I had a friend to ask me to explain the New Covenant. Here the thoughts I shared with him.
In the Abrahamic Covenant found originally in Genesis 12:1-3 there are three national promises or covenants to Israel. The Abrahamic Covenant is like the umbrella covenant for three other covenants: The Palestinian, Davidic, and the New Covenants.
1. There is the promise of “land” (Gen 12:1) found in Genesis 12:7. God promised to give Israel all of the land from the Nile to the Euphrates (15:18). The Palestinian Covenant elaborates on this in Dt 30:1-10.
2. There is the promise of “nation” (Gen 12:2) is that the descendant of David (Christ the Messiah) would reign over the nation of Israel forever. The Davidic Covenant elaborates on this promise in 2 Samuel 7:12-16.
3. There is the promise of “blessing” (Gen 12:3) that promises blessings on Israel. The New Covenant elaborates on this promise in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
Dwight Pentecost writes about the future new covenant: “Israel will have a converted heart as the foundation of all her blessings” (Things to Come, page 116). This will happen at the Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation Period.
I. What are the provisions of the New Covenant that God promised Israel?
These provisions will be experienced by Israel when she is converted at the Second Coming
(Rev 19:11-21) and goes into the 1000-year millennial reign of Christ on earth (Rev 20:1-6).
A. Obedience to God’s commands (Jer 31:31a)
B. Conversion (Jer 31:31b)
C. No more teaching (Jer 31:34a)
D. Forgiveness of sins (Jer 31:34b)
E. In the land (Jer 32:37-41)
F. Taming of beasts (Ezek 34:23) Obviously, animals are not
tame today.
G. Productivity of land (Ezek 34:27
H. Conversion (Ezek 37:24-28)
II. With whom was the New Covenant made?
(Unconditionally with Israel in Jeremiah 31:31)
III. What relationship has the Church with the New Covenant?
Amillennialism Progressive Dispensationalism Dispensationalism
(Promises already (Some fulfilled already by the (All of the promises
fulfilled today by church. Others not yet fulfilled not yet fulfilled by
the church today) by the church) Israel but will in
the future millennium)
There is much disagreement even among dispensationalist concerning the New Covenant and the church today. Dispensationalist, Thomas Constable believes that some of the New Covenant is operative today for the church and some for Israel in the future:
“The New Covenant went into effect and replaced the Old Covenant when Jesus Christ died. Some of its benefits began to bless all people immediately (vv. 6-11; cf. Heb. 10:1-18). However other of its benefits, specifically those on Israel, will not take effect until God resumes dealing with Israel as a nation (Jer. 31:31-34). This will happen when Jesus Christ returns to the earth and restores Israel as her Messiah” (Netbible.org on 2 Cor 3:6).
I hold that the basis for the New Covenant is the payment is Christ’s shed blood (Mt 26:26-28). We are ministers of the basis (the shed blood of Christ) of the New Covenant (2 Cor. 3:6). However, the New Covenant was not made with the Church but with Israel.
IV. When will the New Covenant be fulfilled?
When Israel is redeemed at the Second Coming (Rom 11:26-27) in the millennium.
Paul Enns in his The Moody Handbook of Theology has some good material on the New Covenant.
