Jeremiah 31:27-34 - Who Was the New Covenant to be Made With?

Jeremiah 31:27 - Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
Jeremiah 31:28 - And it shall come to pass that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant, saith Jehovah.
Jeremiah 31:29 - In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
Jeremiah 31:30 - But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
Jeremiah 31:31 - Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31:32 - 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 a husband unto them, saith Jehovah.
Jeremiah 31:33 - But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 31:34 - And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more. -- American Standard Version.

This prophecy, as such, actually belongs to the "age to come", when it will be true that everyone who dies will die for his own iniquity, not the sin of Adam or parents. (Ezekiel 18:2,3) Additionally, the new covenant is made with Israel and Judah. Some claim that the covenant is actually concluded with what is often referred to as the spiritual Israel, the Christian church, not fleshly Israel. If this were true, how is it to be said of Christian, most of whom were never under the Mosaic covenant made with Israel, that this "new covenant" is "not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt"? While a few of those who belong to the Gospel Age church have a Jewish heritage by flesh, most are not. Most Christians have never been under the Law of Moses so that it could be said of them: "my covenant they broke". This can only apply to fleshly Israel, not the church of faith that is being called out at the present time.

Ezekiel 16 likewise depicts the same time, and the same covenant. There Jehovah speaks to Jerusalem (representing all of Israel), and compares her with her sisters, Sodom and Samaria. He speaks of the day of resurrection, saying: "And I will bring back their captive ones [from the captivity of death], the captive ones of Sodom and her daughters, and the captive ones of Samaria and her daughters, and the captive ones of your captives in the midst of them." (Ezekiel 16:53, Restoration Light Improved Version, RLIV) Jehovah further says to them: "And your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, will return to their former estate [being returned to life]; and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former estate; and you and your daughters will return to your former estate." (Ezekiel 16:55) To this day, the people of Sodom have remained in the realm of death. They have in no wise been returned to their former estate. This can only be accomplished by their resurrection from the dead, when they are to be raised in the resurrection of the unjust.

What does this have to do with the new covenant? Jehovah continues to speak to Jerusalem:

 "Nevertheless. I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you." (Ezekiel 16:60) Here he speaks of two different covenants, the one established with Israel in the days of her youth, which was the covenant through Moses, and another covenant, a future covenant. This future covenant is not fulfilled with the Gospel Age church, as it cannot be said of the Gospel Age church that God will remember his covenant (the covenant through Moses) with them. Jehovah further says to Jerusalem: "Then you will remember your ways, and be ashamed, when you receive your sisters, your elder and your younger; and I will give them unto you as daughters, but not by your covenant." (Ezekiel 16:61) The covenant made with the children of Israel through Moses is again referred to, and Jehovah tells Jerusalem that this coming blessing will not be by means of that covenant. 

Again, we note that this is not speaking of the Gospel Age church, since it could not be said to the Gospel Age church that the blessings foretold would be "not by your covenant", that is, by the Law Covenant made with the children of Israel. God did not make that Law Covenant through Moses with the church of the Gospel Age.

And Jehovah states to Jerusalem: "And I will establish my covenant with you; and you will know that I am Yahweh; that you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more, because of your shame, when I have forgiven your for all that you have done." (Ezekiel 16:62,63) It should be apparent that the covenant being spoken of is the same covenant spoken of in Jeremiah 31:31. It should be further apparent that this covenant is to established with the same "Israel" that had been under the Law Covenant through Moses, the Israel that had become divided into two "houses".

Does this mean that the Gospel Age believers receive no benefit from the New Covenant? No, but we need to examine some scriptures to see how the New Covenant is applied to the Gospel Age believers, and yet have the scriptures to be in harmony with what is prophesied about the new covenant.

In the Gospels, we find the expression "new covenant" used in Luke 22:20, where Jesus speaks of such at his last meal. He took the cup, and stated to his disciples: "This cup means the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you." Jesus did not say that the cup represents the New Covenant that is being made with you. What did he say? If we look at this as it stated, Jesus was certainly saying that the new covenant is represented by his blood, that his blood was to be poured out for them. So it is apparent that the disciples of Jesus receive a benefit from the "new covenant" as represented in the blood of Jesus, which blood, Jesus said, was poured out for them.

So how do we harmonize this with Jeremiah 31:31? How does the Gospel Age church obtain these benefits, if the New Covenant is actually made with Israel in the age to come? We believe the Scriptures indicate that the New Covenant is applied to Christians when they are reckoned, imputed as justified, as though in the age to come, as though made alive in the resurrection day, counted as children of that day when the knowledge of Jehovah will cover the earth, and no longer children of this condemned age of darkness. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:5. 

Those called in this age receive the first fruits of the spirit that is to be poured out in the age to come. (Romans 8:23; Hebrews 6:5; James 1:18) This first fruits of the spirit would have to include the pouring out of God's spirit on believers as recorded in Acts 2:14-36; 10:45. The Christian's baptism is a symbol of being baptized into Jesus' death in order to appropriate the benefits of the death of Christ. (Romans 6:3) As a result, the Christian in this age receives the first fruits of the spirit -- as an earnest (that which in purchases is given as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will subsequently be paid) -- the spiritual benefits of the ransom, the power of the age to come, in this age. -- Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13,14; Hebrews 6:5.

