A Bible study from Faithbuilders Fellowship.
Requests for printed copies should be sent to: Faithbuilders Fellowship, 8060 Wing Span Drive, San Diego, CA 92119

Objectives ........................................................  1 
Salvation .........................................................  3 
God's Covenants ...................................................  3 
The Abrahamic Covenant and Its Promised Seed ......................  6 
The Law Covenant ..................................................  7 
The Weak-through-the-Flesh Covenant ...............................  9 
The New Covenant .................................................. 11 
The New Covenant Victim ........................................... 12 
The New Covenant Mediator ......................................... 13 
The New Covenant Intercessor ...................................... 14 
Processes of the New Covenant ..................................... 15  
   Past Sins Remitted ............................................. 16  
   Present Sins Forgiven .......................................... 16   
   Wilful Sins Punished ........................................... 17  
   Sin Punishable by the Second Death ............................. 18 
   Writing the Law in the Heart ................................... 19 
The Application of the New Covenant ............................... 21 
The New Covenant with Israel ...................................... 23 
The Olive Tree .................................................... 24 
New Covenant in High Calling and Earthly Kingdom Ages.............  27 
Inauguration of the New Covenant .................................. 27 
The Everlasting Covenant .......................................... 28 
An Allegory Representing Two Covenants ............................ 29 
Summary ........................................................... 36 
Notes ............................................................. 39 
The New Covenant in Jeremiah ...................................... 48 
"A Covenant...By Sacrifice"? ...................................... 53 
Topical Study Questions ........................................... 56 
Scripture Citation Index .......................................... 60 

1. to describe the differing conditions of life and being to result from salvation which God has purposed through Christ Jesus;
2. to define the key promise to Abraham, of a 'seed';
3. to note the purposes served by the Law Covenant, and what it could not do;
4. to determine when the New Covenant was promised, the ways in which it would be 'new,' and when it was made;
5. to learn what the New Covenant was to accomplish, and what assures its success;
6. to mention what qualified Jesus to be the Mediator of the New Covenant;
7. to express what the Mediator does for those covenanting with God in the New Covenant;
8. to suggest how the New Covenant deals with the sins of the people;
9. to explain why the New Covenant was promised to be made "with the house of Israel";
10. to bring the deserved and required attention of Bible students to Heb. 8:6 and 9:15;
11. to note the several 'everlasting covenants'; and
12. to examine the allegory.

Footnotes at the end of the article contain related thoughts, quotations and Scriptures pertinent to the discussion, put separately to provide the reader a more orderly flow of thought. Because everything written can be improved, either in expression, in logic, or in doctrinal content, it is realized that this is not without deficiency. But it is hoped that conclusions expressed will benefit students of Scripture interested in the subject in their continuing search for a complete understanding of God's precious, dependable Word. The Holy Scriptures require no change to make their testimony harmonious, reasonable, and true. This extensive study into many lines of Biblical evidence connected with the subject, goes forth with the prayer that its considerations will bring a blessing to all those who carefully read it, even its suggestions which all students may not now see alike.

MAN'S quest for knowledge has at all times engaged his attention. The desire to more fully understand various subjects, the reasons for things which occur, and the principles directing various actions have kept busy many human intellects. Some have occupied themselves with minor questions, while others have sought to solve immense problems. Some have dealt only with natural things that can be seen or heard, while others have endeavored to explain higher subjects: morality, life and death.

The power of thought over the lives of men is recognized by all. Some were taught from childhood concerning the control which the mind directs. Thoughts received often express themselves in actions. Actions form habits. Habits make up character. Character determines destiny. The beginning of this process, which has so widespread and enduring an influence, is in the mind. How important, therefore, that right thoughts on all subjects, particularly right thoughts about God, His purpose and His plan of action, should be received and entertained by all Christians. Thoughts of truth derived from the Bible have the power to transform and sanctify the believer, causing the divine likeness to be more and more manifest in him. The unbeliever, on the other hand, groping about in a condition of moral ignorance, appreciates not the divine likeness, and does not grow in it. How can he, being ignorant of it? It is surprising that the remnants of the divine image remaining in the hearts of various individuals have not been more marred than they are.--John 17:17, Rom. 12:2, 2 Cor. 3:3,18, 1 Cor. 1:20,21, Rom. 1:20-22, Eph. 4:17,18

The subject of salvation and God's covenants is worthy of attentive consideration by everyone because it affects their eternal interests and the divine program in respect to them. The result of such investigation, when conducted in a reasonable manner with submission to the holy spirit and the divine word, cannot be other than beneficial to him who seeks with the key of knowledge to unlock the treasures of wisdom.

Salvation

The ultimate conditions of life and being, to be enjoyed by those who avail themselves of salvation from sin and death, are seen in the Bible to be of two kinds. There is heavenly salvation for those who will have walked and served in faithful obedience to the divine will, in denial of earthly privileges and honor, and against the power and influence of Satan, having regard for the promised reward. And there will be earthly salvation for the obedient of mankind who serve and obey God's will by choice and delight during the world's judgment day when Satan is bound and God's grace is everywhere manifested. It should be clearly understood that while these two results of salvation<1> are provided, the one condition of faith and implicit obedience--full consecration--is necessary to be observed in order to obtain either. The difference in reward is according to the diversity of God's invitation, His eternal purpose, and the conditions under which faith is exercised and obedience rendered.--John 5:22-29, Rom. 8:19, Rev. 22:14

God's Covenants

Many covenants are mentioned in Scripture, most of which originated with God as promises, and became covenants or agreements when the persons to whom they were made complied in them or fulfilled certain conditions. When Noah and his sons emerged from the ark, and after Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings from which "the Lord smelled a sweet savour," God established a covenant with them, that the earth should no more be destroyed by a flood of waters. The rainbow was set as a token of this divine promise, which secures the earth as the everlasting home for all flesh, both man and beast. (Gen. 8:20,21, 9:8-17) No conditions were stipulated; no 'ifs' were interposed.

God also made a covenant with David, and it promised that his house should be established forever. It too was graciously offered by God, and was made without conditions. (2 Sam. 7:15-29, 2 Chron. 13:5, Psa. 89:3,28,34,39) David had implicit faith in this promise, and in his last words referred to it as "all his desire." (2 Sam. 23:5) This covenant is elsewhere called "the sure mercies of David" (Psalm 89:20- 37, Isa. 55:3, Acts 13:34), and David's Son and Lord, Christ Jesus, who was raised from the dead, now no more to return to death and the grave, has inherited its promises. The tabernacle or house of David fell when Zedekiah was dethroned. (2 Chron. 36:11-21) The Lord said, "A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it; there shall not be even a trace of it until He comes whose right it is; and to Him I will give it." (Ezek. 21:25-27 RSV)<2> The investiture of the Lord Jesus as king at His resurrection meant, therefore, that God had rebuilt or re- established the tabernacle or house of David. This was done in order that both Jew and Gentile might seek after the Lord.--Acts 15:14-17

In the revival under King Josiah, he and his people entered into a covenant to observe faithfully all the requirements of the Law Covenant. (2 Kings 23:2,3) Jehoiada, the priest, made a similar covenant at the accession of Joash. (2 Chron. 23:16,17) The orderly succession of day and night is called a covenant of the Lord.-- Jeremiah 33:20-22

The three covenants of God which particularly have to do with the divine arrangement for salvation from sin and death are now considered. Each of these covenants was a contract or agreement, each was instituted or established over a sacrifice, each had a sign or token, and each had conditions.

The first of these covenants was the promise made by God to Abraham, and confirmed to Isaac and to Jacob, that his seed should be great, that all the families of the earth should be blessed in him, and that his seed should possess all the land shown to Abraham. (Gen. 12:1-3,7, 13:14-17) The condition of obedience was attached to this covenant. (Gen. 12:1, 13:17,18, 18:17-19, 22:16-18), and it was confirmed, that is, ratified over an animal sacrifice after the manner usual in those times. (Gen. 15:3-18, Gal.3:15,17) Circumcision was the sign or token of God's covenant with Abraham. (Gen. 17:9-14,23, Rom. 4:11,12) When God's last instruction to Abraham was carried out, God swore by an oath. Attention is called to this in the epistle to the Hebrews that "after he had patiently endured," that is, fulfilled all the conditions required of him, "he obtained the promise." (Gen. 22:15-18, Heb. 6:13-18) The statement, "By Myself have I sworn..." draws attention to the fact that the covenant had no mediator. God Himself assumed the responsibility of the fulfillment of its promise pertaining to the seed.--Acts 3:25,26, Gal. 3:16,19

The second great covenant was the Law Covenant. This was made between God and Israel over sacrifices at Mount Sinai. Of the blood of the animals there sacrificed, half was sprinkled on the altar; and of the other half, some was sprinkled on the book of the law and some on the people, thus establishing the bond. Moses had the honor of mediating this covenant between God and the children of Israel, and its sabbaths were its sign or token.--Exod. 19:1-8, 24:1-8, 31:12-17, Deut. 5:12- 15, Ezek. 20:12,20, Gal. 3:19

The third great covenant is styled the New Covenant. It is a better covenant than the Mosaic one, being instituted upon better promises. Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant. His flesh is the sacrifice over which the New Covenant is ratified, He being the "covenant victim"; and His blood is "the blood of sprinkling." (Heb. 9:15, 8:6, 12:24) It is a ministration of the Spirit, and through it is done the writing on the believer's heart, not of the letter, that is, not of the Law Covenant written on stones and in books. (2 Cor. 3:3,6,7) The New Covenant has for its sabbath the perpetual rest of faith in the finished work of Jesus, and its circumcision is that of the heart.-- Heb, 4:1,9-11, Rom. 2:29, Col. 2:11

The line of thought to be followed in our study concerning these covenants is that the Abrahamic Covenant is the expression of God's purpose to bless all the families of the earth. The Law Covenant demonstrated the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and proved that none under condemnation could, without redemption therefrom, qualify to be of the kingdom of priests through which others would be blessed. It is through the New Covenant that such a kingdom of priests is developed to be joint-heirs with Jesus to the blessing of the remainder of all the families of earth.

