Introduction

† The phrase "everlasting covenant" is often used to teach that ethnic Israel remains in a unique covenant relationship with God today.
† However, the New Testament explains that the everlasting covenant reached its fulfillment in Jesus Christ and was extended to all who are in Him, whether Jew or Gentile.
† The issue isn't whether God's covenant is everlasting, the issue is who inherits that covenant and how it is fulfilled.

Genesis 17:7
I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
† God established His covenant with Abraham and his descendants, but the promise always pointed beyond physical lineage to the promised Seed, Christ (Galatians 3:16).
† The covenant was everlasting because its fulfillment would never end, not because every covenantal administration would continue forever (Hebrews 8:13).
† Those who belong to Christ are Abraham's descendants and heirs according to promise (Galatians 3:29).

Jeremiah 32:40
I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, so that they will not turn away from Me.
† Jeremiah was looking forward to the New Covenant that God would establish with His people (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
† This everlasting covenant involved an inward transformation of the heart, not merely national membership in Israel (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
† The promise finds its fulfillment in Christ and His covenant people (Hebrews 10:16-17).

Hebrews 13:20
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord,
† The everlasting covenant is directly connected to the blood of Jesus Christ.
† The writer of Hebrews does not point believers back to the covenant at Sinai, but to the covenant established through Christ's sacrifice (Hebrews 9:15).
† Through His blood, Jesus secured an eternal redemption that never needs to be repeated (Hebrews 9:12).

Hebrews 8:13
When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.
† The old covenant was never intended to continue forever.
† The writer of Hebrews said it was becoming obsolete and was ready to disappear.
† This shows that covenant standing before God would no longer be based upon membership in the old covenant nation, but upon participation in the New Covenant through Christ.

Galatians 3:28-29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.
And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.
† Covenant inheritance is no longer determined by ethnicity.
† The dividing wall between Jew and Gentile was removed in Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16).
† Those who belong to Christ are counted as Abraham's seed and inherit the covenant promises.

Ephesians 2:14-16
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
† Christ did not create two covenant peoples, He created one new man.
† Jew and Gentile were reconciled together in one body through the cross.
† The everlasting covenant is enjoyed by all who are in Christ, not by separate covenant groups.

Romans 9:6-8
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through Isaac your descendants shall be named." That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
† Paul distinguished between physical Israel and the true covenant people of God.
† Physical descent from Abraham never guaranteed covenant inheritance.
† The children of promise are those who receive God's promise through faith in Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:20
For as many as the promises of God are, in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
† Every promise God made finds its fulfillment in Christ.
† The promises were not left suspended awaiting another covenant program.
† God's faithfulness is demonstrated by fulfilling His promises through Jesus Christ.

Historical References
† Justin Martyr wrote that those who believe in Christ are the true spiritual Israel and heirs of the promises made to Abraham.
† Irenaeus taught that the promises of God find their fulfillment in Christ and in those united to Him.
† Eusebius recorded the judgment that came upon Jerusalem and the end of the old covenant order in the first century.

How It Applies To Us Today
† Our confidence rests in Christ, not in physical ancestry.
† Every believer shares equally in the everlasting covenant through faith in Jesus.
† God's covenant promises have not failed, they have been fulfilled in Christ and extended to all nations.
† We don't need a future covenant fulfillment because God has already fulfilled His promises in His Son.

Q & A Appendix
Q: Does God still have a separate covenant with ethnic Israel today?
A: The New Testament teaches that the everlasting covenant is fulfilled in Christ and belongs to all who are in Him, Jew and Gentile alike (Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 2:14-16).
Q: Did God's promises to Abraham fail?
A: No. God's promises were fulfilled through Christ, the promised Seed, and all who belong to Him inherit those promises (Galatians 3:16; Romans 9:6-8).
Q: Who are Abraham's heirs today?
A: Those who belong to Christ are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise (Galatians 3:29).
Q: Why is the covenant called everlasting?
A: Because its fulfillment in Christ is eternal and never passes away (Hebrews 13:20; Hebrews 9:12).
Q: Are unbelieving Jews still in the everlasting covenant because of their ancestry?
A: No. Covenant membership is found in Christ, not in physical descent from Abraham (Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 3:29; John 8:39-44).

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index
† Genesis 17:7, Jeremiah 32:40, Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 8:13, Galatians 3:28-29, Ephesians 2:14-16, Romans 9:6-8, 2 Corinthians 1:20
† Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Eusebius