The holy spirit is given now as a down payment, or earnest of the inheritance. 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5, in effect, declare that the inheritance in the kingdom will be much more than is now obtained through the spirit. 

In combining all this information, we believe that the proper conclusion is that the spirit is received by means of obtaining the powers of the age to come, as spoken of in Hebrews 6:5, in which age to come the holy spirit will be poured out on all flesh. (Joel 2:28; Isaiah 40:5) The believer today receives the "first fruits" of the spirit (Romans 8:23) in anticipation of the coming time when they will be revealed to the creation and the creation will also be able to delivered from the bondage of present-day corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21) The church is a kind of firstfruits of God's creatures (James 1:18), indicating the after fruits yet to come in the next age, when "the earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:9, RLIV) The outpouring of holy spirit on believers in this age is but a prelude to the actual fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in the age to come. -- Acts 2:16-21.

It is thus by partaking of that which belongs to age to come, receiving the benefits of the new covenant that is to be established in that age with Israel, that those called in this age receive the benefits of that covenant.

See also our Resource Page on the New Covenant

Matthew 5:17,18 - The Fulfilling of the Law

Matthew 19:16-22 – Does the Law Covenant Give Eternal Life?

A respondent makes the claim that in the first-century Jewish culture to be without sin did not mean that he had some special nature, it simply meant that he was obedient to God’s Law … nothing more nothing less.

It is claimed that the New Testament records at least three men who were totally obedient to God’s Law: (1) The rich young ruler who declared to Jesus that he had obeyed the commandments since his youth and Jesus did not correct him; (2) Paul says in Philippians that he was blameless before the Law; (3) and Jesus himself. It is claimed that Jesus was set apart by God’s choosing, not by some mystical virgin birth or by some special nature. According to this claim, Jesus was simply one of the flock chosen by God to become his passover lamb. This would, in effect, make Jesus a human under the condemnation of death (Romans 5:12-19) just like the rest of us.

We are not sure what is being meant by “nature” above, but we can say that Jesus was certainly not, by nature, a child of wrath, and never was such. — Ephesians 2:3.

Jesus’ “nature,” while he was in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), was just as Adam was before Adam sinned; he was indeed a human being, nothing more, nothing less, and we do not claim otherwise.

If by “nature”, it is meant that Jesus was God Most High and at the same a man, the Bible never says such a thing, and we certainly don’t believe such an idea.

See links to some of our related studies: Dual Natures

Jesus was the first man to totally obey the Law, since all the rest were subjected to the sun of vanity, under the bondage of corruption and of sinful flesh, by nature, children of wrath, due to Adam's disobedience. (Job 14:1; Psalms 39:5,6; 62:9; Ecclesiastes 1:2, 13-15; 2:11,17,22,23; 4:4; 6:11; 7:13; 11:8; 12:8; Romans 5:12-19; 8:20-22; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; Ephesians 2:3) Jesus, however, was not born with sinful flesh, since his flesh was specially prepared by his God and Father. (Hebrews 10:5) Jesus was like Adam was before Adam sinned; Adam was not at that time, by nature, a child of wrath, nor a son of disobedience. (Romans 5:14) No one had perfectly obeyed the Law Covenant before Jesus, else they, having obtained life through the Law, would be alive and walking around on the earth today (assuming that they did not return to sin and condemned to the second death), and Jesus’ ransom sacrifice would have been meaningless, since justification would have been by doing works of the Law. — Romans 2:13.

See links to some of our studies related to: The Second Death

Jesus taught that, if a Jew under the Law Covenant could keep the commandments, that Jew could live forever. (Matthew 19:16-19; Mark 10:17-21; Luke 10:25-28) Paul also taught the same thing. (Romans 10:5) This offer was made, however, only to the Jew who was under the Law; no Gentile was ever made such an offer, and thus God overlooked the Gentile’s ignorance of the Law. The appeal to the Gentile to convert is in view of the judgment day of the age to come, when the new covenant will be enacted throughout the world. (Acts 17:30) It is our conclusion that those who become God’s sons in this age do so by partaking of the powers of that age to come. (Hebrews 6:5) Nevertheless, no Israelite has ever gained eternal life by keeping the commandments of the Law. We see no Jew walking around today who is several thousand years old, nor anyone who has come out of the dying condition that is upon him through Adam. The only one who did keep those commandments was Jesus, who gave up his right to eternal human life as a human being in order the redeem those under the curse of the law. — 2 Corinthians 5:12; Galatians 3:13.

Matthew 19:16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
Matthew 19:17 He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not offer false testimony.
Matthew 19:19 Honor your father and mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 19:20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.

Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler

Notice that it was the rich young ruler himself who made the claim of having obeyed the commandments. Jesus told him that if one were to keep the Law that one could enter into life. That is the promise of the Law. The man evidently realized that he did not have everlasting life (for he surely must have been aware of the aging and continued signs of a coming death), even with his claim to self-righteousness, self-justification, and asked what more he should do. Jesus, in effect, pointed out to that man that if he had actually kept that Law perfectly/completely, then he would have become perfected and would have life through that Law Covenant, as that is what the Law promises to any who perfectly do the Law. As a result, he would no longer have felt the condemnation of death in his body, and that man would still be alive on the earth today.

