March 5
I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT
-Jeremiah 31:31-33 states, … Behold, the days come, says the Lord, THAT I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT with the house
of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took
them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant THEY BRAKE, although I was a husband unto them,
says the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I WILL MAKE with the house of Israel; After those days, says the Lord,
I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people
… WHAT A BEAUTIFUL AND UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE!
-This promise is to be performed by the Lord and not man. THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT! This passage of scripture speaks of
the difference between the LAW OF MOSES and THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS. So many Christians are still trying
to live under the Old Covenant. They are bound by a legalistic way of thinking and living, which leads to a self-righteousness
in their lives that stinks to the high heavens. Man can do nothing with the Old Covenant, BUT BREAK IT!
-Under the New Covenant, God will write His laws in our inward parts and in our hearts. Notice this: The Old Covenant was
based upon man’s performance. The result was ( and always is ) FAILURE. The New Covenant is based on God’s
performance. As we learn to place our faith in God’s performance ( Christ and Him crucified ), the result will always
be VICTORY! Remember … We are God’s workmanship.
-The New Covenant is a work of the Spirit, whereas the Old Covenant was a work of the flesh. The New Covenant is based
upon us BELIEVING AND PLACING OUR FAITH in God’s performance. The Old Covenant was based upon man’s ability to
perform God’s law. God gave man the law to show him that he ( man ) was not able to keep it in and of himself. It was
a schoolmaster ( a tutor, or guardian of boys ) to lead us to Christ, for only God ( by His Spirit ) can write His laws on
our heart, and in our inward parts (our minds).
-We must realize the difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. The letter of the law was written
upon tables of stone, but the spirit of the law is to be written upon the tables of our hearts and minds. In essence, Jesus
did not come to destroy the law, BUT TO FULFILL IT. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us ( the
letter of the law ), which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS; ( Colossians 2:14 ) …
He paved a NEW AND LIVING WAY FOR US! By nailing the letter of the law to His cross, He opened the door for the spirit of
the law to be written upon our hearts. The apostle Peter said it like this … WE HAVE BEEN MADE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE
NATURE ( 2nd Peter 1:4 ) …
-Partaking of God’s divine nature is not to be seen as something that is complicated, but in actuality, it is to
be seen as something simple. It simply means to participate and operate in what God has already provided and accomplished
for us. IT CAUSES US TO REST FROM THE WORKS OF THE FLESH, WHICH DO PROFIT NOTHING! Along with God’s divine nature comes
HIS DIVINE POWER, which becomes our power source. This new power source enables us to overcome the flesh ( the carnal mind
or corrupt nature of Adam ). As we go through this process, GOD IS ACTUALLY WRITING HIS LAWS UPON OUR HEARTS.
-The Old Covenant showed man that he did continually miss the mark of God ( sin ). The New Covenant shows man the ability
of God to perform a life-changing work in our hearts and lives. There is so much more to be said on this beautiful subject,
for this is the very heart of the GOOD NEWS. How sweet it is to trust in the performance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
rather than having to rely on our own pitiful efforts.
-THIS IS GOD’S NEW COVENANT!-
