Which Covenant are you Under?

 One of the things that saddens and surprises me is that many Christians who read their Bibles regularly often seem not to live under the New Covenant that God has made with humankind.

The Bible contains several covenants (binding agreements), but there are two in particular that I would like to mention.  Incidentally the names given to the two major divisions of the Bible reflect these two covenants.  There being no exact equivalent in Greek for the concept of covenant within the Hebrew Scriptures, the alternative, diatheke, translated "Testament" is used.  The difference between Covenant and Testament is interesting.  Covenants are made between two or more parties having power during the lifetime of the maker of the Covenants.  But, Testaments are agreements that only have power after the death of the testator. Se...

"In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died." (Hebrews 8:16,17, NIV)

The 'Old Covenant' was made by God with the people of Israel.  It is conditional.  The Old Covenant came with a raft of rules and regulations.  These declared that some things were not allowed, and are therefore called sinful.  Alongside these, God provided a system of sacrifices for forgiveness.   While God cannot be anything other than faithful, sadly, Israel repeatedly became an unfaithful partner.

By contrast, the 'New Covenant' is made by God with all of humankind.  It is unconditional, based upon grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  He has paid it all for all people of all times, and access into this relationship is simply by believing (i.e. accepting our need and what Jesus has made possible through his death, so trusting him for salvation).  It comes without any of the rules and regulations.  The only thing that God asks is that we love him wholeheartedly and our neighbours as ourselves.  We may fall short but, as John tells us, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us when we acknowledge out fault.  It is God's free provision at his own cost.

The problem that follows is that many people seem not to be happy with a 'no rules' relationship.

So it was that some of the Jewish converts to Christianity taught that circumcision and obedience to the Law was still required.  The death of Christ was not enough.  The apostle, Paul (himself a pharisee) received his understanding of the gospel direct from God, and saw these law keepers as contradicting the gospel.  Hence his journey to Jerusalem and the Council recorded in Acts 15.  This Council determined that there were no rules, though some advice was passed on to the gentile Christians.

But that was still not enough for some, and early Bible teachers continued to insist that the Law had to be kept.  Fortunately for us, Paul addresses this particular problem in his letter to the churches in Galatia.  In it, he makes Palin that to mix Old Covenant pathways to righteousness with grace is to make grace ineffective.  Those whom Christ had made free were not to get entangled again.

The principle of the sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ accepted by faith is also taught in Romana and Ephesians, and elsewhere.  But time and again, otherwise earnest Bible-believing Christians keep adding rules.  Why?  It seems that some of us cannot live without rules, so we inject them into the message of salvation and in teaching about discipleship.

Jesus has paid it all.  He has fulfilled the requirement of the Law.  We do not have to try to do the impossible which is why we are free.

I come across this fault so often.  When I ask if simple faith is all we need, they usually reply "Yes, but...."

I am confident to say that both God and I want you to enjoy life in the Holy Spirit.  Revel in its freedom and produce fruit through that union, but not through effort!

If you haven't read Galatians for some time, do get up to date.  You will find it a blessing.  What could be better than "It was for freedom that Christ has set us free"?

I remain, yours under the shelter of God's wonderful grace,

Barry