The Christian World Has Violated the New Covenant
The New Covenant is a covenant made by the Father in heaven with believers (the Church) through the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the New Covenant was primarily intended for the Jewish people (Jeremiah 31:31), but it was later brought to the Gentiles through the ministry of the apostle Paul.
The content of the New Covenant is written in Hebrews 8:10–12. The essence of the New Covenant is inward in nature, because the Law (in the Old Testament) is written into the minds and hearts of believers. The writing of the Law into the inner being of believers results in at least three things. First, the Father in heaven becomes the Elohim of believers. Second, believers know God inwardly. Third, God shows mercy and no longer remembers the sins of believers.
The writing of the Law into the inner being of believers places believers no longer under the Law, but under the Law of the Spirit. II Corinthians 3:6 affirms, “…a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Therefore, the Law cannot be applied directly to believers, but must be “written” into their inner being by the Holy Spirit. A good example of this writing of the Law into the inner being of believers is shown by Jesus when He was asked His opinion regarding the law of stoning by the scribes and the Pharisees (John 8:1–11). Jesus wrote on the ground as a symbol of writing the law of stoning into the “soil” of the hearts of believers. The result of this writing, or the interpretation of the law of stoning for believers, is: “Let the one who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus then continued with the principles of forgiveness and repentance, so that the one who had sinned would sin no more. Likewise, the laws of firstfruits and tithing cannot be applied directly to believers, because in the Old Testament the firstfruits and tithes point to God’s chosen people in the New Testament.
Why has the Christian world violated the New Covenant? First, the widespread teaching of worldly success within denominations, which exploits God’s grace toward material blessings (Jude 4), has caused God’s people to lose focus on spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). Second, the direct application of the Law—especially tithing and firstfruits—without the “writing into the inner being of God’s people,” constitutes a violation of the Law of the Spirit that applies in the New Covenant. Third, the teachings of Jezebel, Balaam, and the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2–3), which have become rampant in the Christian world, have caused God’s people to store the idol of Mammon in their hearts, to follow not the leading of the Spirit but the leadership of their leaders, and to follow religious/organizational/denominational rules that bind them, so that they are unable to worship in spirit and in truth.
What is the source of the disease that causes the Christian world to violate the New Covenant? Paul stated it in Acts 20:29–30 as follows: “…from among your own selves… men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away (not equip) the disciples after them (not to follow the leading of the Spirit alone).” Leaders with false teachings have drawn disciples to themselves, resulting in the church being divided into thousands of denominations. One striking difference between these denominations and the early church lies in the finances of their leaders. Ministers in the early church did not need money except for food and clothing, unlike many denominational leaders today who require money to support both their ministry and their lifestyle. When money becomes an important and primary factor in ministry within the Christian world—there, the fall has already occurred. Praise the Lord, His chosen people continue to keep the New Covenant. Amen.