New Covenant

I would like to get some thoughts concerning the New Covenant. What are the terms of the New Covenant?
It is certainly not laid out in the New Testament like the Old Covenant is laid out in the Old Testament. Actually, my understanding is that "testament" is a latin word for "covenant".
Is the New Covenant conditional as was the Old Covenant? Or is it unconditional, more like the Noahic or Davidic covenants? If it is conditional then what might the conditions or terms be? If it is unconditional then would that amount to universalism where salvation is given to all? My immediate thoughts go to a conditional covenant like the Old Covenant. But the terms seem to be vague. Any thoughts?

Thank you both for your responses to my query. I will check out the above references to see if they answer my questions. It may be old hat for some but this particular study is relatively new to me. Last year, while reading through the Bible I decided to record all of the references to "covenant." I chose that word randomly + chose another purposely, "if" (conditional statements). I did not realize the significance of the 2 words together, "covenant" + "if" until having finished reading through the Bible + perusing all of the references gathered. It seemed a significant discovery to better understand our relationship to our heavenly Father amongst other things.

I listened to Alan Martin's sermon. And I say Amen. He spoke with clarity concerning the means by which we enter the New Covenant. It is by His Spirit that we recognize His covenant with us.

Another point I found encouraging is that Pastor Martin used the OT to illustrate the New Covenant. More than 2/3 of the sermon was spent in Ezekiel and Joshua.

And finally Pastor Martin asks..."Do you believe that Christ was raised from the dead" repeatedly...and Martin was not speaking of remembering a bible verse, he was speaking to the point of do you know Christ? If he was not resurrected then no one would know Christ. So when one comes to know Christ one will know with certainty that Christ was resurrected...

Good teaching....

I have listened to the sermon given by Zac Poonen, with some effort, I hope to cover various parts of his teaching. I will cover a little bit here and a little bit there. I will try to present his thoughts as accurately as possible without having to transcribe his entire sermon.

Pastor Poonen begins by comparing the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. He states that because the heart could not be changed by the Law of Moses, Israel's hearts remainded hard. Thus the men of the OT had testimonies which reflected this unchanged heart. Poonen then goes on to teach that the New Covenant differs in that God promises to change the once hard heart into a soft heart. And that this is essense of the New Covenant.

There is some confusion in the way Poonen teaches these precepts. We know first, that the purpose of the Law given to Moses, was to confine all under sin. Poonen does not acknowledge this precept given to us in Scripture.

Secondly, Poonen teaches that all who lived before the day of Pentecost did not have a heart which sought God continuously. Poonen states that all of Israel failed to live a consistent life of obeying and seeking God.

My observation of Poonen's teaching is this...he does not understand or is not familiar with the OT. Throughout the OT there are testimonies of most who reject God, but there is on the other hand, continual testimony given of a "remanent" that does not have a hardened heart.

Based on Poonen's teaching, how would he explain away the testimony of a man who wrote Psalm 119?

Consider this...read Psalm 119 and contemplate for yourself. Listen to this sermon, be a Berean, How does Poonen's teaching align or misinterpret the Scritpures.

The next point...Poonen states that the heart of all the OT men are hard and then he begins to give examples one by one. The above transcription is about Elijah.

I have transcribed a section of Poonen teaching at the 5 minute mark...Poonen says:

"What I want to say is that is the experience of an old covenant person. It is the experience of a man whose heart is hard. It is the same with all these men of God. You find Elijah up on the mountain top, fighting against 850 false prophets. Bringing fire down from heaven. And the next chapter you read him running away by the threat of a woman, depressed, going to the mountain, and saying to the Lord, "Take away my life, I’ve had enough.” And then he is encouraged and goes back into the ministry again."

Look closely to what he says...Elijah's heart is hard and therefore he runs from the threat of a woman...

First, Scripture states that one who has a hard heart does not hear God. One who has a hard heart does not obey God. One who has a hard heart does not repent for his actions. Does the testimony of Elijah support the notion that Elijah has a hard heart? I think it is very clear that the truth is just the opposite.

