Salvation - The Transition Between Covenants

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What Are Heaven's Membership Requirements?

Part IV - The Transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant

Article Posted: July 31, 2004 (Revised May 4, 2005)

This is the fourth in a series of seven articles examining what the Bible says about salvation.

God had planned to send His Son, Jesus, to earth to establish a new covenant with all people long before He had implemented an older covenant with the descendants of a man named Abraham. This article examines that New Covenant in light of its relationship to the Old Covenant.

The New Covenant: The Ultimate Promise

The hint of a covenant between God and mankind first appeared when mankind was expelled from the garden of Eden.

At the time of their expulsion from the garden paradise, mankind received several additional punishments. Because the devil (the Serpent) tempted the first man and woman, causing them to sin, he also was punished. The prophetic warning found in the following verse provides the Bible's first hint of Jesus' future arrival on earth. Notice, a man (i.e. someone born of woman) would crush or bruise the Serpent (also known as Satan or the devil) on its head. This pictures how Jesus, through His death, burial, and resurrection, would ultimately destroy Satan's reign over mankind:

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 3:15 (NASB)

To His servant Abraham, God did more than hint at a covenant; God made a promise. It is through Jesus Christ, a distant descendant of Abraham, that the following promise would ultimately be fulfilled:

Here is God's promise to Abraham: [Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38 contain supporting genealogical information. The passage in Matthew traces the lineage of Jesus back to Abraham. Luke's genealogical account goes all the way back to Adam (the first human).]
And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.	Genesis 12:3 (NASB)

Mankind's banishment from Paradise was a punishment from God. Therefore, it was up to God to determine the terms for mankind's reinstatement in Paradise (which would this time be in heaven). God chose to make a covenant with mankind: He would provide His Son to be the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) that would PERMANENTLY appease EVERY debt for the sins of ALL mankind. Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be the unblemished lamb whom God would use for this sacrifice. In doing so, Jesus placed the guilt and burden of human sin upon His own shoulders—generously carrying these sins to the grave. By their faith (obedient trust) in Christ, God's people would reveal their acceptance of the covenant. The extraordinary benefit of God's forgiveness of sins is the promise of eternal life in heaven.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 records what proved to be an amazingly accurate and descriptive account of the terms of God's New Testament covenant with mankind centuries before its implementation (through Jesus' suffering, humiliation, and death on the cross). Here is a small portion of this incredible Old Testament prophesy of the New Testament covenant:

He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

Isaiah 53:3-6 (NASB)

The Covenant with Israel

The covenant prophesied in the previous passages would supercede an older covenant already in place. The following passages examine the original Old Testament covenant.

God promised to make a mighty nation from Abraham's descendants. They would live in the land of Canaan. This promise was fulfilled long before Jesus came to initiate the New Covenant:

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly." Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

Genesis 17:1-8 (NASB)

God informed Abraham that his descendants would become an enslaved and oppressed people for a period of four hundred years before they would be freed and given the land promised to them. This period of bondage came shortly after the death of Joseph, Abraham's great-grandson. [See Genesis 15:13-16; Exodus 1:6-14.]

God chose Moses to deliver the Israelites from their bondage to the Egyptians, to give the people God's commandments and ordinances, and to lead the Israelites to Canaan (the promised land, a "land flowing with milk and honey.") The complete terms for God's covenant with the people were well-defined: as long as the people would be obedient to Him, He would give them (as an inheritance) the land of Canaan and He would treat them as His own children.

Author's Note: Israel (also called Jacob) was one of Abraham's grandsons. Therefore, the Israelites are descendants of Jacob.

Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

Exodus 19:3-6 (NASB)

God's promise was contingent upon appropriate human behavior. Through the Old Testament Law, God openly proclaimed His Sovereignty. His position as Creator is worthy of the highest respect and authority. In return for their obedience, the people would receive God's mercy and love. In return for their disobedience, God's wrath would be dispensed. Through His servant Moses, God provided His chosen people with these ten commandments (along with many other laws, ordinances, and ceremonial requirements):

Then God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exodus 20:1-17 (NASB)

In acknowledgement of this covenant, all males were required to be circumcised. This sign identified the people as God's chosen—those bound to and protected by the Old Covenant (a.k.a. the Law of Moses). Uncircumcised males, along with their families, would be considered "cut off" from the protection promised by God's covenant with the Israelites. [See also Genesis 17:23-27.]

God said further to Abraham, "Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."

