What is the New Covenant?

Embracing the New: Understanding the Irreplaceable Difference Between the Old Mosaic and the Fulfilling New Covenant

In the tapestry of biblical history, the distinction between the Old Mosaic Covenant of Law and Death and the New Covenant Grace and Life stands as a defining shift in God’s relationship with humanity. Rooted in the fulfilment of the Abrahamic Covenant, this transformative transition holds profound significance for believers today. By exploring the differences between these two covenantal frameworks, we gain insight into the profound depth of God’s redemptive plan and the unparalleled grace revealed in Christ.

The Old Mosaic Covenant, established at Mount Sinai, served as a temporary arrangement between God and the nation of Israel. It was characterised by the giving of the Law, including the Ten Commandments and the intricate sacrificial system. While the Law served to reveal God’s holiness and humanity’s need for righteousness, it also highlighted the impossibility of attaining salvation through human efforts.

However, with the advent of Christ, the Old Mosaic Covenant has been rendered obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). Jesus, the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, inaugurated the New Covenant through His sacrificial death and resurrection. This covenant, promised to Abraham for all nations to be blessed, embodies the culmination of God’s redemptive plan and the ultimate expression of His grace.

Understanding the distinction between the Old Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant is imperative for several reasons:

Fulfilment of the Abrahamic Promise: The New Covenant is the fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham, whereby all nations are blessed through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:8,16). By embracing the New Covenant, believers become heirs of the Abrahamic promise and recipients of God’s grace and salvation.
Liberation from Legalism: The Old Mosaic Covenant, with its emphasis on obedience to the Law, highlighted humanity’s inability to attain righteousness through works. In contrast, the New Covenant offers freedom from the bondage of legalism, as believers are justified by faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:28).
Access to the Holy Spirit: Under the Old Mosaic Covenant, the Holy Spirit’s presence was limited and selective, primarily dwelling in the tabernacle or temple. In contrast, the New Covenant promises the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every believer, empowering them to live a life of holiness and obedience (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Restoration of Relationship: While the Old Mosaic Covenant focused on external observance of the Law, the New Covenant emphasises the transformation of the heart. Through the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God, believers experience a restored relationship with their Creator (Jeremiah 31:33).
Eternal Security: Unlike the conditional nature of the Old Mosaic Covenant, which depended on human obedience, the New Covenant offers the assurance of salvation and eternal life. Through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit and guaranteed a future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14).

In conclusion, grasping the distinction between the Old Mosaic Covenant of Law and the New Covenant of Grace is essential for believers seeking to understand the depth of God’s grace and the fullness of His redemptive plan. By embracing the New Covenant, founded on Christ’s finished work on the cross, believers enter into a new realm of freedom, transformation, and intimacy with God. As heirs of the Abrahamic promise, we are called to live in the fullness of the New Covenant, experiencing the abundant blessings and eternal hope it offers.

Seven foundations of the New Covenant
(1) What does the word “covenant” mean?
(2) What is a covenant?
(3) Why do we need to understand the new covenant?
(4) What are the 5 features of a covenant?
(5) Contrast between the old and new covenants?
(6) What is the Abrahamic covenant?
(7) Everlasting Covenant vs New Covenant GRACE

(1) What does the word” covenant” mean?
The Hebrew term בְּרִית bĕriyth for “covenant” is from a root with the sense of “cutting”, because pacts or covenants were made by passing between cut pieces of flesh of an animal sacrifice.
Jeremiah 34:18 ¹⁸I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—

(2) What is a covenant?
A covenant is a legally binding, contractual, agreement. For example;
(1) Hire purchase agreement
(2) Rental agreement
(3) Marriage contract

(3) What is the New Covenant?
(1) What does the word” covenant” mean?
The Hebrew term בְּרִית bĕriythfor “covenant” is from a root with the sense of “cutting”, because pacts or covenants were made by passing between cut pieces of flesh of an animal sacrifice.
Jer 34:18 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, GRACE

(4) What are the 5 features of a covenant?
(1) Two parties
(2) Agreed price
(3) Requirements and obligations
(4) Benefits
(5) Penalties

(5) Contrast between the old and the new covenants

Old Covenant	New/Everlasting Covenant [Heb 13:20]
(1) God & Israel (Exodus 24:6-8)	God the father & the Son (Hebrews 6:13)
(2) Blood of animals (Exodus 24:8)	Blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:28)
(3) Ten commandments (Exodus 34:28)	A new commandment (John 13:34)
(4) Blessings for obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1,2)	Heirs of God (Romans 8:16,17)
(5) Curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 27:26)	Nil

(6) What is the Abrahamic covenant?
God made a promise to Abram [Genesis 15:5]
Abram asked God for validation and assurance that he would receive the promise [Genesis 15:8]
God instructed Abram to gather animal sacrifices [Genesis 15:9]
Abram cut the sacrifices in half and laid them out on the ground in accordance with the covenant ceremony [Genisis 15:10] [Jeremiah 34:18]
As the sun was going down Abram fell asleep [Genesis 15:12]
When it was dark. Behold! A smoking furnace and a burning lamp passed between those sacrificed pieces! [Gen 15:17] God manifested himself to Israel, on Mt Sinai, as fire and a smoke of a furnace [Exodus 19:18]. Jesus is a lamp [Ps 119:105] Jesus is the true light [John 1:9]
On that day God made a covenant with Abram… [Genesis 15:18]

