God's Love in the Old and New Covenants

Introduction - Misunderstanding of the Old Covenant abounds.

Horned Moses in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome by Michelangelo. The Renaissance artist sculpted the horns based on a mistranslation of Deut 34:29. The Latin Vulgate says, “And when Moses came down from the Mount Sinai, he held the two tablets of the testimony, and he knew not that his face was horned from the conversation of the Lord." The verb translated “horned” can and should be translated “shining,” but Michelangelo didn’t know that.

Misunderstanding the Bible can lead to bigger problems than this. For example, many people are confused about the Old Testament. Not just because of all the history and confusing prophecy, but it can seem like God was different in the OT. Some people even believe that OT saints were saved in a different manner since Jesus had not yet died and risen.

If we’re going to properly understand the Ten Commandments, and the Law of Moses generally, we need to have a grasp of the Covenants of the Bible.

In particular, we must understand that Proposition: God’s love is present in the Old Covenant as well as the New. God’s love always has been the driving force behind every covenant.

I. Biblical Covenant Defined

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Covenant

Arrangement between two parties involving mutual obligations

Examples include

Marriage

Contract

Marriage

Contract

Treaty

Treaty

II. God’s role in the covenants.

Initiator

God is always the One Who initiates the relationship.

Savior

II. Brief overview of the covenants.

Condition vs. Unconditional

Conditional

If you will, then I will.

Obedience = blessings; disobedience = cursings

Blessings are secured by obedience.

Edenic and Mosaic

Unconditional

I will, by which God obligates Himself to bring the blessing to pass, regardless of the other parties’ obedience.

Blessings are secured not by obedience but God’s grace.

List

Edenic () / Conditional / / I have created you. Be fruitful and multiply; take dominion; do not eat the forbidden fruit.

Adamic () / Unconditional / to present; fulfilled in the New Covenant / I will kill you; he shall bruise your head, & you shall bruise his heel.

Noahic () / Unconditional / to present / I will never flood the whole world again.

Abrahamic (; ; ) / Unconditional / to present; fulfilled in the New Covenant / Name; descendants; land; in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

Land () / Unconditional / to Present / The Promised Land belongs to the Jews.

Mosaic or the Old (; ; ) / Conditional / to / If you obey these commands, I will bless you.

613 total; 365 negative, 248 positive

Davidic () / Unconditional / to present / Fulfilled in New Covenenat / I will establish Messiah’s kingdom through your descendants.

New () / Unconditional / Christ to eternity / I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts…I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Big three, salvation covenants

Abrahamic - covenant with one man, Abraham, by whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

Mosaic - covenant with one nation, Israel

New - covenant with one people, the Church

II. God’s role in the covenants.

Initiator

Savior

IV. Salvation by grace through faith in every covenant.

II. God’s role in the covenants.

Initiator

God is the husband asking for the lady’s hand.

Most covenants are bi-lateral, but not the unconditional covenants.

No one is saved because of their own initiative. You aren’t saved because of your own initiative. You owe it all to God.

Savior

God initiated each of these covenants to reveal to people that He will save those who believe in the Savior.

For OT saints, they looked forward

III. Salvation by grace through faith in every covenant.

Abrahamic: “And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith” (, NLT).

Mosaic

English Standard Version Chapter 2

the righteous shall live by his faith

“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”().

“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”().

“If righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” ().

English Standard Version Chapter 3

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith” ().

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” ().

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void” ().

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

New

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

“In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” ().

“By grace you have been saved through faith” ().

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” ().

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

“Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” ().

In each case, God is INITIATOR and SAVIOR.

Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Pt 1:8-9).

Application / So What?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

God has always loved humanity, been gracious with people, and made a way for people to be saved.

Salvation is by faith. It always has been, and always will be.

God is faithful. He always keeps His promises.

You must be saved by faith.

You cannot do anything to be saved.

You can only believe that God is good, loves you, and died for you in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Next Time (May 26) — The Superiority of the New Covenant