisions, and they said: “All that Jehovah has spoken, we are willing to do”, they thus agreed to the terms of the covenant.
So what are the terms of the Law Covenant?
Terms of the Law Covenant
First, what were the terms for the Israelites? Jehovah said “strictly obey my voice” and “keep my covenant”. So the terms for the Israelites were for them as a people to strictly obey all the words of the Law. Thus, Jehovah rightly expected the Israelites to be “strictly” faithful to him.
What about Jehovah? Within the Law, Jehovah made provision for forgiveness of sin. Jehovah agreed that if anyone sinned and followed the directions outlined in the Law regarding sacrifices, then his sin would “be forgiven him”. Thus, Jehovah obligated himself to forgive the sins of the people who returned to him and followed his Laws. Jehovah also told the Israelites that if they “strictly” obeyed him, they would become his “special property” and “a kingdom of priests”. And so, if the Israelites as a people were “strictly” obedient to their terms of the Law Covenant, then Jehovah promised to use natural descendants of Abraham to fill the full number of the body of the offspring; the body of Christ.
Mediator of The Law Covenant
Paul says that the Law “was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator”. And John likewise says “the Law was given through Moses”. So it is Moses who served as the mediator of the Law Covenant. What were his responsibilities as a mediator?
When he was on the mountain, for the scripture says that he “went up to the true God”, Jehovah himself said to him: “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and to tell the Israelites”. And after he relayed Jehovah’s words to the people and they responded, it says: “Moses immediately took the people’s response to Jehovah”.
And for several more times Moses “went up to the true God”, and then “went down from the mountain to the people”. So Moses served as a representative of the people before Jehovah, as well as coming down from on high as a representative of Jehovah before the people.
And again it says that “Moses came and related to the people all the words of Jehovah and all the judicial decisions, and all the people answered with one voice: “‘All the words that Jehovah has spoken, we are willing to do’”. And so Moses presented “all” the Law and its terms to the people, who agreed. Moses thus fulfilled his role as mediator, and Jehovah and the natural descendants of Abraham came to terms.
But for what reasons did Jehovah bring forth the Law Covenant?
The Purpose of the Law Covenant
Paul said the Law “was added to make transgressions manifest, until the offspring should arrive to whom the promise had been made”. He thus identifies two reasons for the Law. One was “to make transgressions manifest”.
And when he says “until”, he indicates that the Law would be added until the following purpose is met. And the purpose stated is “the offspring should arrive”. So the other reason for the Law was to make the way toward the arrival of the offspring.
So, let’s take the first one; “to make transgressions manifest”. Paul says that “the Scripture handed all things over to the custody of sin”. How so? The Scripture has made clear that mankind in sinful. The Law, which is part of the Scripture, emphasized to the Israelites that they were sinful, and that forgiveness required sacrifices.
Now within the Law, Jehovah revealed his sense of justice is based on equivalency when he said: “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, blow for blow.” And elsewhere in the Law, it says: “the life of the flesh is in the blood”, and “it is the blood that makes atonement by means of the life in it”.
Now Adam, because of his sin, took perfection away from mankind. And based on Jehovah’s justice of equivalency, a perfect life was needed to make atonement for the murder of perfect man. And since life is in the blood, the blood of a perfect man was needed.
Thus, “it is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take sins away” for their blood will never be equivalent in value to the blood of a perfect man.
And it is the Psalmist who said “He declares his word to Jacob, His regulations and judgments to Israel. He has not done so with any other nation; They know nothing about his judgments”. Between Adam’s deflection and the giving of the Law covenant in 1513 B.C.E., God had not given mankind any law that specifically defined sin in all its ramifications and forms.
So the Law Covenant made evident to the Israelites what sin was and that they were sinful, and the Law Covenant had no provision to fully escape from sin, and death through sin.
