Introduction
Many years ago, I was reading in the gospel of Luke when I came across this verse, “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood’ “ (Luke 22:20).
As a naturally curious person, I had two thoughts. First, this new covenant must be pretty important. It literally came to us through the blood of Jesus. It must have gone into effect through the blood of Jesus. It must have something to do with His death on the cross.
My second thought was, “What makes this new covenant ‘new?’ Is there an old covenant? Does ‘new’ mean brand new, or some restating of an ‘old’ covenant. If there is an old and new covenant, how do they relate to the Old and New Testaments?”
I soon learned that a “covenant” is an “arrangement.” The new covenant is the new arrangement that we have with God by virtue of Jesus dying on the cross in our place and us accepting by faith that His death was sufficient to take away our sin and make us right with God. I also learned that there is an old covenant. It was God’s arrangement with the children of Israel as described in the Old Testament.
Alongside this understanding regarding the two arrangements or covenants, I came across this verse in the Message Bible paraphrase of the New Testament. “By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and His people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust” (Hebrews 8:13).
Wait a minute. The old covenant is over, expired, ended, obsolete, sitting on the shelf gathering dust? Why then am I hearing so many old covenant principles being taught as instrumental in how to live the Christian life?
If you have followed my writing, you know what my lifetime of study has produced. The old covenant is NOT for us, as New Testament saints in Jesus. The blessings, the curses, the commands, the laments, the longings, the promise of prosperity, the weight of the Law, the stench of death, the punishments, and the condemnation are OVER. We are no longer under the obligations or the conditions of the old covenant.
So with the old covenant being taken out of the way, why do I return now to write about it? Because the principles of the old covenant are taught in many circles as formational in living the Christian life, and I feel compelled to return to the topic of the covenant contrasts as I see them in Scripture and elevate the superiority of life under the new covenant.
When we lay aside the outdated old covenant and embrace the new, we find joy, peace, forgiveness, acceptance, union, rest, freedom, power, and grace for the Christian journey through this life. Join us in this series about the covenant contrasts and I believe that you will be blessed by all that the new covenant has to offer you, beloved child of God.