New Covenant Theology. Overview What We’re Going to Cover The Major Covenants in the Bible (50%)The Major Covenants in the Bible (50%) How the New Testament.

New Covenant Theology

OverviewWhat We’re Going to Cover

• The Major Covenants in the Bible (50%)• How the New Testament Compares and

Contrasts the Major Covenants (40%)• Questions Raised by New Covenant

Theology (10%)

Covenants in the Bible

Covenant

Dictionary Definition: World Book Dictionary - A solemn agreement

between two or more persons or groups to do or not do a certain thing

Covenant Definition of a Covenant between God and

Man: – A covenant is an unchangeable, divinely

imposed legal agreement between God and man that stipulates the conditions of their relationship. (Grudem, Systematic Theology p.515)

– A covenant given by God is imposed on men. It is entirely from God. Men have no part in any negotiation over it, but it contains stipulations about their conduct and it may also include penalties for disobedience. (Zaspel and Wells, New Covenant Theology, p.5)

Covenant A covenant is made between God and a specific

person or group of people. The giving of a covenant often included a

solemn ceremony that involved:– Animal sacrifices – Pronouncement of curses that would accompany the

violation of the covenant

An Example of the Making of a Covenant

Genesis 15:1-18 - 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” . . . 7 And he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess." 8 But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

An Example of the Making of a Covenant

Genesis 15:1-18 (continued) - 9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. . . 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. . . 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land . . .”

Covenant A covenant was often accompanied by a sign

that served as a symbol and future reminder of the covenant

Two types of covenants:– Conditional– Unconditional– Note: Sometimes a covenant can have both

conditional and unconditional aspects to it.

The Major Covenants in the Bible

Noahic (Genesis 9:8-17) Abrahamic (Genesis 12-17) Mosaic (Exodus 19-24)

– Often referred to in the New Testament as the “Old Covenant”

Davidic (2Samuel 23:5, Psalm 89:3) New (Jer.31:31-34 ; Heb.7-13; 2Cor.3:6-18)

Noahic Covenant

Genesis 9:8-17

Noahic CovenantGenesis 9:8-17

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”


12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.


“And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”


• Description: A divine promise to never again destroy the entire earth and kill all living things with a flood.

• Type:– Unconditional

• Made with Whom?– Noah, his descendants, and every living thing on

the earth• Sign:

– Rainbow

Abrahamic Covenant

Genesis 12-17

Abrahamic CovenantGenesis 12-17

• Genesis 12:2-3 – “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

• Genesis 13:16 – I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

• Genesis 15:5 – And [the Lord] brought [Abram] outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be.

• Genesis 15:18 – On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land…”


• Genesis 17:6-14 – I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." 9 And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.


• Genesis 17:6-14 (continued) – 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.


• Description: A divine promise of land, offspring, and blessing

• Type:– Unconditional – The promise of land,

offspring, and blessing to Abraham was unconditional.

– Conditional – The inclusion of Abraham’s household and descendants in the covenant was contingent upon their being circumcised. (Cf. Gen 17:14)

• Made with Whom?– Abraham and his descendants

• Sign:– Circumcision

The Abrahamic Covenant Had Two Fulfillments

Physical Fulfillment:• Physical Land• Physical Offspring• Physical BlessingSpiritual Fulfillment:• Spiritual Land• Spiritual Offspring• Spiritual Blessing


Physical Fulfillment:• Physical Land: The land of Canaan (in the

Middle East)– Genesis 17:8 – And I will give to you and to your

offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.


Physical Fulfillment:• Physical Offspring: The numerous offspring or

descendants that would come through Isaac– Genesis 15:5 – And he brought him outside and

said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

– Genesis 21:12 – But God said to Abraham, “…through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”


Physical Fulfillment:• Physical Blessing: Abraham would be blessed

by God and would be a source of blessing to others– Genesis 12:2b-3 – “I will bless you and make

your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”


Spiritual Fulfillment• Spiritual Land: The new heavens and new

earth– Hebrews 11:9-10,16 – By faith [Abraham] went

to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God… But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

– Romans 4:13 – For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.


Spiritual Fulfillment• Spiritual Offspring: Christ and those who belong

to Him by following Abraham’s example of faith– Galatians 3:16 – Now the promises were made to

Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ

– Galatians 3:29 – And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

– Romans 4:16 – Therefore, the promise comes by faith . . . to all Abraham's offspring-- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

– Galatians 3:7 – Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.


