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THE TWO COVENANTS

LESSON I

PURPOSE: To study the relationship of the two covenants to God's people in two separate time periods: The purpose and passing of the first and the establishment of the second.

Definition of the word covenant.- "An agreement by two or more parties to do or refrain from doing some act." In any covenant, benefits are promised and conditions are stipulated. The old covenant was an agreement between God and a nation. The new covenant is an agreement between God and individuals (you and me). A covenant may be unconditional: as between God and Abraham. (Gen.15:12-18); or conditional, as between God and Israel (Exodus 19:5-6). The marriage agreement is a covenant with which we are familiar. In this covenant two parties are involved. Both have conditions to meet and promises to enjoy.

1. THE OLD COVENANT

A. Made between God and Israel, when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai (Exo. 19:1-5; 24: 1 -8).

B. Was a national law, given only to Israel (Exo. 20:1-2; Exo. 31:12-17; 34:27, 28; Deut. 5:1-6). It included no other people.

C. Given for a definite time, "till the seed should come," (Gal. 3:19). This seed was Christ (Gal. 3:16).

D. New Testament writers speak of "the law."

Rom. 1: 1 7 has reference to Habakkuk 2:4; Matt. 22:35-39 refers to Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18. John 10:34 refers to Psalms 82:6 (Rulers of Israel called gods); 1 Corinthians 14:21 quotes Isaiah 28:11-12.

E. The law was fulfilled and taken out of the way. We do not  Iive under that covenant today.

II. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

A. Those who keep the Sabbath today make a distinction between "moral" and "ceremonial" parts of the law. God makes no such distinction. They contend that the Ten Commandments were not removed.

B. God speaks of the "ten commandments" as "the covenant" (Exo. 34:27, 28; Deut. 4:13; Deut. 9:9-1 1; I Kings 8:9, 21).

C. Therefore, if the covenant was fulfilled and removed, then the "ten commandments" is not now the covenant we I ive under. Jehovah has made a new one. Nine of the ten commandments are found in the new covenant.  "Remember the Sabath and keep it holy" is the only one not carried forward to the New Testament.  We now honor the "Lord's Day", as the first christians did and Jesus commanded them to do.

Ill. THE PASSING OF THE OLD COVENANT

A. About 597 years before Jesus came to earth, one of God's prophets, Jeremiah, told of a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). It should be "new," "different," "of the spirit." Under this covenant "all should know Him" and "sins would be remembered no more."

B. Jesus came to fulfill the first (Matt. 5:17, 18). He declared He had done this (John 19:28-30).

C. The Holy Spirit declared the first had been fulfilled and taken away (Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 2:14-15). The new was now in force (Heb. 8:6, 9:15; 10:9-10; Matt. 26:28;Heb. 13:20). The second could not have been established until the first was removed (Heb. 7:12; 9:15-17).

D. The Apostle Paul in the letter to the Romans tells us we are not under the law (Rom. 6:15); we are dead to the law (Rom. 7:4); discharged from the law (Rom. 7:6). This law contained the ten commandments (Rom. 7:7).

E. The law, written on stones and all the rest were done away in Christ (2 Cor. 3:6-17). IV.

THE NEW COVENANT-THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

A. Christ has all authority (Mat-c. 28:18-20). There is no authority for anyone before Him and no one after Him.

B. All nations are included in this new covenant (Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49).

C. The new is the fulfillment of the promise Jehovah made to Abraham(Gal. 3:6-29). Under it-in Christ- all are "new creatures" (2 Cor. 5:17).

CONCLUSION: In the New Covenant, not the Old, the sinner today comes to God. In it are found the terms of pardon for sins, and the conditions of fellowship with the Father and eternal life. In this New Covenant are the promises of God to us-guaranteed by the blood of God's own Son.