Genesis 17:9-14 (NASB)

Making the Transition

Four books of the Bible (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) detail all of the laws, ordinances, and ceremonies God required from His chosen people. The sheer quantity and complexity of God's instructions are astounding. It would have been nearly impossible for even the most diligent and God-fearing people to follow each and every instruction without fail. Furthermore, only the Israelites were offered God's protection through the Old Testament covenant.

Fortunately, the Old Covenant was just an earlier stage in God's bigger plan:

Under the Old Covenant, the people would perform annual sacrifices in order to receive renewed forgiveness (for the previous year's sins). These temporary sacrifices would no longer be necessary after the New Covenant had been established through God's final sacrifice. The sacrifice of His Son would provide permanent atonement for the sins of ALL mankind.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:1-4 (NASB)

The Levites (one of the tribes of Israel) would not possess any territory in Canaan (the Promised Land). Rather, they inherited the priesthood. [See Numbers 18:8-20.] The priests performed daily sacrifices to provide cleansing for specific individual sins. However, when God sacrificed His Son these temporary sacrifices were no longer necessary.
Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.	Hebrews 10:11-13 (NASB)

Fortunately, the New Testament covenant is for all people, not just Jews.

Author's Note: Biblically speaking, the term "Jew" generally refers to descendants of the Southern kingdom of Israel, which was known as Judah. Apparently, the vast majority of Israelites who returned to their homeland after their release from Babylonian captivity were originally from Judah.

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:10-14 (NASB)

[See also Hebrews 9:13-15; Hebrews 11:3-40; John 1:17; Genesis 3:15; Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:29-35.]

The Law (Old Covenant) served to make the people accountable for their sins. For example, the people placed their trust (faith) in the effectiveness of the ritual sacrifices God had ordered the people to perform for the forgiveness of sins. To prove their sincerity, the sacrifices had to be performed precisely to God's specifications. [See Leviticus 4:1-35; 16:1-17:16.]

Here is an example: Once a year, there was to be a time of atonement. The high priest would sacrfice a bull and a ram. After bathing and putting on appropriate garments, the High-Priest would receive two male goats and a ram from the congregation. The ram and one of the goats would be burnt as an offering to the Lord God. The other goat would be used as a scapegoat. The High-Priest would lay hands upon the goat, confessing the sins of the people. Afterwards, the goat, now bearing the iniquities of the people, would be released into the wilderness. This represented God's removing the sins from the people.

Through Jesus' death on the cross, God provided the final sacrifice for humanity. Temporary sacrifices (i.e. those involving animals) are no longer necessary. Jesus became the lamb bearing all the sins of the people, taking those sins with Him to the grave.

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:19-26 (NASB)

The New Covenant is in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The following outline shows how the Old Testament prophesies have been fulfilled in the New Testament. There are many more fulfillments of phophesy than are included here:

