The Old & The New Covenants by D. J. Love, Minister, TSN, SBC
updated 12-24-2001 refined 3-31-2007
Contrary to popular Christopagan teachings; YHVH's Laws and Commandments are not the Covenant itself, but are the Words of the Vow of the Covenant. A Covenant with YHVH is a "Marriage Contract", and the Contract contains the words (Vows, Contract or Laws) that govern and comprise The Marriage Covenant. However, it is the disobedience to the Vow (words or laws of the Covenant) that breaks the Covenant ! A Physical Parallel: You decide to get married, and you select a mate that you find to be suitable, because of his or her attributes. You both enter into a "Marriage Contract" (Covenant), and you both agree (Vow) verbally and in writing (Contract) to the words (Vow) of your Covenant. Sometime later in your marriage your mate breaks "The Agreement" of your Marriage Covenant concerning Adultery, and after a period of time (where you try to forgive your mate IF he or she will repent) you find that you cannot persuade your lost mate to return, so you become divorced according to the Agreement (Law or Contract) of "The Covenant." Later, you find a True Mate (one who remains faithful) and you enter into a New Marriage Covenant with him or her, and you Never Separate. In the above "Parallel", was it the "Agreement (Law or Contract) of the Covenant" that was at Fault or the Unfaithful Mate? ANSWER: The unfaithful mate. When you remarried, didn't you use the Exact Same Vows, Contract or Agreements in your New Covenant Marriage as you did in your Old Covenant Marriage? . . . . Absolutely, you did, because both the Old and the New Covenant Laws stated your requirements (Commandments of Love) for entering into the Marriage Covenant in the first place. Now human beings may change their minds, but The Mind of YHVH (The Holy Spirit) is when it comes to Righteous Promises or Agreements. So what were the Marriage Vows that YHVH's First Wife (The Nation of Israel) broke? . . . . They were "The Ten Commandments" (which are the condensed version of all of YHVH's Requirements for Righteousness through Love). Actually, we are to live by Every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of YHVH. Remember. . . . it was Not the Commandments or Vows (Contract or Laws) that were at fault, but the People who were disobedient (at fault), and Spiritually Fornicated with Pagan gods and goddesses (committed Spiritual Fornication and Adultery). Therefore, The Old Covenant and The New Covenant Vows, Contract or Laws are exactly the Same! This is significant, because it means that we are to continue to keep YHVH's Laws or Vows (Ten Commandments, etc....) If we are to Remain Promised in Marriage to YHVH through the example of Messiah's Sacrificial Ministry! YHVH will Not be joined in marriage to the disobedient! Nor will Messiah Y'Shua (Joshua in English) be joined to the disobedient.
So What Changed? . . . . Sacrifice and the Levitical Priesthood Changed! Messiah Y'Shua is the New Covenant Sacrifice and our New High Priest. Only Messiah Y'Shua may symbolically enter into "The Holy of Holies" as "High Priest" at this time.
References: Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? YHVH forbid: yea, we establish the law (through Righteous Faith)." Matthew 5:18 For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law (Covenant Agreement), until all things are accomplished.
Hebrews 8; Jeremiah 31; Isaiah 42:21; Romans 8:7
Isaiah 42:21 (Old Testament usage of Law) Strong's H08451 towrah (to-raw') or torah (to-raw') from H03384; 1) Direction, Instruction 1a) Instruction, Direction (human or divine) 1a1) body of prophetic teaching 1a2) instruction in Messianic age 1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction 1a4) body of legal directives 1b) Law (binding agreement) 1b1) law of the burnt offering 1b2) of special law, codes of law 1c) Custom, Manner 1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law (Laws of YHVH given to Moses) Romans 8:7 (New Testament usage of "law") Strong's G3551 nomos (nom'-os) from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); 1) anything that is established, anything received by usage, a custom, a Law, a command 1a) of any law whatsoever 1a1) a law or rule producing a state approved of YHVH 1a1a) by the observance of which is approved of YHVH 1a2) a precept or injunction 1a3) the rule of action prescribed by reason 1b) of the Mosaic (Moses) law, and referring, acc. to the context. either to the volume of the law or to its contents 1c) for True Believers: the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Y'Shua Messiah, especially the precept concerning love 1d) the name of the more important part (the Pentateuch), is put for the Entire Collection of the Sacred Books of the Old Testament Therefore, it cannot be said that "The Law" of any Covenant with YHVH was simply the 10 Commandments (Decalogue), But All of the Words that proceed(ed) from the mouth of YHVH The Old Covenant (, that marriage between YHVH and Ancient Israel, has surely ended (However, YHVH will keep all promises). A ReNewed Covenant began with Spiritual Israel (True Believers). The Vows of that marriage (obedience to YHVH's laws) are the same for both marriage agreements (covenants). This is what Jeremiah said and what Paul affirmed when they said, "I will write my laws on their hearts (Love)." There can be no doubt which Old Covenant Laws Jeremiah was referring to as he was contrasting the Old, which had laws written in stone tablets, to the New, which he prophesied that YHVH would write Those 'Same' Laws on our Hearts (Love). . . . . . . How can we escape these plain words? And if we finish that thought as expressed in the scriptures, we see the Fault was with The People (still is), and Not with the Vows (Laws) themselves. It was and still is the people who would not and do not continue in obedience to YHVH's Laws, because of their hearts of stone. |