Covenants -
Old & New
Old and New Covenants
The first mistake many make is that they equate the Old Covenant with the Old Testament. They believe that the Old Covenant is essentially the entire Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, the Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. And since the Old Covenant is done away with, then the Old Testament must be done away with. Therefore, there’s no reason to study it. In fact, some denominations completely ignore the Old Testament and if you read them something out of it, they will not give it credence.
But the Old Covenant is not the same as the Old Testament. In fact, the Old Covenant did not even exist until God gave it at Mount Sinai, approximately 1500 BC.
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Notice, God did not even make the Old Covenant with Israel until He lead them out of Egyptian captivity. And that was 2500 years after God created the earth. So people were living for 2500 years in the Old Testament before God gave the Old Covenant.
And the Old Covenant was given to Israel during the time of Moses, which was in Exodus chapter 19. This means that no one in the book of Genesis was under the Old Covenant. Adam, Noah, Abraham (the father of the Jewish nation), Isaac, Jacob, etc... None of these people were under the Old Covenant.
The Old Testament is just as valid today as it was back then. The only difference is that certain parts of it have already been fulfilled, therefore we are not required to do them. For example, the animal sacrifices all pointed to Jesus dying on the cross. Therefore we do not sacrifice animals anymore. Circumcision was a spiritual rite and required of all Israelite men. But it represented circumcision of the heart and is no longer required. Therefore it’s no longer a spiritual rite.
But those parts that have not been fulfilled are still valid today. For example, the creation account. It’s the factual account of how God and Jesus created the universe. It’s real, it’s true. It’s still valid today. Or the commands against lying or stealing or hurting others. All of these commands of God are still in force today.
In addition, the bible talks about faith and how we are saved by faith. The apostle Paul, when writing about a person being saved by Faith, he quoted from the Old Testament. For example, in ROM 1:17 when Paul says, "The just shall live by faith". He’s quoting from HAB 2:4 of the Old Testament. Or when he says
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
he’s just quoting from Moses in LEV 18:5 and DEUT 30:13. So if the New Testament writers quoted from the Old Testament, that must mean that it is valid. It wouldn’t make sense for them to quote from something that is not valid. That’s like a judge in a trial quoting from a law that was repealed years ago. No one would accept his decision because it would be based on something that was not law.
The Old Testament also contains prophecies and predictions of the future. There are many verses in the Old Testament that speak of the return of Jesus. For example DAN 2:34, 35. Or PS 50. These speak of the return of Jesus and this has not happened yet.
There are many verses that speak of life after the return of Jesus. For example,
Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
This hasn’t happened yet. We still have the same old heavens and earth. So clearly, it’s incorrect to think that the Old Testament has been done away.
One more point we should note and that is, the New Testament itself clearly tells us that the Old Testament is still valid. For example, in 1 COR 10:1-5 Paul is discussing the spiritual experience and mistakes of Israel. Then in 1 COR 10:6 he says:
1 Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
And in 1 COR 10:11 he says:
1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
So the Old Testament is a great lesson book for us today to learn from. And not only that, it was compiled and saved by God Himself for us. God clearly want us to read it and learn from it and it is a great mistake to say it’s done away with and should be ignored.
One last point on this subject:
2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
In these verses, Paul is writing to Timothy. And in V15 he says how Timothy has known the holy scriptures since he was a child. And that the holy scriptures were able to make him wise unto salvation. Then in V16 he says that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God...". What is this "All scripture" that is given by God and is "able to make thee wise unto salvation..."? It’s the Old Testament. When Paul wrote these words he was referring to the Old Testament because the New Testament had not even been written! So clearly, the Old Testament is still valid today.
Before we move on, there’s a related point that needs to be brought out and that is: "How were people in the Old Testament saved?" And the reason this must be addressed is because there are many who believe the people in the Old Testament were saved by works and animal sacrifices, but that we today are saved by faith.
But this is not correct. The people of the Old Testament were also saved by Faith. Jesus tells us:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There is not a single person alive, not in the Old Testament or the New Testament who will be in heaven by anything than the blood of Jesus. It’s only through Christ that people will be in heaven.
Now that presents a bit of a problem because people in the Old Testament didn’t know who Jesus was. So how could they believe in Him?
Well obviously they couldn’t believe in Him. But they could believe that they were sinners and they needed forgiveness and that only God could forgive them. Notice what David says in PS 51
Psa 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Notice, David is appealing to God for forgiveness and not his works or animal sacrifices.
