The Old Testament Covenants
THE OLD TESTAMENT COVENANTS
What is a covenant? Dictionary: a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action.
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
God made a covenant with Abraham 430 years prior to Moses and the 10 Commandments. This agreement only required faith, belief, and righteousness of on the part of Abraham. God’s part of the covenant was the following promises:
- I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you
- I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
- I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse
- All peoples on earth will be blessed through you
Most certainly, Abraham personified the statement of “the just shall live by faith,” as he was the prototype of living by faith, however God still expected “Abraham to be obedient before blessing him.”
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3 KJV)
All of the Biblical covenants that God made with man have a sign; an outward indication that signifies the person was in a covenant. Dictionary Definition: something that indicates or expresses the existence of something else not immediately apparent
The Abrahamic covenant had a definite sign which was circumcision.
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. (Genesis 17:10 KJV)
Abraham was granted righteousness (salvation) well before the covenant with the outward sign of circumcision.
Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, “faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised! And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised. For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (Romans 4:9-13 NET)
Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.” And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise. (Hebrews 6:13-15 NET)
The New Covenant that God made with all mankind through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was new because it replaced both the Abrahamic Covenant and also the Mosaic or Sinaitic Covenant (which came after the covenant to Abraham. This belief will, hopefully, be explained later.
THE MOSAIC COVENANT
The covenant God made with Abraham was passed on through Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s sons. After Joseph and the ruling pharaoh died, the Hebrews became slaves. God sees their enslavement and remembered His covenant with Abraham and the Hebrew people.
God heard their groaning, God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, God saw the Israelites, and God understood… (Exodus 2:24-25 NET)
The Hebrews who came out of Egypt were all descendants of Abraham and were heirs to the promises made to Abraham provided they followed the sign of circumcision.
Moses was called to Mount Sinai to meet with God and was given the 10 Commandments written on stone tablets. Moses was to speak to the children of Israel, discuss the contract spoken to him by God, and ask them if they would like to enter into a new contract or covenant with God. This covenant was essentially the 10 commandments. Along with the commandments, a list of laws was given which amplified and explained the details of the principal 10 commandments. If the people agreed to the covenant and would obey the10 laws and all secondary laws that resulted from the original 10, they would receive great blessings. However, if they did not obey the laws (terms of the contract) there would be curses and in some cases, even death. All the laws and the punishments for breaking any of the laws were fully explained.
The people of Israel were given the choice to either accept or reject the terms of the contract or covenant. We are told in Exodus 24 that the people unanimously agreed to accept the contract.
Moses came and told the people all the LORD’s words and all the decisions. All the people answered together, “We are willing to do all the words that the LORD has said.” (Exodus 24:3 NET)
Earlier, the Israelites had performed sacrifices and Moses used half of the blood on the altar and placed the other half into bowls. The people were asked again to accept the contract and they all verbally agree. Moses then splashed the blood contained in bowls onto the people. As the children of Israel received the blood of the covenant, the covenant was sealed between them and God.
He sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls for peace offerings to the LORD. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and half of the blood he splashed on the altar. He took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people, and they said, “We are willing to do and obey all that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses took the blood and splashed it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:5-8 NET)
Since all covenants have a sign, so does the Mosaic covenant. The sign was the strict observance of the Sabbath.
The LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people. (Exodus 31:12-14 NET)
Abraham was told by God that all the nations of the earth would be blessed because of his seed.
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:18 KJV)
Paul clarifies the Genesis statement by saying that God meant only one seed, and that seed is Jesus Christ.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16 KJV)
So what was the purpose of the law? The Ten Commandments and the auxiliary laws that clarify the original basic ten were given because of transgressions. The Israelites were still under the covenant of Abraham because of his righteousness. But to insure (if possible) the Israelites righteousness under the Abrahamic covenant, they were given the laws of the Mosaic covenant. Therefore, the Abrahamic covenant, with the sign of circumcision, was meant to expire when the seed, Jesus Christ, came and fulfilled the law, with the sign of the Sabbath, by executing the New Covenant.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19 KJV)
There was to be only a singular seed not a plural seeds. The Mosaic laws had an expiration date, the coming of the seed, Jesus Christ.
Some have pointed out that the Sabbath was a part of God’s law since creation. It is true that scripture states that God rested on the seventh day, however, there is no indication that anyone observed the Sabbath as the universal law of God or otherwise, until it was given as a sign of compliance to Moses and the children of Israel.
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Ephriam
How can you have transgressions without a Law to transgress?? What were they transgressing?
Because they broke the non existing Law by making idols God made a commandment that say thy shall not make Idols??????
What was added was the sacrificial law, God made them sacrifice animals because they broke HIS Commandments.
that Sacrificial Law all pointed to the need for the one time sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Once Christ was sacrificed there is no more need for sacrifice.
Also regarding Abraham you might want to study this scripture:
Genesis 26: 5 ” Because that Abraham OBEYED My voice and KEPT My Charge, My Commandments, My Statutes and My LAWS.”