Spiritual Fulfillment• Spiritual Blessing: The salvation of “all

nations” (the Gentiles) through faith in the gospel– Galatians 3:8 - And the Scripture, foreseeing

that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

Mosaic CovenantExodus 19-24


• Exodus 19:3-8 – … Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.


• Exodus 31:16-17 – And the LORD said to Moses … 16 “the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel …

• Joshua 23:16 – If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.


• Description: God’s pledge to treasure and protect the nation of Israel – to be their God and have them as His chosen nation

• Type:– Conditional

• Made with Whom?– The Nation of Israel

• Included regenerate (Heb.11:23-40 ) and unregenerate Jews (Jer.2:8; 4:22)

• Also applied to Gentiles (non-Jews) living among the Israelites (Lev.18:26; Num.15:14-16, 30; Deut. 5:14 ) though they were not the primary recipients of the Covenant (Ex.19:6, Deut.14:21)

• Note: Gentiles could also participate in voluntary aspects of the Mosaic Covenant if they were willing to meet certain requirements – e.g., circumcision. (Ex.12:48 cf. Num.9:14; 15:14)

• Sign:– The Sabbath

The Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Covenant

• The terms of the Mosaic Covenant were summarized in the Ten Commandments that were etched on the tablets of stone for Moses by God on Mount Sinai:– Deuteronomy 4:13 – And He [the Lord] declared to you

His covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

• The Ten Commandments were given specifically to the Nation of Israel.– Exodus 34:27-28 – And the LORD said to Moses, “Write

these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 … And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

The Law of Moses and the Mosaic Covenant

• The Mosaic Covenant– Was Represented by the Sabbath (as the sign of

the covenant)– Was Summarized in the Ten Commandments– Was Ultimately Embodied in the 600+ Laws Given

by Moses• Deuteronomy 7:12 - And because you listen to

these rules and keep and do them, the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the steadfast love that he swore to your fathers.


• The Mosaic Covenant with its many laws is often referred to in the Bible as the “law of Moses” or just “the law”.– John 7:23 – If on the Sabbath a man receives

circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well?

– 1 Corinthians 9:20 – To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.


• The Law of Moses was given exclusively to the nation of Israel.– Psalm 147:19-20 – He declares his word to Jacob, his

statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!

• The Law of Moses was given as a complete unit.• Therefore the Law of Moses had to be kept

completely. The Israelites were not allowed to just keep one part and ignore the rest of it!– Galatians 3:10b – Cursed be everyone who does not

abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.

– James 2:10 – For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.


• The Law of Moses promised to give (eternal) life to all who would obey it perfectly – but in reality it brought death, because sinful man cannot keep the Law perfectly

• The Jews thought (at first) that they would keep the Law:– Exodus 19:7-8 – So Moses came and called the elders

of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.

• They eventually found out that they couldn’t keep the Law– Romans 7:10 – The very commandment that

promised life proved to be death to me.

Davidic Covenant

2 Samuel 23:5, Psalm 89:3

Davidic Covenant2Samuel 23:5, Psalm 89:3

• 2 Samuel 7:8,16 – Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: … Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

• 2 Samuel 23:1,5a – Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: … “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure…


• Psalm 89:3-4 – I [the Lord] have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: “I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.”

• Psalm 89:30-37 – If [David’s] children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, 31 if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, 32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, 33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. 34 I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. 35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. 36 His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. 37 Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.


• Description: God’s promise that David’s royal lineage will endure forever

• Type:– Unconditional – For David, God’s promise of a

royal line (fulfilled in Christ, the King of Kings) is unconditional

– Conditional – For David’s sons, their privilege to rule was contingent upon them keeping God’s Law

• Made with Whom?– David and his descendants

• Sign:– ?

The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 7-13;

2 Corinthians 3:6-18

The New CovenantJer. 31:31-34, Luke 22:20, Heb. 7-13, 2 Cor. 3:6-18

• Jeremiah 31:31-34 – Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

The New Covenant Jer. 31:31-34, Luke 22:20, Heb. 7-13, 2 Cor. 3:6-18

• Luke 22:20b (cf. 1Cor 11:25) – This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

• Hebrews 9:15 – Therefore [Christ] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

• 2 Corinthians 3:6-8 – [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

The New Covenant Jer. 31:31-34, Luke 22:20, Heb. 7-13, 2 Cor. 3:6-18

• Description: God’s promise to redeem His people from their sins and write His law on their hearts, giving them an eternal inheritance.