Although it is the promise of the Law that if one would keep the commandments, he would enter into life, not one person condemned in Adam entered into life by keeping those commandments. The lesson to be learned was that man, in his fallen condition, could not keep God’s perfect law perfectly. But foreknowing this, God had made preparation for a repetition of the typical atonement day every year, so that the people might continue striving to attain eternal life, and be reminded of the need for a sacrifice for sin. Year after year, century after century, they failed in keeping that law perfectly, and discouragement took the place of hope. God was teaching them a great lesson respecting the need of better sacrifices than those of bulls and of goats, and also teaching them that there is no other means of justification in His sight. They had blessings under this covenant — educational blessings, but not the blessing hoped for, not life eternal.

We should realize that although Jesus had not yet completed his sacrifice while he was in the days of his flesh, during those days he did point to his sacrifice as the means of obtaining eternal life:

If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. — John 6:51.

For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world. — John 6:33.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. — John 6:54.

This points to Jesus’ sacrifice and the inauguration of the new covenant by his body of flesh with its blood. — Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19,20; Romans 3:25; 5:9; 7:4; 1 Corinthians 11:24,25; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:14.22; Hebrews 9:12,14; 10:10,14,29; 12:24; 13:12,20

Jesus also spoke of his giving his soul as a ransom. — Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45.

John the Baptizer introduced Jesus as the lamb, signifying one to be sacrificed for the sin of the world. (John 1:29) Jesus was the lamb given, not from the old creation under subjection to sin, vanity and corruption (Roman 8:19-22; 2 Peter 1:4), but his human life was a new creation not from the creation through Adam. Due to Adam's disobedience, all of Adam's offspring could not bring forth a new creation separate from the creation through Adam. (Ecclesiastes 1:10; Romans 5:12-19) If Jesus had been brought into this world as an offspring of Adam, then Jesus would also have been subject to the same sinful conditions, the bondage of corruption, etc., as the first creation, and would not have anything to offer to offset the sin of the first creation. From the old creation, there could come nothing new. (Ecclesiastes 1:9,10) Nothing of the old creation, under subjection to the “sun” of “vanity”, could make itself straight. (Ecclesiastes 1:14,15; 7:13) Thus, Jesus said to the Jewish leaders: “You are of this world (the world condemned in Adam, in subjection to bondage). I am not of this world.” (John 8:23) Likewise, with his disciples, authority was given so that they who were once children of disobedience and sons of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3) might become sons of God (John 1:12), “sons of the Most High” (Psalm 82:6), new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), and no thus counted as no longer of this world, the creation in bondage to corruption. Thus, he says of them: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” — John 17:14,16.

Paul’s statement that he was blameless before the Law (Philippians 3:6) does not mean that he had kept the Law perfectly, for he says: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15) And he also said: “The doers of the law will be justified.” (Romans 2:13) If Paul had fully kept the Law, he was therefore justified by the Law, and he would not have needed the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, for he would have already attained life by works of the Law. Yet he includes himself by saying “we”: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Yes, Paul was a sinner, just as the rest of us. He had never justified himself by obeying the Law, and he himself said: “By the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20) And yet, if he had been a “doer of the Law”, he would have been justified, as he stated in Romans 2:13; therefore, the only conclusion is that Paul had not been fully a “doer” of the Law, or else he would have been justified by the Law.

Paul further testifies: “If there had been a law given which could make alive, most assuredly righteousness would have been of the law.” (Galatians 3:21) And, “a man is not justified by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ.” — Galatians 2:16.

What good thing
shall I do,
that I may
have eternal life?
Matthew 19:1

New Covenant Vs. Covenant For A Kingdom

The expression “new covenant” appears only once in the Old Testament. The scripture and its context is:

Jeremiah 31:27-34 - Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, even I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and the seed of animal. [28] And it shall be, as I have watched over them to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to bring calamity; so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says Jehovah. [29] In those days they shall not any more say, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the sons are dull. [30] But every man will die in his iniquity. Every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be dull. [31] Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, [32] not according to the covenant that I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt (which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Jehovah). [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, declares Jehovah, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [34] And they shall no longer each man teach his neighbor, and each man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah. For they shall all know Me, from the least of them even to the greatest of them, declares Jehovah. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.  -- Green's Literal Translation.

Luke 22:20 - He took the cup in like manner after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, that which is poured out for you.
-- World English.

Hebrews 10:9-10 - then has he said, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He takes away the first [covenant], that he may establish the second [covenant], [10] by which will we have been sanctified [consecrated, set apart, made holy] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:29 - How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the [new] covenant with which he was sanctified [consecrated, set apart, made holy] an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
-- World English.

Many fail to comprehend how the New Covenant, if it is not active now, can be active on the new creature so as to result in sanctification (consecration). The terminology often used would either result in the thought that the new creature is not under the New Covenant, or that if he is under the New Covenant, then the New Covenant must be active now. From these two extremes other wrong conclusions are developed.

