New Covenant

New Covenant

Hi everyone, my name is Teena. I am one of the pastors here at Blue Oaks.

I want us to imagine if wine and bread are kept at the front for Holy Communion, and you could pour the wine into your glass without anyone serving you? Do you think believers would get drunk? Not at BlueOaks, but the Corinthian church did.

We are in the book of 1 Corinthians. Let’s read

1 Corinthians 11:20-22

20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

Apostle Paul is upset with the Corinthian church that they would take the Holy Communion in an unworthy manner. They did not honor the Holy Communion. Some of them got drunk, while others could not partake of the Holy Communion.

Thanks to the Corinthian church, we will not get drunk. (as the small communion cup is raised)

Let’s continue reading
1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The topic for today is “New Covenant”.

Did you know when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you entered into a covenant relationship with God?

A covenant is a legal binding agreement or promise between two or more parties.

The rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant with Noah and all the living things, which states that God will not destroy the earth with a flood. When we see the rainbow, it is a beautiful reminder of that Nohaic Covenant.

Similarly, Holy Communion is the reminder or the sign of the new covenant God has made with those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

We don’t use the word “covenant” now. We often use the word “promise.” A promise can be informal and temporary, but a covenant is a formal, binding agreement. Covenants are usually unbreakable commitments. When God makes a promise it could be for a season or a particular situation. Promises are temporary. But a covenant is not just for a season,it is everlasting.

Remember those days when our friends said the words’ pinky promise,’ and we trusted them? For example, if a friend said, ‘I will give you candy if you help me with my homework. Pinky promise.’ You trusted that friend, but they often broke their promise. The next time, they raised their offer and said they would give ten candies. You fell for that significant number. They broke the promise again. Soon, you realize it’s not about how big or amazing the promise is but who is making the promise that matters. You can’t trust everyone, Can you?

The New Covenant in the blood is made by Jesus. We can trust Jesus. He is faithful.
In the world of digital signatures the concept of a blood covenant can be challenging for us to grasp today, but it held profound meaning in ancient cultures. The literal Hebrew word for covenant is “bereeth” means cutting. When two people entered into a blood covenant in the ancient world, they would make a cut in their bodies, which signified their unity as one. Why Blood? It is written in the Bible that life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). For example when two kings made a blood covenant either by an animal sacrifice or by making a cut in their body. Covenant was a sign of their unity. This bond was so strong that if one party was attacked, they could call upon the other for support. If a king with only ten soldiers had a covenant with another king who commanded a thousand, it was as if they stood together as 1,010 soldiers against the enemy.
This understanding is crucial when we consider Jesus’ words to Saul: “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul was targeting the early church, yet by attacking those in covenant with Jesus, he was essentially touching Christ Himself. The enemy’s most effective strategy is to make us forget our covenant with Jesus.
Holy Communion serves as a powerful reminder of this covenant relationship. It reaffirms our connection with Christ and with one another. The enemy despises this reminder, knowing the strength and unity it brings to believers. In participating in Holy Communion, we reaffirm our identity in Christ and the spiritual protection that comes from being in covenant with Him.
Before we understand the new covenant and its promises, it is important for us to know the old covenant. If there is a new covenant, there has to be an old one. So, let’s understand first what the old covenant is.

Old Covenant

The Old Covenant is the agreement that God established with the nation of Israel.
Moses has led Israel out of the land of Egypt. When they are in the wilderness, God invites Moses to Mt Sinai and gives him the Ten Commandments and laws. God promises to bless the people of Israel, but it comes with a condition: They must obey all the laws and commandments. We read that in the book of Exodus from chapters 19-24. We are going to read a few verses.

Exodus 19:3-8
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

How many of us will respond like the people, “We will do everything the Lord has said?”

It reminds me of a story about a husband who tells his wife, “It would be amazing if I could climb Mt. Sinai and from the top of the mountain scream the Ten Commandments.” The wife tells her husband, “It would be even more amazing if you would stay here and keep the commandments.”

Keeping all the commandments by your strength is like carrying a heavy yoke; it’s hard. Most of us probably know 10 commandments but there are 613 laws in the old testament.

Purpose of the Old Covenant

The Old Covenant, while holy and good, revealed humanity’s inability to achieve righteousness through their own efforts. This is why the New Covenant, introduced by Jesus, is so transformative—it offers a new way to relate to God, not through our own strength, but through His grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 7:7-9; Galatians 3:24)

The people of Israel did not keep the covenant. They were unfaithful to the laws of God. Yet God is so good that he does not reject the people, but He promises to make a new covenant with them. Imagine the disciples’ excitement when they hear Jesus say, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” They have been waiting for the fulfillment of the prophecy by the prophet Jeremiah. This is the prophecy that Jeremiah the prophet writes.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
33
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

Promises of the New Covenant

Sins are not remembered.

Jeremiah 31:34b
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

In the Old Testament, in 2 Samuel 11, David commits adultery with Bathsheba and then arranges for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle to cover up his sin. Nathan, the prophet, confronts David about his actions. While David repents and receives God’s forgiveness, Nathan tells him that although his sin is covered, the consequences will remain: Despite David’s repentance, the consequences of his actions still unfold, including turmoil within his family and the death of the child born from his affair (2 Samuel 12:14). Under the old covenant the sins are not forgotten or canceled.