The Abrahamic Covenant and Its Promised Seed

It must be remembered that the true 'seed' of Abraham promised to him was not Isaac, but Jesus, whom Isaac pictured. (Gal. 3:16) Considerable space in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 is used to give the genealogies that show (particularly that in Luke) our Lord to have been the descendant of Abraham and of David, and therefore entitled to be considered the heir of the promises made to those worthies. And just as Isaac was obedient, so was our Lord tried and tested that He might learn obedience. (Heb. 5:8) Isaac was received back from the dead "in a figure"; our Lord actually died and was actually received back from the dead. (Heb. 11:17-19) Thus was shown the necessity for our Lord's death, before He, as the 'seed,' could fully enter into His exalted office and begin, as He did on the day of Pentecost, the High Calling Age work of selecting and preparing the 'multiplied' seed. (Acts 3:25,26) Those "blessed with faithful Abraham" through the gospel (Gal. 3:8,9) during the High Calling Age have the additional privilege of following in their Master's footsteps with a view to becoming joint heirs with Him of His glory, and with Him blessers of the remainder of the families of the earth in the Earthly Kingdom Age. These, because they are Christ's, are also called "Abraham's seed."-- Gal. 3:29

The promises in the Abrahamic Covenant regarding the seed must be considered in two parts: (1) promises to the seed, and (2) promises through the seed. It should be especially noted that the Abrahamic Covenant contains no provision for the eradication of sin and the destruction of death, even though such would be brought to pass in fulfilling the promise, "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." The securing of and use of blood was neither stipulated in God's covenant with Abraham, nor enacted by God in regard to it, yet we are explicitly taught that "without shedding of blood is no remission," no purging away, of sins, guilt, iniquity or defilements. (Heb. 9:22) Inasmuch as all of the associates of the 'seed' Christ Jesus, were to be chosen from the fallen race, some provision to forgive sin and conquer death would be absolutely necessary before this gracious design of the Lord could be accomplished. (Gal. 3:16,29) The multiplied 'seed' must be prepared first. As it pertained to the 'seed,' the Abrahamic Covenant did nothing more than to promise that it would be of Abraham's line. How the multiplied 'seed' should be developed, and how it should get life, so that it might be a blesser indeed, was not expressed in the covenant. Therefore, some other arrangement must be made, so that the promise to Abraham might become effective in each of its parts. At this point enters the Law Covenant, proposing to prepare that 'seed.'

The Law Covenant

When the Law Covenant was mentioned to the people, they unanimously and most willingly entered into it. Moses was its mediator in that he served both parties,<3> God being on the one side, and the people on the other. (Deut. 5:5) The Greek word translated mediator in the New Testament is mesites, and according to Dr. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, it has two shades of meaning. It is defined as "a go- between; that is (simply) an internunciator, or (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor)." Both in its negotiation and in its administration, Moses was mediator (Gal. 3:19) in the primary sense of internunciator, or mutual friend and spokesman. When the people sinned, he exercised the office of mediator in the sense of reconciler, or intercessor. He pled their cause, acting as their advocate before God. They were the covenant people, the agreement having been made only a short while before their grievous sin and worship of the golden calf. That first disobedience required the intercession of Moses. The two shades of meaning of mediator are clearly and beautifully represented in these two capacities in which Moses acted--first, as spokesman or messenger on behalf of the parties to the covenant; second, as intercessor, on behalf of the transgressing party, that the covenant just ratified might be allowed to go on, the people being forgiven their iniquity.<4>--Exodus 19:1-8, 24:1-8, 32:30-32

Commandments had been given, ten of them written on tables of stone and the remainder, equally important and moral, written in books. These were to be carefully observed. Respect for this perfect law, and meditation upon its counsel caused a searching of its spiritual meaning. This law could take hold of both the heart and the will (as it did for some--Psa. 119:97-100), and no doubt for this reason the Apostle refers to it as 'spiritual.'--Rom. 7:14

The question is raised, "Did the LORD promise that eternal life was then available to the Jews if they could keep His perfect law?" Leviticus 18:5 may at first glance seem to contain such a promise. It reads: "Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and My judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD." That expression also appears in Neh. 9:29 and Ezek. 20:11,13,21, and is noted in Luke 10:25-28, Rom. 10:5, and Gal. 3:11,12. Galatians provides a point of reference in which the apostle's answer to the above question may be seen. In it he affirms that "the just shall live by faith." Such life by faith is a life in divine favor and approval, but it does not bring literal escape from Adamic death. On the other hand, the Apostle wrote, "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident." We must therefore conclude that it was and is faith in God, not endeavors to do things external to the heart, which alone brings life in God's sight. Israel could have had that relationship, as promised in Lev. 26:1-13 and Deut. 28:1-14, if they would have done their best in response to God's commandments. Moses did not represent that God would extend their human lives everlastingly if they kept a law they were incapable of keeping. Even the lawyer did not hope to escape death; his inquiry was about inheriting life. (Luke 10:25-28) And the expression and instruction of John 5:39-40 is in harmony with the foregoing conclusions.

The Weak-through-the-Flesh Covenant

The Law Covenant could not develop the seed promised in the Abrahamic Covenant. (Gen. 22:17) It was a shadow of good things to come, not having the substance. (Heb. 10:1, 8:5) Though it could not deliver the prisoners of sin and death, the law did serve to make manifest the exceeding sinfulness and strength of sin. (Gal. 3:19, Rom. 7:13, I Corinthians 15:56) And whereas it did not fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant, neither did it interfere to prevent the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, so as to make the promise of none effect.<5> (Gal. 3:17) Unable to fulfill the divine purpose expressed in the promise to Abraham, the Law Covenant has been set aside "for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof." (Heb. 7:18,19, 8:7) Even in Jeremiah's day the limitations and inadequacies of the Law Covenant were pointed out which required the making of a New Covenant.--Jeremiah 31:29-31<6>

God's promise of the New Covenant must have been a ray of hope to those who loved God. (Deut. 6:5) It was also promised through other prophets. See Isaiah 42:6<7> and Ezek. 16:60-62. The Law Covenant and the sacrifices instituted by it could "never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."--Heb. 10:1-4

One Jew--Jesus the Messiah--was approved of the Law, and therefore it was His 'righteousness' (Deut. 6:25), but He had come into the world for the express purpose of dying for our sins. (Heb. 2:9) He therefore relinquished His right to eternal earthly life or fleshly kingship. God raised Him from death, and conferred upon Him the dual office of king and priest, as the 'seed,' as He had before sworn to do, saying, "Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec."--Psalm 110:4, Heb. 7:11-18, Zech. 6:12,13

The effect of setting aside the Law Covenant, as weak and unprofitable through the flesh, was to leave the Abrahamic promise as it had been before the Law was introduced. It remained a grand promise of a seed to bless all the families of the earth. The privilege of having the blesser in his line had been made sure to Abraham by the divine word and oath. (Heb. 6:13-18) But this promise, grand and glorious though it was, contained no means or provision for its own fulfillment; for the removal of sin and the destruction of death are essential to a permanent blessing. The inability of the Law Covenant to accomplish these had been so fully demonstrated that fault was found and its termination was determined. (Jer. 31:31, Heb. 8:7) Some other activity must be initiated to overcome the difficulties of sin and death.

God, who knows the end from the beginning, never experiments. He both foreknew and foretold the inabilities of the Law Covenant and its sacrifices. "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second," said the Apostle, who also said of Jesus, "He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second." (Heb. 8:7, 10:9) The sacrifice of Jesus, antitype of Israel's sin-atonement sacrifices, is stated in Scripture as beginning with His consecration baptism. This makes evident that the first, that is, the Law Covenant, was to pass away because the law of that covenant established the ineffective typical sacrifices which would no longer be recognized. The completed sacrifice of Jesus therefore introduced

The New Covenant

The Law Covenant called for strict compliance with the letter of all commandments that applied to the conduct of the people, although contrary to their imperfect abilities. By contrast, the better promise and provision of the New Covenant is that the law of God can be written in the hearts and minds of its beneficiaries, so that, eventually, it becomes part of their very being. The Law Covenant had no provision for giving mercy to those who slipped on account of weakness of the flesh. Rather, it declared their unrighteousness. However, we see that the better promise of the New Covenant is that God will be "merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins will I remember no more." Under the old covenant the people were only involved the more in death, its law defining their sin as transgression and especially deserving of condemnation. "The letter," meaning the Law, killed them. Under the New Covenant, the believers' disposition and desire of heart to do right are acceptable (Matt. 5:21-30), and by the processes of this Covenant their characters gradually become established in righteousness. "The spirit," meaning the New Covenant, gives life; and this is the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which makes free from the law of sin and death. --2 Cor. 3:3,6-8,18, Heb. 8:8-12, 10:16,17, Rom. 7:6,25, 8:1-4

The New Covenant Victim

It has been explained in the epistle to the Hebrews that Jesus' sacrifice was the antitype of the bullock and the goat sacrifices offered on the Jewish Day of Atonement. This is specifically stated in Heb. 9:12. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once [Greek ephapax, "once for all"] into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption." As the antitype, Jesus entered one time only with His perfect life value, which had been represented by the typical bloods, to make but one atonement for the entire race of Adam. Ephapax is also used in Heb. 7:27 and 10:10, the former making apparent His purpose in entering "once for all." He did not need, as "those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once for all, when He offered up Himself." This 'once for all' offering was made in heaven, as explained in Heb. 8:1-4. Concerning our "high priest," it is written, "For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; whence it is necessary $bofor$bc this priest also to have something which He may offer. If therefore He were on earth, He would not be a priest."

Jesus was also the antitype of the Passover Lamb. (1 Cor. 5:7) And His sacrifice was the sole antitype of the "calves and goats"<11> whose blood ratified the shadowy and typical Law Covenant. (Heb. 9:18,19, Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Cor. 11:25) When 'sprinkled' on the repentant one who desires to enter into a covenant with God (Exod. 24:8, Heb. 9:19,20, 12:24, 1 Pet. 1:2), the blood of Christ Jesus becomes the bond of union between God and the other party. The shed blood of Christ is a 'surety'<12> (Heb. 7:22) to God on behalf of the one who repents of sin, in that it is at the same time a price suitable for his redemption. That blood is also surety on God's behalf to one who repents of sins, because, being a price suitable for redemption, it allows God to be the justifier of him who believes in Jesus, in respect of all sins and weaknesses traceable to the Adamic transgression. (Rom. 3:22-26) The "sprinkling" is effected by the believer accepting it and by God's recognition of it as applicable in the individual case.

