New Covenant Membership & Eschatology

Who is included in the new covenant? How are they included in the new covenant? And what are the

promises and titles those in the new covenant now possess?

Though the new covenant was promised to national Israel and Judah, national Israel and Judah were a type, and the Church is the antitype. National Israel and Judah were shadows, and the global church who is the body of Jesus Christ is the substance of the shadow. Said another way, Jesus is the one through whom this new covenant is made, and all those in Jesus are all those who are members of this new covenant. So, this new covenant promise is for God’s eternal people, who he calls the Church, composed of people from every nation, tribe and tongue, including of course, national Israelites, of whom the apostle Paul is a primary example of.

The new covenant is a pure group; everyone in it knows God. Therefore, we should only administer the signs of the new covenant (baptism and the Lord’s supper) upon seeing the fruits of new covenant membership (spiritual new birth seen through confessing to know God, loving his law, confessing sin, repenting of sin, trusting in Christ). We must remember the kindness and severity of God. We must remember his sovereign election, the Son’s definite atonement, and the Spirit’s sovereign regeneration/new birth.