What we need to realize is that everything pertaining the new creation belongs to the age to come, not this present evil age. When Paul wrote,  “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, they have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), he was saying that to the new creature, the present evil age is reckoned as having already passed away, and he reckoned as living in coming age when all things are made new. (Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; Mark 31:31; Luke 21:33; 2 Peter 3:10,13; Revelation 21:1-5) That New Heavens and New Earth are not now, but belong to the “age to come.”

He will receive one hundred times now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. — Mark 10:30.

Who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world [age] to come, eternal life.” — Luke 18:30.

That “age to come” had not yet come when the book of Hebrews was written: “concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,  and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come.” — Hebrews 6:4,5.

This last scripture shows that the new creature has tasted “the powers of the age to come.” It is in that age to come that the New Covenant becomes active to Israel and then the whole world, but those who are chosen out this world become new creatures by tasting the power of the age to come, in effect, making them belong to the day, not to the present night of sin. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:5,8.

The “age to come” spoken of still is not fully with us, since the heathen of the earth are still being deceived by Satan (Revelation 20:3), and the promised blessings of the heathen are not now being seen. (Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:2-4) It is still true that God is choosing people out of the corrupted world as his sons, who then are no longer of the corrupted world (John 15:19), thus the corrupted world (Romans 5:12; 8:21; 2 Peter 1:4) is still in existence, and has not yet passed away. (1 Corinthians 17:31; John 2:17

Once the present heavens and earth have passed away, the New Covenant becomes operative through Israel by means of Jesus as the mediator. — Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 9:15.

Therefore the of prophecy of the new covenant, as such, actually belongs to the “age to come”, when it will be true that everyone who dies will die for his own iniquity, not the sin of Adam or parents. (Ezekiel 18:2,3) Likewise, the covenant is made with Israel and Judah. Some claim that the covenant is actually concluded with the Israel of faith, the Christian church, not fleshly Israel. If this were true, how is it to be said of the Israel of faith, that this “new covenant” is “not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt”? True, a few of those who belong to the Gospel Age church have a Jewish heritage by flesh, but most are not. Most Christians have never been under the Law of Moses so that it could be said of them: “my covenant they broke”. This can only apply to fleshly Israel, not the Israel of faith.

Ezekiel 16 likewise depicts the same time, and the same covenant. There Jehovah speaks to Jerusalem (representing all of Israel), and compares her with her sisters, Sodom and Samaria. He speaks of the day of resurrection, saying: “And I will bring back their captive ones [from the captivity of death], the captive ones of Sodom and her daughters, and the captive ones of Samaria and her daughters, and the captive ones of your captives in the midst of them.” (Ezekiel 16:53, Restoration Light Improved Version, RLIV) Jehovah further says to them: “And your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, will return to their former estate [being returned to life]; and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former estate; and you and your daughters will return to your former estate.” (Ezekiel 16:55) To this day, the people of Sodom have remained in the realm of death. They have in no wise been returned to their former estate. This can only be accomplished by their resurrection from the dead, when they are to be raised in the resurrection of the unjust.

What does this have to do with the New Covenant? Jehovah continues to speak to Jerusalem: “Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.” (Ezekiel 16:60) Here he speaks of two different covenants, the one established with Israel in the days of her youth, and another covenant, a future covenant. This future covenant is not fulfilled with the Gospel Age church, as it cannot be said of the Gospel Age church that God will remember his covenant (the covenant through Moses) with them. Jehovah further says to Jerusalem: “Then you will remember your ways, and be ashamed, when you receive your sisters, your elder and your younger; and I will give them unto you as daughters, but not by your covenant.” (Ezekiel 16:61) The covenant made with Israel through Moses is again referred to, and Jehovah tells Jerusalem that this coming blessing will not be by means of that covenant. Again, we note that this is not speaking of the Gospel Age Israel of faith, since it could not be said to the Israel of faith that the blessings foretold would be “not by your covenant”.

And Jehovah states to Jerusalem: “And I, even I, will raise up My covenant with you. And you shall know that I am Jehovah, so that you may remember and be ashamed. And you will not any more open your mouth, because of your humiliation, when I am propitiated for you for all that you have done.
” (Ezekiel 16:62,63, Green's Literal) It should be apparent that the covenant being spoken of is the same covenant spoken of in Jeremiah 31:31. It should be further apparent that this covenant is established with the same Israel that had been under the Law Covenant through Moses.

Does this mean that the Gospel Age believers receive no benefit from the New Covenant? No, but we need to examine some scriptures to see how the New Covenant is applied to the Gospel Age believers.

In the Gospels, we find the expression “new covenant” used in Luke 22:20, where Jesus speaks of such at his last meal. He took the cup, and stated to his disciples: “This cup means the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.” So it is apparent that the disciples receive a benefit from the “new covenant” as represented in the blood of Jesus, which blood, Jesus said, was poured out for them.

