On January 1 we think of new beginnings. We think “out with the old, in with the new”. This is how God thought when it came to his plan of redemption. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, the LORD promised that he would make a new covenant that was not like the old covenant.

In the old covenant the law was external, written on tablets of stone (Deut. 9:9); in the new covenant the law would be internal, written on our hearts (31:33).

In the new covenant, the LORD promised the house of Israel and the house of Judah that he would be their God and that they would be His people. He promised that they would know him. He promised to forgive their iniquity and to remember their sin no more.

The LORD delivered on this promise at the crucifixion (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25). God gave his son, Jesus, as the mediator of the new covenant (Heb. 9:15, 12:24). The new covenant was inaugurated by Jesus shedding his blood on the cross.

The old covenant was a covenant of death and condemnation but the new covenant is a covenant of life and righteousness (2 Cor. 3:6-9).

So far, all of this means good news for the house of Israel and the house of Judah but not for Gentiles. But, Paul records in Eph. 2:11-3:12 the mystery of Christ that was revealed to him: “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (Eph. 3:6). That’s right, Gentiles are no longer strangers to the covenants of promise made to the Jews!

The new covenant applies to all, both Jew and Gentile, both male and female, both rich and poor (Gal. 3:26-29)!

Yes, out with the old, in with the new!