In addition, the Law stated: “Cursed is the one who will not uphold the words of this Law by carrying them out”. The Israelites agreed to “strictly” obey Jehovah, but they proved incapable of perfectly obeying the Law. Thus, the Law cursed them and in effect condemned them to death as sinners. Paul says as much when he writes: “All those who depend on works of law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things written in the scroll of the Law by doing them.’ Moreover, it is evident that by law no one is declared righteous with God”. And again, “Christ purchased us, releasing us from the curse of the Law”. Paul there acknowledging that as a natural Jew, he himself was under the curse of the Law Covenant until Jesus Ransom sacrifice. And for natural Jews, it was Jesus’ manner of death that released them from the curse of the Law. Paul said concerning the Jews: “Christ purchased us, releasing us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: “Accursed is every man hung upon a stake”. The Law did not curse Jesus because he never broke any part of the Law. And yet, the Law curses him because he was hung on a stake. However, because he accepted the curse of the Law and yet perfectly upheld the Law, he nullified the curse of the Law, thereby releasing the Jews from that curse.
So to summarize, how did the Law make transgressions manifest?
It taught the Israelites what sin was and that they were sinful. And though it provided a means for forgiveness, it did not provide a way out of sin and death. Instead, it cursed and condemned the Israelites as sinners deserving of death.
The other purpose of the Law Covenant was to make the way toward the arrival of the offspring.
Once again we turn to Paul who said about the Israelites: “We were being guarded under law, being handed over into custody, looking to the faith that was about to be revealed. So the Law became our guardian leading to Christ”.
The Law Covenant was not “the faith” or “the promise”. Instead, it was the guardian that would teach and guard the Israelites toward “the faith” and “the promise” that was to be revealed in the Christ.
The Law Covenant “strictly” upheld Jehovah’s righteousness, exposed the sinfulness of the Israelites, cursed them as sinners deserving of death, disciplined the disobedient and revealed that it would not be possible for them to keep Jehovah’s covenant perfectly.
Discerning ones among the Israelites would see that “good news of something better” would be needed. And thus in this way the Israelites were directed toward “something better”, “the faith” and “the promise” in connection with the Christ. And indeed, “God had foreseen something better for us, so that they might not be made perfect apart from us”. This is why Paul said regarding pre-Christian faithful ones: “In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance”. Yet, he says regarding you: “For you need endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise”.
So it is true that when Jesus was baptized, the Christ arrived and the Law Covenant fulfilled it’s purpose. For the prophetic word says: “And he will keep the covenant in force for the many for one week; and at the half of the week, he will cause sacrifice and gift offering to cease”. Yes, the Law Covenant fulfilled its purpose when Jesus was baptized, and yet, because of Jehovah’s abundant loyal-love for the natural descendants of Abraham, he continued to focus primarily on the Jews for another 7 years until Jehovah “turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name”.
Thus, the Law Covenant was successful. So what Jehovah said regarding his word is always true when he says: “it will have sure success in what I send it to do”.
However, since the legal arrangement of the Law Covenant did not provide a legal basis to achieve these “better promises” that it pointed toward, a New Covenant would be necessary. And in fact, our brother Paul once again is inspired to give us the answer when he says that Jesus is “the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established on better promises”.
So then, what was the main point in considering the Law Covenant? The main point is this: To show that the Law Covenant is vastly inferior to the New Covenant in every way. This will help us to build appreciation for the New Covenant that we are party to. It is the covenant that results in the greatest glory for those among mankind who are part of it.
So now we come to the New Covenant. And we shall spend most of this article focusing on it. The New Covenant is so important that Jehovah’s original purpose for the earth and mankind will be fulfilled based in what the New Covenant accomplishes.
And this New Covenant is especially important to us, because it directly affects us as Jehovah’s sons. The truth is, we are the most blessed of all Jehovah’s earthly servants and none have risen up that will be greater than us. Jesus himself said that of all those born of women, none were greater than John the Baptist. And yet, all of us will be greater than him.
It is through the New Covenant and what it accomplishes that we will be brought into such a highly favored condition.
So let’s focus all our thoughts on the New Covenant. The one Jehovah will use to bring his purpose to full completion.