• Type:– Unconditional

• Made with Whom?– Genuine believers since the coming of Christ

• Sign:– The Lord’s Supper?– 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 – And when [the Lord] had

given thanks, he broke [the bread], and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The New Covenant• Was established by Jesus’ blood sacrifice on the

cross (1 Cor. 11:25)• Includes only regenerate people (those who “know

the Lord”) (Jer. 31:31-34)• Is characterized by the Holy Spirit indwelling the

hearts of all of God’s people (2 Cor. 3:6) – see also:– Acts 2:17 - "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out

my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

– 2 Corinthians 1:22 – [God] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

– 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

The New Covenant• Includes Jews and Gentiles on an Equal Basis Before

God– Ephesians 2:11-18 – Therefore remember that at one time

you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

The New Covenant• Believers in the New Covenant Are Under the

Law of Christ– 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 – For though I am free

from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

– Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

A New Covenant by any other name…• There are a number of places in scripture

(especially in the Old Testament) where the New Covenant is referenced, but the term “new covenant” is not used.

• Gentry and Wellum* believe that the New Covenant is referenced in the following passages as a:– Everlasting Covenant (Jer. 32:36-41; 50:2-5; Ezek 37:15-

28 (esp. v.26); Isaiah 55:1-5; 61:8-9; Heb 13:20)– Covenant of Peace (Isaiah 54:1-10 (esp. vv.9-10); Ezek

34:20-31 (esp. v.25); 37:15-18 (esp. v.26)– Promise of a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek 11:18-

21; 18:30-32; 36:24-32 (esp. v.26) [cf. Isa. 59:21]– New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34)

*Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum, Kingdom Through Covenant, Crossway 2012, p.434

A New Covenant by any other name…Jer. 32:38-41 – And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

A New Covenant by any other name…Isaiah 54:1-10 – “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD… 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities… 7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you... 10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.Compare: Galatians 4:22-28 – For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

A New Covenant by any other name…Ezekiel 11:19-20 – And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 36:25-27 – I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Observations by Gentry and Wellum*• Gentry and Wellum* make the following

observations about the New Covenant prophesies given in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel:– Between 750 and 550 B.C. …the prophets…

announced coming events. Some events would happen fairly soon; others would not happen for some time… Because the people had broken… the Israelite covenant… God would put in place a new covenant in which not only would he be faithful, but his people would be faithful too. (p.434)

– Isaiah [for example] excoriate[s] the people for their sins… The Lord has no choice but to fulfill the gravest curses and threats entailed in the covenant in Deut. 28. The final threat is exile. (p.436)

*Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum, Kingdom Through Covenant, Crossway 2012

Observations by Gentry and Wellum*– Isaiah… [then] looks farther into the future,

beyond the judgment of exile to the comfort and consolation of Israel, i.e., bringing them back from exile… the return from the Babylonian exile will be nothing less than a new exodus – indeed a greater exodus! (p.437)

– This new exodus is also described by the term “redeem”… Yahweh… will “buy back” his people from exile as he once delivered them from bondage and slavery in Egypt (p.437)

*Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum, Kingdom Through Covenant, Crossway 2012

Observations by Gentry and Wellum*– The return from exile, however, is not a

chronologically single task. The promises of redemption are divided into two distinct events:• Release• Forgiveness

– Release refers to bringing the people physically out of exile in Babylon and back to their own land.

– Forgiveness entails dealing fully and finally with their sin and the broken covenant… you can take the people out of Babylon, but how do you get Babylon out of the people?

– The exile will be over only when God deals with the people’s sin and renews the covenant.

*Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum, Kingdom Through Covenant, Crossway 2012, p.437-438

Gentiles (The Nations of the World)

Gentiles (The Nations of the World)

Jews (The Nation of Israel)

Jews (The Nation of Israel) The Church (Christ’s Body)Composed of Believing

Jews and Gentiles“Christians”

The Structure and Message of the BibleBased on a Chart Originally Developed by David N. Steele

The Triune God(1) The Father(2) The Son (Jesus Christ)(3) The Holy Spirit

Cre

atio

n

The Fall

(Adam)The

Flood (Noah)

4000 2300

Abraham

The Call of Abraham(the Father of the Jews)

2000

Jesus Christ

The Four Gospels

The Incarnation(John 1:1-3,14)

(1)

(1) Birth

(2)

(2) Baptism

( 3 )

(3) Public Ministry

= Crucifixion

“R”

“R” = Resurrection

The Book of ActsChs. 1-12 Peter (Jews) AD 30-44Chs. 13-28 Paul (Gentiles) AD 44-60

Mosesthe Law Giver

King David

1400 1000

Letters to Churches andIndividual Christians - Revelation

Ascension(Luke 24; Acts 1)

Holy Spirit

Unbelieving Jews and Gentiles

Unbelieving Jews and Gentiles

5BC AD 28 44 95

The Old Testament (39 Books)Written in Hebrew

Genesis --- (Promises -- Prophecy) --- Malachi

The New Testament (27 Books & Letters)Written in Greek

Matthew ----- (Fulfillment) ------ Revelation

400 Years

Comparing and Contrasting the Covenants

Relationship Between the Abrahamic Covenant, Law of Moses, and Christ (Galatians 3:15-25)

A Comparison of the Old and New Covenants (various scriptures)

Relationship Between the Abrahamic Covenant, the Law of Moses, and Christ

Galatians 3:15-25

Relationship Between the Abrahamic Covenant, the Law of Moses, and

Christ (Galatians 3:15-25)The Abrahamic Covenant was Fulfilled in Christ (3:15-

18) The Mosaic Law (which came between the Abrahamic

Covenant and its fulfillment in Christ) was temporary (3:19-25)

Introduction to Galatians 3:15-25As we have seen, God made a covenant with Abraham which

consisted of a number of promises. (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:4-21; 17:1-16; 22:17)

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness – so he was saved through faith in God’s promises.

In Galatians 3:15-25, Paul is going to explain that the promises given to Abraham in this covenant found their ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Abraham’s ultimate “seed” (or offspring) – Jesus Christ, who inaugurated the New Covenant.

Under the New Covenant, people from every nation who follow the example of Abraham and believe in the promise of God given in the gospel, are united with Christ and therefore share in the blessings promised to Abraham.

Keep in mind as we examine our text that Paul will sometimes use “shorthand” and refer to the above sequence of events by terms such as: the promise or promises spoken to Abraham or the covenant.

Abrahamic Covenant Fulfilled in Christ (3:15-18) 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made

covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.

16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.

18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

The promises to Abraham were: Given long before the Law of Moses was given (3:17a) Not set aside by the Law of Moses (3:15, 17b-18) Fulfilled in Christ (3:16)

The Mosaic Law Was Temporary (3:19-22)19 Why then the law? It was added because of

transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made…The Law was temporary – to be in effect only until the coming of Christ. By turning sins into transgressions, the Law intensified the awareness of sin, and the need for a Savior.

23 Now before faith [in Christ] came, we [Jews] were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith [in Christ] would be revealed.

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith [in Christ] has come, we are no longer under a guardian…

Promise and Law - Galatians 3:15-25

The Law of Moses

Promise

Now that faith [in Christ] has come, we are no longer under the guardianship of the Law (Gal.3:25)

In the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised Abraham an “offspring” (3:15-17)

The Callof

Abraham(Gen. 12:1-3)

Fulfillment

430 years later

Jesus Christ“The Seed”(Gal. 3:16, 19a)

Law Added UNTIL

Did not set aside the promise to Abraham (Gal. 3:17-18)

Was added “because of [i.e. to increase] transgressions” (Gal. 3:19)

Was to remain in force only until Christ came (Gal 3:24)

A Comparison of the Old and New Covenants

The Old

Covenant

The New

Covenant

Fundamentally Different

Superior

Fulfills

Replaces

The New Covenant Is Fundamentally Different From the Old Covenant


• The Old Covenant Was Made With One Nation– Exodus 19:3-5 – The LORD called to [Moses]out

of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

– Psalm 147:19-20 – He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!


• The New Covenant Includes Many Nations– Galatians 3:8 – And the Scripture, foreseeing

that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

– Revelation 7:9 – After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands


• The Old Covenant Included Believers and Unbelievers– Believers

• Hebrews 11:1-40 – Abel … Enoch …Noah … Abraham … Isaac … Jacob … Sarah … Joseph … Moses' parents … Moses … Rahab … Gideon … Barak … Samson … Jephthah … David … Samuel and the prophets … These were all commended for their faith

– Unbelievers• Jeremiah 2:8 – The priests did not say, “Where is the

LORD?” Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.