Secondly is Poonen's depiction of Elijah's "running away by the threat of a woman" an accurate account of the Scriptures? Imagine a person who might be listening to this teaching, and not knowing the full account, how would this individual view Elijah's reaction to the threat he encountered from Jezabel. Why does Poonen teach this way?

I recommend you read The Better Covenant by Ron Bailey. You will go a long ways before you find clearer teaching on the New Covenant than this. You can find it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The%20Better%20covenant%20ron%20bailey

Hello everyone hope you all are having a wonderful night.

Rookie, I don't know that much about Pastor Poonen, but I do know a little about what the Bible says. I wonder what his response would be about Enoch. I don't say this out of arrogance or with malicious intent but rather to see how he could read the Bible and think that.

Enoch was perfect, His testimony was that he pleased God! By the grace of God I pray that I might have the same. Was his heart hard? Would God translate a hard hearted man so that he shouldn't even taste death?

Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Love everyone, and God bless

Thank you ADisciple for that recommendation. I followed your link + then found a link to Ron Bailey's blog where it is possible to post a thought or question. Naturally I will do so. Many thanks, eh? fellow Canadian

You're welcome, trxx. Yes, UK Bible teacher Ron Bailey has a blog, and also a website called Biblebase. http://biblebase.com/

There's also a forum there but it hasn't been functioning very well and is in the throes of some changes at the moment.

http://ncw.biblebase.com/modules/newbb/

And I do encourage you to get that book! You won't be disappointed!

...You're a Canadian, too, eh? Whereabouts are you?

Hi Rookie,

In Psalm 119:35-36 we read:

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Here we have the Psalmist delighting in the law after the inward man (if I may turn a phrase), but asking God to show him how to perform what is written. In my view this was Paul's testimony prior to being Born Again. He goes on to say, " Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. " By inference, his heart was not rightly inclined. This is the pattern of the Old Covenant. The saints thereof were a remnant people; but that must not be confused with what is available under the New Covenant. In fact, as great a man as John the Baptist was, he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven would be greater than he. How can this be? John the Baptist preached a kingdom that he, himself, was not yet in. That is the plain reading of the text. It was at hand (Matthew 3:2), but it was not yet.

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16)

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

Based upon what your conception of Zac Poonen's teaching, I find what he is saying to be wholly true. John the Baptist announced the arrival of the Kingdom. This signaled the time of preparation for the coming of Messiah who would eventually lead to the possibility of a radical change in the nature of fallen men and women. The Old Testament is loaded with pictures of what God would do in the New Covenant. This includes a new heart and a new spirit.

Perhaps most importantly, the New Covenant creates a new race of men who are Born Again in Christ. We are in Adam by first birth and suffer all that his sin caused in the fall. You are aware of the teaching of original sin, so I will not expound. When Jesus told Nicodemas in John 3:3 that "you must be Born Again (born from above)" He was offering a possibility never before known to man. We were born by first birth in Adam; we are born again by New Birth into Jesus Christ, the last Adam.

In the same way that being in Adam effected mankind for evil; being born again into Jesus Christ affects us to the nature of the last Adam. As natural as it was to sin in Adam, it is natural to do righteousness for those in Christ. This was never available prior to Christ's death. Why? It was New. How could a person be "in Christ" whilst Christ walked the earth? How could they be baptized into His death when He had not died to Sin yet Himself? Our death to Sin, our being raised with Him, etc. are all aspects of the New Covenant. Nobody was in the New Covenant prior to Pentecost. It is impossible. It had not been made effectual or available.

Jesus is the one who spoke of the hardness of hearts. Zac Poonen is only taking up His claims. But this is only a portion of the story. They were of their father the Devil and the lusts of their father they did do. This was the problem with man. It is the diagnosis. (1 John 3:8-3:10) The Old Covenant could do nothing more than impose upon the people an institutional type law, with a view to correcting their behavior under the Adamic nature. It exposed their sinful nature, and quantified their sin. It made them very sin conscious. The Law was Spiritual, but men were carnal and sold under Sin. One cannot do with institutional law what can only be done by a change in a one's constitutional nature. It was a stop-gap measure until the Seed came to whom the promises were made (Galatians 3:19). These promises have been passed to us that we might be partakers of the Divine Nature. They were not given to those in the Old Covenant. This is the promise of the New Covenant.

