Who is Included in the "New Covenant"?

 Contributed by a brother who understands and appreciates the New Covenant.

 

The issue of the New Covenant, and who's included, has been examined many times that I have seen. However, a brother that I've come to know has a saying that keeps me grounded... "The truth is simple, it only becomes complicated when we deviate from it". Back while Jesus was on earth, we know how religious leaders were in charge of teaching the Jews the law. However, we also have come to understand that Jesus condemned them for corrupting that law, by adding to it abundantly. (Matthew 15:1-6)

To better understand the New Covenant, we should review the Abrahamic Covenant, and the subsequent Law Covenant Jehovah had made with the nation of Israel:

I shall surely bless you and I shall surely multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore; and your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemies. And by means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves due to the fact that you have listened to my voice." (Genesis 22:17, 18)

It is good to remember that up to this point Jehovah's cryptic promise about the "seed" that was to crush the head of the serpent has not yet been expanded upon. (Gen. 3:15) Now, Jehovah, "the One telling from the beginning the finale", has stated that this promised seed will come through Abraham's lineage. This promised seed will "take possession of the gate of his enemies" and, the most important point of all: all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves because of this seed. Additionally, Jehovah promised to multiply Abraham's seed "like the stars of the heavens and like the grains of sand that are on the seashore".

Of course, Abraham's seed multiplied greatly, through his grandson, Jacob, who had 12 sons. Jacob's name was later changed to Israel, hence we have the 12 tribes of Israel. Under Joseph, this Abrahamic family was protected, and grew exponentially over the course of 400 years. (Genesis 15:13)

After their miraculous escape from Pharaoh's army by Jehovah's hand, Jehovah made a covenant with the nation of Israel:

"And now if YOU will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then YOU will certainly become my special property out of all [other] peoples, because the whole earth belongs to me. And YOU yourselves will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the sons of Israel." (Exodus 19:5, 6)

However, if we were to stop right here, one would ask: "Didn't Jehovah promised that all nations will bless themselves by means of this seed?" Yes, he did, which brings us to an important point. Jehovah has always intended on turning his attention to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. It was not predicated on whether or not the Jews were faithful.

“Look! There are days coming,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; not one like the covenant that I concluded with their forefathers in the day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, ‘which covenant of mine they themselves broke, although I myself had husbandly ownership of them,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.” “For this is the covenant that I shall conclude with the house of Israel after those days,” is the utterance of Jehovah. “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I shall write it. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people.” “And they will no more teach each one his companion and each one his brother, saying, ‘KNOW Jehovah!’ for they will all of them know me, from the least one of them even to the greatest one of them,” is the utterance of Jehovah. “For I shall forgive their error, and their sin I shall remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Notice the reason why Jehovah instituted this New Covenant. True, Jehovah did mention that the Israelites did break the first covenant, but that was not the reason why he is concluding a new one. This new one, as Jehovah says, will allow permanent forgiveness of their sins. Remember, the original covenant had two very big limitations:

(1) It only applied to the natural Jews, but Jehovah's original promise to Abraham regarding his seed would benefit ALL mankind.

(2) As the Apostle Paul noted, the old Law Covenant, with the sacrifices that were offered through the Levite priesthood, does not allow for complete forgiveness of sins, but instead pointed out the need for Christ's perfect sacrifice:

"For since the Law has a shadow of the good things to come, but not the very substance of the things, [men] can never with the same sacrifices from year to year which they offer continually make those who approach perfect. Otherwise, would the [sacrifices] not have stopped being offered, because those rendering sacred service who had been cleansed once for all time would have no consciousness of sins anymore? To the contrary, by these sacrifices there is a reminding of sins from year to year, for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take sins away." (Hebrews 10:1-4)

So this New Covenant was not instituted for the sole benefit of the 144,000 chosen to rule with Christ, but rather, it is what allows all faithful mankind to have their sins permanently forgiven, and declared righteous by means of their faith. (Galatians 3:7-9)

In Hebrews chapter 9, Paul compared the two covenants. Here are a few excerpts, showing the superiority and subsequent need for the New Covenant:

"However, when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come to pass, through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, he entered, no, not with the blood of goats and of young bulls, but with his own blood, once for all time into the holy place and obtained an everlasting deliverance [for us]. For if the blood of goats and of bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who have been defiled sanctifies to the extent of cleanness of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Christ, who through an everlasting spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works that we may render sacred service to [the] living God?" (Hebrews 9:11-14)

We further read:

"So that is why he is a mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because a death has occurred for [their] release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant, the ones who have been called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance. For where there is a covenant, the death of the [human] covenanter needs to be furnished. For a covenant is valid over dead [victims], since it is not in force at any time while the [human] covenanter is living. Consequently neither was the former [covenant] inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment according to the Law had been spoken by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of the young bulls and of the goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled the book itself and all the people, saying: “This is the blood of the covenant that God has laid as a charge upon YOU.” And he sprinkled the tent and all the vessels of the public service likewise with the blood. Yes, nearly all things are cleansed with blood according to the Law, and unless blood is poured out no forgiveness takes place." (Hebrews 8:15-22)

As we can see, the purpose of the New Covenant, is the redemption of all mankind, be it Jew or Gentile, anointed or non-anointed. The Old Covenant Jehovah had made with nation of Israel served its purpose, by leading them to Christ. (Galatians 3:24)

Under this New Covenant, faithful mankind's sins are forgiven permanently, something that was not possible until Jesus' death as Paul mentioned. Through Jehovah's mercy and love for the entire human race, he has opened a way out of the turmoil that Adam placed his offspring in due to his disobedience. (John 3:16; Romans 5:12)

As Paul stated, under this New Covenant validated by Jesus' perfect blood, all faithful Christians are finally able to worship Jehovah with a clean conscience. Furthermore, as you can see, there is no mention of these provisions being exclusive to the anointed ones.