(7) Everlasting Covenant vs New Covenant
The covenant promise given to Abraham for all man-kind [all nations]
(1) Galatians 3: ⁸The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”
The promise given to Abraham for all man-kind was salvation, through the sacrifice of Christ
(2) Galatians 3: ¹⁶Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.
The same covenant promise was eventually given to Israel
(3) Jeremiah 31: ³¹“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
The Everlasting Covenant is the new covenant that was given to Israel and Judah on Mt Calvary through the sacrifice of Christ so that one new man would be made up of both Jew and Gentile [Eph 2:12-19] [Rom 7:1-4]

New Covenant Commandments
Preach the Everlasting Gospel	Prophecy
Heal the sick	Cast out demons
Raise the dead	Feed the hungry
Cleanse the leapers	Baptise new believers in water & the Holy Spirit
Speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues	*You can do all these things if you have obeyed Jesus’s commandment to be born again and received the Holy Spirit, & have been baptised in the Holy Spirit.*
Galatians 5:12-17 [12] I wish that those who are troubling you would even emasculate themselves. *[13] For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;* only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. *[14] For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”* [15] But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. [16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [17] For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.	Acts 1:4-8 ⁴Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; ⁵for John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; ⁸*but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”*

The New Covenant: Freedom Through Christ’s Sacrifice

In the book of Galatians 4, Paul paints a vivid picture of a monumental shift in humanity’s relationship with God. It’s a story of promises fulfilled, of old ways giving way to new beginnings—a story that centres on Jesus Christ and the covenant he established with his own blood.

Let’s go back to the time of Abraham, the father of faith. God made a covenant with him, promising blessings that would extend to all nations through his descendants. It was a covenant of hope, one that would shape the course of history.

But then came the Mosaic Covenant, with its rules and regulations. It was like a temporary fix—a bandage on the wound of sin. It could restrain wrongdoing, but it couldn’t fix the root problem.

Then Jesus entered the scene. Born into a world bound by laws, he came to fulfil a destiny set in motion long ago. His sacrifice on the cross wasn’t just a tragic end; it was the beginning of a new era. Through his blood, he ratified a New Covenant—a covenant of grace and promise that would supersede the old ways.

But what about the Mosaic Covenant? It was temporary, Paul explains. It was given until the Seed would come—the Seed being Christ himself (Galatians 3:19). While it served its purpose in its time, it couldn’t do what the New Covenant does. It couldn’t take away sin; it could only point to the need for a Saviour.

Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law and the prophets. He lived a life of perfect obedience, showing us what true righteousness looks like. And through his death and resurrection, he made us new creations in him. No longer are we bound by the penalty of Adam’s sin; we are made righteous in Christ.

Under the New Covenant, God writes his laws on our hearts. These are not the laws of Moses but the commandments of Jesus. He summed them up simply: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). But it doesn’t stop there. Jesus commanded us to preach the everlasting gospel, to heal the sick, cast out demons, speak in tongues, interpret tongues, prophesy, and much more.

So, what does this mean for us today? It means that we are no longer under the Law of Moses; we are under the New Covenant of grace and promise. We are liberated from the bondage of sin and empowered to live lives that honour God and bless others. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we have been set free, and nothing can separate us from the love of God.

The Road To Emmaus: Our Revelation Of The Messiah

In Luke 24:13-35, we witness a remarkable encounter between Jesus and two disciples journeying to Emmaus. These disciples were deeply troubled by recent events—the crucifixion of Jesus and the reports of his resurrection. As they walked and discussed these matters, Jesus himself joined them, though they were prevented from recognising him.

Jesus, sensing their distress, enquired about their conversation. They poured out their hearts, recounting the events surrounding Jesus’ death and the confusion caused by reports of his empty tomb. They had hoped Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel, but now their hopes were shattered.

In response, Jesus gently rebuked them for their lack of understanding and faith in the Scriptures. He then embarked on a journey through the Scriptures, starting with Moses and the Prophets, explaining how all the writings pointed to him. He showed them how the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah were foretold and necessary for his glory.

As they approached Emmaus, Jesus gave the impression of continuing on, but the disciples urged him to stay with them. It was during the meal that Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them—a familiar action that suddenly opened their eyes to recognise him. And just as quickly as they recognised him, he vanished from their sight.

Reflecting on their encounter with Jesus, the disciples realised that their hearts had been burning within them as he had been explaining the Scriptures to them. They were moved by his words, by the revelation of truth, and by the presence of the risen Christ in their midst.

Their experience illustrates the profound truth that Jesus is the fulfilment of all Scripture. Beginning with Moses and the Prophets, every word pointed to him. And when Jesus opened their eyes to understand this truth, their hearts burned with excitement and understanding. They rushed back to Jerusalem to share their experience with the other disciples, testifying to the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and his presence with them.

This passage reminds us that Jesus is the key to understanding Scripture. Through him, the Scriptures come alive, revealing God’s redemptive plan and his presence among us. Just as he opened the eyes and hearts of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He continues to reveal himself to us today through his Word and his Spirit.

Scripture References:

Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13-35

The Road to Emmaus

¹³And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. ¹⁵While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began travelling with them. ¹⁶But their eyes were prevented from recognising Him. ¹⁷And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” ¹⁹And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, ²⁰and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. ²¹But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. ²²But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. ²⁴Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” ²⁵And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

²⁸And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. ²⁹But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. ³⁰When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened and they recognised Him; and He vanished from their sight. ³²They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” ³³And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, ³⁴saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognised by them in the breaking of the bread.

Galatians 3:19

Galatians 3:19

¹⁹Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 22:37-40

³⁷And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ ⁴⁰On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 16:15-20

Mark 16:15-20

¹⁵And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶He who has believed and has been baptised shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.]

[And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]

1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 22-25

1 Corinthians 14:4-5

⁴One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.