The Old and New Covenants

 When we understand that there is an Old Covenant and a New Covenant with God that is written out in the Bible - the Bible begins to make a lot more sense. I have studied with people through the years who did not understand that and when you don't understand that you can start to look at all the laws in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy and feel that maybe you should be following them too - they are in the Bible aren't they? It can get very confusing.

  So understanding this concept is very important for truly understanding the Bible.

  Here are some differences between the Old and New Covenants:

The Old Covenant came to an end at the cross - We are still under the New Covenant today.

Here are some scriptures that cause me to believe that:

"Why the law then? It was added because of transgression, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made." Galatians 3:19 

"Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son be the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband." And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son for the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman." Galatians 4:21-31

"When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 4:13 & 14

"by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity." Ephesians 2:15 & 16

When we look at the early church we do not see them keeping the old law (from the Old Covenant) but rather.....

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42

"Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. " Acts 16:4

"If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment." 1 Corinthians 14:37 (Paul Writing)

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15 (Jesus Speaking)

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19 & 20 (Jesus speaking) This verse also notes that until the end of time we are to keep teaching what Jesus commanded us. We are to keep on proclaiming the gospel.

"Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them." Acts 8:5 (See other verses about them preaching Jesus in Acts 8:12, & 35; 16:32; 28:31)

The Old Covenant was with one nation - Israel. The New Covenant is with all nations.

This was planned way back near the beginning. Genesis 22:18 says "In your seed (talking to Abraham) all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Jesus came from the seed of Abraham and the world has been blessed through Him.

Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 28:19 to go and make disciples of ALL nations.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

You became a part of the Old Covenant because of your physical birth.  The New Covenant is entered by a spiritual birth.

"Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, how can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he? Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter in to the kingdom of God." John 3:3-5

The Old Covenant brought condemnation - the New brings forgiveness.

Concerning the Old Covenant: " But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. " 2 Corinthians 3:7-9

''For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them." Now that no one is justified by he Law before God is evident; for, the righteous man shall live by faith." However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "He who practices them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us - for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" - in order that in Christ Jesus the blessings of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3:10-14

"because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20

"For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near." Hebrews 10:1

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Romans 8:1

I LOVE THIS VERSE!!!

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25 & 26

We are so blessed to be able to be a part of the New Covenant!!!