THE NEW COVENANT
It is this covenant that we wish to pay particular attention to. Because, as Jehovah’s anointed ones, we have a special relationship with Jehovah, and it is this New Covenant that provides the legal basis for our hope. So, brothers and sisters, fellow members of the body of Christ: Who are the parties to the New Covenant? What are the terms of the New Covenant? Who mediated the New Covenant? Finally, what is the purpose of the New Covenant?
The Parties To The New Covenant
In the days of Jeremiah, the Israelites had already proven that they could not “strictly” obey Jehovah perfectly. In fact, Jehovah had already determined to destroy the “holy city” upon which he placed his name.
Thus, it was to Jeremiah that Jehovah revealed his intention to make a New Covenant. In doing so, he revealed the parties to this New Covenant when he says: “Look! The days are coming, when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant”.
When Jehovah says “I will make”, its clear that he is not only party to the New Covenant, but he is its source and that he is the one that will take the initiative to bring the New Covenant forth.
So who is the other party to the New Covenant?
We are.
Jehovah says he “will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant”. And Paul says “Consequently, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling…We are His house if, indeed, we hold on firmly to our freeness of speech and the hope of which we boast down to the end”. So we partakes of the heavenly calling are Jehovah’s house.
How are we “the house of Israel” and the “house of Judah” that Jehovah makes a covenant with?
The humility of Paul is seen when he, as a natural Israelite says: “In this manner all Israel will be saved”. In what manner? Paul had just said regarding the Israelites: “some of the branches were broken off”. And toward anointed ones from the nations he said: “you, although being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a sharer of the richness of the olive’s root.” So people of the nations were brought in as “heirs with reference to a promise” and is this way we “are really Abraham’s offspring”. And so we are truly “the Israel of God”, and we are Jews “on the inside”. Yes, we are “the house of Israel” that Jehovah makes the New Covenant with, and “in this manner all Israel will be saved”.
And Jehovah adds to it by saying he makes a New Covenant “with the house of Judah”. This was necessary at the time Jehovah revealed this to Jeremiah because the kingdom had been divided in two with the kingdom of Israel being no more and the kingdom of Judah was soon to be no more. But by saying he would make a New Covenant with both houses, he was assuring that his people would be one people under one covenant and that the “The scepter will not depart from Judah”. Yes, we are Jehovah’s house and we “will rule as kings forever and ever”.
So we understand that we are party to the New Covenant with Jehovah. But what is our responsibility toward the New Covenant, and what is Jehovah’s?
The Terms Of The New Covenant
Some of us may say regarding Jehovah’s rejection of the natural branches: “‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ That is true! For their lack of faith, they were broken off, but you are standing by faith. Do not be haughty, but be in fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you”. So then, what is our responsibility toward the New Covenant? Consider this: “There is severity toward those who fell, but toward you there is God’s kindness, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise, you too will be lopped off”. So our responsibility is to “remain in his kindness”. What does that mean?
As discussed, Jehovah revealed that he offered to natural Jews the opportunity to fill the full number of the body of Christ. This was certainly a kindness they did not deserve. If they had remain loyal and obedient, if they had remained in his kindness, they would not have been lopped off. Now that the natural branches have been lopped off and Jehovah has grafted in people of the nations, it is abundantly true that Jehovah’s choosing and calling depends not upon natural descent, but upon undeserved kindness.
Now, seeing that through undeserved kindness “we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained access by faith into this undeserved kindness in which we now stand; and let us rejoice, based on hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but let us rejoice while in tribulations, since we know that tribulation produces endurance; endurance, in turn, an approved condition; the approved condition, in turn, hope, and the hope does not lead to disappointment; because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy spirit, which was given to us”.
So we see that Jesus has opened the way for us to access this underserved kindness and it is through faith in him that we can access it. We remain in kindness by exercising that faith and by enduring in faithful loyalty to Jehovah and his direction upon us as revealed in His word. By doing such, we are approved by Him and are thus approved as “branches” of his “garden olive tree”. This approval leads to our hope of heavenly life with Jehovah and Jesus. And yes, this is all assurance that Jehovah loves you as his children.
