And he called it new covenant
In the Bible, the "New Covenant" refers to the agreement or promise made by God to establish a new relationship with humanity, particularly with the people of Israel, after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC.
The concept of the New Covenant is first introduced in the book of Jeremiah, where God promises to make a new covenant with his people, saying:
"Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, 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 in their minds and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:31-33, ESV)
The New Covenant is characterized by several key features:
- Internal transformation: God's laws will be written on the hearts of his people, rather than just on tablets of stone (Hebrews 8:10).
- Spiritual relationship: The New Covenant is based on a spiritual relationship between God and his people, rather than a physical or ceremonial one (2 Corinthians 3:6).
- Forgiveness of sins: The New Covenant provides for the forgiveness of sins, not just the forgiveness of past sins, but also the ability to live a life free from sin (Hebrews 8:12).
- The Holy Spirit: The New Covenant is associated with the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live a life pleasing to God (Acts 2:38).
The New Covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15). Through faith in Jesus, people can experience the benefits of the New Covenant, including forgiveness of sins, spiritual transformation, and a personal relationship with God.