New Testament genealogies are important because they verify Old Testament prophesies regarding Jesus' ancestry. Matthew's Gospel begins with a general genealogy that traces Jesus' family line (which includes Israel's most famous king: David) back to Abraham. The third chapter of Luke traces Jesus' family history back even further—all the way to Adam. The book of John explores Jesus' as the Son of God. [The following passages reference this genealogical information: Matthew 1:1-17; 9:27; 22:41-46; Luke 1:26-27, 32; 3:23-38; John 1:1; 7:42; Genesis 3:15; 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; II Samuel 7:12-16; II Chronicles 13:5; Psalm 89:3-4; Psalm 110; 132:11; Isaiah 11:1; Acts 2:32-35; 13:22-23; Romans 1:1-6; I Corinthians 15:22-28; Galations 3:16-18; Ephesians 1:22; Revelation 22:16.]
The Messiah (the Anointed or Promised One) would be born of God and of a virgin. Since the Holy Spirit planted God's seed in her womb, Mary remained a virgin, even while she was pregnant. The prophet Daniel (six centuries beforehand) may have even prophesied the precise year the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would be born, the length of His public ministry, and even when He would die on a cross. [See Matthew 1:18-25; 16:13-17; Luke 1:26-35; 2:10-11; John 1:1-18; 10:22-39; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; II Samuel 7:14-16; Romans 1:3-4; Daniel 9:24-27.]
Author's Note: The passage in Daniel refers to a period of seventy weeks. This is usually interpreted as seventy weeks of years, or 490 years. In other words, if the captivity of the Israelites was 70 years, the period between that captivity and the appearance of the Messiah would be seven times as long. Daniel even breaks down the figures more to provide insights into when Jesus would begin His public ministry and when He would become the atoning sacrifice for human sin.
Jesus would share with mankind, through His words and the example of His life, God's expectations regarding how people should live. Jesus lived a perfect and blameless life. [See Isaiah 7:14-15; 9:2, 6-7; 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 6:12-13; Luke 2:39-40; Matthew 3:13-17; John 12:44-50; 13:13-20; II Corinthians 5:20-21; I Peter 2:21-25; I John 2:3-6.]
Jesus would allow Himself to be killed, in an extremely painful and humiliating way, to provide the final, and atoning, sacrifice for all of mankind's sins. Jesus' completely selfless and everlasting love for people, along with His absolute obedience to His Heavenly Father, would be the key to restoring mankind's home in paradise (reconciling man to God). [See Psalm 16; 118:19-24; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Daniel 2:44; 9:27; Matthew 20:17-19; 21:42-46; 26:2; 26:14-16; 26:45-56; John 18:28-19:30; Romans 5:8-21; Hebrews 2:5-18; II Corinthians 5:16-19; I Timothy 2:5-6.]
Finally, after three days in the tomb, Jesus would conquer death. He would be placed in charge of all that is in heaven and in the earth and then ascend to heaven to prepare a place for His followers. [See Psalm 2; 16:10-11; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:1-3.]
In exchange, anyone who believes (obediently trusts) that Jesus is who He claimed to be would receive admission into heaven for eternity. All others, those not under the protection of Christ's atoning sacrifice, would spend eternity outside of heaven, permanently separated from God. [See Psalm 118:18-29; Isaiah 25:8-9; 66:22-24; John 3:16-18; 5:24-29; Romans 6:20-23; Ephesians 2:8-10; I John 5:10-13.]
Jesus' apostles and other eye-witnesses (lead by the Holy Spirit) would record these events so that later generations could learn of God's gracious gift to humanity. [See Deuteronomy 5:22-27; Psalm 19:7-14; 119:105-112; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:7-8; Luke 1:1-4; John 14:25-26; I John 5:13; II Timothy 3:16-17.]

The Relevance of the Old Covenant Today

With Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, the New Covenant became effective. The Old Covenant is no longer binding. Figuratively speaking, the Old Covenant was nailed to the cross upon which Jesus died.

God knew from the beginning that the Old Covenant would merely be a temporary stepping stone leading to a permanent New Covenant. The following passage from the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah reveals this:

"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,' declares the LORD, 'for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NASB)

Even if God did allow Jews to continue to live according to the Old Covenant, it would serve to condemn them rather than to save them. All it takes is one sin to fall short of God's glory.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,	Romans 3:23 (NASB)

Jesus was sent by God to be the one final sacrifice which would cover all human sin. Today, Jews who choose to live according to the Old Testament Law of Moses have the overwhelming responsibility of keeping each and every part of it. And, in striving to live by the Law, they have elected to forfeit the free gift of salvation provided through Jesus Christ.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

Galatians 5:1-6 (NASB)

The Old Testament Law was completely fulfilled through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. So, the Law was not made void when the New Testament Covenant came to be. Rather, the Law was made complete. In other words, there is nothing left in the Law that needs to be done. Those continuing to pursue the Old Covenant are following a futile path. They are under obligation to keep a Law that is no longer in effect.

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Matthew 5:17-18 (NASB)

Through the New Covenant, God has not forgotten the Old Testament Saints. Those who trusted in God before the New Covenant was implemented will have a place in the city (heaven) whose architect is God.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.	Hebrews 11:16b (NASB)

Author's Note: I highly recommend reading the eleventh chapter of Hebrews in its entirety to better understand the context of the above verse.

Conclusion

From the beginning God desired to have a close relationship with His creation. Due to its disobedience in the garden of Eden, mankind lost paradise, a place where God literally walked and talked with humans. The Old Covenant was a first step toward reconciling the relationship between God and mankind. However, before and during the time that older covenant was in effect, there were many hints and promises of an even better covenant to come. The New Testament covenant fulfills those prophesies. Heaven, God's home, is the ultimate destination for those who have genuinely accepted the terms of the New Covenant.

As the period of His death, resurrection, and heavenly ascent was drawing near, Jesus spoke these words to comfort His disciples:
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.	John 14:1-3 (NASB)