THE OLD COVENANT AND THE NEW COVENANT

God cherished relationship with man and He desired that man should worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. It is with this intention that God made covenants. Covenant is a mutual agreement. Testament can also be called Covenant. Testament comes into effect after the death of a person for disposition of his property. Covenant between God and Man can be unconditional or conditional. Abrahamic Covenant was unconditional but Mosaic Covenant was conditional. Abrahamic covenant is recorded in Genesis 15:18-21. God made three speeches as we read in Genesis chapter 12, chapter 15 and chapter 17. In Chapters 12 and 15 God made His Will known to Abraham whose name was “Abram” before he was blessed. In Chapter 17 God asks Abraham that every male child of his seed should be circumcised. Mosaic covenant is seen in Exodus Chapters 19-24. Mosaic covenant is conditional. There is a clause "IF" in this covenant. If Israel was obedient to the covenant they were blessed, and if not they were chastised.

Hebrew Strong’s definition number for covenant is 1285. Transliterated word is Bereeth B@riyth pronounced as ber-eeth'.
Greek Strong’s definition number for covenant is 1242. Transliterated word is Diatheke Pronounced as “dee-ath-ay'-kay”.

Important three speeches God made to Abraham are:

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”. (Genesis 12:1-3)

“In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites”. (Genesis 15:18-21)

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you”. (Genesis 17:7-11)

Few verses from the Mosaic Covenant where Hebrew word 'bereeth" was used are:

Ex 19:5 - 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 the Ten Commandments as recorded in: Exodus Chapter 20:3-17
In addition:

Ex 23:32 - Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
Ex 24:7 - And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Ex 24:8 - And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

Some of the important verses where Greek trasliterated word "diatheke" was used in the New Testament are as follows:

“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you”. (Luke 22:20)

“After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me”. (1 Corinthians 11:25)

Under the Old Covenant those who were under Mosaic Law worshipped God in the Tabernacle according to the instructions as given by God through Moses to Aaron the High Priest. Priests and the High Priests offered animal sacrifices and offerings. Those sacrifices and offerings, more specifically, of Sin Offering, Guilt Offering and Burnt Offerings that were offered on the "Day of Atonement" once a year by the High Priest, as detailed in Leviticus Chapter 16 were the shadows of the substance that was fulfilled in Lord Jesus Christ, who became the sacrifice on behalf of us, entered into the very presence of the Father with His own blood shed on the cross of Calvary. Lord Jesus is our High Priest and mediator, who gave us the New Covenant, which is better covenant than the Old Covenant. When the New Covenant was given the Old Covenant became obsolete..

Taking part in the Lord’s Supper does not save a person from his sin but it reminds him of the sufferings of Jesus who died for him. But it makes a believer stand in awe before God and worship him in spirit and in truth.

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

God made covenant with Adam, Noah, Israel and David.

The Old Covenant, which is the Mosaic Law, was applicable only to Israel. In the Old Testament the Mosaic Law was written on stone but in the New Testament God writes His Laws in hearts. The Old Covenant was restricted to Israel but the New Covenant is extended to all those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The mediator of Old Covenant was Moses and the mediator of New Covenant is Lord Jesus Christ.

New Testament believers can not take part in the Mosaic covenant made to bring the “House of Israel” and the “House of Judah” together. However, Galatians 3:7 records “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham”.

Jeremiah Chapter 31:31-33 read "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But 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; and will be their God, and they shall be my people”.

Hebrews 8:9-10 reads “Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”

As the Jews refused to accept Jesus as ‘Messiah’ the Gentiles had the privilege to enter into His presence. We did not become partakers of the covenant to become one with the House of Israel and/or House of Judah, but we have become partakers of the New Covenant to become the members of His body. The Church is the bride of Christ, and those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior constitute the bride of Christ and in this Church there is no difference between the Jew and Gentile. "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". (Romans 10:12-13). About Jews Apostle Paul says in Romans 11:25 “Their eyes are blinded to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”. The Church is going to be caught up when Lord Jesus comes again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). What a privilege we have in Jesus that we have become heirs according to the promise given to Abraham. Believers in Christ do not become one like Israel nor do they need to become like Jews but they are greater than those unbelieving Jews. It is not the desire of God to make the believers in Christ to make them like Jews but He desires them to emulate Jesus and worship God. The New Covenant does not point in the direction of inheriting the bleesings to become one with the "House of Israel" and "House of Judah". Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as personal savior have greater privileges than them.