Neither the Law of Moses nor the New Covenant is properly described as a 'testament' or 'will.' Moses, as mediator, did not die in order that His 'will' might be enforced. Neither did Christ die in order that His 'property' might be left to 'heirs.' But He did die to give Himself a ransom, and to supply the blood for the ratification of the New Covenant, as typically represented in Exod. 24:5-8. (Heb. 9:20) The word 'testator' in Heb. 9:16 should therefore be 'covenant-victim,' as should also the word 'men' in verse 17, there being no Greek anthropos in the text. See Young's Literal Translation, Emphatic Diaglott, Companion Bible notes, and Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by Vine, which well explains the principle followed in the translations they approve.

The New Covenant Mediator

Moses probably did not personally communicate the message of God's covenant to all the host of Israel, but to the elders of the people who passed the word on to the others. Similarly, Christ Jesus does not, in this age, and need not in the next, personally impart the message of the New Covenant to every individual of the race. He has sent forth His messengers to speak in His name on the subject. The message has been widely proclaimed throughout all the world (Rom. 10:18, Col. 1:6,23, Matt. 24:14, Isa. 49:6, 52:10) during the High Calling Age, and it will be delivered to the remainder of men during the Earthly Kingdom Age.--Luke 24:47-49, 2 Cor. 5:18-6:3, 3:6, Acts 13:38-42, 1 Tim. 2:5-7, John 1:9

The New Covenant Intercessor

It is necessary to be remembered, too, that our Lord's priestly office of intercessor is based on His mediatorship of the New Covenant, just as Moses' intercession for fleshly Israel was based on his mediatorship of the Law Covenant.<16> (It had been the divine suggestion to vest the two offices permanently in Moses, but on his demurral [Exod. 4:10-16] Aaron was given him for spokesman, and Aaron subsequently occupied the office of high priest, thus becoming thereafter the type of Christ as intercessor. [Heb. 7:20-26]) And as Moses did not intercede for other people outside the covenant relationship, neither does Jesus act as intercessor for any outside the New Covenant relationship. "Now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant."-- Heb. 8:6

According to the apostle, Jesus is the Mediator because He gave Himself "a ransom for all." (1 Tim. 2:5,6)<10> Of course His intercession as intercessor is part of His "more excellent ministry" which He hath obtained, and "by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant." These offices of our blessed Savior are interdependent, and it is the authority to function in all of them which assures the success of the others. The ransom is the foundation. The mediatorial office for the negotiation and administration of the New Covenant is based on that foundation. (Rev. 5:9) The mediatorial office for intercession is the third responsibility which has been delegated to our Redeemer.

         _____________
        |             |
        | Intercessor |      "Now hath He obtained a more excellent
        |      3      |       ministry, by how much also He is the
        |_____________|       Mediator of a better covenant."--Heb. 8:6 
       _________________
      |                 |
      |     Mediator    |    "There is one God, and one Mediator,...
      |        2        |     the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself
      |_________________|     a ransom for all."--1 Tim. 2:5,6
     _____________________
    |                     |  
    |       Ransom        |  "Christ died for our sins." "Other
    |          1          |   foundation can no man lay."--  
    |_____________________|   1 Cor. 15:3, 1 Cor. 3:11

Processes of the New Covenant

For the first two of these conditions the Law Covenant made some provision in various offerings, such as those of the Day of Atonement which were for the whole nation, and the individual sin and trespass offerings from time to time brought by transgressors. All of these, however, never took away sin, but they did serve as reminders of the sinful conditions. (Heb. 10:1-4) For the third condition there was no provision in the Law Covenant. Its arrangements could not meet any of these needs, nor could it overcome the difficulties of those who desired to lead righteous lives. (Gal. 2:21, 3:21) However, the New Covenant makes ample provision to deal with all three of these conditions.

(1) Past Sins Remitted

This cup represents His blood shed for "the many" (all in Adam, the entire race) for the remission, that is, the forgiveness of sins. The disciples, being of sinful men and of the condemned race of Adam, must eat His flesh and drink His blood, else they would have no life in them. (John 6:47-58) So must all do who would have life. All who would have everlasting life must believe on Him, for no other way has been provided by which God can justly remit the sins that are past, of any or of all of Adam's family.--John 3:36, Acts 5:31, 13:38-49, Luke 24:47, Rom. 5:1

(2) Present Sins Forgiven

Moreover, the presence of the holy spirit in the believer's heart also constitutes an intercession for him in such a time of need. (Rom. 8:23,26,27) If God is accepting the will and effort, notwithstanding the weakness of the flesh, the fact that he has the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:12,16, Phil. 2:5) must, under "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus," constitute a powerful intercession on behalf of the believer who has been overtaken in a fault to which the mind of Christ in him gave no consent.--Rom. 8:2, Gal. 5:25, 6:2

(2) Wilful Sins Punished

Lessons for those perfected through the processes of the New Covenant may be identified by noting the severity of God's dealing under the Law Covenant as compared to His dealing with His sons under the present New Covenant. "God, having spoken to the fathers of old in many portions and in many ways by the prophets, in the last of these days spoke to us in a Son." "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord?" "For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven." (Heb. 1:1,2, 2:2,3, 12:25) The last quotation above represents the type and antitype relationship between the Law and New Covenants, and it applies to God's sons of the High Calling Age.

The sacrifice of Jesus does not cover the intelligently wilful transgressions--small or great--of those who have entered into the New Covenant arrangement and have been sanctified by its blood. "If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." This tells of the extreme measure of wilfulness, speaking of a "knowledge of the truth" far beyond the merely having-heard-it stage. "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. 10:26-29) The shed blood of Jesus, which is the blood of the New Covenant, and which alone is able to make the comers thereunto perfect, is here referred to. In Hebrews 10:10,14, the atonement blood is described. "By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified," literally, 'them being sanctified.' Believing the words of our blessed Master, that the blood of the New Covenant is 'My blood,' let us hold to that precious truth.

When the disciples drank the cup handed them by our Lord at the institution of the memorial supper, that ceremony represented how they shared among themselves the benefits of the 'one offering.' This is made plain by the fact that our Lord did not drink of the memorial cup.<17> And our Lord's concluding words are significant also. He said not, this do in remembrance of yourselves, but "This do in remembrance of me."

(2) Sin Punishable by the Second Death

God provided for all the necessities required to benefit each and every one coming under the New Covenant in Jesus' blood, so that full reconciliation may be received through the processes of experience, stripes, and sincerely desired forgiveness except for absolute wilfulness after full enlightenment. (Matt. 12:31-37) The Lord alone is competent to judge how much wilfulness is associated with an individual's transgression, and He alone can say whether few stripes, many stripes, or destruction in the second death would be the appropriate punishment. In His love and mercy, He would no doubt administer "few stripes" at the first. If these did not suffice to cause a change in the course of the transgressor, "many stripes" would follow. If the sinner continued obstinate in wilfulness, even after all the loving discipline of the Lord, "that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned." "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." No sacrifice has been offered or promised to provide atonement for the wilful sin of an absolutely wilful sinner.--Heb. 6:4-8, 10:26- 31

(3) Writing the Law on the Heart

The New Covenant is so furnished as to thoroughly remove from those who at any time come under it, and continue faithful in it, all tendencies to evil doing, developing in their place a character established in righteousness. The Old Covenant had the law of God written on tables and in books, and required the people to obey. Those writings defined required conduct and practice which were beyond their abilities, and were thus condemnatory, becoming a ministration of death to the people. The New Covenant not only puts out of God's remembrance the past sins and iniquities (Jer. 31:34), and manifests God's mercy to present and future unrighteousness, but it also puts God's laws into the hearts and minds of those who have accepted its blood. This means more than learning in a mechanical, routine way. It means that obedience to God becomes part of the very being of all who are blessed through the New Covenant. Their 'stony' hearts are displaced by hearts of flesh, that is, naturally stubborn and rebellious 'stony' dispositions are gradually transformed to become charitable, loving, god-like.

It had been prophesied of God's people, "They shall be all taught of God" (Isa. 54:13), and Jesus was set forth as God's representative to be the Teacher, as well as the Savior. (John 6:27-29, 44-47) Of course this applied only to those who would believe into the message of their Redeemer. It was His mission to reveal the Father. (John 14:7-11, Matt. 11:27) Those who become pupils of the meek and lowly Jesus learn to love Him for His character as well as for His offering of Himself as their Savior. They are also made acquainted with the character and plans of the Heavenly Father. They know Him not by hearsay only, and not by merely observing what He is to others, but each one for himself. As he understands more and more of God's character and disposition, and as he imitates that character, he is transformed more and more into the same image. He thus comes to know God through experience. A person lacking in conscientiousness cannot understand or know a conscientious person, for the reason that the principles on which a conscientious person acts are unknown to him. So one in alienation from God, and living in sin, cannot know God, His character, or the principles governing His acts. (Eph. 4:18) But those who repudiate sin and accept the terms of the New Covenant are so transformed by the renewing of their minds that they are able to prove through experience and understanding what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:2) In them is our Lord's prayer fulfilled: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent."--John 17:3

Those who now know God in this way need none to say to them, "Know the LORD," for each one knows Him for himself.<18> (Jer. 31:34) And as the gracious terms of the New Covenant are widely circulated during both the High Calling Age and the Earthly Kingdom Age, this blessed experience will be the portion of the vast majority of mankind. It is written concerning the New Covenant ministry during the High Calling Age, "Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, 'I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord; and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters,' saith the LORD Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:16-18) This passage contains portions of three prophecies which assure this relationship, Lev. 26:2-12, Ezek. 37:27, and Jer. 31:31. All of them promise that God will make or establish a covenant--defined in Jeremiah as a New Covenant--with the reverent. The Apostle's use of those prophecies indicates his understanding not only that they promised the New Covenant, but also as to when it opened. The blessedness of this New Covenant relationship is appreciated only by those who experience it.--Jer. 31:1,9,33, Isa. 43:6, Hos. 1:10, Heb. 8:10<19>

Similar language is used in connection with the New Covenant ministry of the Earthly Kingdom Age. "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God."--Rev. 21:3

The Application of the New Covenant

The "allegory" of Gal. 4:22-31 sets forth the same teaching. The Galatian brethren had become confused, and were drifting towards the bondage of the Law. The Apostle's letter to them contrasts the Law with the Spirit (Gal. 3:1-5), as does also his epistle to the Corinthians. (2 Cor. 3:3,8,9) Now, by the figure of Sarah and Hagar, he teaches that believers were not under the ministration of the Law, which bound, but of the Spirit, which liberates. (Gal. 5:1) In a word, they and all who looked upon themselves as Christ's and therefore Abraham's "seed," were not children of God by the Law Covenant, but by the New Covenant; they were not of Hagar, but of Sarah.

