Stop Waiting for the New Covenant: It’s Already Here.

This article is about proving that we are already living under the New Covenant, not waiting for it to come in the future.

Some people say the New Covenant hasn’t started yet — that it will only begin when Israel is back in the land, or after Christ returns. But the Bible shows clearly that Jesus already inaugurated (started) the New Covenant through His death, resurrection, and the giving of the Holy Spirit.

We’re going to walk through the Scriptures to show three main points:
1️⃣ The New Covenant was promised in the Old Testament.
2️⃣ Jesus established it with His blood.
3️⃣ Believers today are living under it, sealed by the Spirit.

How the First Covenant Began

Before we can understand the New Covenant, we first need to look back and see how the first covenant began — because the process will help us recognize when the new one started.

But first, let’s define the word “covenant.”

A covenant simply means an agreement or contract between two parties. In the Bible, it often refers to an agreement between God and His people — one that includes promises and conditions.

When Israel entered the first covenant (also called the Old Covenant), it was an agreement between God and the nation of Israel that they would keep His laws, and in return, He would be their God.

Now let’s read how it happened:

Exodus 24:3–8

Exo 24:3-4 (KJV)

3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Here we see Israel making the agreement/covenant

And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel…
And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.”

Breaking it Down

1️⃣ Moses read God’s law — that was the agreement.
2️⃣ The people agreed — “All that the Lord hath said we will do.”
3️⃣ Blood was sprinkled — sealing the covenant.

So, the Old Covenant was officially established through blood, marking a binding agreement between God and Israel to obey the law.

Now, just like the first covenant was sealed with blood, we’re going to see that the New Covenant was also sealed with blood — the blood of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 15:9–10, 17–18

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another…
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram.”

Even with Abraham, God used the shedding of blood from sacrificed animals to seal the covenant. This was a symbolic act showing that the covenant was binding — and it pointed forward to Christ’s blood that would seal the final covenant.

Hebrews 9:15–20 — The Covenant Sealed by Blood

Verse 15 – Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance…”

This shows that Jesus stands between God and humanity as the mediator — the one who bridges the gap.
Through His death, He redeems us from the sins we committed under the first covenant (the law of Moses).
The goal of this covenant is eternal inheritance not just physical blessings like land, but eternal life.

Meaning: The first covenant dealt with temporary blessings; the new one deals with eternal salvation made possible by Jesus’ death.

Verses 16–17 – A Covenant (or Will) Only Begins After Death

For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.
For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.”

Paul uses the example of a will (testament) — it doesn’t go into effect until the person who made it dies.

In the same way:
The New Covenant could not go into effect until Christ died.
His death activated everything God had promised — forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life.

Verse 18 – Even the First Covenant Needed Blood

Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.”

This takes us back to Exodus 24, when Moses first sealed the covenant with Israel.
The people agreed to obey God’s laws, and then Moses sprinkled them with the blood of sacrifices to confirm it.

Meaning: Blood has always been required to seal an agreement with God — because blood represents life.

Verses 19–20 – Moses Sprinkled the Blood

For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people,
he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.’”

This is almost word-for-word from Exodus 24:7–8.

What Happened:

Moses read the Book of the Covenant (the Law) to the people.
The people said, “All that the LORD has said we will do.”
Moses then sprinkled blood on them and said those exact words — “This is the blood of the covenant.”

Isaiah 42:1The Messiah Is the Covenant

saiah 42:1 — The Servant Who Is the Covenant

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”

Isaiah opens this prophecy saying, “Behold my servant,” and even ancient

This verse reveals four major truths about who He is:

“My servant” — This isn’t Israel as a nation, Cyrus, or Isaiah himself.
This is Christ in His role as Mediator, chosen to carry out God’s plan of redemption.
God says He upholds Him — meaning the Father would strengthen and sustain the Son through His entire mission, even the cross.
“Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth” —
God chose and delighted in Him as the one who would perfectly carry out His will.
We literally hear this echoed at Jesus’ baptism: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
“I have put my Spirit upon Him” —
This shows His anointing.
The Spirit rested on Him without measure (John 3:34), equipping Him as Prophet, Priest, and King.
That’s why in Luke 4:18, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me.”
“He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles” —
Meaning He will bring truth and justice — the law of faith — to the nations.
He becomes the new standard of righteousness, bringing salvation not just to Israel but to all nations under His rule.