And so the reality is that Jehovah’s word is directed to all of us as anointed ones and Jews “on the inside” when it says that Paul and Barnabas “urged them to remain in the undeserved kindness of God”.
Also it is stated that Jehovah “has indeed adequately qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant”. Thus, our responsibility is to be ministers of this New Covenant. So all of us as brothers of Christ must not let up in humbly rendering service in behalf of fellow anointed ones. We must direct attention to the New Covenant. We must help each other to understand and appreciate it and to appreciate its benefits. It is also true that the New Covenant will accomplish its purpose of raising all anointed to heaven. And so, although those with an earthly hope are not party to the New Covenant, it is through you that they will be raised to human perfection. So what the New Covenant accomplishes will mean blessing for them, through you. As ministers of the New Covenant, it is our responsibility to even help those with an earthly hope respect what Jehovah is doing with us through the New Covenant.
Additionally, Paul tells the Ephesians that Jesus, through his sacrifice “abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees”. And he tells all of us as anointed ones the we “are members of the household of God, and you have been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone”. Yes, we are Jehovah’s house, and our responsibility as party to the New Covenant is to allow ourselves to be built up by following all the direction Jehovah has given to us through Jesus and his apostles and prophets as revealed in His inspired word.
Therefore, our terms of the New Covenant are to endure as loyal ones to Jehovah, serve as ministers of the New Covenant, and to obey all Jehovah’s instructions and guidance directed to us, his anointed ones, as found in his word.
And yet, there is one more requirement that must be mentioned. Paul touches on it when he tells us “every priest takes his station day after day to offer holy service and to make the same sacrifices often”. We learn from this that a priest’s responsibility is to present sacrifices. And again, Paul tells us “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”. Thus, we present ourselves as sacrifices. This is like our Lord when it says about him: “Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but you prepared a body for me”. Also, it says: “Look! I have come to do your will”, and “By this ‘will’ we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time”.
This is why it says that “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death”. Jesus referred to this baptism when he asked: “Can you drink the cup that I am drinking or be baptized with the baptism with which I am being baptized?”. This baptism was his sacrificial life course that ended at his death. Jesus indicated we will share in this baptism when he said: “with the baptism with which I am being baptized, you will be baptized”. For us, like for our model Jesus, this baptism continues throughout our life course of faithfulness and sacrifice, and is completed when we die a sacrificial death like Christ. For we shall “become united with him in the likeness of his death”.
Yes, although only the death of the Christ himself has sin atoning value, all the body of Christ must follow him in this sacrificial death. That is why Peter said “if you endure suffering because of doing good, this is an agreeable thing to God. In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely”. This course is the course of presenting ourselves as sacrifices and ultimately sacrificing ourselves on the alter of Jehovah’s “will” like Jesus. This is also why Paul said that if “we suffer together”, we will “also be glorified together”. This also is our responsibility toward our terms of the New Covenant.
However, to truly understand the depth and richness of this requirement, we must understand the terms Jehovah agreed to when the New Covenant was being made.
So, what terms did Jehovah agree to as party to the New Covenant?
When Jesus was instituting the memorial of his death, did he say the cup of red wine meant his blood? No, he did not. He said: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf”. Thus, the cup does not represent Jesus blood as a ransom for all mankind, but refers to his blood being used in a specific way to validate the New Covenant between Jehovah and the anointed.
Two other gospels quote Jesus as saying the cup means his “blood of the covenant”. And under inspiration, Paul quotes Jesus as saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood”. So we see that the cup means what Jesus said it means. And when he says his blood “is to be poured out in your behalf”, he next says to the same ones: “I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel”.
And when Jesus is elsewhere quoted as saying the cup represents his: “‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins”, this “many” are also the ones he is talking to when he is quoted as saying on the same occasion: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf”. This is in “behalf” of those he next makes a covenant for a kingdom with. Thus we see that the “many” is the entire 144,000.
And so the New Covenant makes provision for the forgiveness of sins for the anointed. If an anointed individual fulfills his terms of the New Covenant, then Jehovah has obligated himself to forgive that one’s sins.