In the first paragraph under "The New Covenant Victim" subhead, foregoing, it was noted that of the animals cut to ratify God's covenant with Abraham, no blood was used. And the only covenant ratified with blood of redemptive quality is the New Covenant. This means that some further arrangement beyond His promise to Abraham was foreseen by God, necessary to free from the condemnation of "the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2) those who would be developed by faith and promise, and become children of "Jerusalem which is above." The Scriptures clearly indicate that this further arrangement is the New Covenant, and its blood is the blood of Jesus Christ. "This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20) and "which is shed for many." (Mark 14:24) From these considerations, can it not be seen that the New Covenant is one of the most advantageous and vital covenants which God has entered? Did not our Master clearly express that His blood of the New Covenant was shed for His disciples?

The ministration of the Spirit is not confined to the High Calling Age. The Bible makes no mention, it extends no promise, of any other covenant to be established or built upon the blood of Jesus Christ, the only blood of redemptive value. The New Covenant is thus seen to extend through the two ages of God's plan following its ratification by the blood of Jesus. "After those days"<20> during which the Law Covenant had been found unsatisfactory (Heb. 8:10,7,8), the Lord Jesus came and gave Himself as the sacrifice for sin. With that sacrifice as a foundation, a New Covenant was instituted, and the holy spirit testifies to us that our sins may now be freely forgiven. (Heb. 10:14- 23, 2 Cor. 6:16-18, Jer. 31:33) Again, when the Lord will deal with mankind in the Earthly Kingdom Age, He will do so through the only covenant that really can take away sin

The New Covenant with Israel

The reason is that at the time Jeremiah prophesied, the posterity of Jacob was still divided as a consequence of the secession of the ten tribes many years before. Those ten tribes became known as 'Israel,' and the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin which continued to worship at Jerusalem were called 'Judah.' Judah was also often called Jacob and Israel (Ezek. 20:3, Isa. 48:1,2,20), because the instructed worship and the God-ordained government for the whole of Israel still resided at Jerusalem. Similarly, Israel, that is, the ten tribes, was often called Samaria and Ephraim. (Isa. 9:9, Hosea 5:5, Ezek. 16:46) The promise of a New Covenant to be made with Israel and Judah indicated, therefore, that a time was coming when the breach between the two would be healed. That time came after Judah had also been rejected, and punished with seventy years' captivity under Babylon.--Jer. 25:1- 11

The worship of God under the Law Covenant would again be established at Jerusalem in Judea. Opportunity was given for the return of as many descendants of the twelve patriarchs as still retained faith in the promises of God pertaining to the seed. (Ezra 1:2,3) Even if they did not return to live in Palestine, they could observe the three annual feasts if their means permitted them to make the journey. Thus in Palestine a people was segregated and a faith remnant preserved generation by generation, from among whom John the Baptist afterward made ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:16,17) Those living in Palestine at the time of our Lord's ministry, though consisting mainly of the two tribes, were called by Him "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt. 10:6) Israelites of all tribes and from many nations, gathered at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, heard the Apostle Peter proclaim the New Covenant for the forgiveness of their sins. Residents were called, "Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," but the whole assembled multitude was addressed as "Ye men of Israel." All heard the one message of the crucified and risen Lord, and all believers received of the pouring out of the holy spirit, as foretold by the holy prophets.--Joel 2:28,29, Acts 2:9- 11,14,22, 4:8,10, l3:16,23, 26:7

After expressing in terms which indicated that none of God's people would be left out, mentioning both "the house of Israel" and "the house of Judah," Jeremiah then worded the promise of the New Covenant in language which accurately identifies the circumstance which actually maintained at the time of the beginning of its fulfillment. It reads, "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days..."<20> (Jer. 31:33) That is the language which Jesus used when He indicated to whom His mesage of the New Covenant should first be directed--"the house of Israel." (Matt. 10:6) Addressing the gathered multitude of Jews from Asia, Europe and Africa on the day of Pentecost, Peter said, "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:9-11,36) See also Acts 4:8,10, 5:35, 13:23. And the same expression was used--"with the house of Israel"--in documenting that the New Covenant had begun. (Heb. 8:10) No Scripture teaches that the New Covenant is to be made with any on a collective or national basis. Though sometimes quoted to read 'between God and man,' as though Jesus would function as a Mediator on behalf of a nation or group, 1 Tim. 2:5 clearly reads, "...one God, and one Mediator between God and men..."

The Olive Tree

In Romans 11 the Apostle cites himself and others as evidence that natural Israelites still had opportunity to receive the high calling, and that all who did were to be considered part of the "Israel of God." The same teaching is expressed in Rom. 2:28,29--"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly." On account of the hardness of heart prevailing in many individuals, Israel was reduced to a 'remnant.' The "olive tree" was thus deprived of nearly all of its "natural branches," and required other branches to replace those broken off. For the purpose of finding such, the Lord visited the Gentiles, or "wild olives," to gather branches to be graffed into the places vacated by the natural branches which had been cut off. In describing this process, the Apostle improves the opportunity to impress upon the Gentile believers a lesson in humility. Assuming that some might be so high-minded as to consider themselves in some way superior to the cut- off branches, he reminds them that those cut off were so treated on account of unbelief, and as for the newly-graffed-in branches, they could retain their position only by the continual exercise of faith. "Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee."--Rom. 11:18-23, Heb. 3:19, 4:1-3, I Peter 1:5

The Apostle established that Gentile believers do not constitute a separate community from Jewish believers. Both have been incorporated into a new true Israel having heavenly hopes. They have become members of that which the Apostle described as "the Israel of God." (Gal. 6:16) Gentiles are thus numbered with the sealed ones of the twelve tribes, the 'seal' being the holy spirit. (Rev. 7:1-4, Eph. 1:13) It is necessary to bear in mind that the faith 'remnant' of fleshly Israel became free from the Law Covenant, and believing Gentiles have never had any relationship to that departed, vanished-away arrangement.--Heb. 1:10-12, Psa. 102:25-27, Isa. 51:6

The Law Covenant, because it could not take away sin, was not able to develop this new true Israel. Not even those who were most sincerely attentive to its requirements could be made members by means of its processes. At most it could but prepare them, as it did prepare some (Rom. 7:22-24), to realize their undone condition under it and to realize their need of one who could and would save them under a New Covenant or arrangement. "The law was our schoolmaster [or child leader] to bring us unto Christ." (Gal. 3:23,24) In the New Covenant, which is based on the sacrifice of Jesus, judgment is according to the law of the holy spirit, and not according to the holy and good Mosaic Law which was weak through the imperfections of the flesh, having been written only on tables of stone and in books. (Rom. 8:1-4, Heb. 10:14- 23) Of these twain--the Jewish remnant and the added Gentile believers--the Lord is making a "new man" by the processes of the New Covenant. In harmony with this it is written, "In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."--Gal. 6:15, Eph. 2:12-15

The Apostle concludes his argument by saying: "And SO [that is, in this manner, by the selection of Gentiles to fill the places of unbelieving Jews] all Israel shall be saved," or delivered--not all the old Israel, but all the new Israel, who are "Israelites indeed." The unbelief of some Jews did not frustrate God's purpose to have a new Israel by the New Covenant. (Rom. 11:26) But this salvation and deliverance depended upon their acceptance of the Deliverer, who came "out of Zion," and through whom alone they should receive the forgiveness of sins as foretold by the prophet Isaiah.--Isa. 59:12,13,19,20; Rom. 11:26,27

Since this New Covenant was designed and prophesied to take away sin, and since it is the only one of God's several covenants that can do so,<21> every reference to the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ must be taken as a reference to the New Covenant.<22> Repentance and remission of sins were to be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. This command makes clear that the New Covenant provisions were, are and will be applicable to Gentiles as well as to Jews. (Luke 24:47, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14,21,22) The Sermon on the Mount was the first introduction to the New Covenant, and showed its advantages over the old. "Ye have heard that it was said,...but I say unto you." (Matt. 5:21,27,31,33,38,43) That sermon set forth the New Covenant arrangement as being of a higher morality than the old covenant. In it God condemns evil thoughts and desires, even though the physical acts may not be actually performed.--Matt. 5:2-12,22,28

The New Covenant is thus seen in its deserved light, as an instrument fully able to clear away the disadvantages of sin, and to form a character of righteousness and holiness in all who are blessed through it. This character is to be endowed by God with everlasting life. Those who have followed in the footsteps of Jesus in the High Calling Age are to be exalted to joint heirship with Him. Those who obey under the easier conditions of the Earthly Kingdom Age, when the call and privilege to sacrifice unto death will no longer be open and when Satan will be bound, will receive as their reward human perfection and everlasting life on the earth.

The New Covenant itself does not specify as to the nature of the everlasting life acquired under it, or of the plane of being on which it shall be enjoyed. Thus it is able to operate for the benefit of both the spiritual and the earthly classes.

New Covenant in High Calling and Earthly Kingdom Ages

"I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." (Heb. 8:10) Fulfilled in the High Calling Age--2 Cor. 3:3,9,18, Heb. 10:14-16; in the Earthly Kingdom Age--Rev. 21:27.

