COVENANTS
Old and New Covenant Comparison
LAW COVENANT--MADE OLD
1. Old covenant--2 Cor. 3:14 2. First covenant--Heb. 8:7; 9:1 3. Came by Moses--John 1:17 4. Law of Moses--Acts 13:38,39 5. Law of sin--Rom. 7:23; 8:2 6. Law of the flesh--Rom. 7:5,6 7. Not of faith--Gal. 3:12 8. Yoke of bondage--Gal. 5:1 9. Ended by Christ--Rom. 10:4 10. Law of death--2 Co.3:7; Rom.8:2 11. Entangles--Gal. 5:1 12. A shadow--Col. 2:14-17 13. Fulfilled--Mat. 5:17,18 14. People left imperfect--Heb.7:19 15. Glorious--2 Cor. 3:7 16. Powerless to save--Heb.9:9;10:4 17. Many sacrifices--Heb. 9:12,13 18. Temporary priest--Heb. 7:23 19. Remembers sins--Heb. 10:3 20. Yearly atonement--Heb. 10:3 21. Priests have sin--Heb. 5:1-4 22. Aaronic priesthood--Heb. 7:11 23. Out of Levi--Heb. 7:11 24. Animal sacrifices--Heb. 9:12 25. Earthly tabernacle--Heb. 9:2 26. Imperfect mediator--Gal. 3:19 27. No inheritance--Rom. 4:13 28. Instituted upon animal blood--Heb. 9:16-22 29. Law of works--Rom. 3:27 30. Works wrath--Rom. 4:15 31. Non-redeeming--Heb. 10:4 32. Non-pleasing--Psa. 40:6 33. Abolishment predicted--Is.51:6 34. Circumcision--Exod. 12:48 35. Changeable--Heb.7:12; Gal.3:25 36. Faulty--Heb. 8:7 37. Weak--Heb. 7:18 38. Unprofitable--Heb. 7:18 39. Natural program--Heb. 9:10-14 40. Daily program--Heb. 7:27 41. Infirm priests--Heb. 5:2, 7:28 42. Priests by law--Heb. 7:12,28 43. No salvation--Heb. 10:2-4 44. Perfected nothing--Heb. 7:19 45. Earthly priests--Heb. 5:1-4 46. Repeated inability--Heb. 10:11 47. Many offerings--Heb. 9:7 48. Good promises--Deut. 28:1-14 49. A good covenant--Rom. 7:12 50. Many high priests--Heb. 7:23 51. Typical tabernacle--Heb. 9 52. No mercy--Heb. 10:28 53. Handmade things--Heb. 9:1-5,24 54. An old way--Heb. 8:13 55. Unavailing ministers--Heb.7:18 56. Carnal ministry--Heb. 9:9,10 57. Ministration of condemnation--2 Cor. 3:9 58. Glory covered--2 Cor. 3:13 59. Brings bondage--Gal. 4:24,25 60. Cannot justify--Gal. 2:16 61. Brings a curse--Gal. 3:10 62. Live by works--Gal. 3:10 63. Cannot give life--Gal. 3:21 64. Exposes sin--Gal. 3:19 65. Under law--Rom. 6:14,15 66. Done away--2 Cor. 3:7-14 67. Abolished--2 Cor. 3:13 68. Ministry of death--2 Cor. 3:7 69. Only for Israel--Dt.4:7,8; 5:3 |
NEW COVENANT--DIFFERENT, FRESH
New Covenant--2 Cor. 3:6 Second covenant--Heb. 8:7; 10:1-9 Came by Christ--Heb. 8:6; 9:15 Law of Christ--Gal. 6:2 Law of righteousness--Rom. 9:30,31 Law of the spirit--Rom. 8:2 Law of faith--Rom. 3:27 Law of liberty--James 1:25 Estab. by Christ--Heb. 8:6; 10:9 Law of life--Gal. 3:11;6:8 Makes free--John 8:32,36 The reality--Heb. 10:1-18 Now in force--Heb. 8:6; 10:9 Makes perfect--Heb. 7:19 More glorious--2 Cor. 3:8-10 Saves to uttermost--Heb. 7:25 One sacrifice for sins--Heb. 10:12 Eternal priest--Heb. 7:17 Forgets sins--Heb. 8:12; 10:17 Eternal atonement--Heb. 10:14 Sinless priest--Heb. 7:26 Melchisedec--Heb. 5:5-10; 7:21 Out of Judah--Heb. 7:14 Human sacrifice--Heb. 9:14-28 Heavenly tabernacle--Heb. 8:2 Sinless mediator--1 Tim. 2:5 Eternal inheritance--Heb. 9:15 Instituted upon blood of Christ-- Mat. 26:28 Law of grace and faith--John 1:17 Saves from wrath--Rom. 5:9 Redeems--Gal. 3:13; Heb. 9:12-15 Pleasing to God--Heb. 10:5-18 Establishment predicted--Heb. 8:7 No circumcision--Rom. 4:9-12 Made eternal--Heb. 13:20 Perfect--James 1:25 Strong--Heb. 7:25 Profitable--Heb. 