Did Zane Hodges Believe that the New Covenant is for Today?

Summary

---

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.

---

Transcript

[A]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society. Is the New Covenant currently in effect? What is the relationship and the distinction between the New Covenant and the Church? Thank you for joining us friend. This is Grace in Focus. We are a ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society and our web site is faithalone.org at that website you can find out about our free online seminary, Grace Evangelical Seminary. Where can you where you can study theological courses and even earn an M. Div. Degree. And it's free if you maintain a 3.0 grade average. The time for application is now and if accepted you can join us for our spring semester. Get all the [e-mail] now with today's question and answer discussion here are Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr.

[B]

Alright Bob, we've got a question from Lon. He says he's in a Bible study group with a bunch of GES guys and so they've got a question for you on one of Zane Hodges views. So the question is he says you stated that the new Covenant was not in effect today. This seems to be in tension with Hodges view as published in the Journal a few years ago. The title is Regeneration A New Covenant Blessing. Could you address Zane's view and your view?

[C]

Yeah. So Lon, great question. And I took a minute to look up New Covenant because we know that new covenant occurs in Jeremiah 31:31 where God is making a new covenant with Israel. He's promising to make a new covenant with Israel. And we know that that occurs in the New Testament in several places. It turns out it's nine places, remember? Maybe you can turn to this one. For example, in Matthew 26:28 the Lord is saying that his blood is the blood of the new covenant. Could you read that?

[B]

Yep. He says, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

[C]

Okay. And that's parallel to Mark 14:14 and that's parallel to Luke 22:20 and that's also parallel to First Corinthians 11:25 where Paul also quotes that all four of those are saying that whenever we take the Lord's Supper we're remembering the new covenant God has made with Israel, not with the church, with Israel. So we're remembering that Jesus is coming soon to establish his kingdom in Israel and from Israel. Israel is going to be the world power, not some gentile nation. And he's going to rule from Jerusalem. He's not going to rule from Rome, he's not going to rule from Moscow. Or Paris or from Washington D.C. he's going to be ruling from Jerusalem and there are several others. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 6, Paul says we are ministers of the new Covenant, which I understand to mean the ministry that Paul did and the other apostles did and ultimately all of us in the church age do is in respect to the new Covenant. In other words, we're ministering in light of the new Covenant. We know the Lord is returning soon to establish his kingdom over Israel and the nations and that the role of the church, we're not designed. The church isn't designed to be a nation. Right. We're not going to have some nation called church or ekklesia. Right. We are designed to rule over the nations, including Israel. Remember that the 12 apostles are going to sit on 12 thrones and rule over the 12 tribes of Israel. Well, the 12 apostles are church age believers and they're going to be ruling in Israel. And I assume there will be Jews from the church age who are going to be ruling in Israel. Some. But I would assume that most of us from the church age are going to rule in if we are faithful. And of course rulership is only if we endure second Timothy 2:12. But we will likely rule wherever our heart was. So if we let's say we're citizens of Canada and we loved Canada, then we'll be ruling somewhere in Canada. But let's say if I was a missionary from the United States to Brazil and I spent my whole life in Brazil so that I was much longer in Brazil than I was in the United States, well then most likely I'd rule in Brazil in the life to come. The Scriptures aren't clear in that, but the point is we minister in light of the New Covenant. And the other four uses of the new covenant occur in Hebrews 8, 8, 8, 13, 9, 15 and 1224. Could you read Hebrews 8, 8?

[B]

Yeah. 8, 8 says because finding fault with them, he says, behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

[C]

And right I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. So the new covenant is not made with the church, it's made with Israel. I believe what Hodges was saying. Now, I haven't read that article in a while, but I did edit it before we put it up online and I heard him give the talk at our conference as well. My understanding is that Hodges view is that there are blessings of the New Covenant which we experience now in even though the New Covenant has not yet been inaugurated. The New Covenant will be inaugurated when Jesus is inaugurated as King of Israel at the beginning of the millennium. But prior to that we have all the blessings of the New well, not all the blessings, but many of the blessings of the New Covenant. Obviously one of the blessings of the New Covenant is Jesus ruling and reigning, and we don't have that yet. You know, we don't have redeemed Israel, which is one of the blessings of the New Covenant. We don't have that yet. But we do experience many of the blessings. And what was it that Hodges said that one of those was? Regeneration?

[B]

I think so.

[C]

And I think he mentioned other blessings of the New Covenant. The forgiveness of sins is, I believe, one of the blessings of the New Covenant as well. But the beauty of this is God can give us blessings of something that has not yet been inaugurated in in the same way that Old Testament believers could be born again prior to the shed blood of Christ because Romans 3:25 says he passed over the sins previously committed. In other words, he was able to apply the blood of Jesus even before the shed blood of Christ.