So how does the Gospel Age church obtain these benefits, if the New Covenant is actually made with Israel in the age to come? They do this by being reckoned, imputed as justified, as though in the age to come, as though made alive in the resurrection day, counted as children of that day when the knowledge of Jehovah will cover the earth, and no longer children of this condemned age of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:5) Those called in this age receive the first-fruits of the spirit of the age to come. (Romans 8:23; Hebrews 6:5; James 1:18) The Christian’s baptism is a symbol of being baptized into Jesus’ death so as to appropriate the benefits of the death of Christ (Romans 6:3); this is so in that one receives the first-fruits of the spirit — as a earnest (that which in purchases is given as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will subsequently be paid) — the spiritual benefits of the ransom, the power of the age to come, in this age. — Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13,14; Hebrews 6:5.

The holy spirit is given now as a down payment, or earnest of the inheritance (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5), declares that the inheritance in the kingdom will be much more than is now obtained through the spirit. The spirit is received by means of obtaining the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:5), in which age to come the holy spirit will be poured out on all flesh. (Joel 2:28; Isaiah 40:5) The believer today receives the “first-fruits” of the spirit (Romans 8:23) in anticipation of the coming time when they will be revealed to the creation and the creation will also be able to be delivered from the bondage of present-day corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21) The church is a kind of first-fruits of God’s creatures (James 1:18), indicating the after fruits yet to come in the next age, when “the earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9, RLIV) The outpouring of holy spirit on believers in this age is but a prelude to the actual fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in the age to come. — Acts 2:16-21.

It is thus by partaking of that which belongs to age to come, the benefits of the New Covenant, that those called in this age receive the benefits of that covenant. The scriptures indicate that the seed of Abraham has to receive this benefit -- the blessings through covenant -- before they actually become the seed of Abraham which is to bless all nations in the age to come. -- Galatians 3:8,9,29.

The Covenant For a Kingdom

Now, concerning the covenant for a kingdom. This refers to Luke 22:29. Due to the way this verse is translated in most translations, most would probably not realize that a covenant is being spoken of.

And I covenant unto you – as my Father hath covenanted unto me – a kingdom. — Luke 22:29, Rotherham.

This covenanting is evidently a reference to the Abrahamic/Davidic “seed” Covenant, which God , through Abraham, made a covenant with the seed (Christ) of Abraham which covenant Jesus extends to his followers: Genesis 9:9; 12:3,7; 17:7,19; 21:12; 2 Samuel 7:11-17; 22:51; Psalm 18:50; 89:1-4,26-37; Isaiah 9:6,7; Jeremiah 23:5,6; Ezekiel 34:23,24; Daniel 7:22,27; Amos 9:11; John 7:42; Acts 13:22,23; Galatians 3:16,27,29.

This, by the way, proves that He who appeared to Abraham (by whatever means) was not Jesus, as many claim, but the God and Father of Jesus. No one can see the actual invisible substance of the only true God [Supreme Being], the "one God" who is the source of all. (John 17:1,3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:15) Thus, any appearances He makes is by means of vision, dreams, angels,  or possibly by other physical or mental methods that can been "seen" by whomever He appears to.

Nevertheless, directly, the church’s covenant is actually with Jesus, and through him the Father’s covenant is applied to the church. This covenant is not the “new covenant”, but is a covenant that existed 430 years before the Law Covenant, and which Paul applies to Christ, and all who belong to Christ, the sons of Abraham by faith. — Galatians 3:7,16,17,26-29.

The “New Covenant” covers the condemnation of sin in Adam, which is applied to all who are dying in Adam. The “covenant for a kingdom” is the everlasting kingdom, a rulership with Jesus, which rulership will benefit all the families of the earth in the future under the New Covenant, but not all the families of the earth participate in the covenant for a kingdom. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.

See also our study:

Who is the Woman?

Related (We do not necessarily agree with all details presented by other authors):

A New Covenant (David Rice)

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2 Corinthians 3 – The Law, The Veil, And The New Covenant

Since certain verses in 2 Corinthians 3 are often cited and given applications out of context, we are presenting below a few comments on this whole chapter as related to Israel’s law covenant and the new covenant. While we have endeavored present conclusions in harmony with the context and the rest of the Bible, we do not claim that what we present is dogma, or that it is absolutely free of errors; we have endeavored to note what we believe to be the intent of what Paul was saying.

2 Corinthians 3:1 – Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

Paul is evidently referring to himself as "we," "our," etc. Some refer to this usage as an "editorial 'we.'"

At the time that Paul wrote the above, there were evidently those who were making the false charge that Paul had appointed himself as an apostle, and was thus commending himself as such. — 2 Corinthians 5:12; 10:8.

Paul was saying his commendation as an apostle came through Christ, and that he did not need a letter of commendation from the church in Corinth, nor did he need a letter of commendation from anyone else so as to speak to the Christians in Corinth, or elsewhere, as an apostle. — 2 Corinthians 12:11; Galatians 1:17-19.