Isaiah 42:2 — The Character of the Covenant Servant

He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.”

This verse shows the spirit of how the Messiah would carry out His mission.
Unlike earthly rulers who demand attention with noise, pride, and force Christ’s kingdom moves in quiet power.

“He shall not cry”
He wouldn’t argue, fight, or shout for dominance like the leaders of His day.
When accused, mocked, and beaten, He stayed silent — just as Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.”
“Nor lift up his voice”
Meaning, He wouldn’t seek to impress or intimidate others by raising His voice for attention or flattery.
Everything He did was humble and pure — truth without showmanship.
“Nor cause his voice to be heard in the street”
This doesn’t mean He never preached publicly (He did), but rather that He didn’t do it in a loud, boastful, or self-promoting way.
He wasn’t looking for applause or trying to prove Himself through arguments.

Matthew 12:19 quotes this verse directly, saying:

“He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.”

That shows how Jesus fulfilled this prophecy His authority came not from yelling or forcing Himself on people, but from truth, meekness, and power through the Spirit.

Isaiah 42:3 — The Compassion of the Servant

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.”

This verse shows the character of the Messiah — gentle, patient, and full of mercy. It’s a perfect picture of how Christ deals with us under the new covenant of grace.

“A bruised reed shall He not break”

A reed is weak, hollow, and fragile — easily bent or broken. That’s how many of us are spiritually: weak in faith, easily shaken, struggling to stand.
A bruised reed is even worse — already damaged, about to snap.
But instead of breaking it completely, Christ restores it.

He doesn’t crush the weak or toss aside those who stumble.
He strengthens them, heals their broken hearts, and gives them grace to keep standing.
He’s not like the harsh leaders of Israel who burdened people with the law — He lifts them up instead.

“The smoking flax shall He not quench”

This is like a small wick barely holding a flame — little light, little heat, just smoke.
It represents a believer whose fire of faith is almost gone — discouraged, tired, barely hanging on.

But Christ doesn’t blow it out. He fans it back to life.
He adds oil (His Spirit and grace), trims the wick (removes distractions), and makes the flame burn brighter again.

That’s what the covenant of grace looks like in action — not condemnation, but restoration.

“He shall bring forth judgment unto truth”

This means Christ will bring true justice and righteousness to the world — not through violence or force, but through truth, mercy, and the transforming power of His Spirit.

In Matthew 12:20, this verse is applied directly to Jesus, showing He fulfills it by being gentle with the weak and faithful to complete His work.

Isaiah 42:4 The Servant Who Never Fails

He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”

This verse shows that Christ — the Servant — wouldn’t stop until His mission was completely fulfilled.
It describes His strength, His purpose, and how His covenant message would spread across the nations.

“He shall not fail nor be discouraged”

Christ didn’t quit halfway through His mission.
Even though He carried the sins of the world — a weight that would crush anyone else — He endured it all.

He faced betrayal, suffering, and death, but never gave up.
He didn’t grow weak, He didn’t burn out, and He didn’t lose hope.
Instead, He stood firm until redemption was finished.

When it says “He shall not fail,” it’s like saying: the flame will never go out.
He is the eternal light that no darkness can overcome (John 1:5).

“Till He have set judgment in the earth”

This means Christ would bring God’s true justice — not by force, but through righteousness, forgiveness, and salvation.
By dying for our sins, He satisfied God’s justice and established a new way for people to be made right with God — through faith, not law.

That’s what it means to “set judgment in the earth” — Christ finished the work that fulfills both justice and mercy.

“And the isles shall wait for His law”

The “isles” represent the distant nations — the Gentiles.
They would wait eagerly for His teaching, His “law,” which here means His Gospel.

Even those far away — outside Israel — would receive His message and be part of His covenant.

This is why the New Testament quotes this verse in Matthew 12:21, saying:

And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.”

