The Covenants

Though it may seem incredible to many sincere religious people, the following statement is, however, true. God never intended the Old Testament to be his final revelation to mankind. Further, even more inconceivable to countless honest and devout individuals is the biblical fact that God has replaced the Old Testament with the New Testament. 

Jesus did not come to "destroy" (annihilate as though it never existed) the Old Law, but he did come to "fulfill" it (Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44). The Old Covenant (Testament or Law) had a purpose, which once fulfilled, it was replaced by the New Testament. 

The Apostle Paul described the purpose of the Old Law in Galatians 3:22-29. "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:24-25). John 1:17 informs us that Moses delivered the Old Law, whereas Jesus personally brought the New Law (Gospel, the system of faith). 

One way in which it can be seen that God did not intend for the Old Testament to be his final revelation to man is by the Old Law's inability to "justify" sinners. "And by him [Jesus] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Act 13:39). "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:16). 

Hence, Scripture teaches we have been "delivered" from the Old Law (Romans 7:6-7). "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," (Romans 10:4). The Old Testament has been nailed to the cross of Christ (Colossians 2:14); it has been "abolished" (Ephesians 2:15-16). "For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious" (2 Corinthians 3:11). 

Our hope today resides with the New Testament. "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Hebrews 7:19). Jesus Christ and the Gospel provide this "better hope." "But now hath he [Jesus] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Hebrews 8:6). Hebrews Chapters Eight and Nine repeatedly contrast the two covenants, naming the New Testament as the superior of the two. Among other considerations, the New Testament is the covenant sealed with the blood of Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 10:29). 

It is futile to appeal to the Old Testament today as the law by which to live our lives and obtain God's favor. "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4). "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Galatians 2:21). 

We can rejoice with Philip, ". . . We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45). The law and the prophets tell of the Christ and his church and prepared mankind for the Gospel (Acts 28:23; Ephesians 3:3-13). Finally, truly we can concur with the Apostle Paul, "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" (Acts 24:14).