An Introduction To New Covenant Theology
One of the first things a Christian learns as they study the scriptures is that the Bible has been divided into
what we call the Old and New Testaments or Old and New Covenants. Both of these covenants represent the Word of God and neither one of them can stand alone as God's inspired truth, but must instead work together to give us His full
revelation. It only takes a cursory reading of the scriptures to see that these two covenants have central themes which represent the majority of their text. The Old Covenant's theme is focused primarily on the people of Israel
and their relationship to God and the New Covenant is focused primarily on the person of Jesus Christ and His relationship to His people. Both covenants, however, when looked at under closer examination, point us to the
understanding of redemptive grace through Jesus Christ. The issue we so often wrestle with today is not whether or not both covenants are the Word of God, but placing each covenant in its proper place and understanding each
covenant's role to the believer. While they both point us to Jesus, they cannot both be equally in effect. In fact, they must be exclusive of one another, or our doctrine will not be sound. By the term exclusive, we are not
throwing out the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant is our history book starting with creation and culminating to the time that Jesus would be born. It's the only history we can count on as fact and in that regard alone, it forms the
foundation for our faith. The Christian, however, is not bound by the teachings of the Old Covenant as it concerns the law (and by this we mean all law, including the ten commandments), for the law was given to Israel only. The
Christian is bound to the New Covenant only, and must strive not to mix the two or we end up with a whole world of confusion and doctrinal error. It's in this regard, the covenants must be separated. You may ask, "but what
about the law?" "Isn't murder, coveting, adultry, and stealing still wrong? What about the other commandments? What about tithing? Are you saying we don't have to honor these laws?" We'll answer this shortly, but let
us first take a look at some scripture references concerning both covenants. Jeremiah 31:31-34 31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the
house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the
LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34
No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their
sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah's prophecy proclaims there would be a "New" Covenant not based on works or anything from human merit, but based on the grace of God alone. He will put the law into hearts
and He will forgive sin. This is exactly what happens when the sinner today is saved by grace. While Jeremiah seems to be talking to Israel only, we know from other Old Testament scriptures that the gentiles will be included.
Isaiah 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." Isaiah 42:1 "Behold my
servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." Isaiah 42:6 "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and
will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;" Isaiah 49:6 "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up
the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." All of these are good references, but Isaiah
42:6 speaks specifically about a covenant given to the people who will be a light to the gentiles. These scriptures are prophecies of Christ and they all point to the future, to a New Covenant that will include the gentiles. The
Old Covenant Law was given to Moses and handed down to Israel. Jeremiah speaks of a New Covenant and Isaiah speaks of the gentiles someday being included.
Now let's look at some New Testament references and their relationship to the Old: 2 Corinthians 3:6 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter
kills, but the Spirit gives life. Hebrews 8:7 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Hebrews 8:13 13 In that He says, "A new covenant,
" He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Pay close attention to Hebrews 8:13. The word obsolete means exactly that; it is referring to the first covenant
when speaking of the law. The jews and now the gentiles would inherit a better covenant. This covenant would be in Christ, initiated through His blood atonement.
So if the law is no longer in effect, did it fail to do it's purpose? Galatians 3:19 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made;
and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. The law then has fulfilled its purpose. The Seed is Christ and He indeed has come and fulfilled the law as given in the Old Covenant. Through His sacrifice, He
has brought in the New and better covenant of grace to all peoples. So what about the questions before? What about sins today that match those handed down in the law such as murder, adultry etc...? In the New Covenant, Christ
has laid down His own set of commandments, which revolve around love for the Lord and love for the brethren. These commandments are to be looked upon as things believers do as a result of salvation, whereas the law was generally
looked upon as something you had to keep in order to gain salvation( althougth even this interpretation was corrected and clarified by the Apostle Paul.) Matthew 22:37-40 37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the
LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang
all the Law and the Prophets." Galatians 5:14 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments,
"You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are
all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." In that when we are truly practicing love for God and the brethren we are in a sense still practicing the moral law of commandments
as given to Moses, we certainly should not call it that and we certainly should not make it our standard. The new standard is much higher than anything given to Israel under the law and it's a standard that in a real sense teaches
us to be absolutey unselfish in our lives toward others. It's the total giving of oneself to the Lord and the brethren. Impossible standard to keep (thank God we are not saved by works), but nevertheless that is our calling in the
New Covenant. So why would we want to bring the obsolete unperfect Old Covenant into the New? It was given as a means to point us to Christ and the better Covenant and it has done its job. Let's leave it at that and avoid the
mixing of the two, which only leads to legalism and confusion. Instead, let's hold fast to our liberty in Christ. This liberty that holds strong to His grace works powerfully in us. It teaches us to seek Him and to glorify Him and
to give ourselves to the love of one another with a true conscience. A conscience resting on His work and not our own. Galatians 5:13 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Much more can be said about New Covenant Theology and it's role in the church today. We hope this has at least introduced the concept in your mind and made it
worthy of more study.