That’s the Gospel spreading across the world — Christ becoming the hope of all nations

You can’t wait for what you already have

When Isaiah wrote this, Israel was already living under Moses’ Torah.
They weren’t waiting for Moses’ law — they already had it for centuries. So when the verse says:

And the isles shall wait for His law” (Isaiah 42:4),

it’s clearly not pointing back to Moses. It’s pointing forward to the Messiah’s Torah — His instruction, His covenant, His way of life.

You don’t wait for something that’s already in effect.
So if the nations are waiting for “His law,” then this law must be new in its administration, tied to His mission, not Moses’.

Torah = Instruction

The Hebrew word for “law” here is תּוֹרָה (Torah) — it literally means instruction or teaching, not just “legal code.”
So the “Torah” of the Messiah refers to His Gospel instructions, His covenant terms — not a recycled Moses 2.0.

Why This Matters

By Isaiah’s time, Moses’ law was already:

Given at Sinai (Exodus 19–20)
Reconfirmed under Joshua
Central in national life for centuries

So Isaiah’s prophecy about a future Servant whose law the nations will wait for is a messianic prediction — Christ’s covenant reaching the Gentiles.

And the NT confirms this directly. Matthew 12:21 applies this verse to Jesus:

“And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.”

Isaiah 42:5 — The Creator Confirms the Covenant Servant

“Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.”

This verse reminds us who is speaking—the Almighty Creator Himself.
Before calling the Servant (Christ) to His redemptive work, God first reveals His power and authority as the Maker of all things.

“He that created the heavens and stretched them out”
→ God is the One who made the universe out of nothing and spread out the heavens like a curtain (Isaiah 40:22).
This shows His limitless power — so if He is the one sending the Messiah, there’s no doubt the mission will succeed.
“He that spread forth the earth and that which cometh out of it”
→ The Creator not only made the earth but everything that grows on it — grass, trees, food, life itself.
This highlights His role as both Creator and Sustainer.
“He that giveth breath unto the people upon it”
→ Every human being lives because of God’s breath (Genesis 2:7).
Without Him, there’s no life — physical or spiritual.
“And spirit to them that walk therein”
→ He doesn’t just give breath like to animals; He gives humans a spirit — the ability to think, choose, and know right from wrong.

Isaiah 42:6 — The Messiah Is the Covenant Itself

Isaiah 42:6 — The Messiah Is the Covenant Itself

“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.”

This verse is powerful because it doesn’t just say the Messiah teaches the covenant — it says He is the covenant.

“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness”

God is speaking directly to the Messiah (not Isaiah or Israel).

God called Him to fulfill every righteous purpose—to carry out His perfect plan for salvation.
Christ didn’t come by His own will or ambition; He was called and sent in complete agreement with the Father (John 6:38).
He was called “in righteousness” because everything about His mission—His life, sacrifice, and resurrection—was perfectly just and holy.

“And will hold thine hand, and will keep thee”

This shows the Father’s protection and guidance over the Son.

God upheld Christ during His ministry, giving Him strength to finish His work.
Even when the cross came near, the Father sustained Him (John 17:4–5).
It also means God would preserve His mission — it could not fail, because it was backed by divine power.

“And give thee for a covenant of the people”

This is the key phrase

Christ isn’t just a messenger of the covenant — He is the covenant Himself.
Through His blood, the agreement between God and man is established (Luke 22:20).
All the promises of God — forgiveness, eternal life, adoption, the Spirit — are found in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20).
The Old Covenant was written on stone; the New Covenant is embodied in a person — Jesus Christ.

“For a light of the Gentiles”

Christ came not only for Israel, but for all nations (Isaiah 49:6).
The Gentiles were in darkness — no knowledge of God, no access to His promises — and Christ became their Light (John 8:12).
Through Him, the whole world receives the revelation of God’s mercy and truth.

Isaiah 42:7 — The Mission of the Covenant Himself

“To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

This verse shows what the Messiah — the Covenant Himself — would actually do once He came.

“To open the blind eyes”

This isn’t about physical blindness — it’s about spiritual blindness.