7:19,25 Spiritual program--2 Cor. 3:6,18 Finished program--Heb.10:10-18 Perfect high priest--Heb.7:26 Made priests by oath--Heb.7:21,28 Eternal salvation--Heb.5:9; 10:10 Perfects faithful--Hrb.7:19; 10:14 Heavenly priest--Heb. 9:24; 10:12 Glorious success--Heb. 10:10-18 One offering--Heb. 10:10-14 Better promises--Heb. 8:6 A better covenant--Heb. 7:22; 8:6 One high priest--Heb. 7:24-28 True tabernacle--Heb. 8:2; 9:11 Complete mercy--Heb. 8:12 Not handmade--Heb. 9:23,24 New and living way--Heb. 10:19,20 Able ministers--2 Cor. 3:6 Spiritual ministry--2 Cor. 3:6 Ministration of righteousness--2 Cor. 3:9 Glory uncovered--2 Cor. 3:18 Brings liberty--2 Cor. 3:17 Does justify--Acts 13:38,39 Redeems from the curse--Gal. 3:13 Live by faith--Gal. 3:11 Does give life--John 6:63-68 Covers sin--Rom. 4:1-8 Under grace--Gal. 3:22-25 Not done away--2 Cor. 3:11 Continues glorious--2 Cor. 3:11 Reconciliation ministry--2 Cor.5:18 For all men--Lk. 22:20; Mark. 14:2 |
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“The term “Old Covenant” is not the equivalent of the “Old Testament.”
A distinction. The term “old covenant” is not the equivalent of the “old testament.”
“Old testament” is just a term scholars slapped on, to group together a bunch of rabbinical Hebrew text.
A covenant is like a binding pact/agreement made by 2 parties. Historically, it was usually a stronger party making a pact with a weaker party. This agreement would last until the death of either party.
For the believer today. We live in the “new covenant.” This is a binding agreement God has made with Jesus. Since we are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3), and we are given Christ’s righteousness (1 Cor 1:30, 2 Cor 5:21), and we are actually the fullness of the Head (Eph 1:22-23), we cannot break this covenant God has made.
In the old covenant. God dealt with man ACCORDING to their sin. That is why people would have to continually offer sacrifices. In general, they would have to offer a lamb (a type of Christ) and the lamb would take the punishment for the person; it would serve as the propitiation for someone’s sin.
In Hebrews 10, it explains that in the day of the Law, they would have to constantly offer a sacrifice to atone for their sin. And then in verse 12 it clearly says that Jesus is The One Sacrifice for sins, forever. The wrath and judgment was poured onto Jesus SO THAT anyone who calls on the Lord can be saved. That why it says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).”
If you understand this, then it makes perfect sense why God sent judgment on people and cities during the Old Covenant. He had to deal with people according to the law. If they broke it, they paid for it (“For the wages of sin is death”, Rom 6:23).
Meanwhile, living in the New Covenant, the sin problem has been dealt with, which is why it says, “BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23).
This does not mean that everyone is saved. It is clear in Eph 2:8 that it is by grace THROUGH faith… it is the gift of God. The gift is the grace. The grace came through Jesus (John 1:17), but it is only through faith that you receive it.
The sin problem is dealt with, and that is why we are told to forgive, to show mercy, to repay evil with good because that is what Jesus demonstrated to sinners (John 8:11).