But the forgiveness that anointed ones receive through the legal basis of the New Covenant is grander than the forgiveness Jehovah offered the Israelites through the Law Covenant, or the forgiveness Jehovah offers to those with an earthly hope today. The Ransom sacrifice of Jesus covers their sins. And thus they can obtain forgiveness of their sins through faith in that Ransom.
But the blood of Jesus that validates the New Covenant is used in a special way toward those in the New Covenant. Our forgiveness goes deeper and is more thorough. And Jehovah forgives us in this way in order to accomplish a specific purpose. What is that purpose? And how grand is our forgiveness?
Paul says “the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin”. Who was Paul referring to? Who was he saying has died? Paul says next: “Moreover, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”.
Yes, we anointed brothers and sisters have died. How have we died? Paul says that at our anointing, “us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death”. And thus, at our anointing and baptism into Christ Jesus “we were buried with him through our baptism into his death”. And he continues, “For we know that our old personality was nailed to the stake along with him in order for our sinful body to be made powerless, so that we should no longer go on being slaves to sin. For the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin”.
Truly, at our anointing and baptism into Christ Jesus and into his death, we died figuratively to our former course of life as imperfect humans and we have had our sins forgiven by God. And Jehovah forgives us to such an extent that we have been justified. This means we have had human perfection imputed to us. As Paul also says: “For it is by one sacrificial offering that he has made those who are being sanctified perfect for all time”.
We are thus freed from the condemnation of sin. The inspired word says to us: “you were set free from sin”. And again: “those in union with Christ Jesus have no condemnation”. It follows that we have been set “free from the law of sin and of death”.
So then, since we have been set free from sin and acquitted of sin, sin does not condemn us. Therefore, we are not under the condemnation of Adamic sin.
But the question may be asked, “if we have died, how is it that we continue to live in the flesh?”.
Paul answers: “If, now, the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you”. Yes, Jehovah causes us to live on in the flesh. For what purpose?
Peter say: “Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you, who are being safeguarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last period of time.” This protection from Jehovah by means of our faith and the resulting hope of incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance is as source of great joy.
However, as Peter continues, “though for a short time, if it must be, you have been distressed by various trials, in order that the tested quality of your faith, of much greater value than gold that perishes despite its being tested by fire, may be found a cause for praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you never saw him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet you exercise faith in him and are greatly rejoicing with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, your salvation”.
Yes, Jehovah allows us to remain in the flesh so as to prove our integrity. He also allows us to remain in the flesh so that we may serve as “ministers of a new covenant”.
Now, once we have been set free from the condemnation of sin and death, Jehovah obligates himself to take another step in our behalf.
We read: “those whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous. Finally those whom he declared righteous are the ones he also glorified”. This thought is carried further when we read that Jesus’ “act of justification” resulted in “men of all sorts is their being declared righteous for life”.
Yes, we have been “declared righteous for life”. This means that we, as perfect humans in Jehovah’s eyes, have been given the right to life as perfect humans. Why? Because Jehovah is perfect and holy; hence, in harmony with his holiness, those whom he accepts as his sons must be perfect”. That is why those resurrected back to the earth are said to not “come to life until the 1,000 years were ended”. They do not come to life until then, because Jehovah does not declare them righteous for life until then. And so, they are not accepted as perfect earthly sons of God until then.
But we have been counted as perfect now. We have been declared righteous for life now. We have been accepted as God’s sons now. We have been granted the right to perfect life now.
This declaring of us righteous for life goes much farther than in the case of Abraham. Indicating the scope of Abraham’s justification, our brother James wrote: “‘Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,’ and he came to be called ‘Jehovah’s friend.’”
It must be acknowledged however, that in view of our prospect of heavenly life literal perfection in the flesh now is not actually needed. Being credited with human perfection and being declared righteous for life is enough.
