Pioneers in the New Covenant

The New Testament plainly teaches in many places that the new covenant of Jeremiah 31 is fulfilled in Christ. Yet, it is obvious that Jesus has not yet fulfilled every facet of this passage. For instance, none of us is perfectly conformed to the law of God in this life. We also know that there are plenty who are counted among God’s new covenant people who have never received saving grace. The New Testament teaches us to call each other to know the Lord and to pray for the forgiveness of our sins day after day.

How can this be true if Jesus fulfills Jeremiah’s prophecy? The New Testament explains that Jesus fulfills the expectations of a new covenant in the three stages of His messianic kingdom.

First, the inauguration of the new covenant came with Christ’s first advent. In this stage of history, Christ fulfilled many—but not all—of the expectations of the new covenant. In His own service to God, Christ fulfilled the requirements of the moral law and paid the penalty for our disobedience by dying on the cross. As a result, everyone who trusts in Christ for salvation is justified and eternally forgiven of sin in the judgment of God’s heavenly court. This is the wondrous truth that Jesus emphasized when He said to His disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20).

Second, what we may call the continuation of the new covenant age extends throughout church history as Christ rules from heaven until all of His enemies are put under His feet. During this time, many more—but still not all—of the expectations of the new covenant are fulfilled as the gospel spreads around the world. In Hebrews 9:15, we read that “Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.” As the One who rose to the right hand of the Father, Jesus serves as the mediator of the new covenant. As our new covenant mediator, Jesus ensures that His followers have access to the Father and that we receive His sustaining grace.

Finally, the new covenant age will reach its consummation in Christ’s kingdom at His second advent. At this time, every promise associated with the new covenant will be fulfilled. All of God’s people throughout the ages will be perfected in faithful service to God. And more than this, we will see the results of our eternal forgiveness in Christ, the “new heavens and earth” (Rev. 21:1) when God will make “everything new” (21:5).

It is no wonder, then, that Christ’s followers love to speak of the new covenant. From the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, God’s people have enjoyed many blessings as a result of this new covenant. And we live every day of our lives with the eager expectation that when Christ returns in glory, we will enjoy the fullness of this new covenant forever.

Richard L. Pratt Jr., “Out with the Old and in with the New,” Tabletalk Magazine, May 2014: What’s so New about the New Covenant? (Sanford, FL: Ligonier Ministries, Inc., 2014), 14–15.