2 Corinthians 3:2 — You are our letter, written in your hearts, known and read by all men.

Many manuscripts read "our hearts," rather than "your hearts." We believe that it most likely Paul wrote "your hearts." Paul writes that the Corinthian Christians are themselves a testimony that he was an apostle, since he had brought so many of them to Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:3 — being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

The Corinthian Christians serve as a testimony of Paul’s ministry, not by anything written on tablets of stone, but rather what had become written in the tablets of their heart. By this he also begins to bring into focus the Law covenant, which was written on stones, and he contrasts what is written with the spirit of Jehovah with that written by means of the human hand through Moses. It appears that “the Spirit of the living God” parallels “spirit of Jehovah” in 2 Corinthians 3:17, denoting the anointing, influence, power, of God’s holy spirit. -- See also Isaiah 11:1; 61:1; Micah 3:8; Luke 4:14.18; Acts 1:8; 10:38; Romans 15:13,19; 2 Corinthians 1:21; Ephesians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 2:20.

2 Corinthians 3:4 – Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.

The testimony of Paul’s work with the Corinthian brothers adds to Paul’s confidence that he is not a false apostle, and that his repentance towards Jehovah through Jesus had been accepted, and that he was indeed appointed by God and Jesus as an apostle. The turning, the repentance, is towards Jehovah, through faith in Christ. The turning is not towards Christ, but towards the God and Father of Jesus through Jesus. -- Acts 20:21.

2 Corinthians 3:5 – Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from Jehovah.

Paul did not claim his salvation from sin and death was by obedience to the Law, which would mean that his sufficiency would have been of himself, but rather he claimed that which had been provided by Jehovah (through Christ), as shown in the next verse.

2 Corinthians 3:6 — Who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Paul contrasts the new covenant with that of the Old Law Covenant through Moses, and shows that the Law Covenant kills, it condemns, since sinful flesh cannot totally obey that Law. -- Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:2.

2 Corinthians 3:7 – But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away.

The service of the Law Covenant is called “the service of death,” since it was weak because of the sinful flesh (Romans 8:3), and thus, rather than bringing anyone to life, it condemned the one seeking life through that Law to death. (Romans 7:10; Galatians 3:10,11) And yet, the Law Covenant itself “came with glory;” it was the light by which one could have life if one could obey that light. (Romans 10:5) But due to the subjection of mankind to vanity and the bondage of corruption (Ecclesiastes 1:2,14,15; Romans 8:20-22) that is upon mankind by means of Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12-19, that which would have been to life, became death. Only Jesus actively and fully brought to light life and incorruption by full obedience to the Law and all that his God and Father commanded. -- Philippians 2:8; 2 Timothy 1:10.

2 Corinthians 3:8 – Won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory?

The spirit is evidently referring to servicing the spirit of the Law, not the letter of the Law. (Romans 2:29; 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6) This, however, is done through Jesus and the blood of the new covenant. (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; Romans 3:25; 5:9; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:15,24: 10:29; 12:24; 13:20) We believe that since the new covenant actually belongs to the age to come, in this age, one, through faith in the blood of Christ, obtains the spirit, the power, or reckoning by tasting of the power of the age to come (Hebrews 6:5), when the spirit will be fully poured out upon all peoples. (Jeremiah 30,31) The new creature in Christ has become sanctified (consecrated) through the blood of the new covenant. (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 10:29) The new creature itself does not fall short of the glory of Jehovah due to sin (1 John 3:9), and is thus with much more glory than any trying to attain righteousness through the Law Covenant, for no one was ever justified, made straight, by that covenant so that he could say that he did not fall short of the glory of Jehovah. — Romans 3:23.

2 Corinthians 3:9 – For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

The law condemns, and yet the Law is the light of Jehovah (Proverbs 6:23), by which, if one should obey that Law, he would live. (Leviticus 18:5; Nehemiah 9:29; Ezekiel 20:11; Romans 10:5) The Law itself was not at fault, but it failed to bring eternal life to anyone, due to the sinful nature of the flesh condemned in Adam. (Romans 5:12-19; 8:3) Jesus, however, obeyed that Law and became the light of Jehovah among men. (John 1:4,5) The law, having its own glory, while it provided a typical glory toward those under the Law, did not provide the glory of a new creation (Ecclesiastes 1:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:17), which new creation does not fall short of the glory of Jehovah.

The service of righteousness is first of all, the service of Jesus to us; Jesus became our righteousness, and secondarily, the service of righteousness is the service of all who are justified through his righteous blood, and who, as new creatures, are thus servants of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 3:10 – For most assuredly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.

That which has been made glorious through faith in Jesus surpasses the glory of the Law Covenant, since the Law Covenant proved ineffectual to restoring those under the Law to the glory of God due to the sinful flesh. — Romans 8:3.

2 Corinthians 3:11 – For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

That which is passing away is the Law Covenant. It does not pass away as long as there is still one Jew who is under that Law. Each Jew who turns toward Jehovah in repentance, through Christ, becomes dead to the Law, and for that one, the Law has passed away. Once all the Jews born under the Law have either died to the Law through Christ, or have physically died, then the Law Covenant will have fully passed away.

2 Corinthians 3:12 – Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech.

By what has been given to him through Christ, Paul claims the right to speak boldly by means of the spirit that had been given to him, not just as new creature, but also as an apostle of Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.

The reference is to when Moses came down from the mountain after he had seen the glory of Jehovah. His face shone with the brightness of the glory of Jehovah, so that, he covered his face that the glory would not shine upon the children of Israel, and thus, the people could not gaze upon that reflected glory of Jehovah. Paul is using that veil as a figure of how the Jew could not bring himself into the glory of Jehovah by means of keeping the Law.

