Renewing the Covenant: Embracing Personal Faith and Forgiveness

 

Summary

In our journey to construct a resilient and strong Christian faith, we have explored the concept of covenant, focusing on the covenants with Noah and Abraham. Today, we delve into the Christian response to the Abrahamic covenant, particularly through the lens of the Gospels, with Jeremiah 31 serving as a foundational text. This passage in Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant, not as a replacement of the old, but as a renewal and expansion of God's promise, written on our hearts. This covenant emphasizes individual responsibility, moving away from the notion of multi-generational judgment to a personal accountability for one's relationship with God.

The traditional Christian interpretation often suggests that Jesus represents a new covenant that supersedes the old. However, I challenge this view, arguing that Jesus did not come to replace Judaism but to fulfill it, bringing the covenant to its intended purpose. The word "fulfill" in Greek, "pleru," means to make full, not to replace. Jesus' mission was to make the covenant complete, emphasizing internal transformation and a personal bond with God. This renewed covenant calls us to a universal understanding of God's love, extending beyond a chosen few to all humanity.

Forgiveness is central to this renewed covenant. Jesus calls us to forgive, a challenging yet essential aspect of living out this covenant. The Gospel response to the covenant is about internalizing God's law, fostering a personal relationship with Him, and embracing the universal appeal of His love. This covenant is not about replacing the old but renewing and strengthening it, as Jesus exemplified through His teachings and actions.

Key Takeaways:

1. Renewal of the Covenant: The new covenant in Jeremiah is not a replacement but a renewal, emphasizing personal responsibility and internal transformation. It calls us to move beyond generational judgments and focus on our individual relationship with God. [09:13]

2. Fulfillment, Not Replacement: Jesus' mission was to fulfill the covenant, not replace it. The Greek word "pleru" means to make full, highlighting that Jesus came to bring the covenant to its intended purpose, not to supersede it. [17:54]

3. Universal Appeal of God's Love: The renewed covenant extends God's love to all humanity, not just a chosen few. It emphasizes a personal bond with God, inviting everyone into a relationship with Him. [19:57]

4. Forgiveness as a Foundation: Forgiveness is at the heart of the renewed covenant. Jesus calls us to forgive, a challenging yet vital aspect of living out this covenant, reflecting God's love and grace. [21:12]

5. Personal Accountability: The covenant written on our hearts demands personal accountability. Each of us is responsible for our relationship with God, moving beyond communal or generational experiences to a personal commitment. [10:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:07] - Exploring the Christian Response
- [05:14] - Jeremiah's New Covenant
- [07:09] - Questioning Replacement Theology
- [09:13] - Individual Responsibility in the Covenant
- [10:39] - Expanding the Covenant's Reach
- [12:13] - Jesus and the New Covenant
- [13:50] - Variations in Gospel Accounts
- [15:34] - Language and Interpretation
- [16:42] - Fulfillment of the Law
- [17:54] - Making the Covenant Full
- [18:19] - Jesus' Mission and Purpose
- [19:10] - Strengthening the Covenant
- [19:57] - Personal Bond with God
- [21:12] - Forgiveness and Fulfillment

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Jeremiah 31:27-37 - This passage discusses the new covenant that God promises to write on the hearts of His people, emphasizing personal responsibility and internal transformation.
2. Ezekiel 18:4 - This verse highlights individual accountability, stating that each person is responsible for their own sins.
3. Matthew 5:17 - Jesus speaks about fulfilling the law, not abolishing it, which aligns with the sermon’s theme of fulfillment rather than replacement.

