The Two Covenants — Part 7

Can one become a party to the New Covenant merely by “confessing the name of Christ?” Does one have to be a member of this or that particular church organization or body to be party to the New Covenant? Is the Covenant individual or collective? How long is the Covenant to remain effective? Once entered into, can it be broken? These questions must be answered if we are to know where we stand before God and with relation to His Covenant.

“The Two Covenants — Part 7” audio recording by Rod Reynolds, COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Two Covenants — Part 6

When God entered into the Old Covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai he told them that if they would obey his voice, his commandments, they would be to him “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). They agreed to the terms of the covenant, saying “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8). But the Old Covenant failed, and a new covenant was to be established to fulfill the plan of God for mankind. Why did the Old Covenant fail? What was missing? And how is what was missing in the Old Covenant accounted for in the New Covenant, so God’s purpose may be fulfilled?

And, does the replacing of the Old Covenant with the New free us, as many believe, from the obligation to obey God’s voice? His commandments?

“The Two Covenants — Part 6” audio recording by Rod Reynolds, COGMessenger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Two Covenants — Part 5

In previous articles in our Two Covenants series we’ve discussed the relationship between the Old and New Covenants, and reasons why the Old Covenant was given.

To review, we’ve discussed the concept that the Old Covenant was a type of the New Covenant. It was given as an introduction to living spiritual principles. But as it was a shadow, or type or figure of the New, it was not the full reality of what the New Covenant encompasses. For example, the sacrifices under the Old Covenant were among other things a type of Christ’s sacrifice, but they were not the reality of the sacrifice itself.

Reasons for the giving of the Old Covenant that we discussed included:

(1) The Separation and preservation of a people for God.

(2) A tutor or schoolmaster pointing to Christ.

(3) A form of knowledge and truth.

(4) To teach the nature and effect of sin.

(5) To reveal the need for the Holy Spirit.

Later in this article our focus shifts to the New Covenant.

But first, we will briefly list some other important reasons for the giving of the Old Covenant in addition to the five already discussed. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but will furnish food for thought.

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The Two Covenants (Part 1)

Why does the Bible speak of the two covenants, or “testaments”?

Did God try one system and find that it didn’t work — so substituted another totally different system? Or did God give us an “Old Covenant” to show that man could not Live by His Law — then later substitute a new covenant of “grace” that required no obedience to law?

Is the “New Covenant” the very antithesis of all that the old Covenant stood for — as many assume?

Why did God give Israel the “Old Covenant”? Why did He later institute a “New Covenant”?

The true answers to these questions have been understood by very few — yet they are simple and plain.

Nothing is more essential to an understanding of true Christianity than a knowledge of the relationships between the two covenants. Millions have fallen prey to subtle satanic deceptions because they LACKED THIS UNDERSTANDING. Even some who have had a knowledge of true Christianity and have received the Holy Spirit have stumbled and FALLEN over a lack of understanding regarding this issue!

It may prove essential to your salvation that you gain a true knowledge and perspective of the relationship between the Old and New Covenants!

Because of the importance and complexity of this subject, this article presents the first in a series exploring the “two covenants,” that is, the Old and New Covenants, and the relationship between the two.

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