“In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete” (Hb 8: 13 ESV)

The book of Hebrews presents the New Covenant of God as replacing the Old Covenant given to the previous Hebrew generations through Moses:

“Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbour and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hb 8: 6-12 ESV)

The New Covenant is Universal The apostle Paul, elaborated this truth of the New Covenant to be not only for the Jews but for all people. “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.'” (Gl 3:8) In Romans 3:20 Paul stated: “since there is One God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.” Uncircumsized means all nations inclusive with the believing Jews who were circumcised. Paul was selected by Jesus to teach the gospel covenant to both the Gentile — which means non-Jew — and to the Jews: “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel” (Ac 9:15)

When God gave Abraham — the forefather of all the Jews — a son He said: “And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Gn 12:3) and “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gn 22:18) There are many proofs that the New Covenant was designed for all the human race.

Christ Himself choose his disciples commanding them to make this a universal effort to include all mankind: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mk 16:15 NLT)

We are in the period of time God refers to as the New Covenant (NC) which began at the death of Jesus Christ. He has made it very clear that His substitutionary death and salvation is for al the human race!

The New Covenant redefines moral law As followers of Christ, the moral law is now written on our hearts with the two maxims informing all NC ethical principles. The two primary principles that all moral law springs from in the universe, are based on Christ’s teaching. (see Mk 12:28-31 HCSB). They are:

1) Love God first, and
2) Love others as you prefer to be loved.

When viewed through the filter of love, the moral law is refreshingly perceived as non-threatening life-guidance. Law is now appreciated because of what Christ has done for us on the cross also out of love for others — for you and I — for the entire human race.

He died as a propitiation (substitutionary death) for our sins. Sin is the transgression of the law of God, in relation to how we have erringly crossed the love-boundaries — the two primary conscious formations of law — and harmed others or disrespected God through ingratitude or denying His existence and authority over our life: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rm 3:23)

The New Covenant is expressed by Love We can now perceive God’s love because He first expressed His love to all of us. In the life and death of Jesus Christ, God reaches out to us and to all men and women of the world. In theological terms: God calls each of us into reconciliation with Himself by His action of propitiation – through Christ’s self-sacrificing love, bearing our sin on the cross. When we respond to Christ’s love and live accordingly, such “Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” (Rm 13:10 NIV)

The death of Christ was considered a righteous act as was His selfless life, and repeated demonstration of love for others, including many who were considered undesirables – sinners of the worst kind! Thus, only Christ is righteous. Most of our righteousness is accounted as “filthy rags” in comparison to Jesus. Isaiah, a prophet who had the most to say of the coming Messiah put is this way: “All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment (Is 64:6)

If you believe you are sinless, ask yourself if you have ever – in thought or deed – missed the mark of loving others. Or if you have denied expressing gratitude to God for His gifts of life and His love to you, like your family: parent, spouse or child. Stop for a moment, and listen to the truth in your own heart, without comparing yourself to any other sinner – such as “I am pretty good compared to ____”.

When we believe, His righteousness is mercifully gifted to cover not only the shame of remorse for sin but also freeing us from judicial danger if we feel we are in disunion with God. Faith in Christ discharges us from the law’s claim upon us. Without Christ, we remain guilty.

The New Covenant teaches that we are Justified by Faith Legally speaking, God’s verdict on the believer’s behalf is: You are acquitted – not found guilty. The theological term is “you are justified by faith alone in Christ”. His very own righteousness is imputed to us, or “covers us with His love” having paid the sin debt, and continues to cover us if we slip up here and there until we meet Him at the end of our lives — at His second coming when those accounted righteous will be separated from the evil-doers. God will view us as righteous due to the work of Jesus on our behalf — this attributed righteousness is “also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness–for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Rm 4:24)

“And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”. (Rm 3:22-24)

For those who reject His mercy, judgement will follow many to the grave, until the second coming. At that time, there will be a court of judgment established by Christ the Magistrate of Justice. (see 1 Th 4:16-18 HCSB) For now, He is patient, not wanting any to perish. This extended mercy is to allow time each one of us time to accept Him and His sacrificial death on our behalf. (see 2 Peter 3:9)