In the New Testament, the religious leaders bring a woman to Jesus who is caught in the act of adultery. Instead of condemning her, Jesus famously says, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, the accusers leave, and Jesus is left alone with the woman. Jesus then asks her if anyone has condemned her. When she replies that no one has, He says, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Here, Jesus forgives her and offers her a new beginning, canceling her sin. In the New Testament, we see Jesus canceling the people’s sins.

Under the New Covenant, when we confess, our sins are forgiven. If anyone still feels guilty and believes God will not forgive them, that’s the enemy’s lie. All your sins are forgiven, and the blood of Jesus cleanses the conscience of all sins. We are righteous in God’s eyes. When our heavenly father sees us as holy and blameless. The blood of Jesus has washed us clean. He does not remember our sins, which is a new covenant promise. So when we partake of the holy communion, we have to remember this promise: God has forgiven our sins and does not remember our sins. The only two people who remember the sin are the devil and you.

Personal testimony – Personally I was so fearful of the consequences of my sin and I used to be fearful of God’s punishment upon my life, till I understood the new covenant and the power in the blood of Jesus. Oh the victory and the freedom that I experienced.

Consider the weight of guilt you may be carrying today. The New Covenant invites you to lay that burden down, knowing that through Jesus, your sins are not only forgiven but forgotten. Will you embrace that freedom today?

Laws are written on the heart

Jeremiah 31:33 (NLT)
“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the LORD. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Under the old covenant, the laws were written on stone. But in the New Covenant, the laws are written on the heart. What does that mean? Old Covenant was about following the rules, New covenant is about relationship with God. Obedience that flows from our heart because of the love of the Father. It’s no longer, I have to do it but I want to do it. How can a person change the thought process from should do to want to do?

Paul discusses a person’s struggle under the law in Romans 7:14-25: ‘I want to do good, but I do not do it. What a wretched man I am! Who can save me from this?’ Guess what? Jesus can save that person. The Old Covenant reflects the experience of living in guilt, while the New Covenant is about experiencing freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit. People tried harder and lived in fear of not fulfilling the laws. As Paul continues in Romans chapter 8, he describes the life of a believer led by the Spirit. When we walk by the Holy Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

Jesus told the disciples that He would send His Spirit, and the Holy Spirit would remind them of all that Jesus had taught. Under the new covenant, God has given us His Spirit. When we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The laws of God only tell us what is right and wrong but do not empower us to say No to sin. For example, the law of God can tell us not to commit adultery, steal, or covet. These are the laws of God. It can only tell us this is right and this is wrong. But it does not give us the power to resist the sin.

All will know me
Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

In the Old Covenant, only a chosen few could know God. Only the high priests could come to the Most Holy Place. God spoke to only a few people. God would warn people not to come close to the mountain where He would meet with Moses; if they did, they would die.
But in the New Covenant, God promises that all will know Him. Who knows God better than the Spirit of God? God has given us His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is with us and in us; He is our guide, comforter, and advocate, helping us to know Jesus better. Talk to the Holy Spirit, like the disciples talked to Jesus, and He will guide us and be our friend.
Growing up, I always thought the Holy Spirit was only a power. I didn’t know He would talk with us and that we could talk with Him. My relationship with the Holy Spirit is not just special; it’s deeply personal to me. God’s promise that all will know me is fulfilled by the presence of the Holy Spirit in each one of our lives.
As we partake in Holy Communion, we praise God for this New Covenant promise that all will know God.
Purpose of the New Covenant

Purpose of the new covenant is to draw us close to God. New covenant is about relationship with God while the old covenant was about rules.

Demand of the New Covenant
What should I do to be part of the new covenant and experience the promises of the New Covenant?

We must believe in Jesus’s death and resurrection and receive Jesus as the Lord and Savior to be part of this new covenant. It’s that simple.

Some people choose to renew their marriage covenant, and it’s a beautiful thing. In the Old Testament, King Josiah’s act of renewing the covenant with God is a powerful example.

Josiah Renews the Covenant

2 Kings 23:3
The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes, and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

If the Holy Spirit is leading you, would you like to renew the covenant? It would be great if you could stand to renew the covenant. Also, if anyone is not part of this covenant and would like to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior, would you like to stand? The words are on the screen, lets say it together.

Lord Jesus, I receive You as the Lord and Savior of my life. I believe that You died for my sins, and I am completely forgiven. I believe You were resurrected, and I am healed of my guilty conscience. I am righteous, holy, and blameless because of the blood of Jesus. I believe the Holy Spirit is in me and will never leave me. He will guide, counsel, and help me understand the truth from God’s Word. I surrender my life to You, Jesus, and I choose to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. The grace of Jesus, the love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit are with me forever. Today I am a new creation under the new covenant. Amen.

………………

If this is your first time accepting Jesus, the next step is to get baptized, which will affirm your commitment to Jesus.

Let me pray over us as the worship band comes.

Prayer – Lord help us to live in the freedom and power of the New Covenant, forgiven, no more guilt, confidence as sons and daughters of the king.