"Covenant of Grace"

âWhat is the purpose in having a “new” covenant? What was wrong with the “old” one? And what is wrong with the 10 Commandments? Did God make a mistake by giving them at Sinai? Or, did God have something else in mind all along? In order to understand the “new” and “old” covenants we must look at the way God has worked with man since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. The word “covenant” is simply a committed promise.

The covenant given at the fall

Gen 3.15…Messiah would deliver mankind from the spell of Satan.

1.         God promised through His grace a bulwark against sin. He would create a hatred between the serpent and the woman; between Satan’s followers and God’s people. This would disrupt man’s relationship with Satan and open the way for a renewed relationship with God.

2.         This war would continue through the centuries.

3.         This conflict would reach its culmination in the death of Jesus – the seed of the woman, of Abraham.

4.         At Calvary, Satan was defeated, even the Seed of the woman was bruised.

5.         All who accept God’s offer of grace will know an enmity against sin that will make them successful in the battle with Satan. Through faith they will share in the Savior’s victory at Calvary. 4Rev 12.11…

The Covenant of Grace was developed before the Fall in the heart of God.

Ephesians 1.4-6…                 and                 1 Peter 1.20…

âWhat does it tell us about God that He developed the plan of salvation before man sinned? What does it tell us about man?

The Covenant Renewal

Gen 6.5-8…mankind evil – Noah found grace.

Gen 9.8-13…rainbow is the sign

Gen 12.1-3…Call and promise to Abe

Gen 17.1-2, 9-14…Covenant sign is circumcision

Rom 1.11… Abe’s faith was of such quality that he was given the title “the father of all those who believe”.

Gal 3.7, 29…Abe’s faith become his offspring. Christ is key

Exodus 19-20…renewal of covenant. The beginning of this nation of Abe’s offspring who would bless the whole earth.

Ex 19.8…man promises to obey

èDid they? èCould they?

This becomes the key of the Old Covenant: Man’s work.

The New Covenant…essentially relying on God’s promises/work – not on man’s.

Jer 31.31-34…promise of a “New Covenant”

Heb 8.8-12 quotes Jer 31…pointing to a new covenant, high priest, temple, city, people

The “new covenant” is “new” not because God changed His plans, but because it is associated with a new revelation of God’s love in Jesus Christ’s incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and mediation.

It was not until the cross that it was established by the blood of Christ. (Heb 9.11-22)

Jer 31.31…promised (Ezekiel 36.26-27)

Luke 22.20…sealed by Jesus’ blood and body (1 Cor 11.25)

Heb 8.8-10…

âWhat does this “new covenant” offer?

1.         Forgiveness of sin (1 John 1.9)

2.         Holy Spirit working on the heart to write God’s laws (Ezekiel 36. 26,27)

3.         Restoring repentant sinners into the image of their Maker (Jer. 31.33)

4.         Transformation that brings forth the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5.22,23)

5.         Through the power of Christ’s saving grace they may walk as Christ walked, daily enjoying the things that please God (John 8.29).

Many terms are used to describe the transition of God’s kids: new covenant, new birth, born again, new creation, etc.

Let’s compare the Old Covenant to the New Covenant…

Old Covenant                   New Covenant

Written on stone                         written on flesh

God wrote                         God lived

Man responds: “We will do”                 Man responds “Abba, Daddy, we love you”

Man power                 Spirit power

Engine: man                 Engine: God

âSo why did God give the 10 commandments? His moral description of the people of His Kingdom?

Rom 7.12…God’s Law is holy, just, and good

1 Tim 1.8…Paul has a much higher view of God’s Law than many Christians today. èIf God’s Law is good, then why do we need a “New Covenant”? (Heb 8.6).

Remember Gen 3.15 – The Moral Law/10 Commandments were never intended to take the place of the Messiah. The entire Ceremonial System were all shadows pointing the people of faith to the “Lamb of God Who would take away the sin of the whole world.”

There is NOTHING wrong with the 10 Commandments – they are perfect, holy, and good. What is wrong is the human condition – we are unable to live up to the principles of God’s kingdom. Jesus came to live God’s law in human flesh (Matt 5.17). Jesus is God’s kingdom principles in living flesh, the moral Law is God’s kingdom principles written in stone. Both are valid – but only faith in Jesus can save you.