A New Covenant

Art Harju  |  The Voice of Zion May 2026 - The Sabbath Word 4 --

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. – Jeremiah 31:31–34

During the time of the prophet Jeremiah, the children of Israel were captives in a foreign land. Due to their sin and disobedience, God had allowed the king of Babylon to overthrow and destroy Jerusalem, taking the Israelites captive. They were living in a strange and foreign land, and they longed for home. God comforted them, promising that in coming days He would make a new covenant with them.

This covenant would not be the same as the one God had made with their forefathers when he brought them out of Egypt. There God had promised to lead the people to the Promised Land if they would follow Him. He gave them the Ten Commandments, but the people were not always obedient to them. They worshiped false gods, they complained about the manna that God fed them with, and they broke the commandments. They were a stiff-necked people (Exod. 33:5), breaking the covenant that God had made with them.

The new covenant did not mean that God had changed His thoughts about sin; God still hates and condemns sin, but He loves the sinner. This new covenant would be made in His Son, Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the Law, meaning the Ten Commandments, on behalf of all sinners, including you and me. He took all our sins upon Himself, and He paid for them by shedding His blood and giving His life on the cross. In rising from the dead on Easter morning, Jesus was victorious over sin and death. Jesus then ascended into heaven to prepare a place for His followers, those who believe in Him. Before He went, He promised His disciples that His Father would send them the Comforter. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit reminds us of the work that Jesus did on our behalf (John 14:16,17,26).

God has placed the Holy Spirit in His congregation, into the hearts of His children. Its voice speaks to us through the mouths of the believers, comforting us in our walk of faith. Through sermons, discussions, and visits with fellow travelers, the Holy Spirit leads and guides us on this narrow way to heaven. He also instructs and enlightens us in times of battle and heresy: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:7). The Holy Spirit also calls to us through our conscience when we have fallen into sin, and He encourages us to put sin away. Through the mouth of another believer, the Holy Spirit proclaims our sins forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit is the One through whom this new covenant is written into our hearts. Through the Spirit, God writes His law and promises within us, as He has said. He encourages the poor and tired travelers with the message of the Gospel, that Jesus has paid for our sins, strengthening and uplifting us on this journey. Dear brothers and sisters in faith: If we endeavor to be obedient to God’s Word and place our trust in Him, He has promised, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:34). It pays to believe, day by day, putting sin away. One day we will reach the promised land, our eternal home in heaven.