1)The salient features of the New Covenant are:(i)Indwelling of the holy Spirit (ii)Eternal inheritance (iii)forgiveness of sins.
2)Forgiveness:
(i)Possibility of Forgiveness:It is not possible for the blood of bulls & goats to take away sins.Heb.10:4.It provided only external & ceremonial cleansing.Heb.9:13.Jesus Christ has offered Himself as the final & perfect sacrifice & entered into the heavens & completed the atonement work for our sins.Heb.9:12,24;10:12.The blood of Jesus Christ can purge our conscience to serve the living God.Heb.9:14.It provides internal cleansing.
(ii)Source of Forgiveness:”I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.”-
“For by grace are ye saved through faith.”Salvation is the Gift of God.
Grace is unmerited favor.It is wonderful to know that in the Hebrew language
there is only the plural word for mercies & there is no singular word (for mercy).Our sins are forgiven because of the abundant mercies of God.
(iii)Total Forgiveness:”their sins & their iniquities”-”I will cleanse them from all their iniquity.”Jer.33:8.”…and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin & guilt(keeps us cleansed from all sin in all its forms & manifestations.)1 John 1:7(Amp).”If we (freely) admit that we have sinned & confess our sins,He is faithful & just(true to his own nature & promises) & will forgive our sins(dismiss our lawlessness) & continuously cleanse us from all unrighteousness(everything not in conformity to His will in purpose,thought & action).
(iv)Irreversible Forgiveness:”their sins & their iniquities will I remember no more.”Heb.8:12;10:17.See Jer.31:34.Read Ps.103:12;Is.1:18;43:25;44:22;
Mic.7:19.When God forgives,He forgets.The past is buried.Read Rom.6:4,6.
“Therefore,if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature;old things are
passed away;behold all things are become new.”

Commentary by Alex
Posted on: 9/21/2008 05:16 am