7. New Covenant with the Holy Spirit- Jeremiah 31:31-34/Ezekiel 36:25-29/Luke 22:14-20/Hebrews 9:11-22/Hebrews 10:12-18/Romans 8:1-30/2 Corinthians 3

 JEREMIAH 31:31-34- BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, DECLARES THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, NOT LIKE THE COVENANT THAT I WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO BRING THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, MY COVENANT THAT THEY BROKE, THOUGH I WAS THEIR HUSBAND, DECLARES THE LORD.  FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, AND I WILL WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS.  AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.  AND NO LONGER WHALL EACH ONE TEACH THEIR NEIGHBOR AND EACH THEIR BROTHER OR SISTER, SAYING, KNOW THE LORD, FOR THEY SHALL ALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST, DECLARES THE LORD.  FOR I WILL FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO MORE. 

 

EZEKIEL 36:25-29- I WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE CLEAN FROM ALL YOUR UNCLEANNESS, AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS I WILL CLEANSE YOU.  AND I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT I WILL PUT WITHIN YOU.  AND I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE FROM YOUR FLESH AND GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH.  AND I WIL PUT MY HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES AND BE CAREFUL TO OBEY MY RULES.  YOU SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND THAT I GAVE YOUR FATHERS, AND YOU SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD.  AND I WILL DELIVER YOU FROM ALL YOUR UNCLEANNESS. 

 

LUKE 22:14-20- AND WHEN THE HOUR CAME, HE RECLINED AT TABLE, AND THE APOSTLES WITH HIM.  AND HE SAID TO THEM, I HAVE EARNESTLY DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER.  FOR I TELL YOU I WILL NOT EAT IT UNTIL IT IS FULFILLED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  AND HE TOOK A CUP, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE SAID, TAKE THIS, AND DIVIDE IT AMONG YOURSELVES.  FOR I TELL YOU THAT FROM NOW ON I WILL NOT DRINK OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE UNTIL THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES.  AND HE TOOK BREAD, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT  AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING THIS IS THE BODY, WHICH IS GIVEN TO YOU.  DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.  AND LIKEWISE THE CUP AFTER THEY HAD EATEN, SAYING, THIS CUP THAT IS POURED OUT FOR YOU IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD. 

 

HEBREWS 9:11-22- BUT WHEN CHRIST APPEARED AS A HIGH PRIEST OF GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE COME, THEN THROUGH THE GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TENT (NOT MADE WITH HANDS, THAT IS, NOT OF THIS CREATION) HE ENTERED ONCE AND FOR ALL INTO THE HOLY PLACES, NOT BE MEANS OF THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES BUT BY MEANS OF HIS OWN BLOOD, THUS SECURING AN ETERNAL REDEMPTION.  FOR IF THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND BULLS, AND THE SPRINKLING OF DEFILED PERSONS WITH WITH THE ASHES OF A HEIFER, SANCTIFY FOR THE PURIFICATION OF THE FLESH, HOW MUCH MORE WILL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT BLEMISH TO GOD, PURIFYING OUR CONSCIENCE FROM DEAD WORKS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD.  THEREFORE HE IS THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT, SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE CALLED MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISED ETERNAL INHERITANCE, SINCE A DEATH HAS OCCURRED THAT REDEEMS THEM FROM THE TRANSGRESSIONS COMMITTED UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT.  FOR WHERE A WILL IS INVOLVED, THE DEATH OF THE ONE WHO MADE IT MUST BE ESTABLISHED.  FOR A WILL TAKES EFFECT ONLY AT DEATH, SINCE IT IS NOT IN FORCE AS LONG AS THE ONE WHO MADE IT IS ALIVE.  THEREFORE NOT EVEN THE FIRST COVENANT WAS INAUGURATED WITHOUT BLOOD.  FOR WHEN EVERY COMMANDMENT OF THE LAW HAD BEEN DECLARED BY MOSES TO ALL THE PEOPLE, HE TOOK THE BLOOD OF CALVES AND GOATS, WITH WATER AND SCARLET WOOL AND HYSSOP, AND SPRINKLED BOTH THE BOOK ITSELF AND ALL THE PEOPLE, SAYING, THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT THAT GOD COMMANDED YOU.  AND IN THE SAME WAYHE SPRINKLED WITH THE BLOOD BOTH THE TENT AND ALL THE VESSELS USED IN WORSHIP.  INDEED, UNDER THE LAW ALMOST EVERYTHING IS PURIFIED WITH BLOOD, AND WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS OF SINS.  

 

HEBREWS 10:12-18- BUT WHEN CHRIST HAD OFFERED FOR ALL TIME A SINGLE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, WAITING FROM THAT TIME UNTIL HIS ENEMIES SHOULD BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.  FOR BY A SINGLE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOR ALL TIME THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED.  AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ALSO BEARS WITNESS TO US; FOR AFTER SAYING, THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS ON THEIR HEARTS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR MINDS, THEN HE ADDS, I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS NO MORE.  WHERE THERE IS FORGIVENESS OF THESE, THERE IS NO LONGER ANY OFFERING FOR SIN. 

