The ‘Special Truth’ About the New Covenant
index
1. The Meaning of the ‘New Covenant’ and Bible Prophecy
2. Jesus Christ Established the New Covenant
3. Which Church Practices the New Covenant?
The Meaning of the ‘New Covenant’ and Bible Prophecy
The New Covenant (Hebrew: בְּרִ֥ית חֲדָשָֽׁה, Greek: διαθήκη καινή) refers to the New Covenant established with Jesus’ blood. The term New Covenant was first mentioned in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah and appears in the New Testament book of Luke, 1 and 2 Corinthians and also frequently appears in the book of Hebrews.
The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah ··· This is the covenant I will make ··· I will put my law in their minds ··· I will be their God, and they will be my people ··· For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
(Jeremiah 31:31-34)
In the Old Testament 『Jeremiah』, which is estimated to have been recorded between 620 BC and 580 BC, it is prophesied that the day will come when God will appear in Israel and make a ‘New Covenant’ with the people.
A covenant is a promise made by agreement between two parties. The types of covenants that appear in the Old Testament times were, the covenant of friendship which is between people (1 Samuel 18:3-4), a covenant made to maintain mutual peace and safety (Genesis 31:50-52), a covenant between a strong kingdom and a weak kingdom (Ezekiel 17:13-14), and a covenant between the priest and the guards (2 Kings 11:4). There was also a covenant made between God and His people. This covenant was established by God with the blood of an animal’s sacrifice and it was established for the salvation of God’s people (Deuteronomy 7:6-8, Exodus 24:6-8, Hebrews 9:18-19). This covenant established with the blood of animals is called the ‘First Covenant’ or the ‘Old Covenant’ (Hebrews 9:1, 13, 18-20).
In the Old Testament, blessings were given to the people who kept the Old Covenant made with God, and curses and punishment followed the people who did not keep it (2 Kings 18:9-10, 12, Jeremiah 44:22-23).
God said that He will establish the New Covenant just like the Old Covenant. God said that only those who are in the New Covenant can qualify as God’s people and receive the grace of the forgiveness of sins. The New Covenant is an important covenant that determines a person’s salvation.
Then, what exactly is the New Covenant and who established it?
Jesus Christ Established the New Covenant
The One who established the New Covenant that God promised to establish in the Old Testament times, is Jesus Christ. The Bible explains that Jesus is God who came in the flesh to save all humankind (John 1:1-3, 14).
When the hour came, ··· he said to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer (crucifixion). ··· And he took bread ··· This is my body given for you··· This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
(Luke 22:14-20)
Jesus had the Last Supper with His twelve disciples the day before His death on the cross. The biblical name of the Last Supper, widely known through the works of many artists, is the ’Passover.’ Jesus eagerly waited for the Passover time to come, and when the time came, He gave the Passover wine to His disciples, saying, “This is the new covenant in my blood.” About 600 years ago, the Bible prophecy, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel” was fulfilled (Jeremiah 31:31).
The shedding of blood was also necessary for the New Covenant, the new contract that Jesus made with humankind. Just as the Old Covenant, required the blood of animals, the New Covenant required the sacrificial blood of Christ. That is, for the New Covenant to come into effect, Christ had to die. So, when proclaiming the New Covenant, Jesus announced His death in advance by saying that the Passover bread is “My flesh” to be torn by suffering on the cross, and the Passover wine is “My blood” that will be shed by suffering on the cross. Jesus Christ sealed the merit of atonement through the New Covenant at the Passover ceremony.
The New Testament revealed the fact that the core truth of the New Covenant is the Passover (Matthew 26:19, 28, Mark 14:16, 24, Luke 22:13, 20). The Gospels of Matthew and John explain that we can receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life by participating in the New Covenant Passover established through the sacrifice of Jesus’ flesh and blood (Matthew 26:17-19, 26-28, John 6:51-55). Paul who was called to be an apostle after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, also mentioned the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and recorded that the New Covenant Passover must be kept until the end of the world (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.
(Galatians 3:15)
Apostle Paul counter-questions about how can the Eternal Covenant established with the blood of Christ be broken, since even a covenant made between people cannot be nullified or changed (Hebrews 13:20, 10:29).
Which Church Practices the New Covenant?
There is a church in this day and age that remembers and keeps the New Covenant Passover like the apostles of the Early Church such as Paul, Peter, John, and Matthew. It is the World Mission Society Church of God. In March 2022, Woman Donga magazine, reported, “At present it is only the Church of God that practices the New Covenant Passover according to the Bible.” In March 2021, The JoongAng Daily Newspaper also published a story that said “It is only the Church of God that keeps the restored New Covenant Passover which has not been kept for over 1,600 years.” In addition, various media outlets such as Gyeonggi Newspaper, Incheon Ilbo, Gyeongin Ilbo, and Segye Ilbo reported, “Not only in Korea, but also in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Japan, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Cambodia, etc. the Passover Assembly was held at the same time at the Churches of God throughout the whole world.” And “The only place in the whole world that keeps the New Covenant according to the Bible is, the Church of God.”
CBS 12, an American media company, said that Church of God spreads the awareness of the Passover through blood donation, and a media company such as South Africa’s Bloemfontein Courant reported that the Church of God carries out a blood donation campaign “Through the Passover Love” every year to save lives
The New Covenant Passover is a covenant established with the blood of Christ’s sacrifice and is recorded in the four Gospels of the New Testament. However, the reason why many Christians do not know about this is because the New Covenant Passover disappeared from the world for about 1,600 years, after it was abolished at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The One who restored the New Covenant Passover was Christ Ahnsahnghong, who established the Church of God. The Bible testifies that the One who restored the New Covenant Passover, which had not been kept for a long time, is the Savior and God (Isaiah 25:6-9).
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. ···
(John 14:23)
These were the words Jesus spoke to Christians. He said those who love Him must obey His teaching. The day before His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus said, “I have eagerly desired to keep the Passover” while sharing the Last Supper with His disciples (Luke 22:15). A person who obeys His teaching or a person who does not, among these two people, which person loves Jesus? Whoever reads this will know the answer to this question.
<References>
- ‘World Mission Society Church of God, “The New Covenant Passover Is the Light of Hope That Shines the Light of Life.”’, Woman Donga, March 18, 2022
- ‘While Keeping the ‘New Covenant Passover, the Church of God Pray for the Peace and Happiness of the Global Village.’, Kyeonggi News, April 17, 2022
- ‘The Passover is the Emergency Exit from Disaster,’ Weekly Donga, March 13, 2018
- World Mission Society Church of God Celebrate ‘Assembly of the Passover’ in 175 Countries, Segye Daily News, April 13, 2017
- ‘Church of God Hold the Assembly of the Passover on the 30th,’ March 26, 2018
- ‘Life blossoms through small actions,’ Bloemfontein Courant, May 3, 2018
- ‘North Brunswick church takes part in mega blood drive,’ Central Jersey, April 24, 2018
- ‘Lake Worth Church Takes Part in Mega Blood Drive,’ CBS12, April 16, 2018
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