The student who wants to understand the Scriptures must come to a clear understanding of what is meant by the term “covenant.” The Bible reveals that during the time of man’s sojourn on this earth, God has given eight covenants in His dealings with men and nations. The purpose of this study is to consider just two of those covenants. These two were (1) instituted by Moses and (2) instituted by Jesus Christ. John, when writing his Gospel close to the end of the first century wrote; John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
We see by this statement that there is a clear difference in the timing of these two covenants. The Mosaic covenant became effective when Moses, on Mount Sinai, sealed the covenant with the people by blood. (Exodus 24:7,8) Hebrews 9:19, “For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people.” About 1,500 years later Jesus at the Last Supper, said to His disciples, Luke 22:20, “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.”
The differences between these two covenants are best understood when contrasted with each other. Observe what they accomplished or did not accomplish:
Moses at Sinai ushered in the covenant (dispensation) of law, BUT Jesus at Calvary ushered in the covenant (dispensation) of grace.
Moses represents the covenant of law. The Jews understood this. John 8:5, ” Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” Jesus represents the grace of God. The Jews did not understand this. Act 13:38, 39 “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
The Mosaic Law with its sacrifices made no man perfect. (Romans 8:2) Hebrews 10:1, ” For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” The Grace of God in Christ Jesus does make the believer perfect. Hebrews 10:14 ” For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
The Mosaic Law was sealed with the blood of animals (Exodus 24:7 ,8) Hebrews 9:19, 20 “For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.” The New Covenant was sealed with Jesus’ blood (Luke 22:20) Hebrews 9:12, ” Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
The Mosaic Covenant governed: Man’s religious responsibility to God. (Exodus 20:1-7); Man’s civil responsibilities to government. Exodus 22:28, “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.“; and Man’s moral responsibility to his fellow man (Exodus 20: 12-17)
The Covenant of Grace made possible: A new relationship between God and man. Romans 8:14, 15, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.“; A new approach or access to God. (Romans 5:2) Ephesians 2:18, “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.“; A new association with God. Ephesians 2:19, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;“
Under the Old Covenant the emphasis was upon do or doing. Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed be he that comfirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.“
Under the New Covenant the emphasis is upon ‘what He did. (Acts 13:39) Romans 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.“
Under the Old Covenant the sinner faced the death sentence. (Romans 6:23a) Ezekiel 18:4, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.“
Under the New Covenant, the sinner finds new life in Christ. (Romans 6:23b) I John 5:12, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.“
Under the Old Covenant, failure in one point, guilty of all. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.“
Under the New Covenant, failure and sin is confessed and forgiven. I John 1:9, “lf we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
Under the Old Covenant, the promises were all earthly. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Leviticus 26:3-6)
Under the New Covenant, the promises are all heavenly. (Ephesians I :3) I Peter 1 :4, ”To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you.“
Under the Old Covenant, the people were called Israel (Jews) (Exodus 19:3-5) ·
Under the New Covenant, the people are called the Church of God. I Corinthians 10:32, “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God.“
Under the Old Covenant, it was the seventh day or Sabbath. (Isaiah 58:13) Ezekiel 20:20, “And hallow My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you ,that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.“
Under the New Covenant, it is the first day of the week or the Lord’s Day. Acts 20:7 ,”And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.“
Under the Old Covenant, Jesus fulfilled all things. John 19:28, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.“
Under the New Covenant, God through Jesus, freely bestowed all. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.“
Under the Old Covenant, God demanded righteousness, Deuteronomy 6:25, “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us.“
Under the New Covenant. God in grace imputes righteousness to the believer. Romans 4:22~24; verse 22, “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.“
Under the Old Covenant, Jesus went to the synagogue and temple.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus was never seen (after the resurrection)at the temple or synagogue.
CONCLUSION
Now if one gives honor or observes Days and Sabbaths, as meritorious, that person is giving honor to the flesh and not to the finished work of Christ. (Colossians 2:18-23)
Now if one seeks to be righteous by the deeds of the law, he makes void the finished work of Christ who paid the sin debt in full. Galatians 2:21. ‘‘I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.“
Now those who are saved by grace, serve the true and living God, not the former works of the law and of the flesh. (Romans 8:12,15) I Thessalonians 1:9,10, “For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.“
Now the saved no longer fear the wrath of God, but rest in peace with God. (Colossians 1:20) Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.“
Now the saved person does good works, not to be saved or kept saved, but because he is saved and these works are the fruit of the new life. (Ephesians 5:9) Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.“
Now the saved person does not look at Sinai with its thunder and lightning, but looks upward to the coming of the Lord for His own. (Hebrews 12:18-24) Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
Now the believer is faced with a problem; does the fact that he has been set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) give him the license and liberty to do as he pleases, go where he pleases? Can he continue to live the kind of life he lived before he was saved?
We believe that a person who has truly been born again will have a decreasing desire to continue in the ways of the old life, but rather to please Him who has redeemed him and placed him in the household of faith. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (The believer is now a new creation in Christ Jesus, the things of the old life are gone, and the believer is to walk in newness of life.) Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Setting his affections on things above. (Colossians 3: 1-4)