Higby argues that the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:10-12) is wholly promissory rather than conditional upon human faith, contrary to common evangelical interpretation. While justification by faith is clear in Scripture, the author contends that God's covenants—except for the Sinaitic covenant—contain no conditions that could cause them to fail; God alone guarantees their fulfillment through the Holy Spirit writing His laws on believers' hearts. The essay emphasizes that God's election ensures the salvation of His chosen people regardless of human response, and warns against imposing legal requirements onto the gospel that obscure its true glory.
What does the Bible say about the New Covenant?
The New Covenant promises God's laws will be written in our hearts, granting mercy for our sins (Hebrews 8:10-12).
In contrast to the Sinai covenant, which was conditional, the New Covenant emphasizes God's sovereign grace and His active role in completing redemption. This remarkable shift highlights the sufficiency of Christ's atonement, assuring us that God's mercy covers our sins as He recalls them no more. Understanding the New Covenant in this light helps believers grasp the fulness of grace and the assurance of their salvation.
Hebrews 8:10-12, Exodus 19:5-6
What does the Bible say about the New Covenant?
The Bible describes the New Covenant as God writing His laws on the hearts of His people and being merciful to their unrighteousness (Hebrews 8:10-12).
Hebrews 8:10-12, Jeremiah 31:33-34
How do we know the New Covenant is unconditional?
The New Covenant is unconditional as it is wholly promissory, with God assuring its fulfillment without human conditions (Genesis 15).
In Genesis 15, during the covenant with Abraham, God alone passed between the pieces of the sacrificial offerings, symbolizing His sole commitment to fulfill the promises made. This was not an agreement contingent on Abraham’s actions but a unilateral covenant that affirmed the certainty of God's word. Thus, the New Covenant inherits this unconditional nature, ensuring that all whom God has elected will indeed be saved, regardless of individual choices or conditions.
Hebrews 8:10-12, Genesis 15
How do we know the New Covenant is unconditional?
The New Covenant is unconditional because it is based solely on God's promises without any conditions imposed on humanity (Hebrews 8:10).
Hebrews 8:10, Genesis 15:17-18, Exodus 19:5-6
Why is understanding the New Covenant important for Christians?
Understanding the New Covenant assures Christians of their salvation and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Moreover, the promise that God's laws are written in our hearts through the Holy Spirit signifies that true change comes from divine action rather than human effort. This underscores the necessity of faith, as noted in 1 John 3:23, where the command to believe is central to our assurance of eternal life. By grasping these truths, Christians can fully experience the liberation and joy that come from being part of God's redemptive plan.
Hebrews 8:10-12, 1 John 3:23
Why is justification by faith important for Christians?
Justification by faith is crucial for Christians as it affirms our right standing before God solely through Christ's work (Romans 5:1).
Romans 5:1, Hebrews 8:12, John 6:29
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after thosedays, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them intheir hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. . . For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." - Heb. 8:10,12 KJV
This passage describing a new covenant is very familiar to us. What is the common 'evangelical' interpretation of this passage?
- The promise in verse 12 is of justification.
- The promise in verse 10 is of regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.
- God will fulfill verse 12 as soon as we have faith in Christ. From that point on he will begin to fulfill all of the things promised in verse 10, which will be completed at the resurrection.
- Simply believe and we will partake of these promises.
Since the gospel of the New Testament is abundantly clear on the matter of justification by faith without works of law, it may seem reasonable to assume that fulfillment of the New Covenant is 'conditional' upon faith. Very simple, right? The reasoning goes like this: God has made all the provisions for salvation in the atonement of Christ. If we will only believe and 'let him' be our Savior, he will respond and fulfill all of the covenant promises made in Jeremiah and Hebrews.
But is the above interpretation correct? Is it possible that we could have missed the real scope of God's laws written in the mind and heart? Yes. I know that I personally missed it for many years. The problem with a 'conditional' interpretation is the failure to recognize that God's covenants are wholly promissory. Unless God states a condition that must be fulfilled by the other party, in order to make the covenant operational, there is no possibility of his covenant being broken. The only covenant made with this type of condition is the one at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19:5,6). Some interpreters also see a 'covenant' of this sort made with Adam--but that is speculative and does not have an indisputable foundation in scripture.
Even the covenant of promise made with Abraham (with circumcision as the sign) was wholly promissory. God made this covenant in Genesis 15, even though the sign of circumcision was not established until many years later in Genesis 17. Note in Gen. 15:17,18 that only God passed between the pieces of the sacrifice. This covenant was not an 'agreement' after the form of most ancient treaties. The only issue was the fulfillment of God's word ('know for certain'--verses 13-16) and the absolute impossibility of history taking a different course than what he had stated. In a similar fashion, ALL of the commandments that God has given in the New Covenant are written on the heart--by his promised Holy Spirit alone. This is especially true of faith, our only assurance of justification and the supreme work and commandment of God (John 6:29, I John 3:23). God has elected a people and he will certainly save all of them, regardless of the objections of many who want the comfortable possibility (loved by the flesh) of 'opting out.'
For nearly all of the Christian era, many who claim to be God's messengers have attempted to dim the 'more glorious' light of the gospel (2 Cor. 3) with an abundance of legal requirements not ordained of God.
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