Even for the believers of the Holy Bible, the definition of old covenant vs new covenant is often debated. For some, the latter complements the former. But for others, they are contradictory. In order to better understand the similarity or the difference between the two, it is of utmost importance to understand each.
In definition, covenant is a binding agreement. When used in this context, it refers to a contract forged by two parties. This is the agreement of man with God. It also speaks of God’s commune with His people. Although both covenants were forged by the same God, the new compact is relatively loose when compared to the first one.
God speaks to His people through the prophets in the Old Testament. He made a treaty to protect and empower the Israelites. He promised to release them from enslavement. He vowed to take good care of them. The promise that God made to Noah following the tremendous flood can also be found here.
This spoke mainly of how the people of God should live their lives. It outlined the interactions between one another. It set down the regulations and policies about marriage, slavery, crimes and its corresponding penalties. This is where the ten commandments were forged with Moses. It was a timely compact when the people needed guidance more than anything else.
However, as years passed by, the needs, state and lifestyle of the people started to change. Hence, there was a need to renew the agreement. People have been given more freedom. Now, some promises were already acted on, including the freedom of the Israelites. The people have also learned to distinguish right and wrong. The compact was then modified.
This time, God reached out to His people through His own son. Jesus Christ preached about God’s love. He performed many miracles to spread God’s goodness. He also made the ultimate sacrifice when he was crucified just to save the humankind from the death of sin. The teachings of offering is no longer needed after the Lamb of God offered Himself.
In the Old Testament, the people can only be saved through atonement and offerings. To pay for sins and wrongdoings, blood sacrifices were required. However, the New Testament stipulates that salvation is achieved through faith alone. For as long as one believes, he is saved. The new agreement is rooted mainly on God’s unfading love to His people.
The New Testament also emphasizes forgiveness as opposed to punishments in the Old. The ten commandments have been simplified to just two. First, you must love God more than anything else. Second, love your neighbor in the same way as you yourself. Jesus preached of the new commandment to the people.
Up to now, there are still ongoing debates regarding the old covenant vs new covenant. There are varying doctrines among different religious denominations resulting from varied interpretations of God’s word. Yet, one thing is for sure. Both came from the same God and were intended for the good of His people alone. If you want to follow God’s will, you have to fully understand each one.
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