TWO COVENANTS CONTRASTED.

INTRO:

1. In our study of rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Tim. 2:15, we try to show people how they should study the Bible and rightly divide it.

2. But in our study at this time, we want to show the great contrasts between the Old and New Testaments.

A. The word contrast means: "To exhibit noticeable differences when compared or set side by side." Webster.

3. There are those, that claim to be religious teachers, that make no difference between these Testaments but teach them both as though both of them apply to all people of all time.

A. You hear people all the time saying: "Just keep the Ten Commandments and you will be alright before God."

B. In a newspaper article, we read from a man by the name of Goertzen who says: "Yodeling is a joyful sound. The Gospel is a joyful Gospel. Many Scriptures speak of the joy of music. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord is found in Psalm 100. In the original Hebrew it means make any gleeful sound." He said: "His favorite Scripture verses are in Psalms 149 and 150. These Psalms are among the many in the Bible that tell us music is a big if not the biggest part of worship. They tell of all the different musical instruments to use and then end by saying, 'Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.'"

1) This man puts no difference between the Old and New Testaments as far as worship is concerned and therefore takes part of the Old Law given only to the Jews for a specific time, to end when Christ came, and applies it to our worship as Christians today.

4. Whenever people do this type of thing, they cause much confusion in religion.

5. There are those that teach that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are not a part of the New Testament but a part of the Old. See Matt. 5:31,32; 19:3-9; Rom. 7:1-3.

6. There are others that think that Psalms is a part of the New Testament.

7. A covenant is an agreement or contract between two or more parties.

8. Covenants are also know as wills or testaments.

9. There are many covenants mentioned in the Bible, but two of them stand out above the others.

10. We will refer to these as the "OLD" and the "NEW". Paul speaks of them in this way in 2 Cor. 3.

A. Some Jews now argue about calling the Old Testament Old. They, like many that are not Jews, contend that it is still in effect and should be followed.

11. If we can clear up any misunderstanding that people might have concerning the Old and New Testaments, then our time and effors will be well spent.

I. CONTRASTING THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS OR TESTAMENTS:

A. Old=The first. 2 Cor. 3:6, 14; Heb. 10:9.
B. New=The Second. Heb. 10:9.

A. Old=Taken away. Heb. 10:9; 8:13.
B. New=Established. Heb. 10:9; 8:13.

A. Old=Faulty. Heb. 8:7.
B. New=Perfect, Better, Excellent. Heb. 8:6; Jas. 1:25.

A. Old=Moses the mediator. Gal. 3:19.
B. New=Christ the Mediator. Heb. 12:24; 8:6.

A. Old=Glorious. 2 Cor. 3:9,10.
B. New=More Glorious, Exceeds in Glory. 2 Cor. 3:9-11.

A. Old=Figure of the true. Heb. 9:24.
B. New=The True. Heb. 8:1,2.

A. Old=Blood of Animals. Heb. 9:18-20.
B. New=Blood of Christ. Heb. 9:12.

A. Old=Carnal Ordinances. Heb. 9:10.
B. New=Spiritual Sacrifices. 1 Pet. 2:5; Rom. 12:1.

A. Old=Purify Flesh. Heb. 9:13.
B. New=Purify Soul. 1 Pet. 1:22.

A. Old=Continuous Sacrifices. Heb. 10:1-4.
B. New=Christ offered Himself once for all. Heb. 10:10-12.

A. Old=Abraham's Seed, Jews, (Covenant of Circumcision) (Isaac Especially) Gen. 17:1-14; Deut. 5:1-6; Lev. 12:3.
B. New=All Nations. Eph. 2:11-22; Matt.28:19.

A. Old=Natural Birth, Jews. Gen. 17:1-14; Gal. 2:15.
B. New=Spiritual Birth, Christians. Jno. 3:1-5; Gal. 3:26,27.

A. Old=Infants physically. Gen. 17:1-14.
B. New=All born into the Kingdom of God must know and believe the gospel. Heb. 8:8-13; Jno. 6:45.

A. Old=No Clear Conscience. Heb. 9:8-10.
B. New=Makes Perfect. Heb. 7:18,19.

A. Old=Temporal Inheritance. Psa. 105:11; Gen. 17:8.
B. New=Eternal Inheritance. 1 Pet. 1:4.

A. Old=Ministration of Condemnation. 2 Cor. 3:9.
B. New=Ministration of Righteousness. 2 Cor. 3:9.

A. Old=Passed Away. 2 Cor. 3:11.
B. New=Remains. 2 Cor. 3:11.

A. Old=Bondwoman. Gal. 4:30,31.
B. New=Freewoman. Gal. 4:21-31.

A. Old=High Priest with Infirmity. Heb. 7:28.
B. New=High Priest Perfect. Heb. 7:28.

A. Old=High Priests had Sins. Heb. 7:27.
B. New=High Priest Sinless. Heb. 7:26.

A. Old=High Priests without an Oath. Heb. 7:21.
B. New=High Priest with an Oath. Or by an Oath. Heb. 7:21.

A. Old=Priests by Carnal Commandment. Heb. 7:16.
B. New=Priest by an Endless Life. Heb. 7:16.

A. Old=Priests of the Tribe of Levi. Heb. 7:11,12.
B. New=Priest of the Tribe of Judah. Heb. 7:13,14.

A. Old=Priests Die. Heb. 7:23.
B. New=Priest Continues Ever. Heb. 7:24.

A. Old=Sins Remembered Year by Year. Heb. 10:3.
B. New=Sins NOT Remembered Any More. Heb. 10:17.

A. Old=Written in Tables of Stone. 2 Cor. 3:7.
B. New=Written in the Heart. Heb. 8:10.

CONCLUSION:

1. There are many other things that we might say relative to these two covenants, to show the contrasts between them, but these will suffice for the sincere seeker of truth to know the difference.

2. Notice that one has been fulfilled and done away and the other remains today.

3. We are subject to the one that remains.

By Jim Sasser

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