Now, this is where our sacrificial death comes in. A sacrificial death is when someone has the right to life, but sacrifices their life for the benefit of others. We are viewed as perfect and we’ve been given the right to life through our being declared righteous for life, yet we willingly sacrifice our life for the benefit of others. Thus, it can be said that when we die, we do not die the Adamic death due to Adamic sin. Jesus did not die the Adamic death as a result of Adamic sin, and so in this way we “become united with him in the likeness of his death”.
Yes, though our death will not have sin atoning value, we die a death like Jesus in that we sacrifice our life as perfect humans for the benefit of others.
And is it not truly for the benefit of others? It will be through our work as king-priests that we will assist Jesus in raising mankind to perfection and making this earth a paradise. This is Jehovah’s stated purpose, and as such, the hope of all those who will inherit life on earth depend upon us as a whole and our faithfulness and our sacrifice as a whole as the body of Christ. Yes, the body of Christ will follow the head of Christ into the “likeness of his death”. And it is this unselfish self-sacrifice that it beautiful to Jehovah. It is indeed the ultimate self-sacrifice anyone can make and is the very epitome of that term.
Now, even though we sacrifice our life, that doesn’t mean we have sacrificed our right to life. No, we retain our right to life. Therefore, we would have the right to life, but not actually alive.
So what is to happen? Jehovah’s justice cannot allow us to be dead if we have the right to life. But we have sacrificed our human life.
So for this reason, among others, Jehovah has promised in regard to being like Christ Jesus, that just as we “become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection”.
Yes, Jehovah has obligated himself as to his terms of the New Covenant to raise us up like Jesus. Jehovah will take our life and transfer it into an incorruptible spirit body that he has prepared for each of us , and shall grant an immortality quality to our life. Thus it will be impossible for us to ever die again, and impossible for our spirit bodies to suffer any harm. Yes, the words about Christ will apply to us as the body of Christ, where it says: “For we know that Christ, now that he has been raised up from the dead, dies no more; death is no longer master over him”.
And so we come to understand the terms of the New Covenant for both parties.
We agree to remain faithful and loyal to Jehovah and maintain faith in the Christ.
We agree to be zealous “ministers of the New Covenant”.
We agree to follow all the commands of Jehovah and Jesus as directed to us in Jehovah’s inspired word.
If we remain faithful, Jehovah agrees to forgive our sins to such an extent that he justifies us fully, and applies perfection to us.
Jehovah agrees to declare us “righteous for life”, granting us the right to life.
We agree to sacrifice our life to do Jehovah’s will. Thus presenting ourselves as sacrifices on the altar of Jehovah’s “will”, like our model Christ Jesus.
Since, because of our faithfulness, we retain the right to life, Jehovah agrees to resurrect us to life in heaven as spirits.
And as we have come to know, Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant.
THE MEDIATOR
“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus”.
But let us not confuse Jesus role as Mediator, with his role as High Priest. It is true that Jesus said “no one comes to the Father except through me”. And he said that we must ask of the Father “in my name”. However, these are functions of Jesus role as High Priest. So we do not pray to Jehovah in the name of our mediator. We pray to Jehovah in the name of our High Priest. When some end their prayers with the phrase, “in the name of our mediator”, this is wrong.
It is also true that it is through Jesus’ role as High Priest that we can receive forgiveness of sins based on his sacrifice. Paul says: “when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have already taken place, he passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. He entered into the holy place, not with the blood of goats and of young bulls, but with his own blood, once for all time, and obtained an everlasting deliverance for us.” Yes, he does this in his role as High Priest. Those with the earthly hope benefit from this function of Jesus’ service as High Priest.
Jesus’ role as a mediator is strictly a legal role as the one who represents the anointed and Jehovah and mediates for a legally binding peaceful agreement that is the New Covenant.
Therefore, Jesus is not the mediator for those with an earthly hope, since they are not a party to the New Covenant.
This New Covenant is validated by the blood of Jesus. Paul says: “where there is a covenant, the death of the human covenanter needs to be established, because a covenant is valid at death, since it is not in force as long as the human covenanter is living. Consequently, neither was the former covenant put into effect without blood. For when Moses had spoken every commandment of the Law to all the people, he took the blood of the young bulls and of the goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the book and all the people, saying: ‘This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.’ He likewise sprinkled the tent and all the vessels of the holy service with the blood. Yes, according to the Law nearly all things are cleansed with blood, and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place”.
