The Old and New Covenant
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,
by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant,
which was established upon better promises.
For if the first covenant had been faultless
then should no place have been sought for the second.”
(Hebrews 8:6-7)
The Old Covenant was never established by God as a permanent covenant to bring in salvation. It was by design temporary to prepare the way for the New Covenant in the full, free, final and forever work of the LORD Jesus in fulfillment of the Old. How do the Old and the New differ? Both were established as a revelation of God’s Righteousness. The law could require no less than just satisfaction but wherein the Old could not produce that righteousness, the LORD Jesus fulfilled it in the New, Romans 8:3-4.
1.) The Old was based on the blood of animals, the New established in the blood shed unto death of the LORD Jesus, Hebrews 10:1-10.
2.) The Old was written on stone and parchments, the New written on hearts, 2 Corinthians 3:3.
3.) The Old was but a shadow, the New is the substance in Christ, Colossians 2:17.
4.) The Old was glorious but the New infinitely more glorious, 2 Corinthians 3:9.
5.) The Old was completely fulfilled by God Incarnate in the New, earning everlasting life by His sacrificial death at the cross, Hebrews 9:11-12.
6.) The Old was given through Moses, the New through Jesus Christ, John 1:17.
7.) The Old was based on works, the New by the work of the LORD Jesus, Romans 3:19-22.
8.) The Old was of sin and death, the New of the Spirit of Life, Romans 8:1-2.
9.) The Old was through many sacrifices, the New by One Sacrifice, Hebrews 10:14.
10.) The Old was powerless to redeem and justify, the New accomplished redemption and justification upon completion of Christ’s death at the cross, Romans 5:9-11.
11.) The Old required an annual atonement (covering), the New fulfilled an eternal satisfaction by Christ’s one offering, Hebrews 10:14.
12.) The Old was revealed in an earthly tabernacle, the New in a Heavenly tabernacle of Christ, God in the flesh, John 1:14; Hebrews 9:11, 23.
13.) The Old was a ministry of death, the New of life, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.
14.) The Old was one of outward, visible form, the New of the inward work of the Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.
15.) The Old was a ministry of condemnation, the New of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.
Ken Wimer