Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:

“Only if this fixed order departed from My presence,

declares the LORD,

would Israel’s descendants ever cease

to be a nation before Me.” vs35-36

This promise got me over a very fearful season. A friend departed from Christ, confessing he never believed, and I was scared. “What about me?” I thought. “I’ve shared fellowship with this man, and now he says it wasn’t real. What if mine is not real? Who is going to keep me?”

When I saw this promise - that sun, moon, and the fixed order of the universe must pass away, before God can ever break His promise - I knew that HE’D KEEP ME in the new covenant! How about you? Do you know that He’ll keep you also?

First, the new covenant puts away sins, so nothing can kick us out. Many say, “You can sin your way out,” but how can you, when all sins are forgiven when you get in? All sins - past, present, and future.

“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the LORD.

I will put My law in their minds

and inscribe it on their hearts.

And I will be their God,

and they will be My people.

No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother,

saying, ‘Know the LORD,’

because they will all know Me,

from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.

For I will forgive their iniquities

and will remember their sins no more.” [Jer 31:33-34]

This would be too much for the carnal heart, but God gives us a NEW HEART and puts His laws inside us! These laws are faith and love [1 John 3:23]. We look upon the Scripture, see Christ loving us, and we believe on Him. Then, by the power of the Spirit, we love others as He’s commanded, separating the precious (what pleases God) from the vile (what displeases Him.) We walk with Christ and the Spirit, so we’re more than conquerors. He tries us, but He does not break covenant, so we won’t fail. Everyone who believes on Him - who trusts Him to save - will be saved.

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been sustained from the womb,

carried along since birth.

Even to your old age, I will be the same,

and I will bear you up when you turn gray.

I have made you, and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and deliver you.” [Isa 46:3-4]

Secondly, don’t walk in fear and insecurity! You are complete in Christ. Stay in the new covenant: it is full of blessings and no curses; it has chastisement to make us walk uprightly, but He doesn’t abandon us or deal with us after our sins [Ps 103:10].

Your preacher is in the new covenant, if he brings the gospel with no strings attached -no higher realms of righteousness, no extra devotion needed but faith alone. He preaches growth in grace but never growth in acceptance! We build on our faith by adding CHARACTER that pleases God [2 Pet 1:5].

Do not get caught up in the rules and commandments of men.

Thirdly, the gospel produces joy! This is how you know that you are out of tune with God: Joy is gone, peace is lacking, and you’re looking at yourself (or others) for improvement. You aren’t operating by grace!

Jeremiah had SWEET SLEEP when he pondered the new covenant.

At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me. [Jer 31:26]

Paul and Peter brought joy to the people, when they declared that we are not under law: The strenuous rules of Moses, given to Israel, are not our portion, but we look to Christ in all the Scriptures [Acts 15]. Then, the burden was lifted, competition was broken, and the spirit of love, kindness, and unity dwelled in their midst! This is gospel peace: We obtain mercy, and then we’re merciful, walking in love, unity, and forgiveness, because we’re loved in spite of our sins [Eph 4].