Foundations Week 25, Day 1

Scripture Read: Jeremiah 31:31-40; 32 - 33
Title: A New Covenant

H.E.A.R. 
(H) Highlight verse: "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, not like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them out of Egypt, my covenant they broke, though I was their husband, declares to the LORD... 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."   Jeremiah 31:31, 32, 33b

(E) Explain: Jeremiah contains many prophecies of judgment against Israel and the Judah.  The calling of Jeremiah was a bleak calling since his contemporaries did not respond positively to him.  However, in chapter 31 - 33 Jeremiah changes his message of judgment to a message of hope.  In this writing the prophet declares that a day is coming where God will establish a new covenant with his people.  If you recall, God established his covenant with Abraham and Moses.  Time and again the Israelites broke their covenant with God.  They turned to idols, they were disobedient and often turned their back on God.  Now, Jeremiah is stating that even though judgment is imminent, there is hope.  This hope comes in the form of a new covenant.  This new covenant is unlike the old covenant.  This new covenant will have the LORD putting His teaching or law into the hearts of his people.  He will be their God and they will be his people.  They will no longer need to be taught the law because they will know it, because it is inscribed on their hearts.  This new covenant that God will establish is a declaration of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.  When Jesus comes, this new covenant will be established through Him and the covenant will no longer be based upon the people's ability to keep the law, but will instead be based upone the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Through him and the Holy Spirit the law of God will be internalized into the hearts and minds of the people. 

(A) Application: God has made a covenant or a promise to His people that through Jesus Christ we may fully know God and have a relationship with Him.  God's word will be written on our hearts and allowing us to fully live in obedience to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.  This covenant ensures that we will be able to live in obedience to God and His ways  because we have been transformed into His likeness through Jesus Christ.  Transformation is the ultimate goal of the Christian life.  Changing and becoming Christ-like is what God intends for us through this new covenant.  We become more like Christ because He now dwells in us through His Holy Spirit.  We are truly His people and He is our God.

(R) Respond: Lord, may transformation be an ongoing process in my life.  Help me to become more like Christ as your Spirit dwells in me.  Thank you for the new covenant in Jesus Christ.