I can send my dog to obedience school, and he may come home and act more civilized; but this is not a change of nature, it is the imposition of institutional law upon him. This is what the Old Covenant did for those under it. Nevertheless, God is bringing many sons unto glory. Prior to being born again, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Man has always fallen short of the glory of God, no matter how great he or she was. however, God is bringing many sons unto glory through the New Covenant. In Christ, the saying is fulfilled, "Let Us make man in our own image and likeness..." God wants children who partake of His Divine Nature. Not His omnipotence, omniscience, etc.; but His personality and character. This is what the New Covenant provides. It is New. It became available at Pentecost. It enabled mankind who had been born after the generations of Adam to be born again into the generation of Jesus Christ.

Brother Robert,

Let us look into Psalm 119 as you have posted about the short comming of the individual who recognized that his heart was not right concerning covetousness.

As you stated the written law's purpose, is to condemn all under sin. The written law teaches the individual to recognize what is not right in ones heart. And as you have stated, the writer of the Psalm also recognizes that he cannot remove from his being that which afflicts him.

So after this individual comes to this conclusion, what does he do?

In Psalm 119:35-36 we read:

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

He asks the Lord to change what he cannot achieve according to the flesh. Now how does the Lord answer his prayer, his calling on the Lord?

Psa 119:72
The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

Psa 119:73
YOD
Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

Psa 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psa 119:104
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Psa 119:145
QOPH
I cry out with my whole heart;
Hear me, O LORD!
I will keep Your statutes.

Paul's solution is the same as this man's above is it not?

Rom 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Both found the same Christ, the Word of God. And they both walked according to the direction of the Spirit of Christ and rejected the flesh.

Heb 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

You see the writer of Psalm 119 also recognized this precept...

Psa 119:49
ZAYIN
Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.

And because the Lord spoke to him this promise he could truthfully say...

Psa 119:45
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.

You have brought many different points up...this is how I understand the first part of your post.

As for the writer of Psalm 119. He will walk at liberty because the Lord has enabled him to do so through His Spirit.

Do you see the Spirit's work in Psalm 119?

Hi Brother,

Do you see the Spirit's work in Psalm 119?

I do, in as much as God's word has capacity to effect change in our behavior. However, the greatest extent to which what was available in the Old Testament is found is realized in the life of John the Baptist. He was even filled with the Spirit from his mother's womb. He had all of these things. Nevertheless, he/she who is least in the Kingdom is greater than he. A person who has access to the New Covenant has access to better promises and therefore there are greater possibilities.

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

Had John the Baptist lived after Pentecost he would have had access to these greater promises contained in the New Covenant. He did the best with what he had. He did not know the New Birth. He preached about it coming; but never lived to experience it. The trouble was never with God's law. It was Spiritual. Man is carnal and sold under Sin. God dealt with man's Sin problem through the Cross. He makes that reality effectural to those who by one Spirit have been baptized into Chrit's Body. No one was "in Christ" before Christ came to earth (the incarnation). No one could be baptized into His death before He Himself died to Sin. Therefore, no one could experience being dead indeed unto Sin and alive unto God prior to being baptized into Christ by the Spirit. That reality alone sets the experience of Old Testament saints in a different category that those who are in the New Covenant.

The writer of Psalm 119 was in the sphere of faith and hope.

"Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope."

He would have been one of those who "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off..." (Heb. 11:13).

"These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect" (Heb. 11:40).

What is the "better thing" God has now provided?

The New Covenant. "...A better covenant" (Heb. 7:22). "A better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Heb. 8:6).

(Edited to include those last two references.)

I need to clarify what I said last time: "The writer of Psalm 119 was in the sphere of faith and hope."

So are we under the New Covenant; we too are in a sphere of faith and hope.

With a significant difference. They could not yet be made perfect. We can.

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a BETTER HOPE did, by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Heb. 7:19). That "better hope" is the inauguration of the New Covenant. Those under the old covenant did not have this available to them. Yet. (See Heb. 12:23.)

"These all, having obtained a good report through faith, receive not the promise: God having provided (or, foreseen) some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect" (Heb. 11:39,40).