• Jeremiah 4:22 – For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise'-- in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.

• See also Rom 9:6ff


• The New Covenant Includes Believers Only– Jeremiah 31:34 – And no longer shall each one

teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more .


• The Old Covenant Focused on Physical Blessings– Physical Health

• Deuteronomy 7:15 – And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.

– Physical Wealth• Deuteronomy 28:11-12 – And the LORD will make you

abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

– Military Victory• Deuteronomy 28:7 – The LORD will cause your enemies

who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.


• The New Covenant Focuses on Spiritual Blessings– Spiritual Health

• 1 Timothy 4:8 – For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

– Spiritual Wealth• 1 Timothy 6:18 – They are to do good, to be rich in good works,

to be generous and ready to share…• James 2:5 - Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those

who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

• Revelation 2:9a – I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)…

– Spiritual Victory• Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 – We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…


The Old Covenant The New Covenant

Made with One Nation Includes Many Nations

Included Believers and Unbelievers Includes Believers Only

Focused on Physical Blessings• Physical Health• Physical Wealth• Military Victory

Focuses on Spiritual Blessings• Spiritual Health• Spiritual Wealth• Spiritual Victory

The New Covenant is Superior to the Old

CovenantExhibit A – The Book of Hebrews

(especially Hebrews 8:6-13)

Background to the Book of Hebrews The recipients of the Hebrew letter:

Were professing Christians who had come out of Judaism

Were experiencing persecution for their faith and as a result were tempted to return to Judaism

The writer to the book of Hebrews warns his readers: Not to return to the practices of Judaism and

thereby turn away from Christ. The writer argues that:

Christ is superior to Judaism Christ’s Covenant (the New Covenant) is

superior to the Old Covenant (which had been given to the Jews)

Outline of the First Eight Chapters of the Book of Hebrews

Chapters 1-7 – The Superiority of Christ to the Old Covenant Leaders 1:1-1:3 Christ is Superior to the Forefathers

and Prophets 1:4-2:18 Christ is Superior to the Angels 3:1-4:13 Christ is Superior to Moses 4:14-7:28 Christ is Superior to the Jewish

Levitical Priests Chapters 8-10 – The Superiority of

Christ’s Ministry to the Old Covenant Levitical Priesthood 8:1-5 Christ is the Minister of a Superior

Tabernacle 8:6-13 Christ is the Minister of a Superior

Covenant


Hebrews 8:6 – But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry,

since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises. (NET)

Hebrews 8:6 - But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises. (NET)

Here we see three comparisons : The (priestly) ministry of Jesus is

superior to the priestly ministry of the Jewish (Levitical) priesthood

Because: The covenant of which Jesus is a mediator is superior to the old covenant

Because: The new covenant (of which Jesus is a mediator) is founded on better promises than the old covenant.


Hebrews 8:7-9 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there

would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.

Hebrews 8:7-9 - For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant ...

Why did God promise another (new) covenant? There was a problem with the first (old)

covenant The problem was with the people – they

were unable to keep the old covenant.


Hebrews 8:10-12 For this is the covenant that I will make with the

house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.“

Hebrews 8:10-12 - I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts … they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest … I will remember their sins no more.

The elements of the New Covenant stand in contrast to the Old: The new covenant is written on the heart, the

old covenant was written on stone In the new covenant everyone “knows the

Lord” (is regenerated), in the old covenant there were regenerate and unregenerate Jews

In the new covenant everyone in it is forgiven, in the old covenant everyone in it is proven guilty

Hebrews 8:13 - In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

By promising a new covenant, God, in effect, made the old one obsolete.

So once this pronouncement was made, it was just a matter of time before the old one would fade away.


CovenantExhibit B – 2 Corinthians 3:6-16

Exodus 34:29-35Before examining 2 Corinthians 3:6-16, it will be helpful if we are familiar with the following account of Moses receiving the Old Covenant Law from God on Mount Sinai given in Exodus 34:

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them.

Exodus 34:29-3532 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34 Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.


