new covenant

What Makes the New Covenant New?

April 29, 2015 // 65 Comments

There’s a classic scene in The Simpsons where 8-year-old Lisa is offered a large check. Monty Burns has made a $120 million from an idea that Lisa gave him and he wishes to give her a ten percent share. But the money represents ill-gotten gains from harvesting the sea, so Lisa says no. Lisa later apologizes to [...]

The law written on our hearts is not the Ten Commandments

April 17, 2015 // 129 Comments

“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time,” says the Lord. “I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Heb 10:16) What is this law that God writes on our hearts? “This is obviously a reference to the law of Moses,” says the law-preacher. “The Ten [...]

Top 12 verses on the New Covenant

April 19, 2012 // 35 Comments

I have this strange idea that we should preach nothing but the gospel. Two reasons: (1) Jesus told us to and (2) it’s the only thing the church is really good at. Any club or religion can teach you about good works and charity and seven steps to financial freedom, but the church has a monopoly on grace. You [...]

A New Covenant picture of repentance

February 20, 2012 // 21 Comments

Two classic signs of covenant confusion are: (1) you interpret repentance as turning from sin and (2) you think repenting will get God to forgive you. As I have explained elsewhere, God does not need your permission or even your repentance to forgive you. He forgave you before you were born in accordance with the [...]

The greatest law preacher

January 14, 2012 // 105 Comments

“Don’t stray too far from the red letters,” is a piece of advice often given to new preachers. It means, stay close to the teachings of Jesus and you can’t go wrong. It sounds good, but it’s reckless advice. Everything Jesus said was good, but not everything he said is good for you. Read the red letters [...]

Are we completely forgiven?

October 26, 2011 // 19 Comments

Read the Bible indiscriminately and you’ll get a mixed message. You’ll take on board laws that were never meant for you and you’ll end up confused and lukewarm. You’ll fall from grace and cut yourself off from Christ. The best way to read the Bible is through the lens of Jesus and his finished work. When [...]

Old vs. new

October 11, 2011 // 8 Comments

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God doesn’t change; we do

May 20, 2011 // 38 Comments

In a recent post I argued that God is not a jealous God, even though he said he was. I am either the world’s greatest heretic, or I am confident that I know who my Father is! How can I say God is not jealous when it’s right there in black and white in both Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 6? Because I have learned [...]

Is God a jealous God?

May 19, 2011 // 25 Comments

“You shall not make for yourself an idol… You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and [...]

It’s a New Day

January 1, 2011 // 2 Comments

Happy New Year from Escape to [...]

Does God use correction fluid?

December 8, 2010 // 50 Comments

Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? If so, are you worried that Jesus may blot out your name? It seems that many Christians are. They are afraid that they might do something that will cause Jesus to blot out their names from his Book of Life. It’s like Jesus is sitting in heaven with a pen in one [...]

“The Lost Secret of the New Covenant” by Malcolm Smith

November 23, 2010 // 28 Comments

About 40 years ago, Malcolm Smith was invited to speak at a church in Oregon. He preached about a God who is irritated and annoyed with lukewarm believers. At the end of his message, he called for people to rededicate their lives to Christ. And that was the last time Smith ever mixed grace with works. The next [...]