2 Corinthians 3:14 – But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because [by means of] Christ it passes away.

2 Corinthians 3:15 – But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.

The obstructive veil is still upon the Jew to this day, who reads the Law, for his heart is hardened without Christ, being of sinful nature, and unable to bring himself into the righteousness that is not short of the glory of God. The law condemns, because of man’s sinful condition, it does not justify, and thus it cannot bring anyone into the righteousness that does not fall short of the glory of God. — Romans 3:20; 8:3; Galatians 2:16; 3:11.

The "veil" is a reference to the veil that Moses put over his face after receiving the ten commandments. Moses face was aglow from having seen the glory of Jehovah, and thus Moses veiled his face. (Exodus 34:29-35) That veil is being used as type to demonstrate how the Jew who is still alive to the Law continues to fall short of the glory of Jehovah. — Romans 3:23.

A veil causes blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4), but here it is used more as a obstruction to the glory of Jehovah; those under the veil of the Law Covenant have not been made free from the law of sin and death. — Isaiah 60:1; Romans 8:2.

2 Corinthians 3:16 – But whenever one turns to [Jehovah], the veil is taken away.

The Greek as it reads in our extant manuscripts does read "the Lord", but rather simply as "Lord." The indefinite usage of the Greek word for Lord probably indicates that the Holy Name was originally used, but that later copyists changed it to the Greek for for "lord."

One turns to Jehovah [not to Jesus] by repentance, through faith in the blood of Jesus, not by works of the Law. — Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; Luke 1:16; Acts 3:13,19,20; 20:21; 26:20; Hebrews 6:1.

If "lord" here refers to Jesus, it would have to mean to turn to Jesus whose sacrifice brings us back in harmony with Jehovah. -- John 14:6; Romans 5:6,11-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; 2 Corinthians 5:18,19; Ephesians 1:3,17-23; 5:2; Colossians 1:20; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Hebrews 2:9; 9:14; 10:10-12; 1 John 2:23; 2 John 2:9; 1 Peter 3:18.

By faith, the light of that is in the Law, which is veiled to those who seek righteousness by works of the Law, is made to shine through the righteousness of Christ, who was fully obedient to the Law. Through repentance and faith in Jesus, the light of the Law becomes, by faith, unveiled for the new creature in Christ. Through Christ, the one may be justified, counted as being righteousness, not by the works of the Law, but through faith in the blood of Him who was fully obedient to that Law. 

2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now [Jehovah] is the spirit and where the spirit of [Jehovah] is, there is liberty.

Again, we do not find in the extant Greek manuscripts a phrase corresponding to "the Lord" (with the definite article), but we find in the Greek the word for "lord" without the definite article. Again, this could indicate the possibility that the Holy Name was changed to the Greek word for "Lord."

Many read this as say that now Jesus is the spirit and where the spirit of Jesus is, there is liberty. This could also be. It is through Jesus that Jews are liberated from the Law Covenant (Romans 7:4; Galatians 2:14; Ephesians 2:14-16; Hebrews 7:18), and it is through Jesus that all mankind are liberated from the condemnation in Adam. -- Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 4:14.

However, the word “spirit” in in the first instance is not referring to the bodily substance of God or Jesus, as some have claimed, but rather of spirit, the power or force behind the New Covenant, which brings freedom, not just from the condemnation of the Law, but also from the condemnation of sin and death through Adam, through the blood of Jesus. Jehovah, through his holy spirit, can be said the spirit of the New Covenant, not only as the force behind that covenant, but also since the holy spirit belongs to Jehovah. It would not be proper, however, to turn that around so as to say, “The [holy] spirit is Jehovah,” as some would like it to say.

Nevertheless, as the “spirit” is used in 2 Corinthians 3:3 as belonging to the living God, likewise, we believe that it is the same in 2 Corinthians 3:17, where we believe the spirit should be understood as the spirit of Jehovah.

2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of [Jehovah], are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from [Jehovah], the spirit.

“We all” here evidently means all the Jews who have become dead to the Law through Christ, although every Christian, whether he was ever a Jew under the Law or not, having become a new creation, he is with unveiled face as as to behold the glory of Jehovah as revealed through Jesus. The latter part of the verse, however, can only apply to the Jew, who having been a servant of the Law, passes from the glory of that servitude into the glory of service to the New Covenant, so that he, as a new creation, does not fall short of the glory of the image of God. The Jew still reads that Law, and is thus still condemned by that Law, and world is corrupted and under the bondage of corruption, and thus we know that Law has not yet “passed away”, nor have the present heavens and earth passed away, giving way the age to come where there will no longer be the bondage of corruption (the crooked condition), but rather there will righteousness, straightness. (Ecclesiastes 1:15; 7:13; Matthew 5:18; 2 Peter 3:10,13) At the present time, it is only to those who taste of the blessing of that age to come through faith in Christ who are a new creation, and for whom the old has passed away, so that the new creature in this age is counted — through faith — as though belonging to that day yet to come. — 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Hebrews 6:5; Revelation 21:1-5.