All of Gods Laws have been in full force since before creation. That is why Christ could say Satan was a liar from the beginning. Without the Law one can not be a liar.
“How can you have transgressions without a Law to transgress?? What were they transgressing?”
That is absolutely the point. They may have been transgressing without realizing it. After the law was given they had no problem recognizing transgressions. An idol is an idol in the eyes of God whether the idol worshipper realizes it or not. Now, with the Holy Spirit, God can make me feel guilty about an unaware sin.
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
The first listed items are: Abraham obeyed the voice of God and kept His charge. The obeyed laws come after Abraham’s righteousness.
Once Christ was sacrificed there is no more need for sacrifice.
I believe I covered that item.
Ephraim
Are you familiar with these scriptures in Jeremiah 7?
21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
I.e. take your offerings and stick them ;;;;;
22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
The sacrificial Law IS NOT part of the Law of Moses, it was added.
23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
24 “”But they hearkened not”"”, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:
26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
Ephraim, God made a contract the children of Israel while in the wilderness, that contract required the Children to obey the 10 Commandments and If they did God would give them great blessings.
Verse 26 explains what they did and because of this God, through Moses made the Children offer sacrifices for sin, this sacrificial law WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS OF THE LAW THAT WAS IN THE CONTRACT.
Ephraim, God would never hold a person responsible for doing some thing they were never told not to do.
Just look at man’s first sin in the garden, they were told not to eat of the tree of good and evil.
Here is the one sentence account of what the Covenant was about; Deut 4: 13 “And He declared unto you His Covenant which He COMMANDED you to perform even Ten Commandments and He wrote them upon two tables of stone.”
This is not something God Added because of transgressions, the Commandments were “The Consideration” the children of Israel must do as per the contract. and they did not. This is what Israel was to do and in turn God would bless them.
The 10 Commandments were never added.
I essentially understand what is written in the scripture you supplied and have read it prior to this comment. I guess what I don’t understand is the exact point you are perhaps making. Maybe you could reword or add some more explanation and give it to me again. Maybe I just need to get some sleep. Anyway, if you could rewrite, I would appreciate it.
Ephraim
The Law, the 10 Commandments, were never added to the contract — they were always a key fundamental part of that contract. With out the law the contract would not be binding, it could not be a legal contract.
Under contract Law this can be understood in this way, God offered physical promises to Israel and according to the contract Israel’s “consideration” [– what they must pay for those promises — was keep the Law. What Israel transgressed was the Law within the contract.
They could not keep the Law as a carnal physical people. SO to make them understand that transgressing the Law demanded death God added the sacrificial law and that sacrificial Law points to the coming sacrifice of Christ.
What was added and what Christ fulfilled was the Sacrificial Law. The HOLY LAW of God remains and will for eternity.
@ Ephraim
Pay this dog of the concision Lies-Seeker no heed – he just makes it up as he goes like the papists.
The Passover sacrifice of the unblemished lamb was instigated before Moses was anywhere near Mount Sinai and where he wrote down THE WHOLE LAW.
Exo 12:3 (KJV) Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exo 12:5 (KJV) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
Abel sacrificed a lamb – Noah sacrificed – Abraham sacrificed
Sacrifices for sin offerings:
Exo 29:14 (KJV) But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.
LOOK AT HIS LIES HERE:
“What was added and what Christ fulfilled was the Sacrificial Law. The HOLY LAW of God remains and will for eternity”
There was no added Sacrificial Law – period and there was no Ceremonial Law. These are lying constructs of Judaising illegitimates OF THE CONCISION.
What Christ fulfilled was The Whole Law – or the Handwriting of Ordinances that were against us:
Col 2:14 (KJV) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (THE LAW) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
The Law will NOT remain for eternity it will end when heaven and earth pass away:
Rev 20:11 (KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
The Law and The Prophets ended with John the Baptist:
Luke 16:16 (KJV) The Law and The Prophets were until John: since that time The Kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Lies-Seeker doesn’t preach The Kingdom, he preaches The Law like a 21st century Pharisee.
Philp 3:2 (KJV) Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
yes2truth
the Passover sacrifice is not a part of the Sacrificial Law, the Passover was not added — the Burnt offering etc were added.
Sacrificial Law; In Leviticus.
Burnt sacrifice of the herd, —- Chapter 1
Meal offering or Oblation, —- Chapter 2
Peace offering,– Chapter 3
Sin offering, —– Chapter 4
Trespass offering,—Chapter 5
Do you actually read the Bible? Maybe the question should be who’s bible?
yes2truth if you are a true representation of the one you worship and follow: If your words are the words of the one you worship — if the one you worship agrees with all you say and do —– I pass. I want none of it.
@ Lies-Seeker
Tell me, where I will find the words Sacrificial Law in The Holy Scriptures?
Where will I find the words Ceremonial Law in The Holy Scriptures?
Can you tell me what Moses was doing for forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai? Twiddling his thumbs perhaps?
