New Covenant

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 - Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.


Luke 22:20 - In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Romans 2:29 - No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

2 Corinthians 4:1 - Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

Jeremiah 31:31,33-34 - “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah…“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Ezekiel 11:19 - I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Application:

· I am provided with love for God’s law, which previously I had hated, and with power to keep it, which previously I had not possessed.
· The new covenant is the administration of God’s saving grace found in and sealed by the death of Christ
· The true sign of belonging to God is the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit within
· When God calls and commissions me, He supplies the strength necessary for me to persevere
· The new covenant is made solemn by the blood of Christ
· Does the law govern my life?
· I am not ignorant of the Lord and His will for my life
· Is my commitment to the Lord and His will single-minded?
· Has the Lord transformed my mind and heart

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

New

Hosea 4:10-11,14 - “They will eat but not have enough; they will engage in prostitution but not flourish, because they have deserted the LORD to give themselves to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding…“I will not punish your daughters when they turn to prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, because the men themselves consort with harlots and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes—a people without understanding will come to ruin!


Hosea 5:4 - “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD.

Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Hosea 2:9 - “Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen, intended to cover her naked body.

Application:

· What do I give myself to? Have I given and am I giving myself to the Lord?
· Am I hypocritical?
· Is there persistent sin in my life?
· Do I overindulge in sinful things?
· Am I stubborn in the face of God's goodness?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

New Command

1 John 2:6-7 - Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.

1 Corinthians 10:14 - Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

1 John 3:23 - And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

John 13:34-35 - "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Leviticus 19:18 - " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Conclusions:

• Corinthians Christians had come out of a background of paganism
• Temples for the worship of Apollo, Asclepius, Demeter, Aphrodite and other pagan gods and goddesses were seen daily by the Corinthians as they engaged in the activities of everyday life
• The worship of Aphrodite, with its many sacred prostitutes, was a particularly strong temptation
• God’s command has two parts: (1) Believe in Christ, and (2) love each other
• In a sense a new command was an old one, but for Christ’s disciples it was new, because it was the mark of their brotherhood, created by Christ’s great love for them
• Our standard is Christ’s love for us
• Love is the distinguishing mark of Christ’s followers
• Love your neighbor as yourself is quoted by Christ, Paul and James
• The stricter Pharisees added to this command what they thought it implied: Hate your enemy
• Jesus reaction, “Love your enemies,” was in line with true Old Testament teaching and was more in agreement with the middle-of-the-road Pharisees
• Rabbi Nahmanides caught their sentiments: “One should place no limitations upon the love for neighbor, but instead a person should love to do an abundance of good for his fellow being as he does for himself.”
• Neighbor does not merely mean one who lives nearby, but anyone with whom one comes in contact

Application:

• Do you flee from idolatry?
• Do you believe in Christ? Do you love others?
• Is your standard Christ's love for you?
• Is love one of your distinguishing marks?
• Do you love to do an abundance of good for your fellow being?

All Scripture references taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible