What the Old and New Covenants Reveal About the Gospel, the Law and the Sabbath Skip MacCarty, D. Min “The LORD Confides in those who fear him’ he makes his covenant known to them.” Ps 25:14

Romans 13:8-10

Evangelical Model of the Covenants Especially the Old and New Covenants

Against the Abu Ghraib prison abuses of the war in Iraq, President George Bush described the U. S. as a “nation of law” (i.e., a moral and just nation).

The Covenant Book of the OT was Deuteronomy (structured after the Near Eastern Suzerainty treaties/covenants of Moses’ day.

Against the Abu Ghraib prison abuses of the war in Iraq, President George Bush described the U. S. as a “nation of law” (i.e., a moral and just nation). The Covenant Book of the OT was Deuteronomy (structured after the Near Eastern Suzerainty treaties/covenants of Moses’ day. Deuteronomy contains more references to “love” than any biblical book other than Psalms, Hosea, John, 1 John.

Against the Abu Ghraib prison abuses of the war in Iraq, President George Bush described the U. S. as a “nation of law” (i.e., a moral and just nation). The Covenant Book of the OT was Deuteronomy (structured after the Near Eastern Suzerainty treaties/covenants of Moses’ day.) Deuteronomy contains more references to “love” than any biblical book other than Psalms, Hosea, John, 1 John.

Against the Abu Ghraib prison abuses of the war in Iraq, President George Bush described the U. S. as a “nation of law” (i.e., a moral and just nation). The Covenant Book of the OT was Deuteronomy (structured after the Near Eastern Suzerainty treaties/covenants of Moses’ day.) Deuteronomy contains more references to “love” than any biblical book other than Psalms, Hosea, John, 1 John. Based on the revelation that God first loved His people, He gave the commandment to love Him (and one another) and to keep His commandments.

When in Rom 13:8-10 Paul wrote “Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law,” he was reiterating the formula established and repeatedly affirmed in the Sinai Covenant.

Every appeal in Scripture (OT and NT) to obey God’s commandments always has in mind love to God as the foundation of all obedience and God’s love for us as its source.

Every appeal in Scripture (OT and NT) to love God and one another always has in mind obedience to God’s commandments which describe how love to God and others is expressed in actions.

No one in the NT, not Jesus, not Paul, not Peter, not James, not John, trusted “love” as a safe single command, or trusted the internal guidance of the Holy Spirit, as a replacement for all law and very specific divine commandments.

The NT contains over 900 direct, and 300 indirect, commandments, including the repetitions for emphasis (compared to the Sinai Covenant’s 613 specific commands).

Legalism is not predicated on the number of commands God has given, or even on the nature of those commands. Even the command to love God and one’s neighbor can be legalistically applied by someone who has been merely born of the flesh and not of the Spirit.

Before he met Jesus, Paul considered himself “blameless” before the law (Phil 3:3- 6). Only when he “turned to the Lord [was] the veil taken away” (2 Cor 3:16). Thereafter his reliance was exclusively on the righteousness of Christ, “the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil 3:7- 11).

The NT raised the moral bar exponentially higher (e.g., Matt 5-7’s Sermon on the Mount, etc.) so that we would know more than ever that without Christ and His grace there is no salvation, but that with Him and in Him it is guaranteed!

Evangelical Model of the Covenants Especially the Old and New covenants

Evangelical Model of the Covenants misrepresents the unity and coherence of the New Covenant throughout Scripture. A replacement model is needed

Evangelical Model of the Covenants misrepresents the unity and coherence of the New Covenant throughout Scripture. A replacement model is needed

God’s Historical Old Covenant (Everlasting Gospel - OT Era) God’s Historical New Covenant (Everlasting Gospel - NT Era) Gospel In Symbols Eternity Past Eternal Life

God’s Historical Old Covenant (Everlasting Gospel - OT Era) God’s Historical New Covenant (Everlasting Gospel - NT Era) Gospel In Symbols Eternity Past Eternal Life

Last Session: The New Covenant Experience

Love Fulfills the Law “When Satan rebelled against the law of Jehovah, the thought that there was a law came to the angels almost as an awakening to something unthought of. In their ministry the angels are not as servants, but as sons. There is perfect unity between them and their Creator. Obedience is to them no drudgery. Love for God makes their service a joy. So in every soul wherein Christ, the hope of glory, dwells, His words are re-echoed, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.’” Psalm 40:8.