 

ROMANS 8:1-30- THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.  FOR THE LAW OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE IN CHRIST JESUS FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.  FOR GOD HAS DONE WHAT THE LAW, WEAKENED BY THE FLESH, COULD NOT DO.  BY SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH AND FOR SIN, HE CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH, IN ORDER THAT THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT ACCORDING TO THE FLESH BUT ACCORDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.  FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH SET THERE MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH, BUT THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT SET THEIR MINDS ON THINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  FOR TO SET THE MIND ON THE FLESH IS DEATH, BUT TO SET THE MIND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE.  FOR THE MIND THAT IS SET ON THE FLESH IS HOSTILE TO GOD, FOR IT DOES NOT SUBMIT TO GOD’S LAW; INDEED, IT CANNOT.  THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.  YOU, HOWEVER, ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, IF IN FACT THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU.  ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF CHRIST DOES NOT BELONG TO HIM.  BUT IF CHRIST IS IN YOU, ALTHOUGH THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.  IF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF HIM WHO RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO GIVE LIFE TO YOUR MORTAL BODIES THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN YOU.  SO THEN, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE ARE DEBTORS, NOT TO THE FLESH, TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.  FOR IF YOU LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH YOU WILL DIE, BUT IF BY THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, YOU WILL LIVE.  FOR ALL WHO ARE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD ARE SONS OF GOD.  FOR YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE. SPIRIT OF SLAVERY TO FALL BACK INTO FEAR, BUT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT OF ADOPTIONS AS SONS, BY WHOM WE CRY, ABBA FATHER!  THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS- HEIRS OF GOD AND FELLOW HEIRS WITH CHRIST, PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM IN ORDER THAT WE MAY ALSO BE GLORIFIED WITH HIM.  FOR I CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT WORTH COMPARING WITH THE GLORY THAT IS REVEALED TO US.  FOR THE CREATION WAITS WITH EAGER LONGING FOR THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD.  FOR THE CREATION WAS SUBJECTED TO FUTILITY, NOT WILLINGLY, BUT BECAUSE OF HIM WHO SUBJECTED IT, IN HOPE THAT THE CREATION ITSELF WILL BE SET FREE FROM ITS BONDAGE TO CORRUPTION AND OBTAIN THE FREEDOM OF THE GLORY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD.  FOR WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CREATION HAS BEEN GROANING TOGETHER IN THE PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH UNTIL NOW.  AND NOT ONLY THE CREATION, BUT WE OURSELVES, WHO HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GROAN INWARDLY AS WE WAIT EAGERLY FOR ADOPTION AS SONS, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODIES.  FOR IN THIS HOPE WE WERE SAVED.  NOW HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE.  FOR WHO HOPES FOR WHAT THEY SEE?  BUT IF WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE DO NOT SEE, WE WAIT FOR IT WITH PATIENCE.  LIKEWISE THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS.  FOR WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT HIMSELF INTERCEDES FOR US WITH GROANINGS TOO DEEP FOR WORDS.  AND HE WHO SEARCHES HEARTS KNOWS WHAT IS THE MIND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT INTERCEDES FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.  AND WE KNOW THAT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.  FOR THOSE WHOM HE FOREKNEW HE ALSO PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.  AND THOSE WHOM HE PREDESTINED HE ALSO CALEED , AND THOSE WHOM HE CALLED HE ALSO JUSTIFIED, AND THOSE HE JUSTIFIED HE ALSO GLORIFIED. 

 

2 CORINTHIANS 3- ARE WE BEGINNING TO COMMEND OURSELVES AGAIN?  OR DO WE NEED, AS SOME DO, LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, OR FROM YOU?  YOU YOURSELVES ARE OUR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION, WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS, TO BE KNOWN AND READ BY ALL.  AND YOU SHOW THAT YOU ARE A LETTER FROM CHRIST DELIVERED BY US, WRITTEN NOT WITH INK BUT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD, NOT ON TABLETS OF STONE BUT ON TABLETS OF HUMAN HEARTS.  SUCH IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE THROUGH CHRIST TOWARD GOD.  NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT IN OURSELVES TO CLAIM ANYTHING AS COMING FROM US, BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD, WHO HAS MADE US SUFFICIENT TO BE MINISTERS OF A NEW COVENANT, NOT OF THE LETTER BUT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  FOR THE LETTER KILLS, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES LIFE.  NOW IF THE MINISTRY OF DEATH, CARVED IN LETTERS ON STONE, CAME WITH SUCH GLORY THAT THE ISRAELITES COULD NOT GAZE AT MOSES’ FACE BECAUSE OF ITS GLORY, WHICH WAS BROUGHT TO AN END, WILL NOT THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE EVEN MORE GLORY?  FOR IF THERE WAS GLORY IN THE MINISTRY OF CONDEMNATION, THE MINISTRY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST FAR EXCEED IT IN GLORY.  INDEED, IN THIS CASE, WHAT ONCE HAD GLORY HAS COME TO HAVE NO GLORY AT ALL, BECAUSE OF THE GLORY THAT SURPASSES IT.  FOR IF WHAT WAS BEING BROUGHT TO AN END CAME WITH GLORY, MUCH MORE WILL WHAT IS PERMANENT HAVE GLORY.  SINCE WE HAVE SUCH A HOPE, WE ARE VERY BOLD, NOT LIKE MOSES, WHO WOULD PUT A VEIL OVER HIS FACE SO THE ISRAELITES MIGHT NOT GAZE AT THE OUTCOME OF WHAT WAS BEING BROUGHT TO AN END.  BUT THEIR MINDS WERE HARDENED.  FOR TO THIS DAY, WHEN THEY READ THE OLD COVENANT, THAT SAME VEIL REMAINS UNLIFTED, BECAUSE ONLY THROUGH CHRIST IS IT TAKEN AWAY.  YES, TO THIS DAY WHENEVER MOSES IS READ A VEIL LIES OVER THEIR HEARTS.  NOW THE LORD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS, THERE IS FREEDOM, AND WE ALL, WITH UNVEILED FACE, BEHOLDING THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM ONE DEGREE OF GLORY TO ANOTHER.  FOR THIS COMES FROM THE LORD WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.