(A New Law for Christians)
Jeremiah 31:31-32
"I will make a new covenant...NOT like to covenant that I made with their fathers when I took them out of Egypt."
Promise =Eternal Life to all who believe (Jn 3:16)
Condition =Faith (Rom 3:21-28)
Sign =The Lord's Supper (I Cor 11:25, Luke 22:20, Mark 14:24)
The Bible declares that upon Jesus Christ's death and resurrection a new covenant was ratified. Romans makes it clear that under this new covenant we are:
Romans 7:1-6
"released from the law" v. 2 "dead to the law through the body of Christ" v. 4 "Delivered from the law" v. 6
Which law? verse 7 "...For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said 'Thou shall not covet." (Compare to Exodus 20:17 & I Tim. 1:6-11)
II Corinthians 3:1-18
Old Covenant
"on tables of stone" v. 3
"the letter kills" v. 6
"was glorious" v.7
"was passing away" v.14
"ministry of death and condemnation" v. 7,9 |
New Covenant
"on the heart" v. 3
"the Spirit gives life" v.6
"much more glorious" v. 11
"remains" v.11
"Ministry of righteousness" v.9 |
If the Old Covenant has been replaced by the New Covenant what about keeping the Commandments of God? as we read in Rev 12:17 and John 14:15?
I John 5:3
"For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."
I John 3:22-24
"And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him."
Notice also in Acts 15:5 this was the very same question facing the new church. However in verses 28, 29 there is not mention of keeping the Sabbath. The only mention is in verse 21 and is speaking of those who preach Moses, not Christ. Christians were not holding the sign of the covenant of Moses any longer (Sabbath) nor were they keeping the sign of the Abrahamic covenant, circumcision. (Gal. 5:1-4).
Christians have a New Law
Now that we are in Christ we no longer live by the Old Covenant, the Ten Commandments. We have a new law, written on our hearts.
Galatians 6:2
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ
Galatians 5:13,14,18
"...but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word,even this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
John 13:34, 35
" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another . By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Romans 13:10
"Love does no harm to a neighbor therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Colosians 2:16, 17
"Let no one judge you...regarding festival or new moon or Sabbaths which are a shadow of thing to come , but the substance is Christ "
Note: The LXX (Septuagint) translation of "Sabbaths" in Exodus 20:8 is the same as in Colosians 2:16.
Hebrews 3:17-4:11
Christ is the Sabbath rest. A new day, "Today" is the gospel rest. (Heb 4:7)
Matthew 11;28
"Come to Me...and I will give you rest...you will find rest for your souls."
LISTEN TO: 'The Gospel and the Covenants' Bible study online.
Note: Also see "The Believer and the Law: Is Torah observance for Us Today?"