God's Sword of Truth - The Word

WHY THE OLD TESTAMENT COVENANT (LAW OF MOSES) AND A NEW TESTAMENT COVENANT (LAW OF CHRIST)? LET'S FIND OUT!

THE OLD HAS VANISHED AWAY!

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight..." - Romans 3:20 - The Word says "no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law in His sight. Who's sight? God's sight! And, if we continue in Romans - we see that salvation is by faith (a gift of God, not by works - Ephes. 2:8-9) which unites us with His Son, Jesus Christ. The entire New Testament teaches us that salvation comes by faith in the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, not by works of the Law.

Now, if any man shall impose ANY commandment of the Law on others, they most certainly will be obligated to obey the ENTIRE LAW, and there are over 600 rules, regulations and obligations in the Law that must be kept if they obey ONE or ANY part of the Law (See Gal. 5:3). For your information, none of these rules, regulations, obligations or commandments have continued to be in effect beyond the shed blood of Jesus Christ, for they have ceased to function as an authority over any living person during this day and age. My friends, you cannot get saved under the Mosaic Law - it vanished away when Christ died.

The first five Books of the Old Testament shows that the law was presented to the Jews in connection with their Covenant with God. The things recorded in these first five Books, along with the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses as a Covenant between God and the Jews, was the only way for their entry into the Promised Land that God had promised them. But, remember, the first five books of the Old Testament and the Ten Commandments were intended ONLY for the Jew, and God's covenant with them was made when they were led out of Egypt by Moses (Exodus 19:5-8 - Old Testament History), and this was a temporary Covenant which would end with the death of Jesus Christ, and a New Covenant would then begin.

Let's look at the Old Covenant with the focus of the Law - which was primarily upon works and obligations - given to the Jew as a means of salvation by "WORKS" in order for them to inherit the Promised Land. Thus, the requirement needed for the Jew's salvation was: Ordinances of divine service, a worldly sanctuary (Temple), a priestly order (Priests and Levites), tithes of goods to the temple, circumcision for every male child on the 8th day after birth, keep the new moons, special holy days and feasts, worship things in the Ark, etc., the wearing of special clothing, etc. (See Hebrews, Chapter 9) We all know that none of these rules and regulations are binding in the New Covenant to Christians - because it was for the Jews only before Christ came.

In Hebrews 9:13 we see that: "...the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh" washed away the Jews sin, and if they kept the law and were a good Jew, they could be saved to Abraham's bosom for their future inheritance of Paradise. But, keep in mind, NO JEW EVER GOT TO HEAVEN UNDER THE LAW, they needed Christ to come and re-open the gates of heaven, and "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9:14,15) Remember, Christ was a priest forever after the priesthood of Melchizedek, not out of Aaron from the Mosaic Law. Read Hebrews 7:11-19. The Old Covenant Law was merely a shadow of reality and given to the Jew as a temporary means of teaching them of their sin and works to salvation until a better hope, Jesus Christ Himself, became a reality and His sacrificial work was finished.

As Paul talked to the Galations, he asked them why they were so easily swayed to depart from the faith and return to Judaism, in Galations 3:23-25: "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Paul knew there were many who wanted to be under the law, just as there are to this day, those who wish to follow the law and/or depend on their own efforts to gain salvation. And, my friends, it JUST AIN'T THAT WAY!

Jesus tried to tell the Jews why the Law was added - because of their transgressions, and its purpose was to educate, guide and tutor them in order to control the sin in their lives. He told them it would be temporary until He came to cover their sin by His blood and to take back what Adam gave to Satan. He took the deed to this earth to the cross (tree) and will soon return and claim all that is His. By His death and shed blood He paid for all our sins, all the sins of the world..."Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" - (Col. 2:14), therefore, Jesus Christ, in His death for all, satisfied the requirements of the Law and brought it to an end, just as He told the Apostles prior to His Ascention to the Father: "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me. (Luke 24:44) - "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." - (Luke 16:16) Jesus has risen from the dead!

THE NEW LIVES IN OUR HEART

We'll now take a look at the NEW Covenant of Grace and love. Jesus teaches us that we are saved by Grace, a GIFT of God, which none can earn by works. The New Testament also has 5 books - called the Gospels + Acts - which mean GOOD NEWS - I like to call it the Transition from LAW to GRACE, or Christ's Law of Love written in our hearts. Today, there is no law or works for salvation - you simply believe in Jesus by faith, living it (faith) every day and then it is ratified. Since Christ has come we are no longer under the tutor of the old covenant - and the High Priest that resides in our Holy of Holies (Heart) is the Spirit of God Who is also the High Priest, Jesus Christ, Who was sacrificed on our altar for the gift of salvation.

