As we learned in our previous study, Christ came and established a New Covenant with His people. This Covenant was prophesied in the Bible’s Old Testament. Notice what the prophet Jeremiah revealed:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31:31-34

According To The Language Of The New Covenant, Who Is The Covenant Geared Towards?

In our previous study, we discussed what the New Covenant entailed, but now we must answer the question—Who was the New Covenant for? Jeremiah 31:31 is clear when it says, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.”

According to the Bible, the New Covenant is for the House of Israel and the House of Judah. Both houses refer to the Children of Israel who split into two separate kingdoms around the iron age of history. However, the problem we face is that the majority of Christians aren’t Jewish. So how can Gentile Christians be a part of the New Covenant, when the Bible says the Covenant is only for Israel? The answer becomes simple when we realize that Israel now consists of both Jew and Gentile Christians.

Who Represents Israel Under The New Covenant?

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Romans 2:29

If we were to look at the New Covenant as only pertaining to literal Israel, then only a minority of the Christian world would be considered New Covenant Christians. However, once we realize that God considers Israel as those whose hearts have been spiritually circumcised, we can then begin to see that Israel is no longer confined to a race or ethnicity. According to Paul, those of us whose hearts are circumcised are considered Inward Jews.

Who Is Abraham’s Seed Under The New Covenant?

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28-29

What Was Israel Called In The Old Testament?

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:6

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2

What Were Gentile Christians Called In The New Testament?

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1Peter 2:9-10

It should be clear to you that there are times that Israel refers to natural Israel, but there are also times when Israel represents all Jews and Gentiles who have given their hearts to Christ.

Has The Church Replaced Israel?

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. Ephesians 2:14

We must understand that the Church has not replaced Israel, but rather Israel is the Church. There is no longer a divider between Jew and Gentile. There isn’t one method of salvation for the Jews and another method of salvation for the Gentiles. Every knee will bow, and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

So now we should clearly see that the New Covenant was made for Israel. However, we are all graffed into one tree and therefore those of us who are of faith, now represent Israel.