Objections to Torah Observance: The New Covenant: What is it? Part 1

Photo by Billy Reed

The idea of the New Covenant comes from Jeremiah 31 (NKJV):

• A covenant unlike the covenant made when God led them out of Egypt, the covenant that Israel broke (vv31-2); and
  
• He will put His Law in their minds and write it upon Israel’s hearts (v33); and
  
• He will be their God (v33); and
  
• They will be His people (v33); and
  
• His people will no longer need to be teach each other about God (v34); and
  
• He will forgive them their sins (v34); and
  
• God will no longer remember their sins (v34); and
  
• God will not reject Israel: If the laws of God cease to exist, so will the nation of Israel (v36); and if one can fathom creation then God would also reject Israel (v37); and
  
• Jerusalem will be restored and the perimeter of the restored city is set out (v38-40).

This passage leads to further questions:

1. Clearly, Israel is the focus of the covenant; who is Israel?
2. Has the New Covenant been fulfilled? Is it yet to come? Has it started coming about?
3. Has Jerusalem been rebuilt?

Something else to note: the Hebrew word usually translated as "new" can be translated as "renewed" (see Strongs H2319 from H2318).

Is there such a thing as a "new covenant"; could God have only intended a "renewed" one?