The New Covenant is
the everlasting agreement God has established
through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
It fulfills and surpasses
the Old Covenant made with Israel at Mount Sinai.
In the New Covenant,
God writes His law on the hearts of His people,
forgives their sins completely,
and gives them the Holy Spirit.
The promise of a new covenant was first given through the prophet Jeremiah:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people… For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
Jesus inaugurated this covenant at the Last Supper:
“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:20; see also 1 Corinthians 11:25)
The book of Hebrews extensively explains how Christ is the mediator of a better covenant enacted on better promises (Hebrews 8:6-13; 9:15; 12:24).
The New Covenant includes several decisive blessings:
| Aspect | Old Covenant | New Covenant |
|---|---|---|
| Mediator | Moses | Jesus Christ |
| Sacrifice | Repeated animal sacrifices | Once-for-all sacrifice of Christ |
| Location of the Law | Written on stone tablets | Written on the heart |
| Access to God | Limited (high priest once a year) | Direct access through Christ |
| Outcome | Temporary and preparatory | Eternal and final |
The Old Covenant was good and holy, but it was designed to point forward to the greater reality fulfilled in Christ.
The New Covenant is the heart of God’s redemptive plan. Through the blood of Jesus, God has established an unbreakable relationship with His people in which sins are fully forgiven and the Spirit is given to transform the heart. Every believer in Christ is a full participant in the New Covenant and enjoys its blessings of forgiveness, access to God, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.