One final point to ponder. Is it possible to be a "beneficiary" of a covenant you are not part of? "Covenant" literally means "agreement". We have many such types in this world. So ask yourself: "Is it possible to receive benefits of an agreement that I'm not a part of"? Doesn't make sense, does it? The whole "beneficiaries but not part of the New Covenant" for those with the earthly hope is totally without scriptural merit.

It is also interesting to note that Jehovah had made a separate covenant with the priesthood during the time the original Law Covenant was still in effect. This included the construction, transportation, and maintenance of the Tabernacle:

"Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying: “On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, you are to set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. And you must place the ark of the testimony in it and shut off approach to the Ark with the curtain. And you must bring the table in and set its arrangement in order, and you must bring in the lampstand and light up its lamps. And you must put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony and put the screen of the entrance for the tabernacle in place.

“And you must put the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and you must put the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. And you must place the courtyard round about and put up the screen of the gate of the courtyard. And you must take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and you must sanctify it and all its utensils, and so it must become something holy. And you must anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils and sanctify the altar, and so it must become a most holy altar. And you must anoint the basin and its stand and sanctify it.

“Then you must bring Aaron and his sons near to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. And you must clothe Aaron with the holy garments and anoint him and sanctify him, and so he must act as priest to me. After that you will bring his sons near and you must clothe them with robes. And you must anoint them just as you anointed their father, and so they must act as priests to me, and their anointing must serve continually for them as a priesthood to time indefinite during their generations.” (Exodus 40:1-15)

Paul points out that the tabernacle was an illustration of something far grander:

"This very [tent] is an illustration for the appointed time that is now here, and in keeping with it both gifts and sacrifices are offered ... However, when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come to pass, through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation." (Hebrews 9:9a, 11)

That "perfect tent" was heaven, which the inside of the holy and most holy compartments represented. As Aaron foreshadowed, the greater High Priest, Jesus, presented his own perfect blood as the perfect sacrifice before Jehovah, much like the High Priest would offer sin offering on behalf of the people before the Ark of Covenant where a cloud was present, representing Jehovah's presence. (Hebrews 9:24-26; Leviticus 16:2, 14)

The 144,000, like the Aaronic priesthood foreshadowed before it, will also be able to enter in the "perfect tent (or tabernacle)", namely, heaven. (Hebrews 10:19, 20)

But like the original Law Covenant, the covenant with the priesthood was a separate covenant that was made possible by the Law Covenant Jehovah made with the entire nation of Israel. Likewise, the New Covenant that has since replaced the old Law Covenant includes ALL faithful Christians, who are referred to as sons of Abraham, his seed, and the sons of Israel. (Gal. 3:7,29; Revelation 7:4)

Much like Jehovah did with Aaron and his sons, who became the priesthood, Jesus made a separate covenant with certain members of the "sons of Israel". These members will make up the "royal priesthood' Aaron's priestly lineage foreshadowed. (1 Peter 2:9)

However, the point is that Jehovah's covenant with the priesthood did not supplant or otherwise invalidate the covenant Jehovah had made with the entire nation of Israel at that time. Likewise, the covenant for a Kingdom Jesus had made with his anointed followers, will not supplant or restrict the covenant Jesus instituted on behalf of all faithful mankind. This is evident because those with the earthly hope seen in Revelation, the Great Crowd, have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Jesus states that his blood represents the New Covenant:

"This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf." (Luke 22:20)

By Jesus' own words, it would be impossible for someone to be cleansed by means of his blood if he or she is not part of the New Covenant. If you are to believe that the anointed are exclusively included in the New Covenant, then you must also acknowledge that those who are not anointed to rule with Christ are condemned to death. There is no mention by Jesus or any of his apostles that there will be those who benefit from the New Covenant without actually being part of it.  It is quite evident that the "New Covenant" validated by his blood and the "Covenant for a Kingdom" are two separate covenants:

"Also, he took a loaf, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: “This means my body which is to be given in YOUR behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Also, the cup in the same way after they had the evening meal, he saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in YOUR behalf." (Luke 22:19, 20)

Jesus makes plain what the New Covenant's purpose is, to redeem faithful mankind by buying back what Adam lost. Consider what Jesus said about the Covenant for a Kingdom:

"However, YOU are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with YOU, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that YOU may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:28-30)

Notice that Jesus here is not referring to the forgiveness of sins, nor is he using the emblems. Nor does he state that this covenant was validated with his blood. In fact, he states that he is making a covenant with them for a kingdom much like his Father has done with him. This is a totally different covenant than the one discussed earlier where Jesus will give his blood and body in the behalf of many.