"I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people." (Heb. 8:10) Fulfilled in the High Calling Age--2 Cor. 6:16-18; in the Earthly Kingdom Age--Rev. 21:3.

"They shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know Me from the least to the greatest." (Heb. 8:11) Fulfilled in the High Calling Age--Eph. 2:19, John 17:3, 14:7-10, 1 John 3:1,2, 2:13; in the Earthly Kingdom Age--1 Tim. 2:4, Psa. 46:10, Rev. 21:24,27, 22:5,17.

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Heb. 8:12) Fulfilled in the High Calling Age--Heb. 10:17-20, Eph. 4:32; in the Earthly Kingdom Age--Rev. 21:4-8, Psa. 86:5, 103:17.

Inauguration of the New Covenant

At the inauguration of the Law Covenant the mountain shook. Just prior to the inauguration of the New Covenant, Jesus promised the removal of what he referred to as "this mountain," and that its happening could be an answer to their prayer. (Mark 11:20-24, Matt. 17:20) Similar language was used when he suggested that "the sycamine [fig] tree" would be plucked up. (Luke 17:5,6) The fulfillment of these was the "vanishing away" of the Law Covenant with all its institutions. Other shakings have occurred, and shall continue to the complete passing away of the present evil world, composed of the symbolic 'earth' and the ecclesiastical and political 'heavens.' But we who have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.--Heb. 12:25-29

When the New Covenant shall be proposed to the world generally, there will be more signs and wonders. As Pharaoh and his host were overthrown, so will Satan and his evil spirits be rendered powerless, for a thousand years, and ultimately destroyed.

The Everlasting Covenant

Throughout the epistle to the Hebrews, the Law and the New Covenant are continually contrasted, with a view to showing the superiority of the New--its permanence as against the temporary character of the other. Just at the close of the epistle, considering his case proved, the author refers to the covenant whose superiority he has sought to demonstrate, and calls it the "everlasting covenant," as noted above. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will."--Heb. 13:20,21

Only one of all God's covenants is identified as having blood of redemptive quality and ability. And regarding the Bible's teaching of which covenant it is there can be no doubt. Jesus said that His blood was the blood of the New Covenant. Therefore it is inescapable that the 'blood' and the 'covenant' we are taught of in Heb. 13:20,21 is Jesus' blood of the New Covenant. Not only is it true that Jesus became qualified to be the "great shepherd of the sheep" because He poured out His perfect life unto death, but also it is true that it is His blood, through our faith in His sacrifice, which enables us to be acceptable to God as living sacrifices and be involved in the development and perfecting of ourselves as New Creatures and in the doing of the will of the God of peace.--Rom. 12:1,2, 15:16, Eph. 5:1,2, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 4:18, Heb. 13:15,16

Our blessed Redeemer has become the chief Shepherd because He shed His blood of the New Covenant for many for the remission of sins, and His people are made perfect by that "one offering" which He gave. (Rom. 14:9, Heb. 10:10,14, 1 Pet. 2:24,25) His blood belongs to only one covenant, it never being mentioned in Scripture as associated with any but the New Covenant.--Heb. 9:14,15

An Allegory Representing Two Covenants

To enforce the whole subject, and to further reveal the true nature of conformity to the law compared with the liberty of the gospel, Paul brings to mind an allegory from the Mosaic history, regarding two sons of Abraham. "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants." (Gal. 4:21-24) The Greek text literally reads, "...for these are two covenants..." That 'these' refers to the two women mentioned is indicated by the RSV reading: "these women are two covenants." That 'are' means 'represent' is indicated in the Weymouth translation: "for the women represent two covenants." The two sons are first mentioned in the allegory because the object of the lesson was to show the comparative status of the children brought forth by the two mother covenants represented by the two women. It was to evidence the divine foreknowledge of the better relationship with God which a new arrangement would bring, and to impress the availability of that better relationship upon the Galatians, that Paul brought into the epistle Abraham's relations with the two women.

It is good to observe that the Apostle teaches the women represent covenants. God made no covenant with Hagar, and he made no covenant with Sarah. No Bible passage contains the expression "Hagar covenant" nor "Sarah covenant." Whenever either expression is seen or heard, reference can be only to the covenant which the respective woman represented, "answereth to," or "is in the same rank with." Aside from the allegorical representation, Hagar was but the mother of Ishmael, his 12 sons, etc., and Sarah was the mother of Isaac, his son Jacob, his 12 sons, etc. It was God's promise to Abraham concerning Sarah which contained all of His promises regarding the seed. Now to be considered are the covenants which the women represented.

The bondmaid is mentioned first of the two, no doubt because she was the first to bear child. She represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, because its children were under bondage and Hagar was the bondwoman whose son "was born after ["according to"--RSV, NAS, Marshall Interlinear; "in the common course of nature"--Weymouth] the flesh," that is, not after special heavenly promise, verse 23. The covenant identified with Sinai is the Law Covenant (Exod. 19:1-24:18), and Paul wrote that that Law Covenant represented by Hagar "answereth to ["corresponds to"--RSV, NAS, Marshall Interlinear; "is in the same rank with"--marginal reading] Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." According to verse 25, "Jerusalem which now is" has "children," from which Paul concludes that that Jerusalem, "Jerusalem which now is," relates to her children as a covenant in the same rank with Hagar and her child. Her child was in bondage because born to a mother of servitude, as were the children of "Jerusalem which now is" in bondage due to their belief and practice of the rites and customs of that city. But such was not the case with all who had become free in Christ. The child born by promise to the freewoman was free, even as are the children of "Jerusalem which is above," because that Jerusalem "is free, which is our mother."--Gal. 3:26

Consider the divine arrangement seen in the preceding paragraph by which cities have been linked to covenants. In the days of King David God expressed his choice of Jerusalem in Palestine as the place that should become the center of worship under the Law Covenant. In that capacity, it being the capital city, Jerusalem stood for the Law Covenant, and with the activities which belonged to it prefigured the "New Jerusalem," or New Covenant. Our Savior had come to offer Himself, to shed His blood for the purpose of ratifying the New Covenant, so that sins might really be taken away--not merely figuratively, as under the Law. (Matt. 26:28, Heb. 10:1-18) "Jerusalem which is above" is a New Jerusalem, and stands for the New Covenant. Those who come under the New Covenant are called the children of the New Jerusalem, just as the Jews under the Law Covenant were the children of old Jerusalem.

All of this figurative language in Galatians is to show that we cannot be under both covenants. It is not strange to speak of the New Covenant or the New Jerusalem as a mother. In modern, everyday language many things are spoken of under the symbol 'mother.' When the New Covenant is spoken of as a mother, the idea is that it will produce, it will bring forth results. According to Galatians, the church is the present results, the children of the New Covenant and its merciful arrangements. Galatia's believers in Jesus were the free children, not citizens of old Jerusalem, but of the "New Jerusalem," the New Covenant arrangement. And because "New Jerusalem" is "above," not yet having come "down" to rule over the affairs of earth (Rev. 21:1-3), the Apostle says that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20 ASV), that God has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ," and that we are made to "sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 1:3, 2:6) Our covenant "city" being "above," we have set our "affection on things above, not on things on the earth."--Col. 3:1,2

To support his teaching, the Apostle quoted from Isaiah regarding Israel's former misconduct, and God's promise of subsequent blessing to follow their prophesied corrective punishment. The language of Isaiah 54 was given for the instruction and encouragement of the people first to hear it. But Paul saw in the prophecy language which specially mirrored the experience of Sarah and God's promise to Abraham regarding her. The verse he quoted, Isa. 54:1, would fittingly support his teaching to the Galatians. "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD." This and succeeding verses indicated to the Apostle that the experiences of Abraham with the two women contained spiritual meaning as an allegory. And Paul realized that what Isaiah prophesied, that Jerusalem would accept Gentiles as her own seed or children (Isa. 49:6,22, 52:10,15, 54:2,3,11-13), was already having fulfillment under the New Covenant.

God intended from the foundation of the world that a New Covenant be ministered which would bring life (Rev. 13:8, 17:8), and produce the free children of God. But for a long time it was delayed, even as Sarah's barrenness (Gen. 17:17) made it appear that she was not the married wife. Meanwhile the Law Covenant represented by Hagar produced children, but they were not such as could be recognized as heirs of God. From Pentecost onward the New Covenant represented by Sarah began to produce children, and then the Law Covenant and its progeny were definitely disowned, cast out of the divine household, for they cannot be heirs with the children of the New Covenant, represented by the freewoman.

That the New Covenant is meant in Isaiah 54:1-8 is indicated by verse 13 of the same chapter. "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." Our Lord refers to this very prophecy and applies it to those who heard His teaching: "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man [i.e., every Jew] therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6:45) Jesus was the Teacher whom God sent to teach the deeper truths set forth in the Gospel, and thus give them the "great peace" referred to by the prophet. Under the New Covenant a peace is given which the Law could not give--"peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1) And Jesus specially assured believers of this effect of his ministry. "My peace I leave unto you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."--John 14:27, 16:33, Acts 10:36

During the High Calling Age, that New Jerusalem remains above, and the children it bears are blessed with a heavenly calling. But after the Church is all chosen and glorified with the Lord, the New Jerusalem is to come down. Will she then have more children? Or are we of the High Calling Age to be the only children of the New Covenant? The vision of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21) shows that the purpose in coming down at the beginning of the Earthly Kingdom Age is to bear more children. The saved in the Earthly Kingdom Age will be the product of that arrangement which God will set up in authority in the earth, where tears, sorrow, and sin shall be forever washed away. When the work of the High Calling and Earthly Kingdom ages is completed, the children of the New Covenant will be seen to be more, many more, than were the children of the Law Covenant.--Gal. 4:27, Isa. 54:1

