Covenants of the Bible
God has always made covenants with humanity. Starting with Adam, and on down the line, with people such as Noah, and Abraham, God has expressed His love for us in these covenants. And in fact, God Himself is covenantal in His nature. The Three Great Members of the Godhead are in eternal covenant relationship with each other. God the Father is the supreme Monarch of the universe. Jesus, being God the Son, shares that throne, and though He is as eternal as the Father is, unbegotten in His divinity, He willingly and eternally submits Himself to the Father as His Son. The Holy Spirit, the third Member of the Godhead is willingly and eternally submissive to them both.
NEW COVENANT DNA OVERVIEW
Skip MacCarty points out in his book, In Granite or Ingrained: What the old and new Covenants reveal about the Gospel, the Law, and the Sabbath, pages 28-34, in the two passages where the Bible describes the New Covenant, that there are 4 elements of DNA that make the New Covenant unique. The first one is Sanctification; “I will put my law in their minds and write it in their hearts,” (Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10.) The second one is Reconciliation; “I will be their God and they will be my people,” (Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10.) The third one is Mission; “No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” (Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:11.) The fourth and final one is Justification; “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more,” (Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:12.)
Most Christians are under the deception that the New Covenant somehow does away with the law. But the very passages they use to say this, are the very passages that prove the 10 Commandments are still binding, and are as eternal as God Himself. God wants to write His law on our hearts, not give us a license to sin. He wants to put His law in our minds, not do away with it.
THE NEW COVENANT
Abraham was under the New Covenant. Adam was also under the New Covenant. The Old Covenant had been given to Israel, so the patriarchs could not have been under it. They were under the New Covenant. The Law of God, the Ten Commandments was the basis of this covenant. In fact, Exodus 34:28 calls the Ten Commandments the words of the covenant. This was referring to the Old Covenant, but a quick study of Jeremiah 31:31 and Hebrews 8:8 reveals that the same 10 Commandments are the basis of the New Covenant also.
Now then, as stated earlier, it is obviously not new in the sense of age. The Bible calls it the New Covenant for a couple of different reasons. The Old Covenant was ratified at Sinai by the blood of an animal, while the New Covenant wasn’t ratified until Jesus shed His blood at the cross. And while the Old Covenant was specifically for Israel, and those who joined themselves to Israel, the New Covenant encompasses all of humanity who chooses to follow and love God. Aside from these differences, the Covenants were the same. Both were salvation by grace, and both were geared to bring people into perfect reconciliation and obedience to God through faith in Christ, the Messiah.
Another reason is, again, one that has already been stated. After hundreds of years of Israelite apostasy, God’s people had forgotten the true basis and meat of the Covenants. They, except for the few faithful, no longer realized that God wants to write His laws on our hearts. That is why God says, “I will make a NEW covenant.”
“That the new covenant was valid in the days of Abraham is evident from the fact that it was then confirmed both by the promise and by the oath of God—the “two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie.” Hebrews 6:18.” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 371, Ellen G. White.)
The people of Israel had also mostly lost the knowledge of the covenant made with Abraham, so it was then necessary for the Old Covenant to be made with them. By mingling with the pagan Egyptians, and also by being their slaves for over 400 years, the Israelites had lost much of what they knew about God’s laws.
THE COVENANT WITH ADAM
As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the other provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon and the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law. Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation. – (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 370, Ellen G. White).
The claim is often made that it in the Old Testament era, it was salvation by works. They make this claim, probably because of the sacrificial system. But were people saved by the ceremony itself, or by the One who created this system of the Ceremonial Law? The first covenant given to fallen man is found in Genesis 3.
“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, King James Version.)
Notice how the prophet Ezekiel parallels this verse:
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27.)
The most important thing to point out in these verses, is that God does the saving. We cannot be saved outside of the grace of God. And this was the promise given to Adam. There can be no enmity against sin and Satan, unless Jesus Christ abides in the heart. The God that was here speaking to the serpent, as well as the fallen pair, was none other than Jesus Himself. HE will put enmity between us and Satan. HE will crush Satan under His feet. HE will give us a new heart. HE will give us His Holy Spirit.
An interesting thing to note, is that the words in the Bible, Golgotha and Calvary, both mean skull. And in Genesis 3:15, the word for head, also means division, company, or band, total, sum. It is also an interesting aside, that this word also means behead. What is the one of the best ways to kill a serpent? The answer, of course, is to behead it. Therefore, Jesus was promising here to one day, not only to put enmity in our hearts toward Satan, but to crush the devil’s head and kingdom of sin completely, by cutting off his proverbial head, his life and power. And beloved, that day of the devil’s complete destruction is almost here.
The conversation that God made with Adam and Even after they fell is recorded in Genesis 3:9-19. In this conversation is recorded the covenant that God made with the fallen pair. And we see all four elements of the New Covenant DNA. Let’s look at verses 15-19.
“15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; (Justification; Sanctification.) it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Reconciliation.) 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Mission; Sanctification.)” (Genesis 3:15-19.)