So too, the New Covenant was required to be based on the pouring out of blood. Yes, “that is why he is a mediator of a new covenant, in order that because a death has occurred for their release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance”.
True, Jesus’ role as High Priest in presenting his sacrifice to Jehovah has obtained forgiveness of sins for us. But it is his role as mediator of the New Covenant based on that same blood, that provides the legal basis for Jehovah to go further with us with regard to forgiveness as we discussed earlier. And that only applies to us, Jehovah’s sons.
Yes, it is Jesus’ “‘blood of the covenant’” that validates the New Covenant and allows us to be brought in as sons of God and viewed as perfect now, even while remaining in the imperfect flesh.
For this reason the inspired word speaks of “Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood”.
We can thus appreciate the words of Paul that says “Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry” than Moses, the mediator of the Law Covenant. “Because he is also the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established on better promises” than the “former covenant”.
THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW COVENANT
And with this, we also understand the purpose of the New Covenant. The purpose is to provide a legal basis, in harmony with Jehovah’s justice, that will accomplish the bringing of 144,000 humans to heaven. Putting us in a position to be used by Jehovah to grant mankind perfection and make the earth into a paradise. All so we, under the lead of the head of the Christ, can present to Jehovah the kind of earth and mankind that he always wanted to have.
And meditate on how incredible this is! Paul says regarding Jesus: “And after he had made a purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So he has become better than the angels to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs”. This “name” stood for the great authority that Jehovah gave him. Jehovah appointed his Son —not any of the angels —to be a king, an apostle, and a high priest in the manner of Melchizedek. And does not Jesus say to you, that if you conquer the world through your faith: “I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that descends out of heaven from my God, and my own new name”. So Jesus will write his new name on you. Yes, this new name he inherited that made him better than the angels. So too, you, if you remain faithful will also be made better than the angels.
And to Jesus, Jehovah says: “God is your throne forever and ever”. Jehovah God is Jesus’ throne in the sense that Jehovah is the Source of Jesus’ royal office or authority. Jehovah gave his Son “rulership, honor, and a kingdom.” And also to you, if you conquer, it is said, “And the kingdom and the rulership and the grandeur of the kingdoms under all the heavens were given to the people who are the holy ones of the Supreme One”. Yes, you too will receive royal office from Jehovah. In fact, Jesus said to us: “To the one who conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, just as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne”. And we just learned that God is Jesus’ throne. So, if you conquer, it can be said of you too, “God is your throne forever and ever”.
So, you will become better than the angels and will inherit a name more excellent than theirs. And God will be your throne, forever and ever. This is what the New Covenant will accomplish for you.
But let’s consider one more thing. What does it mean when it says regarding the New Covenant: “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I will write them”?
HAVING THE LAW OF THE NEW COVENANT WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS
God’s word says regarding an anointed one that he is a: “Jew who is one on the inside, and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit and not by a written code. That person’s praise comes from God, not from people”. So again we see a contrast and the superiority of the covenant we belong to. The Law was written on perishable material. In fact, the mediator of the Law Covenant shattered the first set of laws written on stone tablets. Thus the temporary nature of that Law was made clear from the very beginning. But for us, the law of the New Covenant has been written in our hearts. What does this mean?
Here we once again see how incredibly blessed we are of Jehovah. In fact, the most blessed of all mankind. The law of the New Covenant has been written in our hearts, thus making clear the enduring nature of this law. In fact, we shall have immortality. As such, it is not only that we will never die after receiving our reward, it is that we cannot die. And so, although the New Covenant itself will reach an end when we all receive our heavenly reward, what is in our hearts will remain forever.
The fact that it is in our hearts also emphasizes how precious the law of the New Covenant is to us.
