Jeremiah 31

August 22

Jeremiah 31

"“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33, NIV)

The old covenant was the Law. Israel broke that covenant over and over again. They had sinful hearts and just could not walk in obedience to God. But God had a plan. He had a plan to restore Israel, but not only Israel; God had a plan to restore the world. He had a plan for a new covenant a covenant of love.

 God so love the world that He sent His Son to die for the forgiveness of our sin. Jesus said when he took the cup at the Last Supper, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, NIV)  The new covenant was ratified by the sacrificial death of Jesus. All who come to Him, those who believe in His name, those who seek forgiveness of sin will enter eternal life with Him.

Jesus told his disciples in John’s Gospel chapters 14-16 that He would send the Holy Spirit after His death and resurrection. He said the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth and would make known all that is of Jesus. The Holy Spirit did come. He came and He continues to fill believers with himself. God’s law is in our minds and written on our hearts. The Holy Spirit convicts us, teaches us, and leads us to live lives of righteousness in obedience to the new covenant given to us by God.

All who receive Jesus, Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free become the people of God. We live by this new covenant spoken of by Jeremiah, ratified by Jesus, fulfilled by the Holy Spirit. God reached out to us so that we could become His people.