Psa 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
He confess his sins like we must do. He appeals to God for help like we must do.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Again he appeals to God for complete forgiveness.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Like us, David appeals to be close to God and that God not take the Holy Spirit from him (yes, they received the Holy Spirit as we receive the Holy Spirit).
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
So the people in the Old Testament were saved by faith just as we today are saved by faith.
The next question we want to answer is: "If the Old Covenant was not given until 2500 years after creation, why did God give it?".
This is a really good question because we’ve already shown that the people in the Old Testament were saved by faith. So why give a covenant that is not designed to save people?
Again, the Old Covenant was given at Mount Sinai, just after God lead Israel out of Egyptian slavery.
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt...
Israel had been in slavery in Egypt for years. And most of the Israelites had turned their back on God and forgotten God. As a result, they had no faith. And when God lead them out of Eypt He wanted them to know Him and love Him and understand His great love and power.
So at Mount Sinai, He proposes to make a Covenant with them:
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
The people then answer:
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Now this sounds really good. It sounds like the people want to love God and obey Him and do all that He calls them to do. Yet, in Exodus 32, just a short time later, the people have turned from God and made themselves idols.
Exo 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
Exo 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
What happened? How could this be?
The problem seems to be the response of the people in Ex 19:8. If you notice carefully, they didn’t ask God for help. They didn’t ask Him to help them obey Him. They didn’t ask for help with their lying, or gossiping or mean thoughts. They didn’t ask for help with pride or selfishness. They self-confidently declared, "We’ll do it. No sweat".
They did not understand faith. They did not understand that we can only overcome sin and be God’s people through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s only He who can give us the victory over sin. And since they did not understand the plain, simple truth of grace and faith, God had to give them more. He had to give them the Old Covenant. The reason God gave it to them was to help them understand Justification by Faith and the New Covenant.
And that brings us to our next point. The Old Covenant is not the Old Testament, nor is it just the 10 Commandments.
Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Hebrews 9 is describing much of the Old Covenant. There was a Temple with furniture and daily and yearly activities for the priests and people to do. There were offerings and sacrifices and laws. So it’s not just the 10 Commandments. There was much more to it than that.
Some believe that the 10 Commandment law was part of the Old Covenant or even all of the Old Covenant. They believe that in the Old Testament, the Law was written on stone but in the New Testament and New Covenant, it’s written on heart, therefore we don’t have to keep it. But is this correct? Was it written only on the heart in the Old Testment?
We're going to look at several texts that show the law was written on the heart even in the Old Testament. And non one will dispute that they were required to keep the 10 Commandment law in the Old Testament.
Isa 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
This is Isaiah the prophet writing. And roughly 700 years before Jesus, he says the law was written in the heart.
Prov 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Prov 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Prov 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Prov 6:20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Prov 6:21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
Prov 7:1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Prov 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Prov 7:3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
This is from King Solomon. And 1000 years before Christ he says the law is to be written on the heart.
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
This is from King David. And roughly 1100 years before Christ he says the law is to be written on the heart.
Job 22:22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
This is from Job. And roughly 1600 years before Christ he says the law is to be written on the heart.
So clearly, even in the Old Testament, the law was to be written on the heart.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Many people when asked for a good passage on Righteousness by faith, point to this passage and rightfully so. It's a good short passage on salvation. But where did Paul get this idea? Remember, Paul is quoting from DEUT 30.
Deu 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Notice V10 tells us to hearken, listen unto God and turn to Him with all our heart and soul. To put Him first in everything.
V11-13 He's basically saying it's not impossible to do, it's not too high or low for us.
V14 The law is written in the heart so that you can do it. It's not written in the heart to avoid doing it, but so that you can do it.
And Paul is saying the samething in ROM 10. He’s basically saying "I'm just quoting Moses. I'm preaching the samething Moses is preaching. Moses preached Righteousness by faith, I"m preaching Righteousness by faith. Moses preached the law is in the heart so you can do it, I"m preaching the law is in the heart so you can do it". So the entire point of the 10 Commandment Law being written on the heart is so that you can obey it! In the Old Testament, in the New Testament, before the flood of Noah, after the resurrection of Christ. God writes the 10 Commandment Law on our heart so that we can do it!
One last text:
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
This tells us that not he hearers but doers of the law are justified. V14 says the Gentiles who do the things contained in the law, show the law written in their hearts. Again it comes back those who have the law in their hearts will keep it, not break it. People have said, "The 10 Commandment Law is done away with and we do not have to keep it." But how can the law be done away with when Paul says "the doers of the law are justified"?
Used by permission of
Darin Donahue