You want none of it eh? So IT IS all down to you – salvation by works? Where does The Father and Yashua Messiah with His Grace fit into this arrangement that you think you have with Them?
yes2truth
LOL, I have attempted to do business with guys like you a few times in the past 50 years, It is an exercise in futility, every time the deal is close they changed the rules.
And actually the god you worship is of the same ilk, he changes the rules keeping everyone confused.
I wonder why Jesus Christ on such an important doctrine as “Grace” — did not explained it better? Actually He never even mentioned it.
Isn’t that something THE doctrine that all look to to opt out of obeying God’s Holy Law Christ, Never mentioned.
Do business with you?????
ROTFL
Why would I want to do business with a snake oil salesman, a carpet-bagger or a Ponzi scam-monger?
What have you got that I would want or need?????????
You’re like neanderthal offering me two sticks and some dry grass when I have a box of matches and a cigarette lighter.
Just get it through your thick asinine head that The Law and the Prophets ENDED with John, for those who believe in Yashua Messiah for their salvation.
Gal 5:4 (KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by The Law; ye are fallen from Grace.
Gal 3:13 (KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of The Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
You want to be cursed – is that it?
You said:
“Isn’t that something THE doctrine that all look to to opt out of obeying God’s Holy Law Christ, Never mentioned.”
So you always want to be under The Schoolmaster (The Law) like a child? Yes?
http://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/
http://yes2faith.wordpress.com/
http://yes2truthblog.wordpress.com/
what did Jesus Himself think of the Royal Law of God His Father? Did He preach they were to be abolished one day? Or did He preach them as eternal in nature? Jesus Himself said, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” -John 15:10
Some still hold to their beliefs that the Law is abolished because this was said by Jesus BEFORE the cross itself. So what did the Holy Spirit indwelt Apostles of Jesus Christ believe AFTER Jesus died and resurrected? Did they keep and preach the Ten Commandments as Truth? Upwards of 60 years after the cross of Christ John the Apostle said in 1 John 3:22, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” 1 John 5:2 also states, ” By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.” 1 John 5:3 declares, ” For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” If you do a study on this you will find literally dozens of New Testament Scriptures proving the early Christian church indeed KEPT the Ten Commandments in loving obedience to their Heavenly Father.
http://www.remnantofgod.org/The-Law.htm
craigevil
As you correctly stated above Jesus Christ did not end the Holy Law of God, but those that hate that Holy Eternal Law will never consider the logic you used nor the scriptures you used.
Yes2truth and others will not knee before God in obedience, they refuse to surrender their will to the will of God. They want to be in control of themselves and GOD as well.
Soon they will begin to see and know who it is that reigns supreme on earth and in heaven.
Yashua Messiah is my elder Brother and my friend why would I need to OBEY Him?
If you have a physical brother or sister do you OBEY him or her?
If you have a physical friend do you OBEY him or her?
Answers on the back of a postage stamp thank you!
yes2truth
Why call you ME LORD LORD and do not the things I say?
He that hath My commandments and KEEPETH them — he it is that loves me.
If a man love ME he will keep My words. —
he that loveth ME — NOT– keepeth — NOT — MY SAYINGS
YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU
yes2truth these are the words of your friend and He says you need to obey HIM.
Yes I realize you will find some scriptures that seem to say other wise but the Words of Christ are clear — so — who is not telling the truth you or Christ? I will trust Christ and never you.
Keepeth means hold them close, guard and protect them, NOT OBEY THEM.
Check it out in Strongs.
Is your heart circumcised or your dick?
The Old Covenant was an arrangement between God and His people.
The New Covenant is an arrangement between God and Jesus Christ
THAT’S THE BETTER COVENANT HE PROMISED US! It is no longer between us and God the Father. We proved too weak to do that. It is now between Jesus and His Father. The Lord didn’t re-write His laws or His “arrangement” between man and Himself at all. “The wages of sin is still death” (Romans 6:23) just like it was 6000 years ago! Like back then, if we try to keep the Law on our own we will fail miserably and be worthy of eternal death. Jesus came to do what we proved we could not do! He kept that covenant with His Father FOR US as a living and breathing man. It’s no longer the covenant between God and mankind, it’s now a covenant between God and the man Jesus. He kept this covenant in the exact same human body we have! Now, Jesus actually makes it far easier for us to keep His Father’s Law simply because, as promised, He is placed it deep within the heart of every true follower. And here’s your Biblical proof…
Hebrews 8:10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”
That’s the new covenant that He has made with us. If we have Jesus as Lord and Saviour, His Law is written in our hearts and minds.
craigevil
Both covenants (contracts) are between GOD and the Children of Israel.
Paul in Hebrews 8: 8 For finding fault with THEM He saith Behold the days come saith the LORD when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah.
The Parties to both the Old and the New are GOD and the children if Israel, that has never changed.
Christ is God why would God the Father make a contract with God the Son? The fault lay with Israel not with God. A contract must have 2 parties to it and GOD is ONE.
The old was a physical contract with a physical people with a physical law and physical promises.
The New is a spiritual contract with a spiritual people with a spiritual law and spiritual promises.
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