2 Corinthians 3:6-8 [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a

new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

2 Corinthians 3:6-8 – [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

Paul draws three contrasts contrast between the old and new covenants:Old Covenant New Covenant

Written in letters on stone Written by the Spirit on the hearts of believers




The old covenant letter kills – i.e. condemns us as spiritually dead (cf. vs. 9)

The new covenant Spirit gives life – i.e. makes us spiritually alive through regeneration




The old covenant letter kills – i.e. condemns us as spiritually dead (cf. vs. 9)

The new covenant Spirit gives life – i.e. makes us spiritually alive through regeneration

Was glorious (evidenced by the fact that the Israelites could not bear to look at Moses face when he received it) but it was a fading glory (symbolized by the fading glory on Moses face)

Is more glorious because its members are all regenerated and indwelt by the Holy Spirit – and this covenant is an everlasting covenant whose glory will never fade


2 Corinthians 3:9-12 For if there was glory in the ministry of

condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold…

2 Corinthians 3:9-12 – For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

Building on these contrasts, Paul demonstrates the superiority of the new covenant over the old: The “ministry of righteousness” (i.e. the new

covenant which brings about true righteousness in its members) “far exceeds” the glory of the “ministry of condemnation” (i.e. the old covenant which brings about the condemnation of those who trust in it for salvation)

The new covenant is permanent and therefore “much more” glorious than the “glorious” old covenant which came to an end.


2 Corinthians 3:13-16 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over

his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 3:13-16 – Moses… would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (NIV)

Paul then draws the following conclusions:

At the giving of the old covenant law, Moses put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from seeing that the radiance on his face was fading.

Jews who still look to the old covenant law for salvation (due to the fact that their “minds were made dull”, i.e. hardened) are unable to see that the glory of the old covenant has faded and it cannot save them. Yet they kept hoping that it will!

The dullness of their minds functions like the veil in Moses day which kept the Israelites from seeing the fading glory on the face of the old covenant lawgiver.

Once someone turns to Christ by the power of the Spirit given in the new covenant, the veil is then “taken away” and they are able to see that the old covenant law cannot provide salvation – they see that its glory has faded.

The New Covenant is Superior to the Old Covenant Old Covenant

(2 Cor.3:14)New Covenant

(2 Cor.3:6)

Mediator, Moses Mediator, Christ

Law of Moses Law of Christ

Ministry of Death Ministry of Life

Ministry of Letter Ministry of Spirit

Writing on Stones Writing on Hearts

Fading Glory Abiding Glory

Ministry of Condemnation Ministry of Righteousness

Disobedient People(Heb.8:9)

Obedient People(Heb.8:10)

People Who Do Not"Know the Lord"

(Jer.2:8; 4:22; 9:3)

People Who "Know the Lord"

(Jer. 31:34; 24:7)

Taken from Jon Zens, Is There a “Covenant of Grace”, p.7

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

Gives Way To

The New Covenant Fulfills

The Old Covenant

The New Covenant Fulfills the Old Covenant

• Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, fulfills not only the Old Covenant, but the entire Old Testament.– Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I have come to abolish

the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.• abolish = kataluo - to dissolve, to destroy, demolish,

deprive of success, bring to naught• the Law or the Prophets = A phrase that refers to the

Old Testament in its entirety• fulfill = pleroo - to make full, to fill up, to complete, to

fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting, to make complete in every particular, to bring to realization

The New Covenant Fulfills the Old Covenant• Matthew uses the same Greek word (that is translated

“fulfill”) in relation to Jesus at least 14 times (outside of Matthew 5:17). In each case, Matthew shows where Jesus or an event related to Jesus’ coming fulfills an Old Testament prophesy:– Matthew 1:22 – Virgin Birth, Called Immanuel– Matthew 2:15 – Called out of Egypt– Matthew 2:17 – Mothers weeping over babies– Matthew 2:23 – From Nazareth– Matthew 3:15 – To “fulfill all righteousness”– Matthew 4:14 – A great light– Matthew 8:17 – Healing– Matthew 12:17 – God’s Chosen Servant – Matthew 13:35 – Spoke in Parables– Matthew 21:4 – Riding on a donkey– Matthew 26:54 – The events of His arrest – Matthew 26:56 – The events of His arrest – Matthew 27:9 – Betrayed by 30 pieces of silver

The New Covenant Fulfills the Old Covenant• So in other words, Jesus fulfills the Law and the

Prophets in that they point to Him, and He is their fulfillment.

