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Now many insist that Israel has been set aside, and that all the promises made to “Israel” have been transferred to “the church.” But immediately after promising this “new covenant” in
Jeremiah 31:31-34, our God made it exceedingly clear that this would never happen, that His promises of eventual blessing to Israel are inviolate, and will never, under any condition whatsoever, be revoked. For He continued this passage by saying:
“Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The LORD of hosts is His name):
‘If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the LORD,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever.’
Thus says the LORD:
‘If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the LORD.
‘Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that the city shall be built for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. The surveyor's line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever.’ ” (
Jeremiah 31:35-40)
Here, we need to notice the words that “the seed of Israel” shall never “cease From being a nation before” the Lord. And that “all the seed of Israel” shall never be “cast off” “For all that they have done.” While these words are critically important, in and by themselves, they become far more important in view of one of the main arguments often presented against simply accepting these promises at face value, as simply meaning what they actually say. For we read, “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.” (
Galatians 3:16) And in regard to the promises referred to in ths particular scripture, the word “Seed” was indeed used in the singular, as a specific reference to our Lord Jesus Christ himself. Because of this, many imagine that wherever we find this word “seed” used in the promises of the Old Testament, they always refer to Christ Himself, rather to the descendants of whatever individual or group is under discussion. But here, in
Jeremiah 31:35-40, we see this same Hebrew word twice used very specifically in a plural sense, as referring to an entire nation. And one of these two times is was specifically used in regard to the sins committed by that nation. So here, in
Jeremiah 31:35-40, this word seed is unquestionably used in reference to the future descendants of the ancient nation of Israel. And what is said here? That these future descendants of that ancient nation would never, under any condition whatsoever, be “cast off” “For all that they have done.” Nor would they ever “cease From being a nation before” the Lord.
And lest anyone imagine that this was fulfilled in ancient times, they need to notice the last words of this promise, that “the city” “shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever.” For we know that after the ancient return of a few of the Jews to their homeland, the city was again destroyed and its inhabitants were scattered to the four winds.
The immediate association of this promise with the pronouncement of the “new covenant” in
Jeremiah 31:31-34, stresses the fact that this “new covenant” was not to be a covenant with all mankind, but “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”
We read again of Israel in the day when this is fulfilled: “As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.” (
Isaiah 59:21)
It could not possibly be more plain, that the time for this covenant has even now not yet come. For this promise is not only to Israel, but to their “descendants” and to their “descendants’ descendants,” “from this time and forevermore.” And we need to notice that the form of this statement excludes its meaning from even possibly being a reference to our Lord Jesus and those who believe in him. For although we, as believers today, are called God’s children, no scripture anywhere ever speaks of God’s grandchildren. Indeed, in reaching the gospel, we often refer to the fact that “God has no grandchildren.” In saying this, we are, of course, stressing the fact that every one of us needs to personally trust the Lord Jesus. The fact that our parents trust Him does not save us. But each of us needs to individually put our faith in the saving power of His blood.
The everlasting nature of this covenant is again stated in Ezekiel, where the Lord first reminds them of their failure, saying, “I will deal with you as you have done, who despised the oath by breaking the covenant.” (
Ezekiel 16:59) And then He says, “Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD,” that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done," says the Lord GOD.’ ” (
Ezekiel 16:60-63)
Here the Lord not only stressed the everlasting nature of this promised new covenant, but that it will be given in spite of the fact that they had broken the previous covenant. And He also stressed that this covenant would be with Israel, the nation that had broken their covenant with the Lord.
And both the everlasting nature of this covenant, and the fact that it will specifically be with Israel, is stressed in the following passage: “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” ’ ” (
Ezekiel 37:21-28)
We find this covenant again in its specific application to Israel three chapters earlier in Ezekiel: “And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.” (
Ezekiel 34:24-26)
We have taken the time to trace all these places where this “new covenant” is mentioned in order to see that, wherever God mentioned it, it was specifically restricted to Israel. And this restriction is even carried on into the New Testament. For there we also read: “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (
Romans 11:26-29)
And we need to notice in passing, that the stated reason for this is, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” This one statement, in and by itself, totally destroys the false claim that God has set Israel aside for ever, and has totally transferred all her promises to “the church.” For an “irrevocable” gift can never be revoked. And the “gifts” “of God,” even as His callings, “are irrevocable.” And this is explicitly stated as the reason that Israel remains, to this very day “beloved for the sake of the fathers.” And this in turn is God’s explanation of His previous words, “And so all Israel will be saved.”
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You ignored the word-for-word fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34 found in Hebrews 8:6-13, which contains the word "now" written during the first century.
We also find the word "now" and part of Jeremiah 31:31-34, quoted in Hebrews 10:16-18.
You ignored Peter addressing the crowd as "all the house of Israel" on the Day of Pentecost.
Who do you think Peter was talking to? Was Peter confused?
You ignored James addressing his letter to "the twelve tribes", who were his "brethren" in the "faith".
Who was James talking to? Was James confused?
Anyone who claims the new covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34, has not been fulfilled is ignoring the scripture found below in an attempt to make their doctrine work.
Mat_26:28
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mar_14:24 And He said to them, "
This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
Luk_22:20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
1Co_11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
2Co_3:6
who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Heb_8:8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE
A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH—
Heb_8:13 In that He says,
"A NEW COVENANT," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Heb_9:15 And for this reason
He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Heb_12:24
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
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