“ ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more’ ” (Hebrews 10:16-17).

God had a plan in the Old Testament that consisted of many sacrifices and a list of rules the people were to keep. The people didn’t keep the rules and that explained the many animal sacrifices that were required. God’s intention, though, was never to stop there. He always knew that His Son would have to die for our salvation to be fully realized. That’s why He began to indicate that a New Covenant would have to come. He promised it in Jeremiah and He brought it to pass when Jesus came.

The New Covenant brings blessings that could only be foreshadowed under the Old Covenant. Instead of external rules, God changes our hearts and minds so that we obey Him because we are transformed internally. Then He added this amazing new benefit. “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

The Old Covenant sacrifices were repeated daily and yearly. The New Testament sacrifice, the death of Christ, was offered once and it completed our forgiveness. As believers we don’t have to walk in the shadow of our mistakes and live in the chains of our painful memories. The promise of the Old Covenant is fulfilled in the death of Jesus. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).