The Bible describes two opposite methods of salvation. The first
is based on man’s promise and his works while the second is based on
God’s promise and His works. One is salvation by works of the law while
the other is salvation by grace alone. These two opposite methods of salvation
are labeled in the Bible as the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
The Old Covenant was first introduced to the Jews of the Exodus. This
covenant was a contract, or an agreement, between God and the Jews. In this
contract God spelled out His laws, especially the ten commandments, and
the Jews agreed to keep all of them. If they failed to keep any of them
it meant condemnation unto death. If they succeeded to obey all of them
they would be justified unto life.
When God gave His laws to the Jews of the Exodus and entered into the
Old Covenant, He knew they could not keep them because of their sinful condition.
But because sin is a deceiver, the Jews were not fully aware of this problem
and therefore entered into an agreement with God saying, “all that
you say we will do and obey.” The Old Covenant was therefore given
so that the Jews might come to the realization of their utter sinfulness
and their need of a Saviour.
In this study we will examine the two Covenants and see why the Old
Covenant can never save us. Our only hope of attaining eternal life is the
New Covenant of salvation by grace alone.
1. How did the Jews respond when they heard the book of the covenant?
Exodus 24:7 __________________________________________________
Note: The book of the covenant that was read to the people, the
Jews of the Exodus, was the book of the law, the Torah, that God had given
them at Mt. Sinai through Moses. When they agreed to keep these laws, they
entered into what is known as the First or Old Covenant.
2. Why was it necessary for God to introduce the New Covenant?
Jeremiah 31:31,32 __________________________________________________
Note: Since the Fall, the only way man could be saved was though
the plan of salvation promised by God in Christ. The reason God entered
into the Old Covenant of salvation by works of the law was to convince man
of his need of a Saviour.
3. What two things did God promise to do under the New Covenant?
| Jeremiah 31:32-34 |
(i) __________________________________________ |
|
(ii) __________________________________________ |
Note: Putting His laws in our minds simply means He will create
in us new desires that are in harmony with His laws (see Romans 7:22). Such
desires are created in our minds as a result of a heartfelt appreciation
for the forgiveness of sins and the hope of salvation, given to us in Christ.
These desires are impressed on our minds through the indwelling Holy Spirit
whom we have received through the new birth experience.
4. What phrase does Paul use for those who are under the Old Covenant?
Romans 3:19 __________________________________________________
Note: To be “under the law” means to be ruled or dominated
by it’s demands, which are, “obey and you will live, disobey and
you will die.” According to Paul, all of humanity has failed to obey
God’s law and, therefore, stand guilty before God.
5. What do we become conscious of through the law?
Romans 3:20 __________________________________________________
Note: The law of God has no power to save sinful men. All it can
do is make us conscious of the fact that we are sinners (see verse 23).
This is an important step as a means to accepting God’s promise of
salvation in Christ, which is the New Covenant, salvation by grace alone
(see verse 24).
6. Why is our only hope of salvation through justification by faith?
Galatians 2:16 __________________________________________________
7. According to Paul, what do Abraham’s two sons and their mothers
represent?
Galatians 4:22-26 __________________________________________________
Note: The two sons of Abraham and their mothers are excellent
examples of the two covenants. Ishmael, Abraham’s son through the slave
woman Hagar, represents the Old Covenant because he was born as a result
of human effort. While Isaac, Abraham’s son through his wife Sarah,
was born as a result of God’s promise and His direct intervention,
seeing that Sarah had passed the age of child bearing (see Romans 4:18-21).
Ishmael, therefore, represents salvation by works, the Old Covenant; while
Isaac represents the New Covenant, salvation by grace, which is experienced
through faith alone.
8. Which of Abraham’s two sons are Christians linked with, according
to Paul?
Galatians 4:28 __________________________________________________
Note: A true Christian is one who has realized that it is impossible
to be saved by works of the law and has therefore accepted Christ as his
or her Saviour. Such a person depends entirely on God’s grace offered
in Jesus Christ for salvation. This is what it means to be under the New
Covenant: righteousness is attained by faith in Christ rather than by the
works of the law.
9. What must we give up if we are to experience salvation by grace
alone?
Galatians 4:29-31 __________________________________________________
Note: Salvation by works and salvation by grace are two opposite
ways of salvation that cannot be reconciled. It has to be one or the other.
