There seems to be a lot of confusion in the Church today about what covenant we now operate under. Christians are attempting to live under parts and/or all of both not understanding Christ brought about a new covenant. Just as when we are born again, “old things are past away, all things are made new”, so it is since Christ rose from the dead. Old things have past away, and all things are new which include our covenant with God, through Christ Jesus. Understanding the difference between the two, putting into practice the things that pertain to us, the Church, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you will move you into a higher level of relationship with the Father, Christ His Son and the Holy Ghost. This will change the way we see and understand God and His dealings with us.

Contrasts Between the Old and New Covenants:

Contrasts between the Old and New Covenants prove that they were two distinct covenants made for different purposes and to be in force at different times:

1.      One is called “the first covenant”; the other “the second covenant” (Heb 8:7; 9:1-18; 10:1-9).
2.      The first is called “the old covenant”; the second is called “the new covenant” (Matt 26:28; 2 Cor 3:1-18; Heb 8:13).
3.      The first covenant was given by Moses; the second by Jesus Christ (John 1:17; Gal 3:19; Heb 9:15; Matt 26:28).
4.      One is “the law of Moses”; the other “the law of Christ” (Acts 13:39; Gal 6:2).
5.      One is “the law of sin”; the other is “the law of righteousness” (Rom 7:7-25; 8:1-4; 9:31).
6.      One is the law of “the flesh”; the other is “the law of the Spirit” (Rom 7:5-6; 8:1-4; Gal 5:16-26).
7.      One is “not of faith”; the other is “the law of faith” (Gal 3:12; Rom 3:27).
8.      One is the “yoke of bondage”; the other is “the law of liberty” (Gal 5:1; James 1:18-25).
9.      One is brought to an end by Christ (Rom 10:4; 2 Cor 3:14; Heb 10:9); the other is established by Christ (Heb 8:6; 9:15; 10:9; 2 Cor 3:6-18; Matt 26:28).
10.   One brought death; the other brought life (2 Cor 3:6-18; Rom 8:1-4; Gal 3:21; Heb 9:15; 10:1-18).
11.   One makes guilty (Rom 3:19-20); the other justifies or makes not guilty (Acts 13:39; Rom 3:21-31; 5:1-11).
12.   One is “a shadow of things to come”; the other is the reality (Col 2:14-17; Heb 10:1-18).
13.   One is “fulfilled” or completed; the other is still in force (Matt 5:17-18; 2 Cor 3:6-18; Heb 10:9).
14.   One demanded righteousness; the other gave righteousness (Luke 10:28; Rom 8:1-4; Gal 3:1-29; 5:1-26).
15.   One made nothing perfect; the other made perfect (Heb 7:19).
16.   One was glorious; the other was more glorious (2 Cor 3:1-18).
17.   One was powerless to save from sin; the other saves to the uttermost (Heb 7:11-28; 8:7-13; 9:9-28; 10:1-18).
18.   One had many sacrifices; the other had only one (Heb 9:9-14; 10:14; Rom 6:6-13).
19.   One had a changeable priesthood; the other didn’t (Heb 7:23-28; 4:14-16; Rom 8:34).
20.   One remembered sins; the other forgets sin (Heb 10:3; 8:12).
21.   One had a representative and a seasonal access to God (Heb 9:7-10); the other had a personal and daily access to God (Heb 4:14-16; 7:25; 10:19-20; Eph 2:18).
22.   One had a sinful ministry (Heb 5:1-4); the other had a sinless ministry (Heb 7:26-28; 2 Cor 3:1-18; 1 John 3:9).
23.   One was given under the Levitical priesthood (Heb 7:11-12); the other under the present Melchisedec priesthood (Heb 6:20; 7:11-21, 24).
24.   One had an earthly tabernacle service of animal sacrifices (Heb 9:1-10); the other had a heavenly tabernacle service of spiritual salvation (Heb 4:14-16; 7:25; 8:1-5; 9:11-15).
25.   One had a sinful mediator (Gal 3:19); the other had a sinless mediator (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 7:26; 1 Pet 2:22).
26.   One had no eternal inheritance (Rom 4:13); the other had an eternal inheritance (Rom 8:17; Heb 9:15; 1 Pet 1:1-25).
27.   One was ratified by animal blood (Exod 29:1-8; Heb 9:16-22); the other by the blood of Christ (Matt 26:28).
28.   One was a law of works; the other a law of grace (John 1:17; Rom 3:24-31; Gal 3:10-12; Eph 2:8-9).
29.   One brought wrath (Rom 4:15); the other brought salvation from wrath (Rom 5:9; Gal 3:13-14).
30.   One could not redeem; the other could (Gal 3:10-14; Rom 8:1-4; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 7:25).
31.   One couldn’t satisfy God’s demands; the other one did (Gal 2:21; Heb 7:22; 8:6; 10:5-18).
32.   One made no provision for doing miracles; the other one provided for them (Gal 3:1-5; 1 John 5:8; John 14:12; Luke 24:49).
33.   Prophecy foretold the abolishing of one and the establishing of the other (Isa 51:4; Jer 31:33; Acts 3:22; Heb 8:7-13; 10:4-18; Rom 11:25-29).
34.   One had a fleshly sign of obedience (Acts 7:8; Rom 2:25); the other did not (Rom 4:11; 1 Cor 7:18).
35.   One was too weak to overcome sin; the other gave victory over sin (Rom 6:1-23; 8:1-4; Eph 2:8-9; 1 John 5:1-18).
36.   One was made to be changed (Gal 3:22-26; Heb 7:11-22; 8:5-6; 9:9-10; 10:1-18); the other was made to be unchanged (Heb 7:22; 8:6; 10:9; 13:20).

God’s Plan for Man by Finis J. Dake

If you have ever had any questions concerning the the old and new covenants I hope this excerpt from God’s Plan for Man will help clear things up. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking to know God more intimately. Like any book, written by man about the Bible, take away from the study what speaks to you and file away the things that don’t because they may mean something later. The things you can’t agree with; be at least as smart as an old cow; eat the hay leave the sticks.

Enjoy your study.

Filed under: Understanding Scripture