Brenda said: "So Bailey is saying that there was only the OC until Calvary and then there was the NC but Murray says that both existed from the beginning..."

A careful reading of Murray's quote shows that he did not say both existed from the beginning. He said (in the quote you provided): "Once a year the High Priest might enter [the Holy of holies], AS A PROMISE [my caps] of the time when the veil should be taken away and the full access to dwell in God's presence be given to His people. In Christ's death the veil of the temple was rent, and His blood gives us boldness and power to enter into the Holiest of all and live there day by day in the immediate presence of God." (end of quote)

So, that access was not available under the Old Covenant. The way of the Holiest was not provided till the veil, that is to say, His flesh, was rent on the Cross of Calvary (Heb. 10:19).

Allan

I noticed there are other posts since I last posted...but I have been transcribing Pastor Poonen's teachings, but this is still in regard to Psalm 119....

Pastor Poonen teaches about God’s will for us in the New Covenant and that we are called upon to do these things continually. I will focus on about minute 27 of the recording…

"Number two, pray without ceasing, that is God’s will for us…it is the spirit of prayer. And prayer speaks of our helpless dependence upon God. It’s the helpless dependence leaning of the personality upon God. It’s that spirit, prayer is not always spoken like in the song we sang, prayer is the soul’s sincere desire uttered or unexpressed. A desire in the heart that rises up to God. A continual longing after God a continual dependence upon God. "

Then Pastor Poonen continues with the third precept…after which I will transcribe his following words at the 28:27 mark…

"Now the interesting thing is that none of these commandments are found in the Old Testament. Why…because Jesus said your hearts were hard. When your heart is hard you can’t do these things. And a man who does not do these things his heart is hard. "

Does the writer of Psalm 119 show the evidence of what Pastor Poonen describes above concerning continuous prayer?

What seems to be confusing is that Pastor Poonen only looks to the Law given to Moses and only looks at what it requires of man. What Pastor Poonen does not see is the fruit of faith that comes from the covenant God makes with the individual.

Brother Gregg writes:

"It is amazing to me how Psalm 119 ends:

I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

Also that the focus of the Psalm is on the Scriptures and commands of God and not intimate relationship with God Himself. 2 Corinthians 3 is important that shows there is a difference between what God has doing in the Old Testament and New Testament."

In terms of the last verse in Psalm 119, is this a symptom of a hard heart, or a heart of a man who knows where he must look to for Salvation?

In terms of a personal relationship...

Psa 119:102
I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me

Psa 119:164
Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments

As Pastor Poonen often says, Let God be true and every man a liar.

What does the writer of Psalm 119 mean when he states under the control of the Holy Spirit...

"For You Yourself have taught me."

Ontario, near Toronto. I'm waiting for a response to a question that I put to Ron on his blog to see if perhaps we are "on the same page". I am rather swamped with material to consider at this point but will consider picking up his book.
The old covenant was greatly discussed in Scripture revealing the blessings and the curses according to man's obligation or response. I have yet to discover any material, written or oral, that discuss the terms of the New Covenant. My first point of reference is of course Scripture. All else is secondary. Instead of being explicit , like in the old covenant, Scripture seems to make implicit or indirect references concerning the terms of the new covenant. Yes, there is much written about the new covenant especially in comparison to the old but man's responsibilities to the covenant are not spelled out quite so clearly as in the old. It seems that only by digging will we learn. I'm thinking of remarks about following Jesus, obeying His commands, loving others, doing the will of the Father, perseverance, being ready, bearing the right kind of fruit, abiding in Him, crucifying the flesh, keeping from sin, etc. These are implied terms as I see them though not specifically related to the new covenant. They are used to distinguish a disciple from a non-disciple. We are His disciples if we....Yet, the same qualities of a disciple seem to be determining factors in our eternal destiny. Forgive me if I am unclear in some of this but I am still in the stage of developing thoughts. Has anyone come across such a discussion?

I've herd it said that Christians have the spirit with in us but in the old covenant ,these saints never did but only the spirit came upon the prophets .

