What We Need is a New Covenant Dictionary
Words mean different things to different people.
Consider the word obedience. What does this word mean to you?
If you have an old covenant mindset, obedience means keeping the Ten Commandments. But if you have a new covenant mindset, obedience means heeding Jesus.
It’s the same for the word repentance. Under the old covenant, repentance means turning from sin, but in the new covenant, repentance means changing your mind and turning to God.
We could say something similar about the words confess, faith, and righteousness. What do these words mean to you? Your answer depends on whether you have an old- or new covenant mindset.
In nearly 12 years of writing Escape to Reality, I have learned that there is enormous confusion about the covenants. Because many people don’t know what makes the new covenant new, they are stuck with the inferior definitions of the old.
Think of it as the difference between two languages. Those who speak old covenant speak a language of petition and longing, while those who speak new covenant speak a language of thanksgiving and praise.
Introducing the Grace Glossary
If you want to enjoy the superior realities of the new covenant, you need to learn to speak the new covenant language of Jesus.
To help you do that, I have started working on something called the Grace Glossary. (A glossary is a dictionary of words limited to one subject, in this case, the new covenant.)
The beginnings of the new Grace Glossary can be found on my commentary website here:
www.thegracecommentary.com/glossary
If you find the Grace Glossary useful, you may want to sign up for occasional updates.
Grace and peace,
Paul
—–
Projects like the Grace Commentary and the Grace Glossary are only possible thanks to the generous support of our readers. Sign up to be notified of new articles:
Escape to Reality 
Wow, excellent.
The Grace Glossary is great, thank you! Jesus came to reveal to us the true nature of our Father, which gives us a change of perception. So now when we read passages of scripture that previously made us feel condemned, we have a new perception and a new language to gain a new understanding. We bring this new perception and new language to the Old Covenant, giving us eyes to see the truth of grace and love that was always there, but could not be discerned by our carnal mind.
Thank you Paul for this great resource. Keep at it Brother”
Obedience is indeed obeying the commands of Jesus, but I think it is also deeper than that, akin to a favorite song always sounding as it does, for it is impossible for it to ever sound different than its essence. Virtually any object on earth is obedient to its unchangeable purpose.*
*Of course, it is predicated that said object is never altered by man for another purpose than what it’s made for, such as turning a conventional lawn mower into a go kart.
Outstanding!!!!!
Covenant? What covenant? Where the heck does it say we are ‘in’ or ‘under’ a covenant?
The relationship that God desires to have with all of us is expressed in the language of covenant. A covenant is the most serious or binding form of relationship there is. A covenant involves certain promises and obligations and is sealed with an oath.
The old covenant was with God and the nation of Israel; the new covenant is between God and Jesus, the latter being our high priest or the representative of humanity. It is through Jesus that we receive all the covenantally-promised blessings of God (Matt 26:28, Rom. 11:27, 1 Cor. 11:25, Heb. 8:8-13, etc.). More here.
Interesting. You say the new covenant replaced the Mosaic covenant. And I can accept this …. because I read ….
**JEREMIAH 31:31** *The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.* **32** *It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors
But nevertheless we are not ‘the people of Israel, nor Judah’, so as I asked, “*where does it say **we** are ‘in’ or ‘under’ a covenant?*”?
I suspect many Christians have no idea about covenants hence all the confusion over law-keeping versus grace. The scripture you quoted pertains to Israel but “not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (Rom. 9:6). In the new covenant, Israel represents the church or all believers (see Rom. 4:16). As I mentioned, the new covenant is between God the Father and humanity’s representative God the Son. It only applies to those who are in Christ.
Jesus came to earth to specifically inaugurate a new covenant. At Passover on the eve of his crucifixion Jesus specifically declared his blood new covenant blood.( Luke 22:20) The new covenant of Jesus fulfilled the covenant to Abraham ( father of many nations) The NC fulfilled the old. The NC fulfilled the promise to David and the priesthood.( Hebrews) Isaiah 42:6+ 49:8 directly teach Jesus is our new covenant.
The main message of the Bible is the prophesied blood bought and glorious new covenant of grace which continuously puts the spotlight on Jesus Christ and who we are in Him which is a beloved and redeemed child of God and Kingdom of priests at new birth!