• Luke 24:44 – [Jesus] said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

The New Covenant Fulfills the Old Covenant• The Old Testament (Law and Prophets) Contained

Many:– Specific Commands– Promises– Prophesies– Types and Shadows

• Christ Fulfills the Old Testament By His Entire Mission– By what He was– By what He taught– By what He did– By what He is still doing– And by what he will yet do

The New Covenant Replaces

The Old Covenant

The New Covenant Replaces The Old Covenant

• Hebrews 8:7-8,13 - For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah… 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.


• 2 Corinthians 3:6-7, 11 – [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end… 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.


• Ephesians 2:14-16 – For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross. (NIV)


• Colossians 2:14-16 – having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross . . . Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (NIV)


• In Summary, the New Testament writers tell us that the Old Covenant, including all of its parts (laws) which was:– “Being brought to an end”– “Growing old”– “Soon to disappear”

• Is now:– “Obsolete”– “Abolished”– “Cancelled”


• The Old Covenant has been replaced with a new and better covenant that is more glorious and permanent!– Hebrews 8:6b – The covenant [Jesus] mediates

is better, since it is enacted on better promises. – Hebrews 8:13a – In speaking of a new covenant,

he makes the first one obsolete.– 2 Corinthians 3:11 – For if what was being

brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.


Martin Luther put it like this:• That Moses does not bind the Gentiles can be proved from

Exodus 20, where God himself speaks, ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.’ This text makes it clear that even the Ten Commandments do not pertain to us. For God never led us out of Egypt, but only the Jews. The sectarian spirits want to saddle us with Moses and all the commandments . We will just skip that. We will regard Moses as a teacher, but we will not regard him as our lawgiver – unless he agrees with both the New Testament and the natural law . . . Paul and the New Testament . . . abolish the Sabbath, to show us that the Sabbath was given to the Jews alone.

“How Christians Should Regard Moses,” Luther’s Works 35:165-166 (quoted in Zaspel and Wells New Covenant Theology, p.152)

Questions Raised by New Covenant Theology

Question: Why does the New Testament sometimes cite a portion of the Old Testament law as though it were still in effect?

Answer:• Often this happens when an Old Testament

command is re-instated as part of the New Covenant– Usually such commands addressed something about

God’s character or human nature that has not changed with the coming of the New Covenant.

– Sometimes when such commands are re-instated, they are “upgraded” to better fit New Covenant conditions.


Example #1:• Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV) – Children, obey your parents in

the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

• Compare Exodus 20:12 – Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

• Notice Paul upgrades the language to be applicable to all children, not just Jewish children entering the land that God had given to Israel.


Example #2:• Romans 13:9-10 – For the commandments, “You shall not

commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

• Paul is not saying here that we are under the Law of Moses – otherwise he would be contradicting what he said earlier in this same letter (see 6:14-15; 7:4; 8:4)!

• Paul is merely pointing out that when we obey Christ’s command to love our neighbor, we “do no wrong” to our neighbor and thereby fulfill the righteousness demanded by the Law.


Example #3:• 1Corinthians 14:33b-34 – As in all the churches of

the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

• The principle women submitting is a timeless principle established by God when he created the first man and woman (cf. 1 Cor. 11:8-9) and therefore is a requirement in the Law of Moses as well as the law of Christ.

What about “keeping the Sabbath”?• There are a number of Christian groups who

teach that as Christians we are to “keep the Sabbath”:– Some groups (for example, Seventh Day Baptists

and Seventh-day Adventists) believe in continuing to keep the Sabbath on the original day: Saturday.

– But most Christian groups who believe in “Sabbath keeping” (such as the Presbyterians or other “Reformed” groups) believe that Sunday has become the new “Christian Sabbath” – though the Bible never calls Sunday a Sabbath and there is not single passage of scripture that suggests changing the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday!

What about “keeping the Sabbath”?• There is a great deal of variety among those who

believe in Sabbath keeping as to what constitutes proper observance of the Sabbath:– Some would say the day should be set aside exclusively for

spiritual activities such as worship, prayer, fellowship, etc.– Some would say that a Christian should not work on the

Sabbath (either vocationally or even around the home), some would say this includes not participating in sports activities on that day.

– Some teach that we are to “observe” the Sabbath, but don’t give much specific instruction as to how to “observe the Sabbath”.

– For most of these groups, there is never any serious enforcement of Sabbath keeping or church discipline for violating the Sabbath.