But we have scripture like this ;;; Peter 1;10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time [ THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST THAT WAS WITHIN THEM ] was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

So the saints or prophets under the old covenant had the spirit of Christ in them

Im under the opinion that a saint could still have been born of god , by the spirit of Christ with in them and be sanctified and fear god have faith ,be transformed according to gods election ,and the same goes for the new covenant .But gods election is manifold in size ,in the new age of the new covenant god mercy is greater and he pours his election and on all flesh,,but was very selective in the old ,selecting only a small remnant ,and even so never produced a power full sanctification ,,but left most of the old testament saints as babes in the spirit of Christ , not perfected or baptized in the spirit . But were still justfied by faith through the work of the holy spirit ....AS it is written the just shall live by faith ...

Trxx said, "I have yet to discover any material, written or oral, that discuss the terms of the New Covenant."

I think that by this you mean our part in it-- the terms we are to keep. From the Lord's side, as mediator of the covenant, the terms are: "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts..." (Heb. 8.10). The end result of which is conformity to the Son of God.

Our part is simple-- to let Him do that.

Sister krautfrau,

I do not want this to seem like I am looking for support in the way that there are two opposing views in this thread. With that said, thank you for bringing to bear the Scriptures, the pure milk of the Word.

Whether one lived in Old Testament times or in New Testament times, the work of God is evident in all generations. And Christ is the Word of God who was, is, and will sanctify those who discover the means by which God has determined who He makes an everlasting covenant with. And the narrow path, the only path in the entirety of Scripture comes down to the precept...Faith.

This is why Paul uses Abraham to help us get our heads around this concept of faith.

Rom 4:13
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Rom 4:14
For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

The fog of confusion exists because many are still living under the law of Moses without understanding, because they are not willing to feed on the pure milk of Scripture.

I have found Pastor Poonen to be one who still places burdens upon men that they cannot carry. I recognize this precept because I too, as I read Scripture, saw mountains before me. I too, tried to; in my carnal mind, to climb the mountains that I saw. I was choosing mountains for myself. I point this out because in the sermon in the 38 minute mark or so Pastor Poonen tells us to pick mountains and spend 10 or 12 years climbing each mountain...

But then one day Christ showed me that another way...live day to day, faith to faith, and the result, is that those mountains disappear. Those who live by biblical faith will find that the Psalms of the Old Testament are everlasting.

So I could never accuse David for his shortcomings because I have too many to list of my own. But I also know His Lord.

Mar 12:36
"For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

‘The LORD said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool

You are absolutely right as to what I meant by the terms of the new covenant. But I don't think that our part is quite so simple as "to let Him do that."
I'm learning more each day as I investigate Biblical references to covenants. I am particularly interested in the new covenant.
It seems to me that there are but 2 kinds of covenants - conditional or unconditional. Both kinds are between 2 parties. The Noahic, Davidic, and Abrahamic are examples of unconditional covenants. The promise was to be fulfilled without any requirements from any man or woman. The old covenant was conditional to man's response or actions. There were certain requirements that needed to be met in order to fulfill the covenant. Of course God would not be the one to break covenant. Israel (man) could and did break the old covenant.
I am of the mind that the new covenant is conditional. Its the conditions or terms that need to be understood.
I just googled, "Is the new covenant conditional or unconditional?" It seems that there is already much discussion regarding this question so I have much to investigate and ponder. Some believe that the new covenant is unconditional and others conditional. I can't see unconditional because that to me would mean universalism or that all are saved, nothing is required. But if it is conditional then man has a responsibility in order to keep or maintain the covenant. An unconditional covenant cannot be broken by either party but a conditional covenant, though God cannot break covenant because of His character, can be broken by the other party involved, namely man or us. It seems to me that each one of us ought to know and understand the covenant that we are party to. Have we actually made covenant with God? When in our family devotions we discussed the old covenant while reading in Deuteronomy I believe we actually thought it appropriate to enter into a covenant with God.
Will He not reveal to us the workings of the new covenant if we ask of Him? We often pray for wisdom and understanding concerning the new covenant and it seems that God is being faithful to reveal it to us.

There are several "ifs" with regard to the new covenant.

"...If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel... (Col. 1:23).

"Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts..." (Heb. 3:7).

