Law Covenant

Are You a Minister of the Old or New Covenant?

For most of the first 10 years I was a pastor, I was a mixed up minister who mixed up a lot of Christians by preaching a mixture of the Old Covenant (OC) and New Covenant (NC). By doing this, I unwittingly watered down both the purpose of the (OC) and the power of the (NC).

It was my own preaching like this that eventually brought me to brokenness. That would be a great title for a book, wouldn’t it? “Pastor’s Own Preaching Breaks Him”! In that brokenness, God began to give me understanding about the liberating difference in the two Covenants. I didn’t know at the time that this was not only going to free me but many others in the years to come.

Let’s look at according to 2 Corinthians 3:5-11 and then check ourselves to which one we are telling people.

5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came [c]with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. 10 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

The ministry of the (OC) is a ministry of death. The purpose of the (OC) or law is to show an unbeliever how sinful they are. They are sinful because their old nature is spiritually dead. See Romans 3:19-20; Romans 5:20; Galatians 5:23; Ephesians 2:1-3

The ministry of the (NC) is a ministry of the Spirit.The law cannot give life but the gift of the Holy Spirit causes a person to come alive spiritually under the (NC). Forgiveness is great but dead people need life! Galatians 3:21; Romans 8:2

The ministry of the (OC) is a ministry of condemnation. The ministry of the (OC) is to reveal to an unbeliever that because of their sins, they are condemned and therefore unacceptable to God. Romans 3:19-20; 5:20; Galatians 3:21

The ministry of the (NC) is a ministry of righteousness. The ministry of the (NC) reveals to Christians that they are 100% acceptable to God because they are the righteousness of God in Christ. Romans 5:1, 17, 19; 2 Corinthians 5:21

The ministry of the (OC) has come to an end. Once a person comes to faith in Christ, their relationship with the (OC), meaning the law, ends and is replaced by the (NC). Romans 7:1-7; Galatians 3:19, 25

The ministry of the (NC) is permanent. As Christians, our identity in Christ and Christ in us has permanently replaced the (OC). Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrews 10:16-17

If you are discovering that you are like I once was, in that you mix together the two Covenants, let go of the Old Covenant unless you are talking to an unbeliever. It’s not for Christians! Embrace and live in the freedom of being a New Covenant person! Minister to people this awesome New Covenant which God has provided for us in Christ!

Believe it! It’s the Gospel!

Live Free In Christ,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2014 Mark Maulding

Are You a Minister of the Old or New Covenant?

Let’s look at according to 2 Corinthians 3:5-11 and then check ourselves to which one we are telling people.

The ministry of the (NC) is permanent. As Christians, our identity in Christ and Christ in us has permanently replaced the (OC). Ephesians 1:13-14; Hebrews 10:16-17

Believe it! It’s the Gospel!

Live Free In Christ,

Mark Maulding, President and Founder

www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2014 Mark Maulding

How the New Covenant Trumps the Old Covenant

Many years ago, when on the staff of a large church, I was caught off guard one day in the work room by the Church Receptionist. She quizzed me about my relationship with Ellen Taylor, a well-known girl in the church. We were secretly dating because I was the Youth Minister. So, we were trying to keep it under wraps. Though I tried to to play it off, the Receptionist realized something was up because she said, “You talk about her differently than anyone else”.

I’m so glad God forgave me for lying that day because though I denied we were dating, I was caught! Yet, my entire demeanor changed when I spoke of her. I just could not hide the love and joy I felt when I talked about Ellen Taylor, compared to other people. My face lit up every time I spoke about her.

When you and I talk about Jesus and the New Covenant, people may very well notice that we light up too. Why? Because through The New Covenant, He transforms us so much more than the Old Covenant every could! I think you will appreciate more of what I mean as we compare the two.