The latter of the two covenants mentioned in Gal. 4:24 is not specifically titled, but several clues in the epistle enable its identification. By means of the "Jerusalem which is above" covenant, "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts," and they "received...the spirit." (Gal. 4:6, 3:2) Believers received the promised Spirit through faith, and those thus brought forth "after the Spirit" were persecuted by those who sought relationship through fleshly works. (Gal. 3:14, 4:29) "We through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." Being "led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit," so that "the fruit of the spirit" will be manifest. (Gal. 5:5,16,18,22,25) These realities, considered together with the same Apostle's teaching in 1 Corinthians 3 regarding the New Covenant, prove that these activities of the Spirit and the fruitage which they promote exist within "our mother" the New Covenant. It (allegorically she) is the covenant which creates this relationship, the Apostle teaches. "You are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not by ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts...Our sufficiency is from God, who has qualified us to be ministers of a New Covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life." "To this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Thus does the same Apostle who verified "Jerusalem which is above" to be "our mother" unmistakeably identify the relationship and activities of the New Covenant to be that wherein we live, walk and prosper in the Spirit.-- 2 Cor. 3:3,5,6,14-18

The fact that Christ "has qualified us to be ministers of a New Covenant" (2 Cor. 3:6 RSV) is the basis of Paul's continued encouragement. "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart." "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 4:1, 5:18-20 RSV) Reconciliation to God brings deliverance from sin and death and evil, and because that deliverance is through the Son, "ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) Because of these realities, Paul wrote in his conclusion to the allegory, "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." In that summation, the Apostle concludes the allegorical representation with its two ranks:

Hagar a bondwoman:                  Sarah a freewoman: 

Ishmael was her slave son           Isaac was her free son 
She ranked with the Law Covenant    She ranks with the New Covenant 
  as a mother having children         as a mother having children 
Jerusalem in Palestine functioned   Jerusalem which is above functions 
  with the Law Cov. as a mother       with the New Cov. as a mother
Her children were in bondage        Her children are free 

The Abrahamic covenant contained no statement as to the means to be employed by the promised Seed in order to secure to all the families of the earth a blessing, nor was it stated in what that blessing should consist. The pouring out of the holy spirit on the disciples at Pentecost was a New Covenant blessing. This is certain, for the Apostle calls the New Covenant "the ministration of the spirit," and says it is more glorious than the Law Covenant, which he calls "the ministration of condemnation." Neither Jew nor Gentile were born free. The freedom of all who have it is attributable to the life and instruction in "Jerusalem which is above" in contrast to what was called "Jerusalem which is now" of Paul's time. It is the New Covenant and its Mediator which provide the processes by which life and eternal inheritance reach believers.

The Scriptures nowhere authorize the consideration of Keturah as a figure of a covenant. So far as Keturah herself is concerned, she was never a wife, as Sarah was; she was not even a servant of a wife, as Hagar was the maid of Sarah, and as the Law Covenant has been in some sense a servant of the New Covenant. (Gen. 16:1-3, Heb. 8:4,5, 10:1, I Cor. 10:1-11, Gal. 3:24) Since the New Testament does not teach us to regard Keturah as a type of a covenant, it is best for us not to take it upon ourselves to do so. It is best to take the Apostle's beautiful allegory in Galatians 4:22-31 as he gave it.

The Hebrews author taught that it is the blood of Christ which purges consciences "from dead works [which includes works of the flesh of both Jew and Gentile] to serve the living God. Therefore He is the Mediator of a New Covenant so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant." (Heb. 9:14,15 RSV) Here again is direct, plainly stated teaching of a blessing made available to Jews called to the eternal inheritance. Their redemption from the Law Covenant and its ministration of death and condemnation was purposed and provided by God in His New Covenant and its Mediator Christ Jesus. Its glorious success had begun at Pentecost, a number of years before Hebrews was written. Heb. 12:22-24 provides a summary of the spiritual realities which were blessing believers. The words "a city of the living God, a heavenly Jerusalem" in its list of entities to which "ye have come" (NAS) is that which in Gal. 4:26 is called "Jerusalem which is above."

Summary

The Abrahamic Covenant did not contain within itself the provision for the fulfillment of it gracious promise. God arranged two other covenants--the Law Covenant as a demonstration of the frailty and imperfection of men, and the New Covenant as a demonstration of his power.--Rom. 8:3

Hagar, the bondmaid, brought forth a seed, but her child was not the seed promised. The Law Covenant sought to bring forth the promised 'seed,' but could not. It brought forth a seed unto bondage, just as did Hagar in the allegory. (Gen. 15:15-21, 21:9-12, Exod. 19:5,6) In due time, Sarah, the freewoman, bore Isaac, the promised son, who represented Christ Jesus our Lord, the promised seed. (Gal. 3:19) Through faith in his sacrifice, the many-membered seed, "the children of promise," are being brought forth as children of their mother, "Jerusalem which is above."--Gal. 4:26,28,31, Rom. 9:8, Gal. 4:5-7, 3:26, Eph. 1:5, Rom. 8:1-4, Heb. 10:20, Gen. 15:5, 22:17

Although the Apostle instructs us to regard Hagar and Sarah as illustrations respectively of the Law and New covenants, he says nothing as to Keturah being the representation of any covenant whatsoever; neither does any other inspired writer.

The Law Covenant was ordained unto life, but it was found inadequate, gendering only to bondage. The New Covenant, its antitype, contains a provision for salvation from sin and death, based on the blood of Jesus. His blood was shed for the sealing and ratification of the New Covenant and for the remission of sins. Its provision is entirely adequate for the forgiveness of past sins and of future ones, as far as they arise out of Adamic weakness.--Gal. 3:29, Heb. 10:1-10, Rom. 5:6-11, 1 John 1:7-9, 2:2

Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant, a truth which God's word repeatedly affirms, and He is also high priest on behalf of all who come into the New Covenant. (Heb. 7:22-28, 8:6, 9:15) He both reconciles God to us and us to the Father, and, after we have entered into this covenant relationship with God, He intercedes on our behalf when we confess our sins. (Rom. 12:1,2, 8:34) Moses was a type of Christ, both as messenger of a covenant and as intercessor for those infracting its law.--Exod. 19:1-8, 24:1-8, 32:30-32

Those who submit themselves to the ministration of the New Covenant have now the 'better hope' that they shall inherit perfect eternal life (Heb. 7:19)<25>, glory, honor and incorruption. (Rom. 2:7) It is the ministry of the Spirit which gives life, whereas the 'letter,' that is, the Law Covenant, brought condemnation and death. (2 Cor. 3:3,6,8-11,18)<26> The New Covenant operation is for the formation of character, and the life granted as a reward to those who are faithful under it will be on the appropriate level. The New Covenant does not in itself stipulate the kind of reward or life to be attained by obedience in it. (Heb. 8:6-13) Christ, its Messenger and Mediator, has brought both life and incorruption to light through the gospel, which is the New Covenant message.--2 Tim. 1:10,11, 1 Tim. 2:5,6, Eph. 1:20,21

Those who are reconciled to God during the High Calling Age are honored with the privilege, and entrusted with the duty, as ambassadors for Christ, of extending the message concerning the New Covenant and its Mediator. (2 Cor. 5:18-6:3) Each one, being reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus, has the opportunity and responsibility to follow in His steps. (1 Pet. 2:21) Such should be actively engaged in all proper ways as they are able, to proclaim this present saving grace of faith, and its hope for all mankind in the Earthly Kingdom Age.--Luke 24:47, 1 Tim. 2:4,7

The Apostle in Galatians 4 wrote that Hagar was a representation of "Jerusalem which now is," of his time, which stood for the Law Covenant, whose children were in bondage. He also wrote that Sarah was a representation of the "Jerusalem which is above," the New Jerusalem, figuratively called the "mother of us all," referring to God's people during the High Calling and Earthly Kingdom ages. This Jerusalem, now "above," is to "come down" to earth and reign over men during the thousand years. As other Scriptures show that the affairs of men are to be governed by the New Covenant arrangements during the thousand years, it is seen that the heavenly Jerusalem, our "mother," which is to "come down" (Rev. 21:23), is the New Covenant.

The blood of the New Covenant is that of Jesus alone. (Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Cor. 11:25) The church is invited to follow in His footsteps of suffering, that she may share His glory; that as He overcame and inherited a throne, so she may overcome and sit with Him in His throne. The sharing of His sufferings is not to be viewed as participating with Him in the payment of the 'ransom,' or in shedding the blood with which the New Covenant was sealed, or in His "once for all" offering for sin. By His own sacrifice He did all these things, the perfect human body offered on the cross having been specially 'prepared' for the purpose.--Heb. 10:5,10,14

1. (to page 3) Readers unacquainted with the clear but not widely understood Bible teaching that God has purposed a heavenly life and reward for the elect church selected during the High Calling Age, and the much lower but still glorious perfect human life for all the willing and obedient of mankind during the Earthly Kingdom Age, may send for a free copy of "A Ransom for All."

2. (to page 4) This prophecy points to our Lord's resurrection as the time of its fulfillment, but this truth has been obscured by translation, as well as by sectarian interpretation and early eschatological teaching. The King James version improperly conveys the thought of repetitive action in an overturning. However, the Hebrew word for 'overturn,' Strong's #5754, 'avvah, is a noun, not a verb, and means 'distortion, ruin,' as shown by NAS, NIV, NEB, RSV, Young's, Moffatt, Rotherham, Leeser.

3. (to page 8) Some believers teach that Jesus is not Mediator to His church, thinking that while God and men are at enmity because of sin and thus at variance and in need of a Mediator, those accepted as new creatures and having come to peace with God through faith in Christ, previously had never had need of a Mediator.

   But this is contrary to the Apostle's teaching concerning the need of "all in Adam." "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Even before the Law Covenant with its mediator was instituted, God had p romised to favor Abraham's natural posterity. Ezek. 16:8 indicates the making of the Law Covenant with Israel was an expression of God's special relationship and blessing. (Ruth 3:8) In the High Calling Age, God has announced a general invitation to all w ho repent of sin; and all who so repent choose divine direction. The kind of animosity that is present in mediated labor disputes is not a fitting illustration of the relationship in God's mediated covenants. Further considerations on 'mediator' are prese nted in Note 10.

