I attend a women's Community Bible Study. This week the teacher (to my suprise, since the CBS material seems to lean heavily dispensational) brought up the Covenants (Covenant of redemption, covenant of works, and covenant of grace).

She then brought up the new covenant that Jesus instituted during the Lord's Supper.

Here's my understanding of the Covenants: The Covenant of Redemption was made by the Godhead before the foundation of the world. The Covenant of Works was made with Adam and Eve, which they broke. The Covenant of Grace has been in effect ever since.

In the OT, God made several covenants with His people. He made a covenant with Noah, Abraham, and David. There are also covenant renewal ceremonies with all of Israel from time to time.

So here's my question: What did Jesus mean when he said "new covenant"?

I am thinking he meant that he was putting an end to the whole temple blood offering system, since that system no longer needed to foreshadow His substitutionary atonement.

I guess I would be content to live with the concept that the Covenant of Grace began after Adam AND that Jesus instituted a New Covenant.

Any thoughts or directions as to where I can further explore this topic?