Grace in Focus Episode Summary

Title: Is the New Covenant Operative Today?
Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Bob Wilkin & Ken Yates
Podcast: Grace in Focus | Grace Evangelical Society

Episode Overview

This episode of Grace in Focus, hosted by Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates, tackles a highly debated question in Free Grace Theology: "Is the New Covenant operative today, and if so, is it operative for the church?" The discussion centers on properly interpreting key New Testament passages, dispensationalist views of the New Covenant, its relationship to Israel and the church, and what practical implications follow for Christian living, sanctification, and the Spirit’s work.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting Up the Question

• Listener question: Aren't there New Testament verses indicating that the New Covenant is being ministered in the church today? (00:51)
• Background:
  • The Free Grace view often teaches that the New Covenant is specifically for national Israel, not the church.
  • The question arises repeatedly in classes and conferences.

2. Biblical References Examined

• Jeremiah 31:31-33 — The foundational Old Testament prophecy about the New Covenant, directed explicitly to Israel. (01:54)
• 1 Corinthians 11:25 — Paul recounts Jesus’ words at the Last Supper: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." Addressed to a Gentile-majority church (Corinthians). (02:16)
• 2 Corinthians 3:6 — Paul claims to be "a minister of the new covenant," in the context of his Spirit-empowered ministry to the Corinthians, contrasting the law and the Spirit. (02:14)

3. How Dispensationalists Interpret the Question

• Ken Yates: “First thing I would point out is do a word study of New Covenant. What you will find is it’s amazingly rare in the New Testament. If I remember correctly, there’s four uses.” (03:59)
• Scriptural references to the “New Covenant” are rare; its operation isn’t explicitly declared as present in the Church Age.
• Interpretive options among dispensationalists:
  1. Two New Covenants View:
     • “There’s a new covenant for Israel, and there’s a new covenant for the church... They’re both based upon the death of Christ. But the church is under a new covenant and Israel is going to be under the new covenant when he returns.” — Bob Wilkin (05:24)
  2. Single (Future) New Covenant View:
     • The New Covenant was inaugurated in a sense by Christ’s blood but isn’t actually operational until Christ is ruling over Israel in the Millennium. (05:45)
  3. Church as Beneficiary, Not Party:
     • “There would be some who would say that the new covenant is for the nation of Israel, but the church receives some of the blessings.” — Bob Wilkin (06:41)
     • Ken Yates counters: “We’re not Israel... The promises for Israel aren’t for us. We need unique promises for us.” (06:57)

4. Theological and Practical Ramifications

• The New Covenant promises (Jeremiah 31) involve a transformed Israel: God's law written on Jewish hearts, national salvation, and Messiah's rule from Jerusalem.
  • “Now, when the New Covenant is inaugurated, according to Jeremiah 31, he’s going to write the law on their hearts. Right. And he says, and everyone will know the Lord from the least to the greatest. Of course, he’s talking about in Israel.” — Ken Yates (04:24)
• The church currently does not experience these specific, Israel-focused blessings.
• Paul refers to “ministering” the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6) as ministering in light of or in anticipation of these future promises.

5. Clarifying Paul’s Language

• Definite Article Debate:
  • “When Paul says we are ministers of a new covenant, I don’t think the article is there... In other words, he’s not really talking about Jeremiah 31. I’ve heard it said this way... we’re ministers of a new covenant here.” — Bob Wilkin (09:41)
  • Ken Yates: “It could be. But if he only uses the expression new covenant twice... it would seem likely that they both would be talking about the same new covenant.” (10:07)
• The Greek grammar doesn’t require an article for something to be definite, so Paul could still be referencing Jeremiah 31 even if the grammar is ambiguous. (10:44)

6. The New Covenant and the Law

• Key Difference: Christians now are not under the law of Moses or the law written perfectly on their hearts (as promised to Israel under the New Covenant).
  • “We don’t even have God’s laws. We don’t have the New Testament commands written on our heart. The only way we get them there is by hearing the word of God taught. And the Spirit transforming us.” — Bob Wilkin & Ken Yates (12:42 to 12:53)

7. Conclusion & Application

• Bob and Ken agree: The New Covenant is not currently operative—the promises are awaiting fulfillment when Christ rules Israel.
  • “I’m confident the New Covenant is not operating.” — Ken Yates (11:43)
  • “And we agree.” — Bob Wilkin (11:57)
• Caution: Don’t overbuild theology or spiritual experience on a doctrine with few clear New Testament references.
  • “If this was some really key, crucial theological aspect, don’t you think there’d be some passage that clearly laid this out?” — Ken Yates (12:18)
• Practical warning: Speculation about the New Covenant and the church can lead to legalism.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ken Yates (03:59):

  “First thing I would point out is do a word study of New Covenant. What you will find is it’s amazingly rare in the New Testament.”

• Bob Wilkin (05:24):

  “One would be that... Jeremiah is talking about a new covenant that he’s going to make with the nation of Israel. But there’s also a new covenant for the church. They’re not the same... But the church is under a new covenant and Israel is going to be under the new covenant when he returns.”

• Ken Yates (06:57):

  “We’re not Israel. We’re not the chosen people. And the promises for Israel aren’t for us. We need unique promises for us.”

• Ken Yates (08:48):

  “I think probably that would be an inaccurate statement because that would then say the new covenant is currently operating. So probably initiate is wrong, anticipates would be right.”

• Ken Yates (11:43):

  “Look, I would encourage all of you, if I seem like I’ve stumbled around here... But look, I’m confident the New Covenant is not operating.”

• Ken Yates (12:18):

  “If this was some really key, crucial theological aspect, don’t you think there’d be some passage that clearly laid this out?”

• Bob Wilkin & Ken Yates (12:42-12:53):

  “We don’t even have God’s laws. We don’t have the New Testament commands written on our heart. The only way we get them there is by hearing the word of God taught.” (Bob) “And the Spirit transforming us.” (Ken)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:51–02:14 — Listener question and scripture set-up
• 03:59–05:45 — What “New Covenant” means and dispensational options
• 06:41–07:41 — Church as possible beneficiary and difference from Israel
• 08:48–11:43 — Grammar, possible interpretations, Ken and Bob’s hesitations
• 12:18–12:53 — Warnings, practical implications, Spirit versus law

Closing

Main Takeaway:
Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates both maintain that the New Covenant, as prophesied in Jeremiah for Israel, is not currently operative for the church. While the church benefits from Christ’s sacrifice (the basis of the New Covenant), the specific promises and spiritual realities of Jeremiah 31 await fulfillment in a future era when Jesus reigns as Israel’s Messiah. The “new covenant” language used by Paul serves more as anticipation or ministry in relation to what God will do for Israel—not a claim that the church is fully under this covenant today.

Encouragement:
Listeners are encouraged to study the scriptures carefully, avoid dogmatism on lightly attested doctrines, and keep a clear distinction between Israel and the church in their theology—practicing grace and caution in application.