Problems will begin to arise when you try to learn about God through old-covenant lenses. Hebrews 1:1-3 says that God, in times past spoke to us through prophets, BUT, in these last days, He has spoken through Jesus, who is the perfect representation of the Father.
The God in the Old Covenant of law resulting in death (2 Cor 3) did not change… There just happens to be a New Covenant of mercy/grace and life (2 Cor 3). In the old covenant, God had to deal with people according to their works. In the new covenant God deals with people according to Jesus’ works.
God is not, and was not schizophrenic. It is a matter of 2 different covenants. It is like California’s “no-texting-while-driving” law. When the law was created, police had to deal with us according to the rules. Should the law be repealed (I hope it does), police would no longer stop us for breaking an obsolete law (Heb 8:13). You wouldn’t call the police schizophrenic as a result of that, they are just dealing with people according to the law of the land.
Romans 8:2 clearly says that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
We are free from the works of the law. We are now living in the law of the Spirit, which is freedom, where God is dealing with us according to mercy and grace.
Mercy meaning, we don’t get what we deserve (punishment for sin); and grace meaning, we get what don’t deserve (the Kingdom, His righteousness).
That is called the good news.
“Old testament” is just a term scholars slapped on, to group together a bunch of rabbinical Hebrew text.
A covenant is like a binding pact/agreement made by 2 parties. Historically, it was usually a stronger party making a pact with a weaker party. This agreement would last until the death of either party.
For the believer today. We live in the “new covenant.” This is a binding agreement God has made with Jesus. Since we are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3), and we are given Christ’s righteousness (1 Cor 1:30, 2 Cor 5:21), and we are actually the fullness of the Head (Eph 1:22-23), we cannot break this covenant God has made.
In the old covenant. God dealt with man ACCORDING to their sin. That is why people would have to continually offer sacrifices. In general, they would have to offer a lamb (a type of Christ) and the lamb would take the punishment for the person; it would serve as the propitiation for someone’s sin.
In Hebrews 10, it explains that in the day of the Law, they would have to constantly offer a sacrifice to atone for their sin. And then in verse 12 it clearly says that Jesus is The One Sacrifice for sins, forever. The wrath and judgment was poured onto Jesus SO THAT anyone who calls on the Lord can be saved. That why it says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).”
If you understand this, then it makes perfect sense why God sent judgment on people and cities during the Old Covenant. He had to deal with people according to the law. If they broke it, they paid for it (“For the wages of sin is death”, Rom 6:23).
Meanwhile, living in the New Covenant, the sin problem has been dealt with, which is why it says, “BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23).
This does not mean that everyone is saved. It is clear in Eph 2:8 that it is by grace THROUGH faith… it is the gift of God. The gift is the grace. The grace came through Jesus (John 1:17), but it is only through faith that you receive it.
The sin problem is dealt with, and that is why we are told to forgive, to show mercy, to repay evil with good because that is what Jesus demonstrated to sinners (John 8:11).
Problems will begin to arise when you try to learn about God through old-covenant lenses. Hebrews 1:1-3 says that God, in times past spoke to us through prophets, BUT, in these last days, He has spoken through Jesus, who is the perfect representation of the Father.
The God in the Old Covenant of law resulting in death (2 Cor 3) did not change… There just happens to be a New Covenant of mercy/grace and life (2 Cor 3). In the old covenant, God had to deal with people according to their works. In the new covenant God deals with people according to Jesus’ works.
God is not, and was not schizophrenic. It is a matter of 2 different covenants. It is like California’s “no-texting-while-driving” law. When the law was created, police had to deal with us according to the rules. Should the law be repealed (I hope it does), police would no longer stop us for breaking an obsolete law (Heb 8:13). You wouldn’t call the police schizophrenic as a result of that, they are just dealing with people according to the law of the land.
Romans 8:2 clearly says that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
We are free from the works of the law. We are now living in the law of the Spirit, which is freedom, where God is dealing with us according to mercy and grace.
Mercy meaning, we don’t get what we deserve (punishment for sin); and grace meaning, we get what don’t deserve (the Kingdom, His righteousness).
That is called the good news.