Now what is involved in having this law of the New Covenant written in our hearts? Paul connects in to being circumcised in heart “by spirit and not by a written code”. It is true that Jehovah told the Israelites that they should be circumcised in heart. But even those Israelites who did not truly circumcise their hearts may be in line for an earthly resurrection, if it is Jehovah’s will. However, this is far more of a requirement for us. In order for us to receive the fulfillment of the promise, we must have our hearts circumcised. Not doing so would mean our doom.
So how can we have our hearts circumcised? We have to get rid of anything in our thinking, affections, or motives that is displeasing and unclean in Jehovah’s eyes and that makes our heart unresponsive to his direction by spirit. For our circumcision of heart is “by spirit”.
Another one of our brothers, Stephen, said to the religious leaders of the Jews: “Obstinate men and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, you are always resisting the holy spirit; as your forefathers did, so you do”. So we see that an uncircumcised heart is connected to being obstinate and resisting the spirit. Yes, to have an uncircumcised heart would make us like Satan. To do so is far more serious for us than for any of Jehovah’s servants who have an earthly hope.
Now included in this law of the New Covenant in our heart is the “law of the Christ”, and Paul tells us to “fulfill the law of the Christ”. How are we to do that? Well, Jesus tells his anointed brothers: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another”. And Paul connects this command to love to the law of the Christ when he says: “Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and in this way you will fulfill the law of the Christ”.
In fact, this “law of the Christ” includes all that Jesus taught, as well as what God’s spirit directed to be written to His anointed ones. But Jesus said something special when he said: “The things I say to you I do not speak of my own originality, but the Father who remains in union with me is doing his works”. Therefore, this “law of the Christ” is really from Jehovah. And it is Jehovah that says: “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I will write it”.
Imagine that for a moment. Our calling depends on Jehovah. Yes, each of us have been personally selected by him. So as one of Jehovah’s anointed ones, you have been personally chosen by Jehovah to have his law written in your heart.
Jehovah himself continues when he says: “they will no longer teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know Jehovah!’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”.
John also writes: “I write you these things about those who are trying to mislead you. And as for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to be teaching you; but the anointing from him is teaching you about all things and is true and is no lie. Just as it has taught you, remain in union with him”.
Even this article is not meant to teach anyone about Jehovah, but to gather information about the New Covenant and put it here so that Jehovah’s anointed children may find encouragement and may take what is written here to strengthen their own relationship with Jehovah.
And the fact is true that we all are looking forward to the day when we can sit together, with no one having any measure of authority over the other, and learn directly from the mouth of Jehovah himself. For we know that “we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as that one is pure”.
Yes, brothers and sisters. We will each have a major role in the outworking of Jehovah’s purpose!
Truly the “former covenant” is obsolete. Yes, “if the code administering condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious would be the administering of righteousness! In fact, even what had once been made glorious has been stripped of glory because of the glory that excels it. For if what was to be done away with was brought in with glory, how much greater would be the glory of what remains!”
The glory of our covenant far excels the glory of the old covenant. And, with the exception of Christ Jesus, our personal glory will far excel the glory of all other servants of Jehovah both in heaven and upon the earth. Yes, we are “sharer of the glory that is to be revealed”, and we “consider that the sufferings of the present time do not amount to anything in comparison with the glory that is going to be revealed in us”. Again, “the glory of Jehovah will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together, for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken”. Indeed, “the creation is waiting with eager expectation for the revealing of the sons of God”.
Therefore, fellow children of the Most High God. We encourage you to remain faithful to the “One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. Fulfill your terms of the New Covenant!
We know that at this time the sons of God are having trouble. But take courage! Jehovah has not forgotten you. From this discussion we learn that it is really to us anointed ones who have Jehovah’s law written in our hearts that he says: “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, The people with my law in their heart. Do not be afraid of the taunts of mortal men, And do not be terrified because of their insults. For a moth will eat them up just like a garment; The clothes moth will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, And my salvation for all generations.”
So may such knowledge, and the hope in which you boast, grant you peace. So that we can all arrive at the day in which we sit shoulder to shoulder in the presence of our Father.
