A Better Covenant

“And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39)

The law of Moses was based on dos and don’ts.  It was performance based.  The law revealed that man could not be righteous nor do righteous. Man fails terribly in the eyes of God to come up to His standards.  Written in the law were ways to be covered for sin, but it wasn’t eternal.  Each year the high priest after a specific cleansing ritual could enter the Holy of Holies and intercede for the people and have their transgressions cleansed for the year.

What a difference is the New Covenant that is fulfilled “...by Him...,” by Jesus Son of God, the second person of the Godhead, the Word of God. His divinity is proven time and time again.  When John the Baptist was imprisoned, he wondered and asked, “... Art thou He that should come? or look we for another?” (Luke 7:20) And Jesus sent word to him.  “Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” (Luke 7:22-23) This was the proof that He was Who He said He was, the Son Who only said what the Father wanted. “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” (John 12:49) Jesus, the Son of God, Who did only what the Father was doing. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19)

His resurrection being the final proof to all that Jesus was Who He said He was. It wasn’t done in secret. He showed Himself to many. “And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” (1Corinthians 15:4-8) I don’t think this marvel was kept to oneself.  It was declared among families, friends and associates throughout.

This New Covenant between God and man is not only for the Jews but for “...all that believe...” All are justified, made right before God and become children of God with all the benefits and blessings of sonship. His sacrifice was sufficient for all sin of all man, past, present and future for eternity. It’s God’s triumph over the enemy. Jesus, God’s Only begotten firstborn Son has redeemed mankind. Ownership and authority have been returned to man.  How do we do that? It’s by the Word of God in our mouth. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) God’s Word is alive and active.  By speaking God’s Word, we bring light and life to the dark and dead places of this earth.

The New Covenant elevated man.  He becomes a spiritual being connected to God with the indwelling Holy Spirit. The law of Moses could not do that. Man continued to be separated from God in the law of Moses. The New Covenant returned man to be what God intended here on earth, royalty, inheritors with Jesus, victorious, more than conquerors. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37) God created us to rule on the earth. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) This authority has been returned to us who believe. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:” (1Peter 2:9)

We live as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people by living in the Spirit. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:8-17) When we walk in the Spirit, we will know God’s will and do God’s will. “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:” (1Peter 2:15) We are to walk this earth doing God’s good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) We are to walk as Jesus walked this earth. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34) Jesus was to redeem man.  God has a purpose for each one of us.  Like Jesus, we are to live and walk in the Spirit to do the Father’s will. We can do that now that Jesus has redeemed us and because there is a new covenant that is better than the law of Moses. “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, He saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:” (Hebrews 8:6-8) This new covenant has been realized by Jesus.