Introduction. In this text Moses reminds the people of the Law that had been given to the Israelites in Horeb (=“desert” synonym for Mt. Sinai), and the covenant relationship with Him that it spelled out. This concept of a covenant between man and God runs throughout the Bible. It is important that we understand what is involved in a covenant if we are in such a covenant with God in this age.

I. Covenants in the Old Testament.

1. The Hebrew word berith “Covenant, league; confederacy” From. Akkadian root meaning “to fetter” (Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament, eds. Merrill F. Unger &William White Jr., Thomas Nelson Pub.:Nashville. 1980. p. 82-83). Used in OT 280 times. KJV 260 times “covenant.”
1. First use is in Genesis 6:17,18 between Noah and God concerning salvation from the flood - Note: Everything is to die > God made a covenant with Noah so that he might be spared.
2. Often used of political agreements between men.
1. Abraham & Abimelech (Genesis 21:32).
2. David & Jonathan (I Samuel 18:33).
3. Sometimes confirmed by an oath in the name of the Lord (Genesis 21:23,24).
3. Kingship was based upon a “covenant” (II Samuel 5:3).
4. Marriage is a covenant. (Malachi 2:14) “wife by covenant.”
2. Most often of God’s covenants with man. Of such we see that they are...
1. Established (Genesis 6:18). “I will establish [Heb. guwm “to cause to stand, set”] My covenant with you.” Most common word for the making of a covenant is translated “made” but literally means “to cut” Heb. karath - Genesis 15:7-18
2. Declared (Deuteronomy 4:13,14) Note: what was declared was written down for them.
3. Commanded (Joshua 7:11) - “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed thingsƒ” i.e. Achan’s sin a Jericho
4. Remembered (Exodus 6:5,6). God’s covenant with Abraham.
5. Broken (Jeremiah 31:32) “My covenant which they broker though I was a Husband to them.”
   Note: God does not forget (Deuteronomy 4:31); God does not break (Leviticus 26:44) covenants because he has sworn (Deut. 4:31) and the word of God is steadfast.

II. The Law of Moses Was a Covenant.

1. “The LORD our God made (karath - “cut”) a covenant with us in Horeb” (Deuteronomy 5:3).
2. “The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers” (Deuteronomy 5:4). Note: This didn’t exist prior to Horeb (although other types of covenants did.
3. “He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.” (Deuteronomy 4:13).
4. Moses was to teach this covenant. “And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.” (Deuteronomy 4:14).
5. God promised a New a Different Covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

III. God’s Covenant in the New Testament.

1. A New Covenant is Established by the Blood of Christ. (Matthew 26:26-29)
1. Greek word for covenant diatheke can have the same sense of agreement, covenant but also the idea of “testament” or will [i.e. the terms of inheritance]. Thus OT = Old Covenant and NT= New Covenant. (Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament, by Joseph H. Thayer. Baker Book House:Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reprint of 1901 edition. p. 136).
2. The Gospel of Jesus is this New Covenant. (Hebrews 8:7-13)
1. The Jews did not “continue” in the first covenant (Hebrews 8:9).
2. Thus God “disregarded them” (Hebrews 8:9). NASB “I did not care for them” i.e. allowed the exile, etc.
3. Three points about this new covenant...
1. Law in the Heart & Mind (Heb. 8:10). Not a subjective - only in the heart standard but whole hearted. cf. John 6:45 “It is written in the prophets, ļAnd they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”
2. All shall know God (Hebrews 8:11). The very definition of what it means to be under the New Covenant is personal knowledge of the Lord through obedience to the gospel. Eg. My children aren’t Christians by birth. If they hear the Gospel (i.e. learn from the father) and Obey it they “know God.”
3. Sins will be forgiven (Hebrews 8:12). Not the kind of forgiveness that looked ahead to the death of Christ, but that which is full and accomplished in the death of Christ.
3. The New has Replaced the Old. False Teaching on this matter: For years denominational preachers have tried to appeal to the Old Covenant for everything from Preachers wearing robes, burning incence, using instruments and rejecting the necessity of baptism. Some brethren have begun to argue that the Old Covenant was renewed in the New Covenant and have sought to justify Sabbath observation and divorce and remarriage (contrary to the Law of Christ). This is false - I would commend an article “One Covenant Theology” by Frank Jamerson in Biblical Insights, March 2001.
1. Place was made for the second (Hebrews 8:7).
2. The first is obsolete (Hebrews 8:13).

Conclusion. There are elements which are a part of the nature of covenants that are true of the New Covenant. It was...

1. Established. By the shed blood of Christ. (Matthew 26:28).
2. It was declared. God has spoken to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:2).
3. It is commanded. God commands all men everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30).
4. It must be remembered. We are warned not to neglect so great a salvation. (Hebrews 2:3).
5. We must not break covenant. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10).