Israel was divided into two kingdoms after King Solomon. The Northern Kingdom was ruled by Jeroboam and the Southern Kingdom by Rehoboam. Both these houses were always at war with each other. The Northern Kingdom was called the "House of Israel" and the Southern Kingdom was called the "House of Judah". The House of Judah was loyal to David and it consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The House of Israel consisted of the Ten Tribes. The Levites, who were priests, got themselves assimilated into both the houses. Many others also migrated to the House of Judah and were loyal to the King David. The House of Israel built high places for Baal and Ashtoroth and worshipped them and mixed up with uncircumcised people in Judea and Samaria and lost their identity as true descendants of Israel. God sent His word through Prophet Hosea that He will scatter the 'House of Israel' (Ten Tribes), and very soon Assyrians took captive of The Ten Tribes and the Ten Tribes got scattered. As the time passed by the kings of the 'House of Judah' also did not fear the Lord. Babylonians took captive of the House of Judah. However, God in His mercy and as per the promise He made with Israel the “House of Israel” and the “House of Judah” will be together again. But this will happen only after they face Great Tribulation when they will call Messiah for their help. They will realize and acknowledge then that Jesus is the Messiah. They will have peace during the millennial rule by Lord Jesus Christ, who will rule literally for thousand years from the throne of David.

In the New Testament we see Jesus who came into this world to seek the lost sheep of Israel had compassion on a Gentile woman who had faith in him. "But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs" (Mark 7:27-28)

In Acts Chapter 1 there is a description about the sequence to be followed as per the instructions of Lord Jesus Christ.(Acts 1:8). The Gospel was to be taken first to the Jew, next to Judea and Samaria, and then to the Gentiles. Apostle Paul became the minister of Gospel to the Gentiles. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Man sinned and fell short of the glory of God. God Himself, in the form of man came into this world to die for us in order that we may have salvation if we believe in him. Jesus is the mediator between The Father and Man.

The Mosaic covenant, which was the shadow of the things to come, was not perfect in itself to secure salvation, but it was similar to a deposit that could be redeemed later. The perfect redemption from sin is only through the sacrifice of Jesus who died on behalf of every one. He is the Salvation and there is no other way to obtain salvation. It is evident from the Scriptures that everything that was under the ‘law’ required purging through the blood and there was no purification of sins unless blood was shed. The shedding of the blood of the bulls and goats and the placing of ashes of burnt heifer outside the camp or the sprinkling of the blood of unclean bulls could separate the sinners unto salvation; but these acts never provided the ultimate redemption from sin until the blood of the Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, was shed upon the cross of Calvary for everyone. The blood of Jesus shed cleanses from all sin and it was the perfect sacrifice for receiving salvation.

We read in Numbers Chapter 19 the details about the ordinance of the law which required a red heifer without any spot on it, without any blemish and upon which never any yoke was put on was brought for sacrifice and given to priest Eleazar. The priest was then to take her blood with his finger and sprinkle it directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times.

"And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn" (Numbers 19:5)

One had to burn the heifer in his sight. The heifer had to be burnt with its skin, her flesh, and blood and with her dung. The priest had to take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. Hyssop is a plant whose leaves have an aromatic smell and pungent taste. A man who is clean was to gather up the ashes of the heifer and lay them outside the camp in a clean place for congregation of the children of Israel for what is called as “water of separation” and that was ‘purification of sins’.

