New Covenant
Theology
Overview
What 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 Covenant
Genesis 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.”
Noahic Covenant
Genesis 9:8-17
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.
12
Noahic Covenant
Genesis 9:8-17
“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.”
Noahic Covenant
Genesis 9:8-17
• 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 Covenant
Genesis 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…”
Abrahamic Covenant
Genesis 12-17
• 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.
Abrahamic Covenant
Genesis 12-17
• 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.
Abrahamic Covenant
Genesis 12-17
• 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 Blessing
Spiritual Fulfillment:
• Spiritual Land
• Spiritual Offspring
• Spiritual Blessing
The Abrahamic Covenant Had Two Fulfillments
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.
The Abrahamic Covenant Had Two Fulfillments
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.”
The Abrahamic Covenant Had Two Fulfillments
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.”
The Abrahamic Covenant Had Two Fulfillments
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.
The Abrahamic Covenant Had Two Fulfillments
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.
The Abrahamic Covenant Had Two Fulfillments
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 Covenant
Exodus 19-24
Mosaic Covenant
Exodus 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.
Mosaic Covenant
Exodus 19-24
• 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.
Mosaic Covenant
Exodus 19-24
• 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 Law of Moses and the Mosaic
Covenant
• 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 and the Mosaic
Covenant
• 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 and the Mosaic
Covenant
• 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 Covenant
2Samuel 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…
Davidic Covenant
2Samuel 23:5, Psalm 89:3
• 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.
Davidic Covenant
2Samuel 23:5, Psalm 89:3
• 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 Covenant
Jer. 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 11:1821; 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
The Structure and Message of the Bible
Based on a Chart Originally Developed by David N. Steele
The Triune God
(1) The Father
(2) The Son (Jesus Christ)
(3) The Holy Spirit
Gentiles (The Nations of the World)
Unbelieving Jews and Gentiles
Jews (The Nation of Israel)
Creation
The Incarnation
(John 1:1-3,14)
Moses
King David
the Law Giver
The Four Gospels
(1) Birth
(2) Baptism
(3) Public Ministry
= Crucifixion
The Call of Abraham
(the Father of the Jews)
The
Fall
(Adam)

(2) ( 3 )
“R”
Jesus Christ
(1)
Abraham
The
Flood
(Noah)
The Church (Christ’s Body)
Composed of Believing
Ascension
Jews and Gentiles
(Luke 24; Acts 1)
“Christians”

Jews (The Nation of Israel)
Holy Spirit
The Book of Acts
Chs. 1-12 Peter (Jews) AD 30-44
Chs. 13-28 Paul (Gentiles) AD 44-60
Letters to Churches and
Individual Christians - Revelation
“R” = Resurrection
Unbelieving Jews and Gentiles
Gentiles (The Nations of the World)
4000
2300 2000
1400
1000
The Old Testament (39 Books)
Written in Hebrew
Genesis --- (Promises -- Prophecy) --- Malachi
5BC
400
Years
AD 28
44
The New Testament (27 Books & Letters)
Written in Greek
Matthew ----- (Fulfillment) ------ Revelation
95
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)
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)






As 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.
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.
15

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)
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…
19
The Call
of
Abraham
(Gen. 12:1-3)
Promise
Fulfillment
The Law of Moses
In the
Abrahamic
Covenant, God
promised
Abraham an
“offspring”
(3:15-17)
430 years
later
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)
Law Added UNTIL Jesus Christ
“The Seed”
(Gal. 3:16, 19a)
Now that faith [in
Christ] has come,
we are no longer
under the
guardianship of the
Law (Gal.3:25)
A Comparison of the Old and New
Covenants
Fundamentally Different
The
Old
Covenant
Superior
Fulfills
Replaces
The
New
Covenant
The New Covenant Is
Fundamentally Different
From the Old Covenant
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 Is Fundamentally
Different From the Old Covenant
• 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 New Covenant Is Fundamentally
Different From the Old Covenant
• 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 Is Fundamentally
Different From the Old Covenant
• 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 New Covenant Is Fundamentally
Different From the Old Covenant
• 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 Is Fundamentally
Different From the Old Covenant
• 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 New Covenant Is Fundamentally
Different From the Old Covenant
The Old Covenant
Made with One Nation
The New Covenant
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
Covenant
Exhibit A – The Book of Hebrews
(especially Hebrews 8:6-13)
Background to the Book of Hebrews

The recipients of the Hebrew letter:



The writer to the book of Hebrews warns his
readers:


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
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
The New Covenant is
Superior to the Old

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.
The New Covenant is
Superior to the Old

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.
The New Covenant is
Superior to the Old

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.
The New Covenant is
Superior to the Old
Covenant
Exhibit B – 2 Corinthians 3:6-16
Exodus 34:29-35
Before 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 34:29-35
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.
32
The New Covenant is
Superior to the Old

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
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
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
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
The New Covenant is
Superior to the Old

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.
The New Covenant is
Superior to the Old

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)
Gives Way To
New Covenant
(2 Cor.3:6)
Mediator, Moses
Gives Way To
Mediator, Christ
Law of Moses
Gives Way To
Law of Christ
Ministry of Death
Gives Way To
Ministry of Life
Ministry of Letter
Gives Way To
Ministry of Spirit
Writing on Stones
Gives Way To
Writing on Hearts
Fading Glory
Gives Way To
Abiding Glory
Ministry of Condemnation
Gives Way To
Ministry of Righteousness
Disobedient People
(Heb.8:9)
Gives Way To
Obedient People
(Heb.8:10)
Gives Way To
People Who
"Know the Lord"
(Jer. 31:34; 24:7)
People Who Do Not
"Know the Lord"
(Jer.2:8; 4:22; 9:3)
Taken from Jon Zens, Is There a “Covenant of Grace”, p.7
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 –
Matthew 2:15 –
Matthew 2:17 –
Matthew 2:23 –
Matthew 3:15 –
Matthew 4:14 –
Matthew 8:17 –
Matthew 12:17 –
Matthew 13:35 –
Matthew 21:4 –
Matthew 26:54 –
Matthew 26:56 –
Matthew 27:9 –
Virgin Birth, Called Immanuel
Called out of Egypt
Mothers weeping over babies
From Nazareth
To “fulfill all righteousness”
A great light
Healing
God’s Chosen Servant
Spoke in Parables
Riding on a donkey
The events of His arrest
The events of His arrest
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.
The New Covenant Replaces
The Old Covenant
• 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.
The New Covenant Replaces
The Old Covenant
• 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)
The New Covenant Replaces
The Old Covenant
• 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)
The New Covenant Replaces
The Old Covenant
• 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 New Covenant Replaces
The Old Covenant
• 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.
The New Covenant Replaces
The Old Covenant
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.
Question: Why does the New Testament
sometimes cite a portion of the Old Testament
law as though it were still in effect?
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.
Question: Why does the New Testament
sometimes cite a portion of the Old Testament
law as though it were still in effect?
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.
Question: Why does the New Testament
sometimes cite a portion of the Old Testament
law as though it were still in effect?
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
What is the “Covenant of Grace”?
• 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”
What is the “Covenant of Grace”?
• 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
What is the “Covenant of Grace”?
• 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?