When Do You Break The Covenant?

God knew that under the first covenant the people could not keep everything that was written in the book of the law. Therefore He ordained the various sacrifices and offerings for the forgiveness of sins. When they transgressed the commandments they were to bring sin offerings and guilt offerings. Every transgression cost them something—a bull or a goat that was without blemish, or some other animal. There was the great Day of Atonement which took place just once a year when the high priest went into the Holy Place to atone for all the sins of the people, both conscious and unconscious.

All these sacrifices were but a shadow of the true sacrifice, which Jesus would bring. Before Jesus came they continued with these “shadow offerings,” which could never take away sins or transform lives. However, through these confessions they lived in a state of acknowledgment and expectation, and matured to receive the new covenant.

As long as they were true to the covenant they grieved over their transgressions, faithfully brought offerings, and attended diligently to worship. But when they violated the covenant, they no longer grieved over their sins. They no longer strove to keep the law, and they were no longer careful to choose animals without blemish for their sacrifices. When it was really bad with them, they sacrificed to idols.

But God was faithful, even though they were faithless. 2 Tim. 2:12-13. Then He was true to the covenant and let all the curses come over them, banishing them from the land. It is precisely the same in the new covenant.

Falling in sin is not a transgression of the covenant, but committing sin is. John writes, “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin.” In other words, that is the norm. This is the salvation in the new covenant to which they could not attain in the first covenant. “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 2:1-2. But not unless I am true to the covenant, which means that I confess and am absolutely determined never to do it again.

If I have obligated myself to pay a man a certain sum of money each month, and one month I am unable to do so, I can approach the man and explain my predicament, and I have not broken the agreement. He notices my sorrow, and will readily understand that I have not deliberately breached the contract. I was simply not able to abide by the terms. He forgives me and gives me more time. But suppose I think, “That was easy. Why should I strive with making the payments on time when he is so kind and gladly forgives me?” Next time, when I ask for his forgiveness he will notice my lack of sorrow. Then I have broken the covenant, and he will let the curse come over me. God looks at the heart, so He knows whether you have broken the covenant or not. We can say that the first time I fell into sin; the second time I committed sin. John writes, “He who commits sin is of the devil [Norw. Trans.].” 1 John 3:8.

Sin is lawlessness—when I act contrary to the light I have. “He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.” 1 John 3:4-6. Jesus never broke the law. He Himself was without sin, and now He has been revealed to put an end to our transgressions. He is fully able to accomplish the work He came to do in all those who are willing.

The law of sin is activated when you fall in temptation. Then you need to humble yourself so that the law of death is not activated. When sin is full-grown it brings forth death. This means that if you do not acknowledge your sin and do not sorrow over it, it will not be cleansed away. The blood of the covenant testifies of this. The fruit will remain and it will mature—it will bring forth death. You have broken the covenant, and sin separates you from God. Jas. 1:14-15.

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8:2. Therefore, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” 1 John 3:6. However, if you love the world and the things in the world, you cannot help but commit sin, and then the love of the Father is not in you. “Little children, let no one deceive you.” 1 John 3:7. “Keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21.

In other words, to those people under the first covenant who tried their best, who grieved over their sins and kept the covenant, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” All the others had broken the covenant and were not fit to enter this new covenant.

It is just the same today. All those who do not grieve over their transgressions—their sins—are not fit for the new covenant. Either they have never entered into the new covenant or they have broken it. Jesus cannot save them and give them rest.