COVENANTS

The word Covenant is basically the same word as Testament, meaning the Will or Demands of the Covenant Maker. And we know that a Covenant Maker is the One who is in authority or the One holding power.

However we usually refer to the word Testament as being more the written divisions in the Bible, (the OLD Testament writings and the NEW Testament writings).

And the word Covenant we usually refer to as being the Will or Set of Laws of God within the Testaments. Under Moses (the OLD Covenant Laws) and under Jesus (the NEW Covenant Laws).

But aside from this, the fact, is that the Bible is very clear that the Covenant given to man through Moses, is completely different than the Covenant given to man through Jesus.

Hebrews 8:13 By calling this Covenant "New" He has made the first one obsolete and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

And we know for a fact that the OLD Covenant ended at the Cross.

Colossians 2:14 Having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us, He took it away, nailing it to the cross.

And we know for a fact that it is a SIN to knowingly MIX the Old and the New Covenants.

(Of course it is, because if the New Laws being brought in, could only have been done so via a horrifically torturous death, then anyone who fails to exclusively separate those New Laws, are simply TRIVIALIZING Christ's torturous death.)

Romans 7:4 So, my brothers, you also died to the Law of Moses through the Body of Christ, that you might belong to another, (without being a Covenant adulterer) that you might belong to Him who was raised from the dead.

Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law (refusing to properly separate the Old and the New) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

So now,

the majority of the confusion is cantered around the

"Starting Point"

of God's NEW Covenant.

When does the New Covenant come into effect as "BINDING" NEW Covenant Law ? (most will say either at the Cross, or at Pentecost) That's not a major dilemma (of course the correct answer is Pentecost) however the question regarding the Starting Point also contains within itself, two separate questions.

1. Does God unveil His New Covenant Law (or parts of it) prior to the Starting Point of His NEW Covenant ?

and

2. The New Covenant Law that God (perhaps) unveils prior to its Starting Point, does He make it binding at the time of its unveiling ?

Most will agree that the answer to # 2 is NO, and that's a good thing.

So, the only real dilemma now, is # 1, whether or NOT God has chosen to cause enormous confusion, by inserting NEW Covenant Laws, amongst large portions of OLD Covenant scripture.

And if so, why on earth would He do so ?

And why would He choose to only unveil some NEW Covenant Laws before the Cross (approximately 25 %) and the rest of His NEW Covenant Laws after the Cross (approximately 75 %).

And of course the answer is . . .

He doesn't.

The ONLY binding NEW Covenant Laws that God ever unveils,

are

AFTER the Cross.

(At Pentecost and following.)

1. The Old Testament (which contains various Covenants) = Everything before the Cross.

2. The Old Covenant Law of Moses began at Sinai and ended at the Cross.

3. The New Testament (which only contains Christ's "NEW" Covenant with the church) = Everything after the Cross.

4. Christ's New Covenant with the church = Acts 2 - Revelation 22.