Fifth Sunday in Lent

 Sermon Text: Jeremiah 31:31-34

 Other Readings: Hebrews 5:7-10 and John 12:20-33


 

  1. In a very real way, the “new” covenant was quite old already by the time of Jeremiah. Read Genesis 3:16 and Genesis 15:1-6 and explain why this covenant in Jeremiah chapter 31 isn’t all that “new”.
     
  2. Use Jeremiah 31:31-34 to try to explain why we call the first half of the Bible the Old Testament and why we call the second half of the Bible the New Testament.
     
  3. What does God mean when he says that he will put his law in minds and write it on hearts (v. 33)?
     
  4. What are some of the wicked things you have done? What are some of the sins that you are ashamed of? Say a prayer to God, using these verses to say a prayer in which you thank him for his forgiveness.

 

  1. The covenant is “new” in the sense that God renewed his one-sided covenant made with mankind in the Garden of Eden. In Eden, God promised to send his Son to crush Satan’s head; that’s a one-sided covenant. That same one-sided promise of salvation was given to Abraham. From the days of Adam and Eve through Abraham and Jeremiah and up till now, sinners have been saved through faith in God’s forgiveness as earned by the Savior Jesus Christ.
     
  2. Testament is a word that means roughly the same thing as covenant. We can view the first half of the Bible as God directing salvation history through his chosen Israel during the days the old covenant was in effect until he brought the Messiah to earth. The second half of the Bible is how God directed salvation history during the Messiah’s fulfillment of the old covenant and ushering in the days of God’s Church living under that new covenant.
     
  3. God means that he would put new spiritual impulses into believers. Because they know and trust in God’s covenant, believers instinctively begin to fear and love God, pray to him, praise him, obey him, and love those around them.
     
  4. Answers will vary based on personal experiences. Trust and have full confidence in God’s forgiveness as given through Word and sacrament.