4. (to pages 8 and 14) Moses as mediator interceded to stop the burning at Taberah (Num. 11:3); beseeched the Lord on behalf of Miriam (Num. 12:13); again on behalf of the people because of their reaction to the report of the spies (Num. 13,14); gave instruction for atonement in the plague which attended the rebellion of Korah (Num. 16); prayed regarding the biting fiery serpents (Num. 21:6-9).

5. (to page 10) The Law Covenant was not added to the Abrahamic Covenant itself, because it had already been confirmed and sworn to. "Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto." (Gal. 3:15) The thought of the Apostle must be that it was added to the experiences of the descendants of Abraham in Jacob's line.

6. (to page 10) The perfect law of the Old Covenant revealed imperfection and sin, which, because of the law against it, became transgression, thus emphasizing the need for salvation and deliverance. (Rom. 3:20, 5:13,14) The LORD gave instruction about individual iniquity and responsibility with His first mention of the New Covenant, Jer. 31:29,30, and promised forgiveness of iniquity and sin through its provisions. Ezek. 18:1-4 is of similar language. That prophet, a contemporary of Jeremiah, testified to the captive people, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." The conviction that this principle applies to a particular season should not be held so emphatically as to deter perception of its application to other seasons.

   One of the important applications of this principle is clear from the Ezekiel context. In verse 2 the LORD calls in question the proverb, identical to Jer. 31:29, instructing in verse 3, "As I live, saith the LORD God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel," the proverb which taught that the sin of the fathers brought inherited condemnation and death to their posterity. God was not by this statement declaring the discontinuance of the effects and accountability of Adamic sin, but rather declaring that the covenant people Israel would thereafter be individually accountable in their captivity judgment experiences. Jehovah directed them to be subject to the king of Babylon (Jer. 27:12), to accept captivity, endure the punishment, and perpetuate the nation, because their posterity would return at the end of a seventy-year punishment. (Jer. 22:12-22, 29:4-14) God told them not to go into Egypt. (Isa. 31:1, Jer. 42:13-18) If they did not become captives, the LORD promised them death by famine, sword, or pestilence.(Jer. 27:13, 29:15-19) Ezekiel 14:12-21 contains the same warning.

   Obviously, the dying described in the context of Ezek. 18:4 would not be second death, nor is that the teaching of Jer. 31:29,30 pertaining to the time when the prophecy was given, nor to Pentecost, when the New Covenant began to function. Indeed, it was specially appropriate that the LORD, through the prophet, remind Israel of the principle of individual responsibility at the opening of that promised New Covenant. Those in Israel who would continue in rejection of Jesus would die to the special opportunity of their time, due to their "own iniquity," remaining in hardness and unbelief, thereby proving themselves unusable chaff.--Deut. 18:18,19, Acts 3:22,23

7. (to page 10) Isaiah 42 prophesies of several activities of our Lord Jesus, and was a great help to Israelites indeed in identifying Him as the promised Messiah. The blindness of fleshly Israel, their rejection of His message, God's judgment of Israel, and the blessing of Gentiles are prophesied in verses 4,6,11-20. The New Testament has many quotations from Isaiah 42 indicating the understanding of it held by early Christians. In verse 6 God promised the gift of His Son to die so as to enable "a covenant" between Him and "the people" which would bring them the light and life which the Law Covenant could not. According to the inspired testimony, it was the blood of that Son, the antitype of the blood of bulls and goats (Exod. 24:5-8, Heb. 9:15-20), which has sealed the New Covenant.

8. (to pages 11 and 13) Two words are used in the Greek New Testament, each representing the English word 'new,' in reference to the New Covenant. One is neos, defined by Vine as "new in respect of time, that which is recent," used in I Cor. 5:7--"new lump"; Col. 3:10--"new man"; Matt. 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37,38--"new wine" of recent production; and in Heb. 12:24. If the New Covenant were not already operative, the writer of Heb. 12:24 would not have purposely used a word denoting "that which is recent." In every other New Testament reference to the New Covenant, all writers used kainos, "that which is unaccustomed or unused, not new in time, recent, but new as to form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old."-- Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W. E. Vine, Vol. 3, pages 109,110. See Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, I Cor. 11:25, II Cor. 3:6, Heb. 8:8,13, 9:15. The Septuagint for Jer. 31:31 also shows kainos. In all these instances the writers purposed to denote a fresh arrangement, one "of different nature" to the one which was vanishing away in the time of the apostles. This further indicates the vast difference between the 'old' Law Covenant and the New Covenant (Heb. 8:13), and how inappropriate it is to force the implication of similarity by calling the latter a new 'law' covenant. There is no Bible statement that the New Covenant is a covenant of works. But of course, "good works" are necessary. (Eph. 2:10) Works evidence the existence of faith. (James 2:17-26) The effect of naming the New a New 'law' Covenant is to cancel the very purpose of calling it a New Covenant. Imbedded in kainos is the very meaning of 'different.'

9. (to page 11) Heb. 8:6 teaches of the New Covenant as already made-- "which was established." Interlinearies translate this "has been instituted" or "has been enacted." This is a very plainly-stated truth.

10. (to pages 11, 14, 15) The Greek for mediator is mesites. Concerning this word's Hellenistic usage, the following is from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, by Kittel. "It denotes the one in the middle who discharges the function of a mesos. We should start with the specific meaning of mesos--'between contestants or parties,' 'neutral.' The 'neutral' is one whom both sides can trust. He may be an umpire, guarantor, arbiter, intermediary, negotiator; to act as umpire or peacemaker."

    At the time the Apostle Paul ministered the New Covenant and taught that Jesus was its Mediator, philosophies existed that deity functioned as mediator; that in some way the kosmos itself provided a mediator; that humans could be religious mediators. The word 'mediator' does not appear in the King James version of the Old Testament, but its meaning appears in Job 9:33. "Neither is there any daysman [margin, umpire; in Septuagint, mesites, mediator] betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both."

    Moses is never named 'mediator' in the Old Testament, but his service was so clearly typical of the New Covenant's Mediator, Christ Jesus, as was the Old Covenant typical of the New, that the Apostle wrote that the law covenant was "ordained [arranged] by angels in the hand of a mediator." (Gal. 3:19) How proper it was for the Apostle in I Tim. 2:5,6 to forcefully identify Jesus as he bound together the teachings of ransom and salvation as they relate to God's beloved Son, the one Mediator of God and of all men requiring ransom and salvation. It was only man, anthropos, and a perfect man, that could be the ransom and thus qualify to later serve in heaven as Mediator. He is expressly called 'man' to emphasize that his service was on behalf of all men. His mediatorial self-offering to death is the basis of all opportunity for salvation, and makes that opportunity valid to all from God's standpoint. Christ is not called 'man' to disavow His resurrected divine nature, but to show that He has ransomed all men without distinction. This ransom is the central theme of the Apostolic witness, which he said will in due time reach all men. Referring to Him as 'man' indicates that His heavenly authority derives from the sacrifice He made on earth. This is again seen in I Corinthians 15:47 RSV--"the second man is from heaven." The Mediator is the one who represents God to men and men to God and brings together all who will believe. As the servant of God, He gave His life a ransom for many, knowing that God would acknowledge His mediatorship. (Mark 10:45) Only as the one who died and rose again is He in the full sense of the word the Mediator. There is no Bible passage which teaches that others share with Jesus the title and office of Mediator.

11. (to page 13) The question may arise, How did the Hebrews' author know that "blood of calves [bullocks] and of goats" (Heb. 9:19) was sprinkled at the sealing of the Law Covenant, inasmuch as such detail does not appear in Exod. 24:5-8? No doubt he concluded by comparing Scripture with Scripture. The account affirms two kinds of offerings but notes but one kind of animal: "...offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen..." Earlier, when instructions were given for building an altar, Moses was told to "...sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen." (Exod. 20:24) This would make the respective offerings: burnt = sheep, and peace = oxen, harmonizing with Exod. 24:5. 'Sheep' is from the Hebrew tseown, Strong's #6629, meaning "to migrate--used of sheep or goats."

12. (to page 13) Many of those addressed in the epistle were not fully enlightened concerning the superiority over the Levitical, of the new priesthood after the Melchizedec order, and of the kind of intercession and relationship they would have with God if they were to renounce the Law Covenant, its priesthood and sacrifices. The context of Hebrews 7:22, verses 21-28, makes evident that the holy, undefiled and sinless nature of the faithful human sacrifice of Jesus enabled Him to inherit an unchangeable priestly service. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us" ["for such a high priest indeed was suitable to us"-- Marshall Interlinear].

    Because Jesus is "a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedec"--made so according to a sworn oath, better authorized than the Levitical priesthood, which was instituted by a law not having a swearing--so Jesus, made higher than the heavens, also functions in regard to a covenant better than the one maintained in force by the sacrifices of the law priests. That superior authority attests proportionately greater that the Hebrews should accept their liberty from the Law Covenant. They should know that favor from God through a "better covenant" offering eternal blessings is "pledged, secured, guaranteed, under good security," the meaning of the Greek egguos, translated 'surety.' How, and with what assurance? Because Jesus "has become" that ever-living, unchangeable priest by the oath "which was since the law," God having sworn to David concerning it several hundred years after Moses.

13. (to page 13) "Ye [believers] are come...to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant..." (Heb. 12:22-24) does, according to lexicons and most translations, properly represent the Greek text, although "ye have approached..." conveys the same truth of the "action as complete" intended by the Greek perfect tense used. Some who teach the New Covenant as only future force this passage to agree by writing the text as though it used the Greek present tense, "ye are approaching" unto the Mediator and a mediated New Covenant. This requires a distorted interpretation of the elements in verses 22-24 to conform to the time conclusion forced by the foregoing change. Such a practice conceals the real meaning of that portion of God's word.

