The Old and New Covenant: A Shift in Consciousness

In Neville Goddard's teachings, the Bible is not just a religious text—it is a guide for spiritual awakening and personal transformation. When Neville interprets the idea of the Old and New Covenants, he sees them as symbols of two states of consciousness: one that is limited, external, and based on external laws, and another that is internal, empowered by the creative power of the imagination.

Let’s dive into how Neville Goddard views the Old and New Covenants and what they signify in terms of our spiritual evolution.

The Old Covenant: External Law and Limited Consciousness

The Old Covenant in the Bible is most commonly associated with the law, external commandments, and rituals. It represents a state of consciousness that relies on external authority—the belief that one must follow rules, laws, and commands set outside of themselves in order to be in divine favour or to receive blessings.

In Neville’s interpretation, the Old Covenant represents a limited state of consciousness, where the individual is unaware of their own creative power. People are taught to look outside themselves for salvation, guidance, and purpose—whether through the laws of Moses or external religious structures. The Old Covenant is rooted in the idea that God’s will is something separate from us, something we must earn or appease through actions.

This obedience to external laws is not about inner alignment with divine principles, but rather a belief that external authorities—whether they are religious figures, societal structures, or laws—hold the power to determine one’s worth and spiritual standing. People under the Old Covenant are conditioned to think they must follow external rules and commands in order to achieve success, salvation, or divine favour. They believe that external actions, not internal transformation, determine their fate. The focus is placed on actions and external behaviours to gain spiritual approval or material rewards.

Neville Goddard sees this as a reflection of the unawakened mind, a state where we don’t realise our own creative power or the fact that we are the authors of our own experiences. People living under the Old Covenant are still slaves to external circumstances, trying to fit into a mould dictated by religion or society. They are conditioned to believe that salvation and success are external achievements rather than internal realisations.

The New Covenant: Embracing Imagination and the Inner Power

The New Covenant marks a profound shift in consciousness. It is the realisation that God’s creative power is within us, and that we, as individuals, have the authority to shape our reality through the imagination. This is the essence of Neville Goddard’s teachings: what you imagine and believe in your heart, you bring into existence.

In Neville’s view, the New Covenant is a mental and spiritual transformation—a shift from the external to the internal, from reliance on laws and rituals to the understanding that we are creators of our own experiences. The New Covenant is the recognition that the Kingdom of God is within, and it is through imagination that we connect with this inner creative power.

Neville often spoke about the power of the “I AM” state—the belief in one’s divine identity. In this new state of consciousness, there is no longer a need to appease an external deity or follow rules to gain divine favour. Instead, we come to understand that the Divine is within us, and by aligning with this power through imagination, we can manifest anything we desire.

The Crucifixion: The Transition from Old to New

The crucifixion of Jesus is a pivotal moment in the Bible that marks the end of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New Covenant. Neville interpreted the crucifixion as a symbol of fixing an idea in the imagination—the point where an individual dies to old beliefs, limitations, and external dependencies, and fully embraces the power within.

Before Jesus is nailed to the cross, the idea of redemption is sealed. In Neville’s framework, this represents the moment we fix a belief in our minds, which will eventually come to pass in the physical world. The crucifixion is the symbolic death of the old self—the part of us that relied on external validation, rules, and circumstances. Through this death, we are reborn into a new understanding of ourselves as creators of our own reality.

The resurrection that follows Jesus’ crucifixion represents the new birth of consciousness, where the individual recognises their divine power and begins to manifest their desires from within. This is the realisation of the New Covenant: that we are no longer beholden to external forces, but instead, we have the ability to create our own world.

Living the New Covenant: Realising Your Power to Create

Living according to the New Covenant is about embracing the full power of imagination and recognising that your thoughts and beliefs shape your reality. No longer do we need to follow a set of external rules to achieve spiritual success or material wealth. Instead, we create the world around us by imagining and feeling into the reality we desire.

Neville taught that feeling is the secret—it is not enough to simply think or wish for something; we must truly feel the reality of what we desire as though it is already done. This feeling of gratitude, joy, and certainty is what triggers the creative power within, bringing our imaginations to life.

In the New Covenant, there is no separation between the divine and human. We are all manifestations of the Divine, and by embracing our true creative nature, we step into the role of creator—able to manifest any desire, whether it be for health, wealth, love, or spiritual growth.

Conclusion: The Shift from External to Internal

The Old Covenant represents a state of consciousness where we are dependent on external laws, rituals, and authority. The New Covenant, according to Neville Goddard, is a shift to the realisation of our inner power—a recognition that we are the creators of our reality through the power of imagination.

To live in the New Covenant is to move away from the limitations of the Old Covenant. It is to understand that we do not need to follow external rules to gain divine favour; instead, we must claim our inner authority and imagine our desires into being. This is the transformation from an external God to an internal creative power, and it is through this understanding that we truly awaken to our divine potential.