[A]

Did you know that the Grace Evangelical Society offers an M. Div. Degree through our online seminary and tuition is free to those who maintain a 3.0 grade average. It is a three year degree program and you could submit your application now to gain acceptance. Then stay apprised of our registration periods for upcoming semester terms. Program and application details can be [e-mail] have a look at our MDIV degree. Become an approved workman. Find out how gesseminary.org I've heard other.

[B]

People talk about this too. I mean, I'm pretty sure I was even taught this in church growing up. But you know, when you read these verses at the Lord's Supper whenever I'm taking communion. Verse 28 in Matthew 26:28. I think most Christians that's the way they take it because you read it My blood of the New Covenant which is shed for the remission of sins. Just reading it there, it sounds like the blood of the New Covenant has taken away my sins. But what you're saying is that those are two separate things. So there's his blood is of the New Covenant and His blood is for the remission of sins.

[C]

Yeah, but the remission of sins only occurs when someone believes. I have an article called the Benefits of Christ's Restricted and Unrestricted Jesus Has Made Everyone Saveable by his blood John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world so that we're now saveable. But Matthew 26:28 about the remission of sins. We don't get the remission of sins until we believe in Christ. Acts 10:43, all the prophets give testimony to the fact that whoever believes in him receives the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins is a new covenant blessing. But you don't get it simply because Jesus died on the cross. You get it because he died on the cross and then you believe in him for the gift of eternal life. So yeah, when we take the Lord's Supper or communion, we are anticipating the soon return of Christ. Turn to First Corinthians 11 around verse 26:27 where Paul is talking about the New Covenant. He talks about the new covenant in 25. He quotes this about the blood of the new covenant. Read that and then keep reading. 1125.

[B]

In the same manner, he also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, and this do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.

[C]

All right, stop there for a second. The two most neglected words in all of First Corinthians, if not all of Scripture, are after supper. When people take the Lord's Supper, we get the wafer, we get the juice. I guess the wafer is supper and the juice is after supper. But in the context of Passover, they had many cups and it would start with bread, and they would have breaking of bread, etc. And then at the end, after the whole meal, the Lord took the cup and said, this is the blood of the new covenant in my blood. But Keep reading verses 26 and 7.

[B]

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes.

[C]

Okay, we proclaim his death until he comes. We might think until he comes is just for us. But he isn't coming just for us. He's coming for us and for Israel. In fact, I think we could argue he's coming for Israel and for us. Israel is the big reason. He's coming because he is the King of Israel. He is the Messiah for Israel. Now he's our Messiah too. We get that blessing. But we need to remember that Israel has been the focus ever since God called Abraham and then repeated the promise to Isaac and to Jacob. So yeah, there are new covenant blessings. But if we say the new covenant exists today, then we ultimately get into this already. Not yet. You ever heard that?

[B]

Yeah, we were talking about it the Other day we get some emails, some calling, questions about that.

[C]

So a lot of people say the kingdom is not yet here, but it's already here. And I go, what do you mean it's already here but it's not here? That's a contradiction. The kingdom cannot be here and not here in the same sense at the same time. Now they mean in a different sense. They mean the kingdom is here spiritually. Right. Not physically, but spiritually. But there's no indication anywhere in the Bible the kingdom is here spiritually right now. Satan is the God of this world right now. Jesus is not ruling and reigning.

[B]

Yeah. And that kind of demeans so many other verses that encourage believers to look forward to his return. Right. If it doesn't matter if the kingdom is already here, then we don't need to be awake and watchful and encouraging one another at his coming.

[C]

Absolutely. Some people actually think that Jesus is going to come at the end of a millennium. Not a literal thousand years, but the end of a kingdom age. Things are going to get better and better and better until he returns. They must be looking around going, I don't think it's working right now. I would encourage you to read Zane's article and think about it, but there's just not much in the scriptures about the new covenant. When you read these nine New Testament passages, they don't exactly lay out all the details. Well, let's all keep grace in focus. Amen.

[A]

We would love to know where you are are when you are listening to us. Please take a short minute to send us the call letters of this station and the city where you are listening and how many times a week you listen. Thank you. You will be helping us with our stewardship. Send it to radioaithalone.org that's radioaithalone.org we are so thankful for our financial partners who keep us on the air. Every gift is tax deductible and very much appreciated. If you'd like to find out how you can give, go to faithalone.org on our website we have a church tracker. It's an easy to use map that will help you locate those other free grace churches that might be in your area. So come visit us at the website and take advantage of our free church Tracker. It'[e-mail] that's faithalone.org now friend. We thank you for joining us all this week. We're wishing you a great weekend. Come back and join us again on Monday for more grace in focus. The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.