So, it has to be said that the new covenant is a conditional covenant.

This does not mean that our part involves "works" after the manner of the old covenant.

"...Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship..."

And so our part of the covenant is the rest of faith. Our part is to believe, and continue to believe, come what may. This is what I had in mind when I said, "Our part is to let Him do that." It is His work, not ours. But He will not do it apart from our willing consent and cooperation.

Excellent quotes by Andrew Murray, Tuc. I have that book (The Two Covenants) on my bookshelf. I will have to read it again.

Once God makes a covenant with the Individual it is unconditional. And Andrew Murray's discourse on what the New Covenant means to the individual is as right on the mark as any man could fathom the depth of God love and His ways in this fallen life.

This covenant is thru faith. Even in the Old Testament, even under the Law of Moses, faith expressed in being justified by the Law of Moses was futile. For Paul says it is so.

Rom 4:5
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Rom 4:6
just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Rom 4:7
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;

Rom 4:8
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”fn

And...

Rom 4:13
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Rom 4:14
For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

So those who sought salvation through obeying the Law of Moses were not of Abraham's seed.

Murray writes...

"WE have here four titles given to our Lord. Jesus in connection with the New Covenant. He is Himself called a Covenant. The union between God and man, which the Covenant aims at, was wrought out in Him personally; in Him the reconciliation between the human and Divine was perfectly effected; in Him His people find the Covenant with all its blessings; He is all that God has to give, and is the assurance that it is given . . . . He is called the Messenger of the Covenant, "

David writes...

Psa 25:11
For Your name’s sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

Psa 25:12
Who is the man that fears the LORD?
Him shall Hefn teach in the way Hefn chooses.

Psa 25:13
He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.

Psa 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.

again...

"And He will show them His covenant."

To my understanding, every person that has ever lived has been given the testimony that God is that that He is not willing that any should perish. And this is the part of God's influence on man that is conditional. If you choose to listen, if you choose to obey, then God is a rewarder of those who humble themselves and repent.

According to Scripture, the whole counsel of God, it is God who chooses those who respond to His call. The called are unable to make a covenant with God, rather it is God's choice to make an unconditional covenant with man.

Jhn 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Jhn 1:13
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This is the Covenant of God to His saints...

Psa 89:3
"I have made a covenant with My chosen,
I have sworn to My servant David:

Psa 89:4
‘Your seed I will establish forever,
And build up your throne to all generations.’”‰” Selah

Psa 89:5
And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O LORD;
Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints.

.....

Psa 89:15
Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.

Psa 89:16
In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

Psa 89:17
For You are the glory of their strength,
And in Your favor our horn is exalted.

Psa 89:18
For our shield belongs to the LORD,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.

......

Psa 89:26
He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father,
My God, and the rock of my salvation.’

Psa 89:27
Also I will make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth.

Psa 89:28
My mercy I will keep for him forever,
And My covenant shall stand firm with him.

Psa 89:29
His seed also I will make to endure forever,
And his throne as the days of heaven.

......

Psa 89:33
Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him,
Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.

Psa 89:34
My covenant I will not break,
Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

Psa 89:35
Once I have sworn by My holiness;
I will not lie to David:

Psa 89:36
His seed shall endure forever,
And his throne as the sun before Me;

Psa 89:37
It shall be established forever like the moon,
Even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah

Christ and "His seed shall endure forever."

Yes, ADisciple, I believe that we are on the same page as it were. I see the new covenant as being conditional too because Scripture teaches us that there are but 2 kinds of covenants with God, conditional or unconditional. There are the many "ifs" in the New Testament (Covenant) that speak to our responsibility. You have quoted but a few of those. As you conclude, "He will not do it apart from our willing consent and cooperation" so I agree with you again.
I think that we need to understand the basis of the new covenant, how it works, who is involved, and how each one has a part to play. I think that it is fair to say that some Scripture points to man's responsibility (the "ifs) while other verses speak to God's part. We can know beyond any doubt that God will never break covenant with us. To Him be the glory now and forevermore! I feel that I have already learned much concerning the new covenant, our relationship to the Father, but I am fully cognizant of the fact that there is so much more to learn.