There is no greater message in the Bible than that of God reconciling man unto Himself and sending His one and only begotten Son to be crucified for the remission of our sins. All those who believe in Lord Jesus Christ will be saved and have everlasting life. Lord Jesus Christ told us that as often as we eat the bread and drink the cup at the Lord's Supper we do show forth his death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). As the Lord's Supper reminds us of his sufferings and death, and resurrection reminds us his triumph over Satan we are duty bound to participate in the Lord's Supper if we love him. Keep aside all negative interpretations and do participate in the Lord's Supper. The shed blood of Jesus is available for cleansing anyone’s sin provided the sinner confesses his sins to Him and accepts Him as his personal Savior. The presence of blemish in the shed blood of bulls and goats made it not a perfect sacrifice. But, the blood of Jesus Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself, was with out any blemish. The blood of Jesus purges our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. When Moses spoke to the children of Israel every precept according to the law, he said, that the blood of the calves and of goats with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop which he sprinkled upon the book and the people, became the testament. This was done under the authority of God. Moses sprinkled not only upon the book of law and the people, but he sprinkled upon the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. Thus the sacrifice of animals was done to separate them unto salvation but the salvation is only through Lord Jesus Christ. Under that dispensation the grace of God was veiled but the same grace is revealed unto us now and we see this in our lives as in a glass (2 Cor.3:18).

The high priest went into the ‘most holy’ of the tabernacle once every year, and he never did so before he offered the blood for himself first and for the sins of the people next. This ceremonial law could not make anyone perfect nor did such observances of law could make anyone enter into heaven. But Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. It was a perfect sacrifice and it was done once and for all. Jesus, by such offering, destroyed the works of the devil. The believers in Him shall be made holy. The veil of the temple was rent into two from top to the bottom when Jesus was hung up on that cursed and rugged cross opening the way for us to enter into the ‘Most Holy’. (Heb. 9:28 and Matt.27:51)

God who said, "they shall be my people" in Jeremiah 31:31 said in Hosea Chapter 1 that because the House of Israel have rebelled against God's commandments, they are not His people (Lo-Ammi). God had compassion on the House of Judah. Later in Hosea Chapter 2:14-23 God makes reconciliatory pronouncements. In the New Testament God says again that "they shall be my people".

"But 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; and will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33)

In the Millennial rule of Lord Jesus Christ the ‘House of Israel’ and the ‘House of Judah’ will be united and that will be the fulfillment of the “New Covenant” prophesied in Jeremiah 31:1-34. We the members of the “Body of Christ” whose head the Lord Jesus Christ, are in Church and have gained the blessings of the “New Covenant” already. This is the Grace of God that even though we are Gentiles God has placed us far above the Jews. We have inherited the spiritual blessings to become “One New Man” consisting of the Jews and Gentiles in the Church and have heavenly blessings. This was the mystery Apostle Paul spoke of in Ephesians Chapter 3:3 and Ephesians Chapter 3:6.

God delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son Lord Jesus Christ.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13)

Blessings and Covenants are given to Israel and we the Gentiles, who were strangers to the Blessings and Covenants, have already been blessed with greater blessings than that of the Israel, who are promised with earthly blessings. We have been forgiven of our sins, and are assured to be with the Lord for ever and ever. The Church is the bride of Lord Jesus Christ will be ‘caught up’ to be with him for ever and ever. The prophesy in Ezekiel Chapter 37 will be fulfilled in future when the ‘House of Israel’ and the ‘House of Judah’ will be united by God and then they will have earthly blessings.

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence”. (Colossians 1:18)

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16)

Galatians Chapter 3:6, 7, 14 and 29 read: “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise”.

Jesus Christ by shedding his own blood has become our mediator and high priest. We do not need any priest or mediator other than Jesus to approach the Father and enter into His Holy Presence. Confessing sins to human priests is a gross error.

Lord Jesus Christ, who said, "this do in remembrance of me" is alone worthy of our worship in spirit and in truth. Let us, therefore, as often as possible, "do in remembrance of" of him, whose blood cleansed our sins and made us partakers of the blessings that belonged to Israel.

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come". (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

The writer of Hebrews refers to the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in Hebrews Chapter 8.
“For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (Hebrews 8:8)

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13)

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(The Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon is Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius Lexicon; this is keyed to the "Theological Word Book of the Old Testament." These files are considered public domain.
The New Testament Greek Lexicon based on Thayer's and Smith's Bible Dictionary plus others; this is keyed to the large Kittel and the "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament." These files are public domain. -- -- Exposition of the Old Covenant and New Covenant is by Leslie John)


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