The Christmas Covenant[2018]-2 Series

The CHRISTMAS COVENANT-II—Jeremiah 31:31-34

God informed Jeremiah & Jeremiah the people, of the promise of a new covenant to supplant/fulfill/uphold/empower the ineffective covenant.

God’s people have the promise of an effective covenant.

What is the Christmas Covenant?

Why is the promise of a differing covenant encouraging to God’s people?

5 elements/encouragements concerning the covenant people of God.

The covenant people of God are promised...

Heb. 10:12-23—“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, & in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins & their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new & living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, & having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience & our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

We had found earlier that The Christmas Covenant is...

1. A PROMISED Covenant(:31a)

2—The Christmas Covenant is...

A NEW Covenant(:31)

Explanation:(:31)

:31—“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel & with the house of Judah--”

There will be “a new covenant” to very effectively replace or rather to fulfill the ‘old’ covenant. This new covenant will be made with certain people...‘God’s people’ whom He raised up from a non-entity. God’s people are: “the house of Israel” as well as “the house of Judah.”

“The New[covenant] has an unconditional focus upon God, i.e., there can be no way for man to bring the covenant to pass. The covenant is entirely dependent upon God to bring it into effect. God is acting because of who He is & the participants in the covenant cannot change that aspect just as in the Old Covenant.”—Byron Sherman—Jeremiah Exam #2, Chapters 21-52 for Dr. Gary Galeotti-SEBTS—April 12, 1993

This “new covenant” is a promise from the God of Israel. The need for this “new covenant” was amplified by Israel & Judah’s division(brought about after Solomon’s death between Rehoboam & Jeroboam—1Kgs. 12:1-33).

Ezek. 37:26—“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, & it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them & multiply them, & I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore.”

Hosea 2:18-23—“In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And with the creeping things of the ground. Bow & sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely. I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness & justice, In lovingkindness & mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD. It shall come to pass in that day That I will answer,” says the LORD; “I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer With grain, With new wine, And with oil; They shall answer Jezreel. Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’” Lk. 22:20—“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

1Cor. 11:25—“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

2Cor. 3:6—“who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Heb. 9:15—“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”