OBJECTION

Some have claimed that we are in error about the Law Covenant since Hebrews 8:13 shows that it has not vanished away.

Hebrews 8:13 - In that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away. 

At the time of the writing of letter to the Hebrews, we find the Law Covenant had still not passed away, but that it was "near to vanishing away." Indeed, the Law is still active and still condemns any Jew who has not become dead to the Law. (Luke 16:14-31; Romans 7:1-6; 1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 3:14.) When finally the present heavens and earth have passed away, only then does the law itself pass away, for then all Jews under the Law Covenant of this age will have become dead to the Law. -- Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17.

At the same time, we should note that it is the typical Law Covenant that passes away (Colossians 2:16,17; Hebrews 7:11-28; 8:4,5,13; 10:1), not the reality of God’s eternal Law of love which is expressed within the Law Covenant. — Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 13:10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8.

Is the New Covenant Active Now or in the Age to Come? A Bible Student Examination

(This study may still need editing)

Introduction

Among Bible Students, one of the most persistent debates concerns the timing of the New Covenant: Is it active now for the church, or does it belong exclusively to the coming age? Much of the confusion arises from the assumption that if the New Covenant is not yet active for the world, then it cannot be active for the new creature either. Others conclude that if the new creature benefits from the New Covenant, then the covenant must already be fully in force.

This article explores a third position—one that avoids both extremes. Scripture shows that the new creation belongs to the age to come, and therefore the blessings that sanctify believers today are drawn from the powers of that future age. This, we believe, is true even though the New Covenant has not yet been inaugurated with Israel.

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The New Creation Belongs to the Age to Come

Paul writes:

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The old creation is the creation through Adam, the whole creation now under bondage of corruption and vanity, from which there can be no new creation. -- Genesis 3:17;  5:29; Psalm 39: 5; Ecclesiastes 1:2,9,10,13-25; Romans 5:12-19; 8:19-22.

The new creation is consistently associated with the renewal of all things—the passing away of the present heavens and earth and the establishment of the new.
See: Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 5:18; 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33; 2 Peter 3:10,13; Revelation 21:1–5.

These passages point to a future reality, not a present one. The new heavens and new earth belong to the age to come, not to this present evil age.

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The Age to Come Is Future

Jesus repeatedly distinguished between “this time” and “the age to come”:

• “He will receive a hundredfold now in this time… and in the age to come, eternal life.” — Mark 10:30

• “Who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” — Luke 18:30

The writer of Hebrews confirms that the age to come had not yet arrived in the first century—and it still has not:

“…tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.” — Hebrews 6:4–5

Believers in this age taste the powers of the coming age, but they do not yet live in that age.

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How the New Creature Experiences Future Blessings Now

Hebrews 6:4–5 is key. It shows that the new creature receives spiritual life and sanctification through the powers of the age to come. This means:

• The New Covenant is not yet active for the world.

• Yet the new creature experiences its blessings in advance.

• These blessings are applied by reckoning—God treats the believer as belonging to the day that has not yet dawned.

Thus, the new creature is sanctified by the blood of the New Covenant, even though the covenant itself has not yet been inaugurated with Israel.

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Why the New Covenant Is Not Yet Fully Active

The present world remains under corruption:

• Satan still blinds the nations (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:3).

• The promised blessing of all nations (Genesis 22:18) is not yet visible.

• God continues to call individuals out of the world (John 15:19).

• The corrupted world still exists (Romans 5:12; 8:21; 2 Peter 1:4).

• The world has not yet passed away (1 Corinthians 7:31; 1 John 2:17).

• The Law Covenant has not yet passed away (Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; Hebrews 8:13)

Since the present heavens and earth remain, the New Covenant—promised specifically to Israel (Jeremiah 31:31)—has not yet begun its full operation. Likewise, since the Law Covenant has not yet passed away, the New Covenant is not yet inaugurated.

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The Future Activation of the New Covenant Through Israel

Once the present order passes away and the new heavens and new earth appear, the New Covenant will be established with Israel as promised. At that time, its blessings will flow outward to all nations.

Until then, believers experience its sanctifying power in advance, not because the covenant is active now, but because God applies its benefits to the new creation by anticipation.

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The Blood of the Covenant Applied to Christ’s Followers

When Jesus said:

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” — Luke 22:20; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:25

He indicated that His disciples would indeed receive the benefits of the New Covenant. The “blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24) is the very means by which believers are sanctified:

• Hebrews 10:29 — sanctified by the blood of the covenant

• Hebrews 12:24 — Jesus, mediator of a new covenant

• Hebrews 13:20 — the blood of the everlasting covenant

These blessings come through the powers of the age to come (Hebrews 6:4–5), applied now to those who believe.

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Conclusion

The New Covenant is not yet active for the world, nor has it been inaugurated with Israel. Yet the new creature experiences its sanctifying power today because the new creation belongs to the age to come. Believers receive the blessings of that future covenant by anticipation, through the Spirit, and through the blood of Christ.

This understanding avoids the extremes often found among Bible Students and harmonizes all relevant Scriptures: the covenant is future, but its power is already at work in those who are being prepared for the coming age.