Many Christians assume that the old covenant corresponds to the Old Testament, and the new covenant, to the New Testament. This, however, is not a Biblical truth—and is, moreover, a dangerous belief, for it makes one lose sight of the true meaning and significance of these terms. God does not change, and there has always been only one way to salvation—faith in the crucified Savior and all that His sacrifice implies.
After God led His people out of Egypt, He brought them to the area of Mount Sinai. The Almighty spoke to Moses and said, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And Ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:4–6
After hearing the Lord’s words, Moses related to the people the requirements of God and the blessings and promises attached to obedience. Of course, the people did not understand the deep significance of this covenant. God’s holiness, grace, and their ability to obey were far removed from them. They were merely theoretical concepts, and in practice they fell far short of God’s will for them.
“And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.” Exodus 19:8
It was perfect obedience under the old covenant that would have entitled them to all of God’s promises. The law of God was the underlying basis of the old covenant. God was ready to fulfill His part of the covenant if the Israelites would faithfully perform their part of the agreement. The feeling of self-confidence that they could obey by themselves led to their terrible downfall. God certainly provided them with every possible means to take advantage of the plan of salvation. What the Jews neglected was their faith in Christ. Knowing that the contract was valid, Christ foresaw its worthlessness if entered upon with self-sufficiency. “Without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
From Mount Sinai, with His own voice, God spoke His law to Israel. “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Exodus 20:18–19
After God spoke His law to impress it upon their minds and hearts, He wrote it down on tables of stone. The Decalogue was not written on parchment or cloth but on a substance that would last permanently. He did not entrust any human hands with the sacred task of engraving the stone. This covenant was then ratified by the blood of an animal, offered as a sacrifice. Many years before the solemn proclamation at Sinai, the law given first to Adam was communicated by word of mouth from generation to generation.
Besides giving the law of the Ten Commandments, God also instructed Moses to build a sanctuary according to the heavenly pattern shown him. In connection with this sanctuary, Moses was to establish a system of sacrifices, offerings, and ceremonial laws, which pointed to Christ. These various ordinances, feasts, and statutes were observed in Israel throughout the year. All of them pointed forward to Christ’s first advent.
The Israelites were to look by faith beyond the symbols (types) to the reality. Unfortunately, the Jewish nation lost sight of the true meaning of the ceremonies and worship they were performing. All of the animals—bulls, goats, lambs, doves—that were sacrificed symbolically represented Christ. The blood of animals did not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). By faith the worshipers were to see the slain Lamb of God and claim His sacrifice in their stead. It was not possible for them to obtain forgiveness and righteousness on their own.
At the death of Christ, the type met antitype, the shadow met reality, and the sacrificial laws were abolished (Ephesians 2:15). Never should one confuse the sacrificial or ceremonial laws and ordinances with the moral law; the Ten Commandments were not nailed to the cross.
The new covenant
“This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; . . . I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33–34
These words are found in the Old Testament, and they refer to the new covenant that the Lord will make with those who are willing to be molded and polished after the likeness of Christ. The law which the Lord wrote on tables of stone on Mount Sinai is the same law that Christ writes in the heart of the believer. Only those who are born again by God’s Spirit can have salvation. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts man of his sin and leads the sinner to Christ.
Christ’s purpose on earth, in addition to giving His life as the sacrifice for men, was to magnify the law and make it honorable. For instance, the commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” goes farther than many think. Even looking at a woman with lust is breaking the divine principle. Not only is correct outward behavior essential; inward purity of thought is needed as well. “. . . The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6. Many believe today that strictly keeping the law will produce a righteousness acceptable to God. However, if one neglects the Holy Spirit’s working in the heart, he degenerates and takes on the characteristics of Satan. Our righteousness is nothing but old, filthy, tattered garments unless Christ dwells in our hearts through faith. When we have this faith, we manifest the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).
If the old covenant originated at Sinai, when did the new covenant begin? Strange as it may seem, the new covenant is much older than the old covenant! Let us not be misled by the terms “old covenant” and “new covenant.” The moral law of the Ten Commandments was binding on Adam and Eve, otherwise they would not have sinned. As a consequence of their iniquity, they were punished severely. “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. God then made a covenant with the first human pair, promising them that the seed of the woman (Christ) would bruise the serpent’s (Satan’s) head (Genesis 3:15). Everyone who claimed this promise was granted pardon from sin—and grace and strength to overcome.
As in the Old Testament, so in the New Testament, God’s way of salvation is through faith in Christ—“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8. It is extremely important that we understand that man has always been saved by grace. Noah is a good example of this, for he “found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8. He was saved in the same manner as you and I can be. God’s condition for salvation was the same in the old covenant as in the new covenant. Otherwise, God would be unjust and inequitable in His dealings with men. There is only one standard which God uses to judge—perfect obedience to His law through Christ dwelling in the heart by faith.
The covenant made with Adam was renewed to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and many others. All of them understood the terms of salvation—by faith accepting the sacrifice of Christ, who redeems man from sin, since He took our place and died for us.
In Genesis 17:7, God made an agreement with Abraham, calling that agreement an everlasting covenant. It was made centuries before God proclaimed His law on Mount Sinai. Man walked by faith and waited patiently for the expected Messiah to come. When Christ came at the appointed time, He ratified that new covenant with His own blood on Calvary.
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.” Hebrews 13:20. “. . .Without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22
“God’s work is the same in all time, although there are different degrees of development and different manifestations of His power, to meet the wants of men in the different ages. Beginning with the first gospel promise, and coming down through the patriarchal and Jewish ages, and even to the present time, there has been a gradual unfolding of the purposes of God in the plan of redemption. The Saviour typified in the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law is the very same that is revealed in the gospel. The clouds that enveloped His divine form have rolled back; the mists and shades have disappeared; and Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, stands revealed. He who proclaimed the law from Sinai, and delivered to Moses the precepts of the ritual law, is the same that spoke the Sermon on the Mount. . . . The teacher is the same in both dispensations. God’s claims are the same. The principles of His government are the same. For all proceed from Him ‘with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’ James 1:17.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 373
Henry Dering
