Articles
Living in a New Covenant - 2 Cor. 3-6
Living in a New Covenant - 2 Cor. 3-6
We read Paul writing that God has “made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)
God is a God of covenants as seen in the many covenants he made with various people. With the coming of Jesus, we were promised a NEW COVENANT as seen in Jeremiah 31 and other Old Covenant passages. The night Jesus was betrayed and crucified, he gave the disciples a new tradition that we call ‘the Lord’s supper’. In reading the account of such we read in Matthew 26:27-28: “27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”
The new covenant is based upon the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In becoming His disciples, we enter into a covenant relationship with God through Jesus. When one believes, he is baptized into Christ and then he is (or should be) taught to observe all things whatsoever HE HAS TAUGHT (Matt. 28:18-20). As in the previous covenants that God made with people, there are not only the promised blessing that God would provide, but there are conditions that are to be met by those who would enter into such a covenant.
These conditions of this new covenant are found in the teachings of Jesus – the revelation of His will for us. Such revelation is not just in the words spoken by Jesus while here in the flesh, but those which He revealed through his chosen ambassadors and preserved in what we know as the ‘New Testament’ writings. Paul wrote earlier to the Corinthians: “37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.” (1 Corinthians 14:37-38) (read also Matthew 10:1, 40).
Perhaps it would behoove us to use the terminology “new covenant”. His death is declared to be the blood of the new covenant. This is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s promise of a new covenant (cp. Jer. 31 and Hebrews 8). The demands of such a covenant are to be written on /in our hearts. They become that which leads us in our living. This involves letting the words of Christ DWELL in our hearts (Col. 3:16-17). This involves being conformed to His teaching (Eph. 4:21-24). It is the putting on the very ‘mind of Christ’ (Phil. 2:5f). In this new covenant relationship, we crucify the old man and become slaves of righteousness. (Rom. 6:1-4, 16-17). In walking in line with this covenant, we set our hearts on things above and not the things below. (Col. 3:1-2).
Paul’s concept of such a life: “20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21).
Jeremiah’s promise is expounded upon in Heb. 8:7-13; and further in Heb. 9:10-18.
We see that God makes the promises of what HE will do and provide, and then stipulates the conditions that His people will live by. Thus, we live by the very revealed will of Jesus, giving him our complete loyalty and allegiance.
Is this how you view your relationship with God? Is this how you are living out your life as a disciple of Jesus?
Hugh DeLong
NOTE: Notice first the outline of the nature of covenants and God! Such are labeled by bible students as ‘Suzerain covenants’. Such covenants are the covenants of a superior to a subject, the will of a king to his subjects. In this case, the will of God for His people. Russ Meeks included in his article about covenants:
Two basic types of covenants existed in the ancient Near East: the parity treaty (between equal parties) and the suzerain/vassal treaty (between a greater and a lesser party).[5] In suzerain/vassal treaties, the greater party (i.e., the suzerain) provided benefits such as military protection and land grants to the lesser party (i.e., the vassal).[6] In response, the vassal owed the suzerain financial tribute and “consummate loyalty.”[7] Consequently, vassals could have only one suzerain, for to take another “lord” or “father” would be tantamount to treason.[8]
[5] Sandra Richter, The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008), 73
[6] Richter, Epic of Eden, 73–74.
[7] Ibid., 74.
[8] Ibid., 74–75.
