Our Covenant with God - Part II

In part 1 of this article we looked at the fact that at different times God had made different covenants with various people. The people to whom the covenant was given were bound to that covenant, but those to whom it was not given were not bound to obey to it.

It was also concluded that Christ is the mediator of the new covenant (see Hebrews 9:15), not the old covenant which is the law of Moses. This article will examine more proofs concerning the fact that Christians are under the law of Christ and not the law of Moses (1 Corinthians 9:21).

Christians must not mix the Old Testament with the New Testament. Paul warned about this in Galatians 5:3-4, “And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” One of the primary purposes for the book of Galatians was the fact that some were teaching that you had to keep Moses’ law on circumcision in order to be a faithful Christian (Galatians 5:2, 6). But Paul said that if you go back to Moses to be justified then you fall from Grace. This same principle holds true for every aspect of the law of Moses.

Look at the comparison chart below.

Covenant of Moses	Covenant of Christ
1. Blood of animals (Heb. 9:19-20) 2. Sins remembered each year (Heb. 10:3, 4) 3. Was not perfect (Heb. 7:11, 18, 19; 8:7; 10:1) 4. Given only to Israel (Deut. 5:1-3; Eph. 2:12) 5. Would vanish away (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:13)	1. Blood of Christ (Heb. 9:14, 24-26) 2. Sins not remembered (Heb. 8:12; 10:17) 3. Makes you perfect (Heb. 7:19; 10:14) 4. Given to all nations (Mat. 28:19; Acts 10:34-35) 5. Will never vanish away (Heb. 7:24; 13:20)

Why then should we read and study the Old Testament? The Old Testament was written for our learning (Romans 15:4). There we learn about Abraham, David, Daniel and other heroes of the faith. We also learn about Balaam, Ahab and Jezebel and other enemies of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11 says that we should look at the rebellion of Israel and learn not to follow their example. In the Old Testament we also learn much about our heavenly Father and how He deals with His children.

The law of Moses came to an end when Christ died on the cross. The law of Moses was described as a marriage covenant between God and Israel. In Jeremiah 31:32 it is written, “ ...My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord.” Though Israel was unfaithful to God, He remained true to the covenant. But God had planned for a most notable event to take place that would bring this covenant to an end for Him and for Israel. Paul explains this in Romans 7:3-4: “So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God” . Christ (God in the flesh) had to die on the cross in order to bring His covenant with Israel to an end. This same event also sealed the new covenant by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 13:20; Mat. 26:28), and opened the door for all nations to be blessed through Him according to the promise God had made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and 17:7.

This same idea is carried over into the New Covenant. The church is described as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7; 21:2). But if you go back to Moses for your authority in the church then you are committing adultery against Christ. Either Christ is your bridegroom or He is not. Paul explained it like this in Ephesians 5:2-324, “For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in everything.”

We are no longer under the law of Moses. Neither are we under the 10 commandments of Moses. We must not mix the two. It is still wrong to lie, lust, steal, kill and take the name of God in vain. But it is wrong because of the new covenant of Christ. In Matthew 5:2-278, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Jesus’ law is better than the law of Moses. If you go back to Moses’ law for your justification today then you have become estranged from Christ, or the King James Version says, Christ has become of “no effect” for you (Galatians 5:4).

Christ alone is our king, our high priest, our Lord and our Savior. He gave us a new covenant by the power of His blood (Matthew 26:28). This covenant is an everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20).

-Steve Vice