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jeremiah 31:27-37 say about the nature of the new covenant and how it differs from the old covenant? [05:14]
2. How does Ezekiel 18:4 reinforce the idea of personal accountability in one's relationship with God? [09:13]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Greek word "pleru" in understanding Jesus' mission? [17:54]
4. How does the sermon challenge the traditional Christian interpretation of the new covenant as a replacement of the old? [07:09]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of a covenant written on our hearts change the way individuals relate to God compared to the old covenant? [09:13]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' mission was to fulfill the covenant rather than replace it? How does this understanding affect the relationship between Christianity and Judaism? [18:19]
3. What role does forgiveness play in the renewed covenant, and why is it considered a challenging yet essential aspect of living out this covenant? [21:12]
4. How does the sermon’s interpretation of the new covenant as a renewal rather than a replacement impact the understanding of God’s love as universal? [19:57]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal relationship with God. How can you take more responsibility for this relationship, moving beyond generational or communal experiences? [09:13]
2. Consider the idea of fulfilling rather than replacing. How can this perspective change the way you approach your faith and interactions with others from different religious backgrounds? [18:19]
3. Forgiveness is central to the renewed covenant. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive? What steps can you take to begin this process? [21:12]
4. How can you internalize God’s law in your daily life, fostering a deeper personal relationship with Him? What practical steps can you take to make this a reality? [19:57]
5. The sermon emphasizes the universal appeal of God’s love. How can you extend this love to those around you, regardless of their background or beliefs? [19:57]
6. Reflect on the idea of personal accountability. What specific actions can you take this week to strengthen your commitment to God? [10:39]
7. How can you actively participate in renewing and strengthening the covenant in your own life and community? What changes might this require in your current lifestyle or mindset? [19:10]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

Day 1: Renewal of the Covenant
The new covenant described in Jeremiah 31 is not about discarding the old but renewing it, emphasizing personal responsibility and internal transformation. This covenant moves away from the idea of generational judgment, focusing instead on individual accountability in one's relationship with God. It invites believers to internalize God's law, making it a part of their very being, written on their hearts. This shift calls for a deeper, more personal connection with God, where each person is responsible for their spiritual journey and growth. [09:13]

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares 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. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Reflection: In what ways can you internalize God's law in your daily life, making it a part of your heart and actions today?


Day 2: Fulfillment, Not Replacement
Jesus' mission was to fulfill the covenant, not replace it. The Greek word "pleru" means to make full, indicating that Jesus came to bring the covenant to its intended purpose. This fulfillment is about completing and perfecting the covenant, not discarding it. Jesus' teachings and actions exemplify this fulfillment, emphasizing internal transformation and a personal bond with God. By understanding Jesus' role in fulfilling the covenant, believers are called to embrace the fullness of God's promises and live out their faith with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment. [17:54]

Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV): "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the fulfillment of God's covenant in your life, rather than seeing it as something that has been replaced or outdated?


Day 3: Universal Appeal of God's Love
The renewed covenant extends God's love to all humanity, not just a chosen few. It emphasizes a personal bond with God, inviting everyone into a relationship with Him. This universal appeal of God's love challenges believers to see beyond cultural or religious boundaries and embrace the inclusivity of God's grace. By understanding the breadth of God's love, individuals are encouraged to reflect this love in their interactions with others, fostering a community that mirrors the universal nature of God's covenant. [19:57]

Galatians 3:28-29 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate the universal nature of God's love in your interactions with people from different backgrounds and beliefs today?


Day 4: Forgiveness as a Foundation
Forgiveness is at the heart of the renewed covenant. Jesus calls believers to forgive, a challenging yet vital aspect of living out this covenant. Forgiveness reflects God's love and grace, allowing individuals to experience healing and reconciliation in their relationships. By embracing forgiveness, believers can break free from the chains of resentment and bitterness, opening their hearts to the transformative power of God's love. This foundational aspect of the covenant encourages a lifestyle of grace and mercy, mirroring the forgiveness that God extends to each of us. [21:12]

Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Think of someone you need to forgive. How can you take a step towards extending forgiveness to them today, reflecting God's grace in your life?


Day 5: Personal Accountability
The covenant written on our hearts demands personal accountability. Each individual is responsible for their relationship with God, moving beyond communal or generational experiences to a personal commitment. This accountability calls for a conscious effort to nurture one's spiritual growth and align one's life with God's will. By taking ownership of their faith journey, believers can experience a deeper, more meaningful connection with God, leading to a life that reflects His love and purpose. [10:39]

Ezekiel 18:30-31 (ESV): "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?"

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to take personal responsibility for your spiritual growth and deepen your relationship with God?

