_Sabbath School Summary_

*The New Covenant*

_Lesson 10_

_Memory Text: Jeremiah 31:31_

*SABBATH*: Just as the two parts of the Scriptures have received the names Old & New Testament but
all communicate the same message, so is the covenant God made with men named Old & New covenant
to cover the two periods allotted for man’s redemption. The newness of the old covenant is in its
renewal. Both offer God’s grace & mercy. It’s just like putting “new” on a soap box but not changing the
soap.

*SUNDAY*: The Old & New covenant are not so different. There are several lines of continuity in both;
God is the same in both, the law is the same in both, the partners are the same (God & man), the
purpose is the same (“I will be their God, and they will be my people”). The “fault” of the old was not in
the covenant itself but in the fact that it was broken by man (Jer. 31:31-34, read Rom. 2:15; Matt. 5:17-
28).

*MONDAY*: Although the concept of a “new” covenant first occurs in Jer. 31:31, other prophets such as
Hosea predicted a new covenant 150 years before Jeremiah (Hos. 2:18-20; Jer. 31:31-34). Amid the
rebellion of man against God, from time to time He sent prophets to remind His people that He’s ready
to enter into a covenant with them when they repent (Ezek. 11:19; 18:31; 36:26, 27; Jer. 24:7).

*TUESDAY*: The promises of both the old & new covenant was for all people, even though God chose
Israel as the point of contact. All Jews & Gentiles were invited to partake in it by agreeing to it (Isa. 56:6,
7, Jer. 31:33). The “new” is called “better” because it was not based on faulty but better promises (see
Rom. 11:5, 7, 13-24, Eph. 2:12, Heb. 9:15). Christ is the mediator of the new covenant, for all believers.

*WEDNESDAY*: In details, the new covenant is better because unlike the old which was made through
animal sacrifices, the new was made through the death of Christ & His priestly/mediating service in
heaven (Heb. 8:6-8, 4:2). In both the old & new the salvation offer is the same, but the symbols/types in
the old is fulfilled in Jesus in the new (Heb. 9:8-14). He is the lamb slain for us (Heb. 7:25, 8:5, 10:1).
*THURSDAY*: The book of Hebrews provide a vivid account of the new covenant with clarity through
the priesthood of Christ (Heb. 10:4). The types & symbols of the old covenant could not save in & of
themselves but pointed to Christ. In the new, through the priestly work of Christ in heaven, we’re saved.
His blood made the sacrificial blood of animals in the covenant at Sinai “old” (Matt. 27:51, Heb. 8:1-5,
9:12).

*FRIDAY*: The new covenant was made during the Lord’s supper. The blood of Christ is the blood of the
new covenant. The blood of Christ was actually shed upon the cross the next day. By this covenant, all
the blessings of heaven was poured upon those who enter in it. Notably, the covenant offered
pardoning mercy to every sinner who repents. God is merciful as He is just (Heb. 8:12). Obey & receive
pardon.

—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 659 & God’s Amazing Grace, p. 138.

*Keyword*

_Faulty Covenant/Promise: The old covenant was faulty not in itself but with the response of the people
(Israelites) to it. They pledged to obey (“all that you’ve said we’ll do”) & broke it afterwards relieving
God from the conditions of the covenant. It was faulty because it was based on faulty promises._

*Captions*

_SUNDAY- “Behold, The Days Are Coming . . .”_

_MONDAY- Heart Work_

_TUESDAY- Old And New Covenants_

_WEDNESDAY- “A Better Covenant” (Heb. 8:6)_

_THURSDAY- The New Covenant Priest_

*Discussion Questions*
📌 What is the advantage of having the law written in the heart rather than on tablets of stone alone?
Which is easier to forget, the law written on stones or the law written in the heart?

📌 Ever since the fall of humanity, salvation has been found only through Jesus, even if the revelation of
that truth varied in different epochs of history. Do not the covenants work the same way?

📌 Look at the second Ellen G. White quote in today’s study. What does she mean by “perfect obedience”
as the requirement for a covenant relationship? Who is the only One who has rendered “perfect
obedience”? How does that obedience answer the demands of the law for us?

*Entire Lesson Summary*

The new covenant is a greater, more complete, and better revelation of the plan of redemption. We
who partake of it partake of it by faith, a faith that will manifest itself in obedience to a law written in
our hearts.

_For May 29-June 4. Happy Sabbath._

—Michael Adarkwah Agyemang

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