When we by faith accept God’s gift of salvation through His Son Jesus
Christ, we cannot hold onto any of our own self-righteousness that we previously
depended on for salvation. The gospel is not “I plus Christ” but
“not I but Christ” (see Philippians 3:3-9; Galatians 2:20).
10. What happens when one tries to add law-keeping to salvation by
grace?
Galatians 5:4 __________________________________________________
Note: You cannot have it both ways. Realizing on the one hand
that you are 100% sinful, you know that you cannot make any contribution
towards your salvation. If, on the other hand, you turn around and try to
add your own good works or law-keeping as a means or partial means of your
salvation, you deny the gospel of salvation by grace alone. Our only hope
of salvation is through righteousness by faith in Christ and nothing else
(read verses 5 and 6).
11. Compared to the Old Covenant, why is the New Covenant superior?
Hebrews 8:6 __________________________________________________
Note: The Old Covenant is based on our human promises, which are
like ropes of sand because we are unable to keep them; the New Covenant
is based on God’s promises which never fail. That is why the New Covenant
is a
better covenant.
12. What reason does Paul give for the need of the New Covenant?
Hebrews 8:7 __________________________________________________
13. Why was the first or Old Covenant faulty?
Hebrews 8:8,9 __________________________________________________
Note: The fault with the Old Covenant was not in the law that
God gave the Jews but in the fact that they could not keep them, because
of their sinful condition. This is the very purpose of the Old Covenant:
to convince us that we are slaves to sin and in need of a Saviour, which
the New Covenant supplies.
14. Does the New Covenant do away with the law?
Hebrews 8:10 __________________________________________________
Note: Many Christians believe that the New Covenant did away with
the law. But nowhere in Scripture is this taught (see Matthew 5:17-19).
While the law cannot save sinners, it is still the standard for Christian
living. Through the power of the indwelling Spirit, God’s agape love
replaces our sinful desires. This is what it means when God says, “I
will put my laws in their minds.” As a result this love manifested
in our lives becomes the fulfillment of the law (see Romans 13:8-10; Galatians
5:13,14).
15. How does Paul contrast the law with himself as a sinner?
Romans 7:14 __________________________________________________
Note: Before his conversion, Paul had not realized how sinful
he was. He considered sin only as an act. But when the law opened his eyes
to the fact that even sinful desire is sin, he realized that there was no
way he could save himself by the works of the law. This is what turned this
great apostle from the Old Covenant to the New. The same must be true of
us. Only when the law has convinced us of how exceedingly sinful we are
will we appreciate the good news of the gospel (see Romans 7:7-13).
16. When we know and believe in Jesus, what will the truth do for
us?
John 8:31,32 __________________________________________________
Note: Jesus is the truth who sets us free from sin. He did not
only save us sinners from the guilt and punishment of sin but also from
its power and slavery. As John the Baptist introduced Him, Christ is “the
lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.” Through the New
Covenant promise we have a complete Saviour from sin.
17. When Jesus said “the truth will make you free,” how
did the Jews respond?
John 8:33 __________________________________________________
18. How did Jesus reply to them?
John 8:34 __________________________________________________
19. Who is the truth that sets us free?
John 8:36 __________________________________________________
20. Why did the Jewish nation of Paul’s day fail to obtain righteousness?
Romans 9:30-32 __________________________________________________
Note: The Israelites tried to attain righteousness by the Old
Covenant and failed. The Gentiles tried it by the New Covenant and they
succeeded. The history of the Jews has been recorded for our benefit, that
we might not repeat the same mistake.
21. What did Jesus link His blood with when He introduced the Lord’s
Supper?
Matthew 26:28 __________________________________________________
Note: Unlike the Old Covenant, which is a contract or agreement
between two parties, the New Covenant is a will or promise made by God on
behalf of all humanity. Like any will it does not come into effect until
death takes place. When Jesus died on the cross, God’s promise became
reality.
22. As a result of the cross of Christ, what does the New Covenant
take away?
Romans 11:27 __________________________________________________
23. What is another name for the New Covenant?
Hebrews 13:20-22 __________________________________________________
Note: Just as the Old Covenant brings everlasting or eternal death
to those who have failed to keep it, in the same way the New Covenant brings
everlasting or eternal life to those who accept the gift of salvation in
Christ. That is why Scripture sometimes refers to the New Covenant as the
Everlasting or Eternal Covenant. This Everlasting Covenant is your only
hope of salvation. Please do not refuse it.