Episode Overview

Podcast: Grace in Focus
Episode Title: Did Zane Hodges Believe that the New Covenant is for Today?
Date: November 28, 2025
Hosts: Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr
Theme:
This episode addresses a nuanced theological question: “Is the New Covenant currently in effect, and what is the relationship between the New Covenant, Israel, and the Church?” The discussion especially focuses on Zane Hodges’ position—well-known in Free Grace Theology circles—about how believers today relate to New Covenant blessings, even if the covenant itself is not yet fully inaugurated.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining the New Covenant and Its Intended Parties

• Biblical Foundation:

  • The New Covenant is first explicitly mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31 as a promise God makes with Israel.
  • In the New Testament, “new covenant” is found nine times (see especially Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 11:25, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 8:8, 8:13, 9:15, 12:24).

• Key Distinction:

  • According to Bob Wilkin, the New Covenant is made with Israel—not the church. “We are remembering the new covenant God has made with Israel, not with the church, with Israel.” (03:04, Bob Wilkin)
  • Jesus’ future reign is closely tied to the New Covenant’s full inauguration, occurring at His return.

2. Zane Hodges’ Position: Blessings Now, Inauguration Future

• Summary of Hodges:
  • Hodges held that while the New Covenant is not yet inaugurated (that is, not fully in effect), many of its blessings—such as regeneration and forgiveness of sins—are experienced by believers now.
  • Direct Quote: “My understanding is that Hodges’ view is that there are blessings of the New Covenant which we experience now even though the New Covenant has not yet been inaugurated.” (05:14, Bob Wilkin)

3. Practical Application: Communion and Forgiveness

• Lord’s Supper and the New Covenant:

  • When believers take communion, they remember the New Covenant and anticipate Christ’s return and the fulfillment of His kingdom in Israel.
  • Memorable Explanation:
    • “Whenever we take the Lord’s Supper we’re remembering the new covenant God has made with Israel… Jesus is coming soon to establish his kingdom in Israel and from Israel.” (02:19, Bob Wilkin)

• Forgiveness Linked to Belief:

  • The blessing of forgiveness (“remission of sins”) mentioned at the Last Supper is not automatically bestowed; it is received through faith in Christ.
  • Direct Quote: “The remission of sins only occurs when someone believes… We don’t get the remission of sins until we believe in Christ.” (08:03, Bob Wilkin)

4. The “Already/Not Yet” Debate in Eschatology

• Critique of “Already/Not Yet”:
  • Some hold to a theology where the kingdom (and by extension, the New Covenant) is “already” present spiritually, though “not yet” physically fulfilled.
  • Wilkin finds this approach contradictory: “The kingdom cannot be here and not here in the same sense at the same time.” (11:13, Bob Wilkin)
  • The present world is still under Satan’s rule; Jesus’ literal reign and the New Covenant’s full blessings are future.

5. Implications for Believers’ Hope

• Watchfulness and Anticipation:
  • If the kingdom and the New Covenant were fully present, the biblical encouragement to look forward to Jesus’ return would lose its urgency.
  • Direct Quote: “That kind of demeans so many other verses that encourage believers to look forward to his return… we don’t need to be awake and watchful and encouraging one another at his coming.” (11:43, Sam Marr)

6. Final Encouragement

• Invitation to Further Study:
  • Bob encourages listeners to read Zane Hodges’ article “Regeneration: A New Covenant Blessing” for deeper study, acknowledging that the NT doesn’t spell out every detail of the New Covenant.
  • Closing Thought: “Let’s all keep grace in focus. Amen.” (12:32, Bob Wilkin)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (Timestamps in MM:SS)

• On the New Covenant’s Recipients

  • “We are remembering the new covenant God has made with Israel, not with the church, with Israel.” (03:04, Bob Wilkin)

• On Hodges’ Position

  • “My understanding is that Hodges’ view is that there are blessings of the New Covenant which we experience now even though the New Covenant has not yet been inaugurated.” (05:14, Bob Wilkin)

• On Forgiveness Linked to Faith

  • “The remission of sins only occurs when someone believes… We don’t get the remission of sins until we believe in Christ.” (08:03, Bob Wilkin)

• On the “Already/Not Yet” Approach

  • “The kingdom cannot be here and not here in the same sense at the same time.” (11:13, Bob Wilkin)

• On Believers’ Hope

  • “That kind of demeans so many other verses that encourage believers to look forward to his return… we don’t need to be awake and watchful and encouraging one another at his coming.” (11:43, Sam Marr)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:55 – Listener Question Introduced

  • Lon’s question about Zane Hodges’ view on the New Covenant.

• 01:23 – Wilkin’s Initial Explanation

  • Overview of New Covenant occurrence and meaning in Scripture.

• 05:05 – Specifics on Hodges’ Perspective

  • Distinguishing between present covenant blessings and future inauguration.

• 08:03 – Forgiveness and Faith

  • Communion, forgiveness, and their conditional relationship.

• 09:16 – Lord’s Supper Details

  • “After supper” and the symbolism of communion in the context of Passover.

• 11:09 – “Already/Not Yet” and Kingdom Theology

  • Critique of already/not yet reasoning in popular theology.

• 12:32 – Closing Encouragement

  • Call to study further and keep “grace in focus.”

Original Tone & Style

• Warm, friendly, conversational.
• Heavy reliance on scripture and direct engagement with theological debates in Free Grace Theology.
• Both hosts use clear explanations, biblical references, and practical illustrations to clarify nuanced doctrinal issues.

Summary Takeaway

This episode clarifies that, in the view of Grace Evangelical Society and Zane Hodges, the New Covenant is a promise made to Israel, future in its full inauguration, but believers today experience many of its blessings (not all). Communion is a reminder of this coming fulfillment and a call to look forward with hope, not to confuse the church with Israel or assume Christ’s reign is present. The discussion encourages thoughtful distinction between present blessings and future fulfillment in Christian theology.