RESULTS OF THE NEW COVENANT.
By John Matteson
The new covenant is made with the house of Israel. Every individual therefore, who would enter into this covenant must become a member of the house of Israel. Whether he is by birth a Jew or Gentile, makes no difference. The same conditions are placed before all. God is no respecter of persons. The conditions laid down in Hebrews viii, 10, are: 1. That we permit the Lord to put his laws into our minds, and write them in our hearts. We must repent of our past sins, seek the Lord daily, accept of pardon through the atoning blood of Jesus, trust in the Lord for salvation from sin and death, and tear away our affections from sinful inclinations and habits. Then wait upon the Lord. Daily study the truth. Look to Jesus. And expect that he will daily make a new and deeper impression on our minds by his holy and perfect law. Then we begin to say with David, “Oh! how I love thy law.” And when the day is past, we review our actions in the light of truth. Finding shortcomings and imperfections, we mourn. We are ashamed before Jesus. He loved us so exceedingly, he suffered, he died. He died for me. Oh! why do I love him so little? Then I long for more love, more grace. I know not but this is the last night I shall live. I commit all into his hands, who will kindly guard his children. Another morning dawns. With trembling we draw nigh the throne of grace. Many duties are before us. We renew our covenant with God. Jesus is our Mediator, his blood the blood of the new covenant. In mercy he looks down upon us. He makes a new impression upon our poor hearts, and the pure principles of the holy law are fastened a little deeper in our minds. Thus day by day may we be confirmed in the covenant that God will make with Israel. And we ourselves can become members of the house of Israel. 2. God becomes our God, and we his people. How plain the duty, that we should serve and obey our Creator. And how great the privilege, that he will be our God. Though we have rebelled against his government, though prone to wander, weak and failing, yet he will be our God, and we can become his people. Whether we be Jews or Gentiles, Americans or foreigners, white or black, young or old, rich or poor, well or sick, we can choose God for our God, and he will deliver us from the perils and corruptions of earth. He will make us partakers of his divine nature, and give us an incorruptible inheritance. Oh! that we could realize more these infinite privileges, and live for Heaven, for Jesus, and eternity. This covenant is the second covenant; verse 7. The first covenant passed away with the law of shadows and sacrifices. Chap. vii, 18; viii, 13. The second covenant is also called the new covenant. Chap. viii, 8, 13. It has been in force or existence ever since the death of Christ, when the first covenant passed away. Place was sought for the second, verse 7, and consequently found as soon as the first passed away. This is also proved by verse 10. “After those days,” can have reference to nothing else than the days of the old covenant. Therefore the new covenant has existed between God and his Israel, ever since the death of Christ. But what are the final results of this covenant? Is not the 11th verse an answer to this? It appears so to me. Verse 12 speaks about the blotting out of the sins and iniquities of God’s people, in so effectual a way that God will remember them no more. This can refer to nothing else than the final atonement in the most holy place. This is the foundation or cause of the condition spoken of in verse 11. Read carefully, “And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, . . . for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.” The knowledge spoken of in verse 11, can consequently not be attained to before the iniquities of God’s people are forever blotted out. When the atonement is finished, probation ended, and redemption completed. The atonement is the cause, the perfect knowledge the effect. The cause must precede the effect. Therefore we believe that verse 11 represents the condition of things, and the perfect knowledge of God’s people in the world to come. “Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Cor. xiii, 12. Isaiah, speaking of the future glory of the New Jerusalem, when all her children shall have come home, says, “I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. . . . And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. . . . Thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear, And from terror; for it shall not come near thee.” Isa. liv, 11-14. “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Chap. xi, 9. “As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Num. xiv, 21. “Blessed be the Lord God. . . . And blessed be his name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory, Amen, and Amen.” Ps. lxxii, 19.