The Epistles (letters), written by the Apostles, inspired through the Holy Spirit, tell us how to "walk the walk" and live our lives daily in the Christian way - instructions directly from the Lord (given by the Holy Spirit) that are TO US and ABOUT US. Every answer to life is given us in the New Testament - and it's free. The Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher, and no one could possibly understand the truth without the Holy Spirit, for it is He, given by our heavenly Father, Who was sent to guide us, if you would only ask Him - "...how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13). You don't need a holy man, some special guru, or the pope to teach you, because all they will do is teach you falsely and lead you to hell.

The Old Testament is gone .. past .. waxed old .. of no value for man's salvation and has been fulfilled in Christ. We have been set free from ALL the rules and laws we read earlier - knowing that the sacrifices of the Law were insufficient - we have had the yoke removed by Jesus through His saving Grace. Now, if any choose the law, the world, the flesh, and the carnal ways - then the Lake of Fire is their destiny. In Grace we are born again, free, no bondage and with Jesus forever. You choose, it's your choice!

People, truly it is much easier to live under His gift of Grace (the Lord's Way) than by the Law - for the Lord's way is the ONLY way and it's free - just repent and follow the teachings of Jesus by His Spirit and He will guide you always. Have faith, my friends, believe in your heart and you will know that there is no other way. For, if you choose Jesus, your way is clear - your sins have been covered when you repent. Why would you ever think of going with Satan? He is a loser, a thief, evil and lost. Live the Old Testament way and you are LOST to hell forever - Live the New Testament way and you are FOUND with Christ eternally in heaven!

The Lord Jesus has said: "...No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62. The Old Covenant is looking back, but the New Covenant is for us today to accept and live Christ and look forward to being with Him forever. Remember, without Jesus there is no forward, just death and pain. Jesus is the New Covenant - easy - free. Satan is of the Old Testament way - sin and works, a yoke, bondage. Jesus is the ONLY WAY. Keep in mind, the Old Testament saves NO one - it is of no spiritual value toward ones salvation. The New Testament is the only way to salvation.

Remember, the copy of the Old Testament (Hebrew) was written by unsaved Jews (Scribes) around 100 AD, and they wrote from corrupt manuscripts and when they had no originals, they added their own thoughts as to dates, times or events. They did not use facts, and it was not the Word of the Lord and can't be proved as the New Testament is.

The Holy Spirit did not guide the Jews as the Apostles were in the New Testament. We still have copies of the Greek New Testament with us, you only need the New Covenant for salvation - it's our contract, our promise with the Lord. Salvation is simple and if you read and use common sense and the Holy Spirit you can't miss. Religion has made it hard with all their copies saying it's easy to read, but it's heresay and changed where it's not the truth. Study to show yourself approved, trust the Holy Spirit, He shall guide you, have faith.

If all would understand that the Old Covenant has no value, and that it is complete and fulfilled, having no spiritual growth in it, then all would desire to remain in Grace because it's the Lord's way. And, if the Creator intended the LAW for salvation, He would not have needed to send His Son. The law would have saved us, but it doesn't, in fact He fulfilled the law, it vanished and was taken in the ARK and carried into heaven - "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament....(Rev. 11:19). The LAW is knowledge of SIN and DEATH! GRACE OF JESUS is FREE and ETERNAL LIFE! Which one is better? Which one will you choose? The Law or Jesus? It's all up to you! Choose Jesus and you live with Him eternally, choose the law and you die in slavery to your sin.

If you could only understand this one thing - LOVE containeth the whole law - in LOVE the fulfilling of the law was met ("...for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law, For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly conprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." - Romans 13:8-10) And Romans 13:14 - "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

And these are the commandments of Jesus Christ, the authoritive declaration of the Son of God, given us in His Word, under the New Covenant -

"....That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." - I John 3:23-24 - "...There is none other commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:31

All scripture based on the King James Authorized Version or 1611 Bible, New Testament only, otherwise known as The Word. All Old Testament scriptural references used in this article is Jewish History, not canonical, and is used as additional references.

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(C) 1997 THE WORD