Sunday August 17, 2025

Sermon Title: God's Promise Of A Better Covenant

Series Big Idea: Capturing the urgency and clarity of the prophets’ messages in turbulent times

Sermon Big Idea: God's New Covenant is not about rule keeping, it is about internal heart change through Christ's redemptive work

Introduction: 

Many people try to repair what’s broken in life with surface solutions, but what we actually need is a complete transformation. In Jeremiah 31, God promises a brand-new covenant, not a revision, but a complete renewal that reaches the heart and restores relationship with Him.

(Jeremiah 31:31-34)

31 “Look, the days are coming” —this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”^,—the Lord’s declaration.33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them” —this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.

A Covenant Unlike The Former One (v. 32)

The old covenant given at Mount Sinai revealed more about human failure than human faithfulness. God’s people broke His law time and again, showing us that behavior modification is not enough to fix the sinful heart.

A Covenant Written On The Heart (v. 33)

In the New Covenant, God doesn’t just tell us what to do, He changes who we are. He writes His teaching on our hearts, giving us new desires and a Spirit-empowered direction.

A People Who Truly Know God (v. 33b–34a)

This covenant creates a personal, intimate relationship with God available to every believer not just the spiritual elite. Everyone who belongs to Christ can know God directly and belong to Him fully.

A Forgiveness That Lasts Forever (v. 34b)

God offers full and final forgiveness through Jesus Christ, never holding our sins against us again. This kind of grace doesn’t just delete our failures; it removes them completely and eternally.

Conclusion: 

As believers in Jesus Christ we receive the blessings of the New Covenant, which transforms hearts, restores relationship, and provides complete forgiveness. If you’re tired of empty religion, come to Christ, not for new rules, but for a new heart.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Bibliography

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Victor Books, 1985.

Rydelnik, Michael A., and Michael Vanlaningham, editors. The Moody Bible Commentary. Moody Publishers, 2014.

Carson, D. A., et al., editors. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. 4th ed., Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.

Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

Cabal, Ted, et al. The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith. Holman Bible Publishers, 2007.

Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, editors. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Thomas Nelson, 1992.

Spurgeon. The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Hendrickson Publishers, 2007.

Bell, James Stuart, editor. Ancient Faith Study Bible. Holman Bibles, 2019.

Walker, Larry L., Elmer A. Martens. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Lamentations. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.

Hays, J. Daniel. Jeremiah and Lamentations. Edited by Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016.

Dearman, J. Andrew. Jeremiah and Lamentations. Zondervan Publishing House, 2002.

Wood, Fred, and Ross McLaten. Jeremiah, Lamentations. Edited by Max Anders, vol. 16, Holman Reference, 2006.

Wenthe, Dean O., editor. Jeremiah, Lamentations. InterVarsity Press, 2009.

Kaiser, Walter C., Jr., and Tiberius Rata. Walking the Ancient Paths: A Commentary on Jeremiah. Lexham Press, 2019.

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