Are We in the New Covenant? — Already and Not Yet
- Definition: What is a Covenant?
- NEW COVENANT PROPHESIED: (Jeremiah 31:31–34)
- What Is ‘New’ About the New Covenant?
- Yeshua’s Words at the Table
- The Apostolic Witness
- The “Already / Not Yet” Pattern
- Yeshua on “Knowing the Lord”
- God’s Answer — Ephesians 1:13–14
- Visual Timeline
- Conclusion
What is a Covenant?
- An agreement with two parties.
- A promise or an oath by one or more of the parties.
- Consequences or rewards based on those promises.
Plain-language definition: A covenant is a solemn, binding agreement between parties, confirmed by promises/oaths and carrying blessings or consequences based on faithfulness to those promises.
A. NEW COVENANT FIRST PROPHESIED: (Jeremiah 31:31–34)
“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 that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 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 (Torah) 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.”
— Jeremiah 31:31–34
Key observations: Israel broke the covenant; the Lord was their husband; the New Covenant promises the same divine Torah written on hearts, full forgiveness, and (in the future) universal knowledge of God—so that “know the Lord” no longer needs to be taught.
Better Promises — Not a Better Law
“But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.”
— Hebrews 8:6
“For he finds fault with them when he says, ‘Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…’”
— Hebrews 8:8
The text places the fault on them (the people), not on God’s law. The New Covenant does not introduce a new law; it applies the same Torah internally—on the heart—while adding better promises (Spirit-empowered obedience, intimate knowledge of God, full forgiveness).
WHY IS THERE NEED FOR NEW COVENANT: God Divorced the House of Israel due to Breaking (continually) his Covenant
Divorce = “They were Lost, God was no longer their savior, or God. They were not “saved” any longer, nor associated with God or his people.
- 10 of the 12 tribes (House of Israel (HOI)) were cast into Assyria and to the rest of the world = the “Dispertion”
- 2 of the 12 tribes (House of Judah) (HOJ)) were not divorced but cast into Babylon for 70 Years as punishment.
“She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce…”
— Jeremiah 3:8
The House of Israel (the ten northern tribes) was divorced and dispersed; the New Covenant is God’s promise to renew covenant (They were lost and Yeshua came to get them back (Deuteronomy 18:15-20)) with the House of Israel (Matthew 15:24) and the House of Judah by writing His Torah on their hearts (Jer 31:33).
What Is New About the New Covenant?
- Israel broke the covenant. (cf. Jeremiah 31:32)
- God was their husband, but is no more.
“She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce…”
— Jeremiah 3:8
- God renews the covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah by putting His Torah (law) within them once again.
- We will know God. The covenant ensures intimate knowledge of Him.
- We will no longer have to teach each other the Word — this remains a future fulfillment.
The Hebrew word for “law” in Jeremiah 31:33 is Torah (תּוֹרָה) — God’s instruction/teaching. The promise is not a different law, but the same Torah internalized by the Spirit: “I will put my law (Torah) within them, and I will write it on their hearts.”
“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
— Ezekiel 11:19–20
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
— Ezekiel 36:26–27
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
— 1 John 5:1–3
Summary: The New Covenant is “new” because God writes His Torah on hearts by His Spirit—renewing relationship, restoring obedience, and promising a future when all will know Him. The House of Israel (ten tribes), divorced and dispersed (Jer 3:8), is renewed back into covenant along with Judah under this promise.
B. Yeshua’s Words at the Table
Yeshua inaugurated the New Covenant by His blood.
“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
— Luke 22:20
“For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
— Matthew 26:28–29
C. The Apostolic Witness
The apostles testify that Messiah mediates a better covenant with better promises and that the Spirit writes on human hearts.
“Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises… I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts…”
— Hebrews 8:6, 10
“You show that you are a letter from Christ… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts… who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant… of the Spirit.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:3, 6
“You have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge… his anointing teaches you about everything…”
— 1 John 2:20, 27
D. The “Already / Not Yet” Pattern
Biblically, covenants unfold in stages: initiation → continuation → consummation. We are already beneficiaries of Messiah’s sacrifice and the Spirit, yet we await the day when “all shall know the Lord” without needing teachers. 
E. Yeshua on “Knowing the Lord”
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
— John 14:26
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…”
— John 16:13
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
— John 17:3
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
— Matthew 28:19–20
This shows we are in the process stage—Spirit-empowered learning continues until consummation.
F. God’s Answer — Ephesians 1:13–14 (“Until We Acquire Possession of It”)
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
— Ephesians 1:13–14
The Spirit is God’s seal and arrabōn (down payment). We truly belong to Him now (“already”), while we await the full inheritance (“not yet”): resurrection life, complete restoration, and universal knowledge of God.
“We ourselves… groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
— Romans 8:23
“An inheritance that is imperishable… kept in heaven for you… for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
— 1 Peter 1:4–5
G. Visual Timeline (Optional Image)
- Old Covenant: Torah written on stone; Israel pledged obedience but broke covenant.
- New Covenant Inaugurated: Yeshua’s blood; Spirit seals; Torah written on hearts (Luke 22:20; Eph 1:13).
- New Covenant Consummated: Full inheritance, resurrection, and “all shall know the LORD” (Jer 31:34).
H. Conclusion
Yes — we are in the New Covenant now: inaugurated by Yeshua’s blood and sealed by the Spirit. Not yet — we await its fullness: resurrection, universal knowledge of God, and complete restoration of His people. The New Covenant is both present reality and future hope.