14. (to page 13) After the Law Covenant was in force, it became effective upon all who were born under it. In the antitype, the New Covenant becomes operative to each one desiring its blessings and forgiveness of sins when they present themselves in full devotion. Faithful Moses continued as mediator unto his house of servants until the Law Covenant was abolished. (Num. 12:2,8, Heb. 3:2,5, II Cor. 3:13) Similarly is Jesus faithful now as the greater-than-Moses unto His father's house of sons (Deut. 18:18,19, Acts 3:22,23,26, Heb. 3:6), and continues faithful as Mediator of the New Covenant until the completion of His stewardship in gathering together in one all things.--Eph. 1:10,11, I Cor. 15:24-28

15. (to page 14) Some acknowledge the Bible teaching that Jesus is Advocate during the High Calling Age, but contend that he is Mediator only during the Earthly Kingdom Age, and that the blessings of both services do not come to the same individuals. It is a most unsupportable teaching that John, using Advocate (I John 2:1,2), and Paul and the Hebrews' author using Mediator, applied the two activities of Jesus to differing ages. It is inappropriate to think that a devoted believer in Jesus has never had need of Christ Jesus as his Mediator.--I Tim. 2:4-6

16. (to page 14) The Apostle understood that Moses' authority to provide advocacy and intercession, whether on behalf of one person, or on behalf of the entire people, was based on his being the mediator of the law covenant. Because of this, the Apostle emphasized that there is but one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Himself, and all of His authority is based upon His ransom for all (I Tim. 2:4-6), having poured out His soul an offering for sin. The Apostle suggests in verse 4 that the bringing of an accurate knowledge of the truth is one of the purposes for which Jesus is Mediator. How many, now having truth, could have come to its accurate knowledge without the comfort, encouragement and assistance of our precious Redeemer!

17. (to pages 16 and 18) 'Cup' is a widely used symbol in both Old and New Testaments, and a careful consideration of contexts is necessary to understand intended meanings. Both Jesus and all His new creature disciples must drink of the cup of experience, suffering, and baptism into sacrificial death to enable full character development and testing as sons. (Heb. 12:3-8, Mark 10:38,39, Heb. 2:10,11) But even such an important cup as that is not the same as the memorial cup. Some have mistakenly taught that Jesus Himself partook of the memorial cup, perhaps thinking I Cor. 11:25 meant, "when He had sipped." But the King James Version reading is, "when He had supped," which harmonizes with Luke 22:20: "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament [covenant] in My blood, which is shed for you." Our Lord teaches that His blood which assured the New Covenant was shed for them, and thus "they all drank of it." (Mark 14:23,24) Both Smith and Unger Bible dictionaries suggest that the memorial cup was preceded by the pouring of several other cups, of which it is likely that Jesus drank.

    No agreement such as the New Covenant was necessary or even appropriate between the Father and the Son. When that covenant is examined it becomes evident that one of its chief provisions is that God will forgive the sins of those who come under the covenant and accept its terms, and the Son had no sins requiring forgiveness. It was, indeed, the Lord's absolute perfection and sinlessness that qualified Him to offer the sacrifice for sin. (Heb. 7:26) And the blood thus shed became at the same time the blood of the New Covenant, as He said to His disciples when instituting the Memorial Supper.-- Matt. 26:27,28

18. (to page 21) Probably referring to this promise in Jeremiah, the Apostle told us, "ye have no need that anyone should teach you," a bit surprising inasmuch as he was a teacher, and Scripture instructs that there are to be teachers in the church. But the prophetic and apostolic thoughts compare nicely. "The anointing which ye received from Him remains in you, and ye have no need that anyone should teach you ["they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother"--Jer. 31:34]; but as the anointing of Him teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and as it taught you, remain ye in Him." (I John 2:27) The same Prophet said, "they shall all know me"; so the same Apostle wrote, "ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye all know."--I John 2:20

    Because all mankind are not yet being dealt with by God, as His Word promises they shall be "in due time" (John 5:28,29, 12:32, Acts 17:31, I Tim. 2:4-6, I Cor. 15:27,28, Rev. 22:17), some have reasoned that the New Covenant is not yet mediated. But 'all' and 'every man' in Jer. 31:34 need not be understood as meaning every living person, or all who ever lived. Jeremiah mentioned "from the least of them even unto the greatest of them," as seen in Jer. 31:34, in two other places. In each instance he referred not to all in Israel, but rather to a limited company within that nation. Jer. 6:13 and 8:10 speak only of those "given to covetousness," amongst whom there were "the least," "the greatest," and those having in-between degrees of that evil disposition. This comparison helps make clear the understanding we should hold of 'all' and 'every man' in Jer. 31:34. The meaning of the word 'all' is directed by the context in which it is used. It is only the members of the 'house' who accept the New Covenant, that can receive His law in their inward parts, and in their hearts, be the people of God, and have their sins put out of remembrance.

19. (to page 21) The writer of Hebrews was a student of the Old Testament Greek text. Portions of Hebrews 8 are identical to the corresponding portion in the Septuagint for Jer. 31 (Jer. 38 in Septuagint), and doubtless no attempt was made by the Hebrews' writer to translate from the Hebrew text the part of Jeremiah that is quoted in Heb. 8. Therefore, the examination which some have made of the Hebrew karath, Strong's #3772, used in the text and translated 'make' in both Jer. 31:31 and 33, is not pertinent. The Septuagint Greek text for the promise seen in Jer. 31:33 translates to "I will covenant a covenant," just as interlinearies read for Heb. 8:10.

    In Heb. 8:8 its author used sunteleso, for which interlinearies read "I will finish" or "I will effect," instead of the Septuagint's diathasomai in the corresponding Jeremiah prophecy. It is especially helpful in considering why its author made a partial departure from the Septuagint in Heb. 8:8, to note that he adopted the same language seen in both Jer. 41:8 and 15, Septuagint (English is Jer. 34:8,15). Both verses use Strong's #4931, sunteleo, and #1242, diatheke. The translations are, verse 8: "after king Zedekiah had concluded a covenant with the people..."; and verse 15, "they had concluded a covenant before me..." Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich Lexicon defines the two words, plus kainen, (accusative singular feminine of kainos, 'new,' as meaning "I will bring a new covenant to accomplishment."

    The evident meaning of these words as used in the Septuagint text of Jer. 41:8,15 was good reason for their use in Hebrews, and good cause for the definition given in 'Christian' lexicons. We are grateful for such helps, for neither of two editions, separated by over 100 years, of the unabridged Liddell & Scott Lexicon defines any New Testament uses of the Greek sunteleo, of which there are seven, nor includes any reference to the source thought seen in Jer. 41. To ignore the Septuagint source and meaning, and then conjecture on inappropriate meanings for the Greek, opens interpretation based upon private opinion. Sunteleo as used in the Bible has no thought whatsoever of contributory share nor of contribution. Such a thought is supplied only in some Greek literature examples which contain additional Greek words, and some Bible expositors have used these examples to support preferred opinions. But the added words result in a Greek expression different than seen in Heb. 8:8 and Septuagint's Jer. 41:8,15, and with different meaning.

    The author of the epistle to the Hebrews was not dating, postponing, or prophesying about the New Covenant. He was simply documenting its existence and operation.

20. (to pages 23 and 24) The promise of Heb. 8:10 is that the New Covenant would be made "after those days." 'Those days,' according to verse 9, refer to the years when, being in the covenant, "they continued not ["did not persevere"--Strong] in my covenant, and I regarded them not." The Greek text for this passage is identical to the Jer. 31:32 Septuagint text which it quotes. To determine the time marked by "after those days" requires knowing "those days" when Israel continued not in their covenant, due to which the Lord "regarded them not."

    Scripture indicates that fleshly Israel even from their earliest experience with the LORD, and under their covenant, often "continued not in My covenant." Their disobediences in the wilderness under the covenant were of such magnitude and historical remembrance as to be recalled by the simple expression, "as in the provocation." (Heb. 3:8,15) They murmured against Moses (Exod. 16:2, 17:2, Num. 11:1); sinned in calf worship (Exod. 32:1-29); were dissatisfied with having only manna (Num. 11:6-33); rejected the report of the faithful spies (Num. 13:1-14:39). These and other provocations were summed up as that they had tempted the LORD "now these ten times." (Num. 14:22) But this was only the beginning of their history in which "they continued not in My covenant." Because of the poor response by these fleshly descendants of Abraham, the one with whom God had made covenant concerning a seed to bless others, the Lord testified at a later time with special reference to their wilderness provocations: "I wrought for My name's sake, that it [My name] should not be polluted before the heathen." (Ezek. 20:14,22,44) This prophecy was made about the time that Jeremiah prophesied [the chronology used in Clarke's Commentary dates Jer. 31 as 587 B.C. and Ezek. 20 as 593 B.C.], and was long before the brief historical update Jesus proclaimed at the rejection of fleshly Israel. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left [that is, abandoned] unto you [desolate]."--Matt. 23:37,38

    The context has an additional element defining the days following which the Lord promised a New Covenant would be made. They were days in which the first covenant was found to be not faultless, and days when "finding fault with them," the LORD saw it timely and good to promise a New Covenant. Those were days up to the prophecies of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others, preceding which the LORD had found fault with Israel for more than a thousand years. The prophecy stipulated that the New Covenant would be made "after those days," but did not specify how long after. Events recorded in the New Testament provide the answer.

21. (to pages 23 and 26) God's covenant with Abraham had several promises but it had no mediator, nor was any blood used to seal, ratify or assure its fulfillment. Instead, that covenant had God's oath, by which it was confirmed, which guaranteed or suretied its fulfillment. This is taught in Heb. 6:17. At the word 'confirmed' in that verse, the King James margin reads, "interposed himself with an oath." This is a good representation of the Greek text. 'Confirmed' is a translation of the Greek mesiteuo, #3315, defined by Professor Strong, "to interpose (as arbiter), i.e., (by impl.) to ratify (as surety)." Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines mesiteuo as "to act as a mediator, to interpose." God's oath assured the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant promises and acted as a mediator, in the absence of one, pertaining to that covenant. Not only did both the Law Covenant and the New Covenant have mediators, but also both covenants had blood to ratify, surety, assure their establishment. Though the Abrahamic Covenant had an oath to act as a mediator, it had no atonement blood either typical or antitypical. It promised a seed and blessings through that seed. Jesus as that 'seed' (Galatians 3:19) provided blood. But it was not Arahamic Covenant blood. It was his "blood of the [New] Covenant."--Matt. 26:28, Luke 22:20.

22. (to page 26) One such reference is Heb. 10:15-18. "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." The sins here sp