Old Covenant (Also referred to as the Mosaic or Law Covenant)	New Covenant (Also referred to as the Grace Covenant)
God related to Israel as their King , Father and Husband 1 Samuel 8:7; Deuteronomy 32:6, Jeremiah 31:31-32 Binding Vows: God promised that He would do His part as long as Israel did their part. Deuteronomy 28	God relates to you as your King, Father and Husband. 1Timothy 1:17; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 5: 21-22 Binding Vows: God has promised that He would do His part and your part. He continues to do your part as you rely on Jesus to live in and through you. Jeremiah 31:31-34, Galatians 2:20
Responsibilities: The 10 Commandments were written by God on tablets of stone. Exodus 22	Responsibilities: God wrote His law on your heart. This gave you your identity in Christ. Hebrews 10:16
Blessings: …Were given by God based on one condition – their obedience. Deuteronomy 28 (1/5 of the chapter is blessings; 4/5 is curses.) …God was in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Each Jew could get close to God only once a year, Yom Kippur, when he or she was represented by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies. Exodus 40:34-35; Leviticus 16 …God lived near Israel in the Holy of Holies. Leviticus 16:2 …God gave temporary forgiveness based on their most recent sacrifice. Leviticus	Blessings: …God blessed you with all your blessings in Christ the moment you believed. The only condition is faith in Christ. Ephesians 1:3, 2:7-8 (No curses under The New Covenant!) …God is in you and you can’t get any closer to God than that! Galatians 2:20 …God lives very much at home in your spirit, the new Holy of Holies. 1Corinthians 6:17 and 19. …God gave you eternal forgiveness for your past, present and future sins, based on Jesus’ sacrifice. Colossians 2:13
The Cutting of the Covenant: The sacrificial system was the continuous “cutting of the covenant”. It was also a constant reminder of their sins. Hebrews 9:18-20	The Cutting of the Covenant: This covenant was “cut” by the death of Jesus Christ that you “walked into” with God. Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 2:20
The Covenant Meal: The Passover Exodus 12	The Covenant Meal: The Lord’s Supper. (Some know it as Communion or the Eucharist). Matthew 26:27
The Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision for men only (the ladies said,”Hallelujah”) which covered their entire family. Leviticus 12:2-3	The Sign of the Covenant: Baptism for each individual including men as well as women. Acts 10

Are you beginning to understand how much better the New Covenant is compared to the Old Covenant? “Thank you God for Your New Covenant that You have so richly provided for us in Christ! What good news!”

“But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.” Hebrew 6:6 NIV

Believe it! It’s the Gospel!

Live free in Christ,

How the New Covenant Trumps the Old Covenant

Old Covenant (Also referred to as the Mosaic or Law Covenant)	New Covenant (Also referred to as the Grace Covenant)
God related to Israel as their King , Father and Husband 1 Samuel 8:7; Deuteronomy 32:6, Jeremiah 31:31-32 Binding Vows: God promised that He would do His part as long as Israel did their part. Deuteronomy 28	God relates to you as your King, Father and Husband. 1Timothy 1:17; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 5: 21-22 Binding Vows: God has promised that He would do His part and your part. He continues to do your part as you rely on Jesus to live in and through you. Jeremiah 31:31-34, Galatians 2:20
Responsibilities: The 10 Commandments were written by God on tablets of stone. Exodus 22	Responsibilities: God wrote His law on your heart. This gave you your identity in Christ. Hebrews 10:16
Blessings: …Were given by God based on one condition – their obedience. Deuteronomy 28 (1/5 of the chapter is blessings; 4/5 is curses.) …God was in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Each Jew could get close to God only once a year, Yom Kippur, when he or she was represented by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies. Exodus 40:34-35; Leviticus 16 …God lived near Israel in the Holy of Holies. Leviticus 16:2 …God gave temporary forgiveness based on their most recent sacrifice. Leviticus	Blessings: …God blessed you with all your blessings in Christ the moment you believed. The only condition is faith in Christ. Ephesians 1:3, 2:7-8 (No curses under The New Covenant!) …God is in you and you can’t get any closer to God than that! Galatians 2:20 …God lives very much at home in your spirit, the new Holy of Holies. 1Corinthians 6:17 and 19. …God gave you eternal forgiveness for your past, present and future sins, based on Jesus’ sacrifice. Colossians 2:13
The Cutting of the Covenant: The sacrificial system was the continuous “cutting of the covenant”. It was also a constant reminder of their sins. Hebrews 9:18-20	The Cutting of the Covenant: This covenant was “cut” by the death of Jesus Christ that you “walked into” with God. Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 2:20
The Covenant Meal: The Passover Exodus 12	The Covenant Meal: The Lord’s Supper. (Some know it as Communion or the Eucharist). Matthew 26:27
The Sign of the Covenant: Circumcision for men only (the ladies said,”Hallelujah”) which covered their entire family. Leviticus 12:2-3	The Sign of the Covenant: Baptism for each individual including men as well as women. Acts 10

“But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.” Hebrew 6:6 NIV

Believe it! It’s the Gospel!

Live free in Christ,

Charlotte