What about “keeping the Sabbath”?• It is important to keep in mind, that the Sabbath

as originally given by Moses, was to be strictly enforced – the penalty for violating the Sabbath was that the violator be put to death!– Six days shall work be done, but the seventh

day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. (Exodus 31:15)

– Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. (Exodus 35:2)

What about “keeping the Sabbath”?• Likewise, to keep the Sabbath under the Law of

Moses, you were not only required to personally observe the Sabbath, but you were not allowed to require those in your household or those who serve you to violate the Sabbath:– But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your

God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. (Deuteronomy 5:14)

What about “keeping the Sabbath”?• As we have already seen, the Sabbath was a “sign” of the

covenant given to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. • Since it was through Moses that the Sabbath was made

known (Neh. 9:14), the Sabbath would have been unknown prior to Moses.

• We have also seen that we are no longer under the Old (Mosaic) Covenant, but are now under the New Covenant.

• There is no command in the New Testament concerning the requirement to keep any kind of Sabbath or “rest” day.

• The only “Sabbath” that we are taught to observe in the New Testament is that we cease from doing work to gain favor with God and instead come to Him in faith:– For we who have believed enter that rest… 10 for whoever has

entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest … (Heb 4:3,10-11)

What about “keeping the Sabbath”?

• Furthermore there are two places in the New Testament that explicitly teach that we are not required to keep a Sabbath day:– Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in

questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Col 2:16-17)

– One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. (Rom 14:5)

What about Tithing?• The word translated “tithe” is from a Hebrew word

(maser) meaning one tenth.• The first mention of tithing in the Bible is in Genesis

14:17-20 where we are told that Abraham paid a tenth (tithe) of the spoils of battle to Melchizedek.

• Under the Law of Moses, Israel was required to pay up to three tithes during the course of a year: – A general tithe, paid to the Levites (Num. 18:21), who in

turn had to give a tenth of that to the priests (Num. 18:26) – A tithe associated with a sacred meal eaten by the Jewish

household in Jerusalem (Deut. 14:22–27) – A tithe paid every three years to the poor (Deut. 14:28–29).

What about Tithing?• In the New Testament, there are a few negative

references in the Gospels to the Jewish abuse of tithing (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12)

• The writer of Hebrews references the tithe given by Abraham to Melchizedek in order to make a theological point about the priesthood of Melchizedek being superior to the Levitical priesthood.

• Otherwise the New Testament gives no commandment to New Covenant Christians concerning tithing.

• The New Testament standard of giving is:– Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not

reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7)

– Give generously (Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 9:11; 1Tim 6:18) – no specific percentage is specified.

What is the “Covenant of Grace”?

What is the “Covenant of Grace”? The Westminster Confession of Faith reads*:• ii. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of

works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.

• iii. Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the Covenant of Grace, whereby He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe.*Westminster Confession of Faith – Chapter 7 parts 2-3


• The “Covenant of Grace” is a covenant that exists only in theology books – not in the Bible.

• It is an idea taught by “reformed” Christians (those who claim to follow the reformers – particularly John Calvin)

• Those who believe in a “Covenant of Grace” refer to their system as “Covenant Theology” – not to be confused with what we have been studying which is called “New Covenant Theology”


• Likewise, the Bible never talks about a “Covenant of Works” made with Adam (even if Hosea 6:7 implies that there was a covenant with Adam).

• Nor does the Bible teach that “life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience”*

• The only thing promised to Adam was death if he disobeyed God's clear command. There is no mention of either a covenant or Adam being rewarded with some kind of life by obeying this mythical covenant.

*Westminster Confession of Faith – Chapter 7 part 2


• Covenant Theology (as we saw in the Westminster Confession of Faith) sees the two major covenants of the Bible as:– The Covenant of Works (made with Adam)– The Covenant of Grace (salvation through faith)

• The two major covenants compared and contrasted in the Bible are:– The Old Covenant made with Moses and Israel at

Sinai– The New Covenant established by Christ which

replaces the Old Covenant made with Israel.

Other Questions?

New Covenant Theology. Overview What We’re Going to Cover The Major Covenants in the Bible (50%)The Major Covenants in the Bible (50%) How the New Testament.

Documents

covenant slide

covenant definition

new covenant theology

noahic covenant genesis

old covenant davidic

covenant dictionary

bible slide

major covenants