Quotes

"So as we journey along this path of constructing a resilient and strong Christian faith, we've come through a couple of building blocks, and we've spent the last two Sundays looking at this vital question of covenant, first with Noah, then with Abraham. And if I had a bit more time, I would have dedicated one Sunday to the renewal of the covenant that happens particularly through Joshua and Moses. But we're going to come back to Moses and covenant and commandments next, so we're going to touch on it." [00:02:55] (38 seconds)


"But just know that it doesn't all just sort of stop with Abraham. There is a constant call for renewal of the covenant, that God calls key figures into that important task. Of course, being Moses and Joshua. And Joshua as the primary. But the question I want to explore to you today and next Sunday is what is the Christian response to the Abrahamic covenant?" [00:03:32] (34 seconds)


"So it's a very important sort of seminal moment in this constant relationship that God has with the Israelite people. This sort of process, this cycle of kind of hope and affirmation, followed by a sense of disobedience and irrelevance. And then God re-injecting back into it a call once again to the Israelite people to come back into a covenant, even though there is this constant kind of rejection of the commandments." [00:04:34] (39 seconds)


"This promise from God that there will be a new covenant that will be written in our hearts. And that has been the interpretive framework for how people have read many of the Gospels. Now I'll tell you right from the outset, my point of view is probably different than... I'm going to make a suggestion probably any minister you've had before you. The standard Christian response, the response I get from pretty much most Christian pastors, is the Jeremiah..." [00:05:56] (40 seconds)


"Well first, I respond to that by saying, wait a second, the new covenant, does those passages really replace the first covenant, the primary covenant? And what's significant about it is the verses that come just before, and it's why I put them in in the reading. Did you catch this whole thing about sour grapes? It's a very confusing expression. But what is said here, it's said in this phrase, the parents have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge." [00:07:39] (40 seconds)


"That is a reference that is seen in the sort of original context, particularly in Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers, as this notion of a multi-generational judgment by God. The sins of the father are visited upon the son. Right? So this notion that one generation, another, you know, future generations are held responsible for the actions of this current generation." [00:08:19] (33 seconds)


"And that is part of the original, what I think is sort of evolves and shaped by Jeremiah, is God is saying, okay, I'm going to try this one more time with the Israelite people, and what I'm going to do is I'm going to write the law on their hearts. And I'm going to do it in a way that will no longer be about this multi-generational judgment, but that this notion will rest with each and every person in their own lives." [00:08:51] (40 seconds)


"But all shall die for their own sins, the text says. The teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge. In other words, you don't get a pass anymore as a person on how you understand your relationship with God. It can no longer be buried into some kind of generational experience. We are to be judged each and every one of us individually for how we live our lives." [00:09:32] (35 seconds)


"So how can we then conclude that this new covenant replaces the old? In other words, the Christian theology that has emerged through the centuries is essentially that Judaism disappears. That Christianity replaces Judaism. It has been the source of anti-Semitism since it was first articulated a couple centuries after Jesus." [00:11:21] (29 seconds)


"And then I turn around and I say to folks, okay, but if that's true, then why did Jesus say both in Mark and in Matthew that, do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. So those are words from Jesus that are generally recognized to be from him. Why, he asks, or says, do not think I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. So that gets us to this question of language." [00:16:42] (41 seconds)


"Jesus isn't asking us to replace the covenant. He's in fact saying we need to renew it. You have heard it said, the gospels say often, to not murder. But I'm telling you to love your enemies, Jesus says. So I'm going to take that covenant and I'm going to make it even stronger. Even stronger. And more demanding. And as Jeremiah says, and it's going to be on each and every one of us." [00:19:10] (33 seconds)


"Forgiveness is at the heart. Of this covenant that Jesus calls us to renew. Can you bring forgiveness into your hearts for things that have happened in your lives and are happening in your lives? It's an extraordinarily difficult thing to do, isn't it? To truly forgive those who have maligned you, who have hurt you. But there it is, folks. It's part of the foundation of what Jesus comes to forgive. To fulfill. To pletil. To make full." [00:21:12] (37 seconds)


Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 27, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?