We are under the New Covenant, but what — exactly — does that mean and how are we supposed to respond? The following series is a ‘book report’ of what we at “We Who Are Lost” have discovered as we search the Scriptures to answer these questions for ourselves. What we have discovered may surprise you, especially if you are part of the ‘Messianic’ or ‘Hebrew Roots’ movement. We’d like to invite you to follow behind us and check our work.
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BEFORE WE BEGIN:
I just want to start by making it understood that I will be doing this “by the numbers.” For those unfamiliar with the term, it means I am going to cover what I have learned in a very simple, straight-forward, almost elementary manner. Simply put, this means I will assume no one following along is familiar with much of anything I report. This is not intended to insult anyone’s intelligence. It is simply a teaching technique I learned in the military, and I have chosen to use it because it has proven to be very effective.
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PART 1: DEFINITIONS
10.15.2025 What — EXACTLY — Is The New Covenant And Our Obligations To ‘The Law’ Under It? (Part 1)
We start by asking what — exactly — is the New Covenant? Is it really ‘new,’ or is it a renewal of an older covenant? How many covenants are there? How do they work? And what are our obligations under the New Covenant? Is the ‘Law’ truly dead, or does it still apply to us today? If so, what parts still apply and how are we supposed to keep them?
I (Joe) have been troubled by these questions for some time now. So, I decided to do what I do best: I broke out the Scriptures, dusted off my training and started to dig into this subject. In accordance with my training, this meant going back to the very beginning which, in most everything one studies, starts with definitions.
We have to know and understand the meaning of the words we are going to use before we can discuss them. Since any examination of the New Covenant is invariably connected to ‘The Law,’ I started with ‘The Law.’ What — exactly — is it? What I discovered is that this issue is much, much more complicated, not to mention nuanced, than I had previously imagined. Let me share what I learned about the definition and concept of, ‘The Law.’
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DEFINITIONS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
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SOME INTERESTING PASSAGES
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DEFINITIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
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PART 2: CONCEPTS & EXAMPLES
10.22.2025 What — EXACTLY — Is The New Covenant And Our Obligations To ‘The Law’ Under It? (Part 2)
After looking up the meaning of the many Hebrew (and Greek) words that can mean ‘law, commandment, regulation or ordinance,’ the next thing I did was look for a greater understanding of the ideas behind the definitions. In other words, what is the fuller understanding of the ‘concept’ behind the words and their definitions?
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HISTORY AND EXPLANATIONS
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EXAMPLES OF ‘LAW” IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
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EXAMPLES OF ‘LAW” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1050-COMMANDMENTS-IN-THE-NEW-TESTAMENT
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PART 3: COVENANT THEOLOGY vs DISPENSATIONALISM
10.29.2025 What — EXACTLY — Is The New Covenant And Our Obligations To ‘The Law’ Under It? (Part 3)
Before we address the covenants in the Bible (and greater Ancient Near East ANE), it might be prudent to take a look at “Covenant Theology” vs. “Dispensationalism.”
What is dispensationalism and is it biblical
What Every Christian Should Understand about Covenant Theology
Covenant Theology Vs Dispensationalism
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PART 4: COVENANTS
11.5.2025 What — EXACTLY — Is The New Covenant And Our Obligations To ‘The Law’ Under It? (Part 4)
This next section is critical for a proper understanding of our relationship to YHWH. This is especially true of the New Covenant. How can we possibly know what is expected of us under the New Covenant if we do not know what a covenant is, what types of covenants are in the Bible or how these many types of covenants function in relation to our standing before YHWH? The short answer is: WE CAN’T! For this reason alone, We We Who Are Lost considers this section to be the core of this teaching.
Understand the Different Kinds of Covenants
Covenants — Ancient Hebrew Research Center
10 Things You Should Know about the Biblical Covenants
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The following is offered for those who consider themselves to be ‘advanced’ believers. While he was a believer, Trumbull is not necessarily the most clearly ‘Christian’ of writers. His interest is more scholarly scholarly, focusing on cultural practices that are not necessarily connected to Israel or the Hebrew culture. His readers must be prepared to draw their own insights from his reporting on his research.
(BE WARNED: if you are not honest with yourself about your spiritual maturity, you may not benefit from these links. In fact, you may well be harmed by the. So, please, use your best discernment here.)
The Threshold Covenant – Passover
The Blood Covenant A Primitive Rite And Its Bearings On Scripture
The covenant of salt as based on the significance and symbolism of salt in primitive thought
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ISRAELITE COVENANTS
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PART 5: THE NEW COVENANTS
11.12.2025 What — EXACTLY — Is The New Covenant And Our Obligations To ‘The Law’ Under It? (Part 5)
This is the 5th and final lesson in this series. It will cover the New Covenant in some detail. The following links are used in this show and are offered here to assist you in your personal study.
THE NEW COVENANT PROMISED
THE NEW HEART PROMISED
What is the meaning of the name Israel?
NEW COVENANT PASSAGES IN SCRIPTURE