I will make a new covenant… I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts… I will be their God, and they shall be my people… I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
The sermon series on God's Covenants highlighted God's attributes, character, commitments, and motivations for action. The central theme to his covenants is God's desire to reconcile sinners to himself. This theme is linked to Jesus who fulfills the covenants for our sakes as the second person of the Trinity.
This sermon examines the New Covenant mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31-34. It is essential to recognize that throughout the Old Testament, Israel often struggles to maintain its covenant relationship with God. In Jeremiah 31, God predicts a future New Covenant that will change Israel's pattern of unfaithfulness. This transformation will happen from the inside out, anchored by a lasting promise of forgiveness.
There are three key aspects of the New Covenant:
Internalization of God's Law: From scripture, we know that Jesus establishes the New Covenant. Those who truly follow Him know God's law intellectually. They also know - in their hearts - the cost of their forgiveness. Under the Spirit's power, their hearts become yielded to God's law being written on their hearts. This generates righteous living. In summary, the head can learn God's law, but the heart must be filled with grace and gratitude to live according to God's law. This is a work of the Triune God.
Personal Relationship with God: God desires a personal and intimate connection with His people. It is essential to recognize that God values the community formed by His covenants. This community forms the family of which He is the Father. His laws are written on the hearts of His children, which is evident in their shared love of God through weekly corporate worship, fellowship centered around His Word, prayer together, caring for one another, and serving together to spread the message of Jesus and to make disciples. God delights in having a close relationship with His gathered and sent people.
Forgiveness of Sins: While forgiveness is often sought for selfish reasons to gain Heaven's blessings and avoid Hell's pain, forgiveness has a community-building purpose. God's forgiveness overrides our guilt and shame for sin. When our hearts receive and are overwhelmed by God's grace, they are washed and we have unfettered fellowship with God, based on the integrity of His promise to forgive. This status with God is established for all of his people, thereby giving us the motivation and model to forgive one another when we sin against one another. The New Covenant changes individuals among God's people and thereby changes the entire assembly of God's people. With minds, hearts, and relationships set right through faith in Christ, sin is conquered, death has no sting, righteousness is sought, and the kingdom of God advances.
Step by step, all of the previous covenants brought us closer to the everlasting New Covenant. Looking back to Abraham, a Gentile who placed faith in God's sovereign rule and care, we see that God approaches us similarly through Christ. Jesus came to establish His New Covenant with us. Through faith in Jesus, God's law is written on our hearts. And then, our hearts are driven by gratitude to love God in fellowship with others who profess faith in Jesus. And together, we turn to people who need to know the good news about the God who loves them, died for them, lives for them, and reigns over them.
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