The New Covenant: Entering Into a Deep Personal Relationship with God

The New Covenant, inaugurated by Jesus Christ, is God’s ultimate plan to draw His people into an intimate and personal relationship with Himself. This relationship goes far beyond the rituals and regulations of the Old Covenant; it is based on direct access to God, made possible through the finished work of Jesus. In Hebrews 10:19-22, the writer describes the profound access we now have to God: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Let’s explore how the New Covenant brings about this personal relationship with God and what it means for us today.

Access Granted: Entering the Presence of God with Boldness

Under the Old Covenant, access to God was limited and restricted. The Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, was the innermost sanctuary of the temple where God’s presence dwelled. Only the high priest could enter this sacred space, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, after offering sacrifices for his own sins and the sins of the people. This restriction was a vivid reminder of the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity.

However, the New Covenant changes everything. In Hebrews 10:19, it is written: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the barrier between God and humanity has been removed. The blood of Jesus provides a new and living way for us to enter God’s presence with confidence. No longer must we approach God with fear or hesitation; we can now come boldly, knowing that we are covered by the blood of Christ.

This bold access to God is a key feature of the New Covenant. In Ephesians 3:12, Paul affirms this truth: “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Jesus, as our High Priest, has opened the way for us, tearing the veil that once separated us from God’s presence. In Matthew 27:51, it is recorded that at the moment of Jesus’ death, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” This miraculous event symbolizes the end of the separation between God and His people, ushering in a new era of direct and personal access to the Father.

A New and Living Way: Relationship Over Rituals

The New Covenant brings a shift from the external rituals of the Old Covenant to an internal, heart-based relationship with God. In Hebrews 10:20, it is written: “By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” The term “new and living way” signifies a vibrant and dynamic relationship, unlike the old way of approaching God through the repeated sacrifices of animals.

In the Old Covenant, the people’s relationship with God was mediated through priests, sacrifices, and rituals. While these practices pointed to the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin, they were unable to bring about a true heart change or an intimate relationship with God. The New Covenant, however, offers a living relationship with God, grounded in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. In Romans 5:10, Paul writes: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are not only forgiven but brought into a new, living relationship with God.

This new way is described as “living” because it is ongoing and eternal. Jesus is not a distant figure; He is alive and interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. In Hebrews 7:25, it is written: “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Jesus’ continual intercession ensures that our relationship with God is maintained and deepened, allowing us to experience His presence daily.

Drawing Near with a True Heart: The Call to Intimacy

The New Covenant not only grants us access to God but invites us to draw near to Him with a sincere and true heart. In Hebrews 10:22, it is written: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” This invitation to draw near is at the core of the New Covenant relationship. It is a call to intimacy, where we come to God honestly, without pretense, and with full confidence in His love and grace.

The phrase “a true heart” speaks to the sincerity and authenticity of our approach to God. Under the Old Covenant, worship often involved external rituals, but the New Covenant emphasizes the condition of the heart. In John 4:23, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” God desires a genuine, heartfelt relationship with His people, one that is not based on mere outward observance but on an inner connection of the heart.

The New Covenant also provides the cleansing necessary for us to draw near to God. In the Old Covenant, the priests had to perform ceremonial washings before entering God’s presence. Now, under the New Covenant, our hearts are sprinkled clean by the blood of Jesus, and our bodies are washed with the pure water of the Holy Spirit. In 1 John 1:9, it is written: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This cleansing makes us holy and acceptable in God’s sight, allowing us to come close to Him without fear.

Living in Full Assurance: The Confidence of a New Relationship

The New Covenant relationship with God is characterized by full assurance of faith. In the Old Covenant, the people often approached God with uncertainty, fearing His judgment because of their sins. However, the New Covenant provides believers with the confidence that our sins are forgiven and that we are fully accepted by God. In Hebrews 10:22, it is written: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” This assurance is not based on our own righteousness but on the finished work of Jesus Christ.

The confidence we have in the New Covenant relationship comes from knowing that Jesus has done everything necessary to reconcile us to God. In Colossians 1:21-22, Paul writes: “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” Our faith is anchored in the knowledge that Jesus has removed every barrier between us and God, allowing us to live in the fullness of His presence.

Conclusion: Embracing the New Covenant Relationship with God

The New Covenant, established through the blood of Jesus, brings us into a direct and personal relationship with God that was impossible under the Old Covenant. It grants us bold access to His presence, offers a new and living way to connect with Him, and calls us to draw near with a sincere heart. This relationship is not based on fear or ritual but on love, grace, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

As believers, we are invited to embrace this intimate relationship, approaching God with confidence and enjoying the fullness of His presence. Let us draw near with a true heart, live in the assurance of our faith, and experience the joy of knowing God personally through the New Covenant, secured by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.