The Gentiles were blind to who God really was. They worshiped idols, lived in ignorance, and couldn’t see their need for a Savior.
When Christ came, He gave sight — not just by healing eyes (John 9:7), but by revealing truth through the Gospel (John 8:12).
He helped people see themselves clearly — to recognize sin, understand grace, and find the way back to God.

“The people which sat in darkness saw great light.” — (Matthew 4:16)

“To bring out the prisoners from the prison”

Before Christ, mankind was locked up —

Bound by sin (Romans 6:17)
Captive to Satan (2 Timothy 2:26)
And trapped under the condemnation of the law (Galatians 3:23).

When Jesus came, He broke those chains.
Through His death and resurrection, He opened the prison doors — freeing people from guilt, spiritual slavery, and hopelessness.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” — (John 8:36)

“And them that sit in darkness out of the prison house”

Darkness represents ignorance, fear, and separation from God.
Jesus, the Light of the World, came into that darkness and shattered it (John 1:5).
The “prison house” is the spiritual condition of all who are without Christ — but through Him, the doors are opened wide.

“He hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” — (Colossians 1:13)

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD, that is my name

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)

“I am the LORD — that is my name”

The word LORD here is YHWH (Jehovah), God’s personal covenant name.
It speaks of His self-existence, eternity, and unchanging nature (Exodus 3:14).
This name belongs to no one else — it separates the true God from every false god or idol.
In Psalm 102:27 compared with Hebrews 13:8, this eternal, unchanging identity is applied to Christ, showing that the Servant in Isaiah 42 is divine.

God is declaring His unique identity — no idol or human can share this name.

“My glory will I not give to another”

God refuses to share the worship, honor, or credit that belongs to Him alone with any other gods or idols.
This doesn’t exclude the Son or the Spirit, because:
- The Son is “the brightness of His glory” (Hebrews 1:3).
- The Spirit is called “the Spirit of glory” (1 Peter 4:14).
Father, Son, and Spirit share the same divine glory, because they are one God.
What He’s refusing to give is His glory to false gods or human works — e.g., idols, saints, good deeds, or man-made systems.

God alone gets the credit for creation, salvation, justification, and worship. No idol or human achievement gets a piece of that glory.

“Neither my praise to graven images”

This line explains what “another” refers to: idols and false worship.
God won’t allow His praise to be redirected to carved statues, religious icons, or anything made by human hands.
This includes not only ancient pagan idols, but also modern religious imagery that people treat with reverence meant only for God.
The commentary points out that this applies especially in New Testament times, warning groups that mix idolatry with Christian language (e.g., Roman Catholic use of images and veneration).

Isaiah 42:9

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

“The former things are come to pass”

God points to past prophecies that He already fulfilled to prove His track record.

He foretold Israel’s slavery in Egypt, their deliverance, and entrance into Canaan (Genesis → Exodus → Joshua).
He foretold events through Moses, Joshua, and earlier prophets.
Even in Isaiah’s time, some prophecies — like the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom — were already happening during Hezekiah’s reign.

God has a history of doing exactly what He says. Former prophecies were already fulfilled, proving He alone is God.

“And new things do I declare”

Now God shifts to future events — things that had never happened before:

The Babylonian exile of Judah and Benjamin.
Their restoration through Cyrus.
But most importantly: the mission and incarnation of Christ — His coming, suffering, death, and the salvation He brings.

These are called “new” not because they’re unexpected, but because they are fresh, unique works of God in history — especially the Gospel, which is God’s ultimate “new thing” (cf. Isaiah 43:19).

God is revealing a new phase in His redemptive plan, centered on the Messiah.

“Before they spring forth I tell you of them”

This is God flexing His divine foreknowledge.
Before any sign appears — while the seed is still underground — He declares what’s coming.

These “seeds” were already planted in His eternal plan, and prophecy is how He reveals them early.
The fulfillment of past prophecies gives believers confidence that these new ones (especially about Christ) will also be fulfilled.

Summary

The New Covenant required death to begin — Jesus’ death activated it.
The Old Covenant was sealed with animal blood — the New Covenant is sealed with Christ’s blood.
God has always confirmed His covenants through blood, showing that life must be given for the promise to take effect.