There is no mistaking this truth, except by deliberate rejection of it. Adam and Eve were saved by grace, just the same as people today are. There is no difference, except that we don’t sacrifice animals anymore. This is, of course, because the Ceremonial Law was nailed to the Cross, but not the 10 Commandments. Anyone who teaches the 10 Commandments were done away with is a false teacher, whether they realize it or not.
THE COVENANT WITH NOAH
In Genesis chapters 6-9, we find the story of Noah. The inhabitants of the earth had become wicked to the point where sin wasn’t seen as sin anymore, by most people. People would take each others things. If a man wanted another mans wife, he would simply kill the man in question and take his wife. Chapter 6:5 says that only evil all the time.
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8, KJV). And therein lies our first mention of New Covenant DNA in the story of Noah, justification. Noah found grace in the eyes of God. In the Hebrew, the word here for found intimates that Noah took hold of the grace of God. God offers us grace, but we must reach out and take it, or it will do us no good. God never forces Himself on us. God offered Noah grace, and His humble servant gladly accepted it.
We see our very next string of New Covenant DNA in, well, the very next verse.
“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9.)
This would be what we call, sanctification. The Bible says that Noah was just and perfect. He became these things by walking with God. In fact, this word for walked is the same word that is used in Genesis 5:24 to describe why God took Enoch to Heaven without experiencing death. Enoch walked so closely with God, that this prophet and servant of the Lord was taken to Heaven early, as an example of those who will be translated at the Second Coming, having never died as well. In fact, we must have the same kind of relationship with God as did Enoch, if we want to go to Heaven.
Another fascinating thing about this word for walk is the way it is parsed in the Hebrew. It is a Hithpael Perfect. In the perfect tense, “an action or attitude of the past may be continued into the present” In other words, this was not a one and done deal for Noah. It was not a once and for all thing. This was a daily experience for this man of God. He was not once saved, always saved. A living relationship with God requires a moment by moment surrender to God and communion with Him. If we give up our connection with God, then we give up our salvation as well.
In the Hithpael, it "expresses a reciprocal action." This is something God and Noah were doing together. This is not a one sided relationship. In order for sanctification to take place, a real, living, abiding relationship with God must be in existence. Now this word for walk, means more than to just walk. It also means: behave, continually, be conversant, follow, etc.. Noah’s walk with God affected his behavior, his conversation, and his goals in life. This was so much deeper than just a walk. May we all strive for this kind of relationship with God.
We find the next string of New Covenant DNA, reconciliation in the fact that Noah preached during the 120 years it took him to build the ark. While building the ark, Noah and his family were not only preaching with their actions, but they also evangelizing with their words to the people who came to watch. They gave them the warnings and entreaties of mercy that God directed them to give, so that all who wished, could enter the ark, and be saved. Indeed, if the whole world would have genuinely repented, God would have spared them from the flood. Consider the following passages:
“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly…” (2 Peter 2:4-5.)
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7.)
While building the ark he was to preach that God would bring a flood of water upon the earth to destroy the wicked. Those who would believe the message, and would prepare for that event by repentance and reformation, should find pardon and be saved. Enoch had repeated to his children what God had shown him in regard to the Flood, and Methuselah and his sons, who lived to hear the preaching of Noah, assisted in building the ark. (Patriarchs and Prophets, page 92, Ellen G. White.)
The preaching of the flood was not only a message of judgment, but of reconciliation. Many were lead to see their sin, and they wanted to repent, but they feared the multitude, and at last were swept away by the flood. God does not like to bring judgments and destruction upon the wicked. It is His strange work, according to Isaiah 28:21. But sin must have an end. God will once again dwell face to face with His human children, and sin cannot exist in the presence of a Holy God. He is, according to Habakkuk 1:13, literally translated, of too pure eyes to approve of evil and cannot regardtransgression with pleasure and respect iniquity.
The next string of New Covenant DNA in the story of Noah is found in the same passage of Scripture that reconciliation is, and that is mission. Indeed, even the apostle Paul makes this connection. Observe:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21.)
As already mentioned, while Noah and his sons were building the ark, they were also preaching this message of reconciliation. This was their mission. This is a beautiful picture of righteousness by faith. The people of that time could not save themselves from the flood. But they could choose to get on the ark, thus showing their faith in Christ, and therefore be saved from the crisis of that age.
This is also where Calvinism falls flat on its face. God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves. This is not legalism, but it is a simple statement of fact. We must show our faith in Christ to save by cooperating with Him. God was not going to force anyone on the ark. He was not going to make their legs move against their will. They had to choose. Love makes it easy, as Elder Dwayne Lemon says. The apostle Peter says that God is not willing that any should perish. 2 Peter 3:9. But some do. Therefore, God does not predestine some to be saved and others to be lost. It does not work that way, and a careful study of the Bible proves that.
As a result of Noah walking with God, and faithful allowing God to imprint the New Covenant DNA on his heart, he and his family were saved from the destruction of the flood. Noah is also listed in Hebrews 11 as one of the great heroes of faith. He didn’t simply talk faith, he lived out his faith. He was saved by grace through faith, as much as we are today. It was never salvation by works.
THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM
Abraham first appears in the Bible in Genesis 12. And rather than find all the New Covenant DNA all within one chapter, we find it throughout a larger section of Scripture. The fascinating thing with Abraham, is that the Pen of Inspiration paints Abraham as being under the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant. But how is this possible? It is much like when Jesus told His disciples:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35.)
“Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18.)
So we can see from this, that when Jesus said it was a new commandment, it wasn’t new in the sense of age. It was new in the sense that they had never understood the true principles of Godly love. The prophet puts it this way:
To the disciples this commandment was new; for they had not loved one another as Christ had loved them. He saw that new ideas and impulses must control them; that new principles must be practiced by them; through His life and death they were to receive a new conception of love. The command to love one another had a new meaning in the light of His self-sacrifice. The whole work of grace is one continual service of love, of self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. During every hour of Christ’s sojourn upon the earth, the love of God was flowing from Him in irrepressible streams. All who are imbued with His Spirit will love as He loved. The very principle that actuated Christ will actuate them in all their dealing one with another. (The Desire of Ages, p. 677.)
It is the same concept with the Old and New Covenants. Abraham was under the New Covenant, just as he was obeying the commandment to love one another, Jesus commanded in Leviticus 19 and John 13.
In Genesis 12:1-3, the New Covenant string of DNA that we find here is mission. God was calling Abraham to leave, not only his country, but his father’s house. This is also where God promises to make a great nation out of Abraham, and where He promises Him that all the families of earth will be blessed because of him. Abraham was being sent on a mission. God was going to use His servant to spread the Gospel to the inhabitants of Canaan, and even Egypt. God again renews this promise to Abraham in the very next chapter of Genesis 13.
Moving on the Genesis 15, we find the next string of New Covenant DNA, and that is justification. God came to Abraham in a vision and told him to, “Fear not.” This was right after the battle where he whooped the confederate of kings that kidnapped his nephew. He may very well have been afraid of them seeking revenge on him. But God comes to Abraham and reminds him who he serves. What a wonderful God, don’t you think?
But not only does God tell Abraham not to worry or fear, He tells Abraham, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1.) This could not fail of bringing Abraham comfort and a sense of safety. But it also must have brought his childless marriage to his memory, because instead of saying thank you, Abraham brings up the fact that he has no kids.
For a third time, God reminds His servant of His promise to make of him a great nation, and that his seed will be as the grains of sand, or the stars of the sky. It’s not until this third reminder, that the Bible says Abraham believed God. Now, he must’ve before, otherwise he would not have obeyed God’s call to leave his country and family. But for whatever reason, this is how the Bible records it.
And because of Abraham’s choice to believe God, the Lord “counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6.) God was looking for that connection with Abraham that would allow Him to manifest His glory and character through His servant. Because Abraham chose to believe God would keep His promise, righteousness was imputed to him. Abraham understood Ephesians 2:8-10.
In Genesis 17:1, we find the next string of New Covenant DNA, which is sanctification. When Abraham was 99, God again came to Abraham and said: “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1.) I really like the way this translation puts it:
“I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete).” (Genesis 17:1, AMPC.)
There are a few fascinating things about this verse. The first thing God points out, is that He Himself is almighty. He has all power, and because of this, the command that follows becomes possible for Abraham. In his own strength, Abraham cannot obey this command, but because of and in connection with God, he becomes able to. In the Hebrew, the word for walk is a command. This was not a suggestion. If God was going to make Abraham a great nation, then Abraham needed a much closer walk with God than he already had.
This word for walk also means to behave, be conversant, as well as to grow. Bible sanctification is a lifetime process. It is not something that happens in an instant, overnight, or even in a few days time. As long as we are living, our sanctification is continually going on.
The interesting thing about the word for before, is it also means toward, and it literally means “the face.” It comes from a verb that means “to turn toward,” “look,” or “behold.” Abraham was to walk toward God, and this was the only way to for him to be perfect. By beholding, we become changed. It was also the only way for Abraham to avoid falling to his enemies. I once heard a sermon where this illustration was used: when an eagle is being attacked, the only way for it to escape is by directly looking at and flying toward the sun. Eventually the eagle will get so far and high that his enemies will give up.
This is also reminiscent of the conversation that the rich young ruler had with Jesus in Matthew 19. Jesus told the young man that to have eternal life, he must keep the commandments. The word for keep, literally means to guard by keeping the eye upon it. And when we look in the Bible, we find that the law is literally the character of God. Every characteristic in the Bible that describes the 10 Commandments, also is used elsewhere in the Bible to describe God.
One final word in this verse that we will examine, the word for perfect, means this: complete, whole, entire, sound, without blemish, without spot, undefiled, upright, and perfect. God knew Abraham wasn’t perfect. But He was calling His servant to the high standard of perfection. But remember, this takes a lifetime. So long as we are connected with God, and walking not only before Him, but toward Him as the Hebrew intimates, God sees us as clothed in the perfect righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Abraham was here being called to a higher standard than he had previously been living up to. Abraham was a righteous man, but he still made mistakes. God was calling Abraham ever closer to Himself, so that through this connection, God could keep Abraham from falling, and prove that it is possible for sinful humanity to fully keep the law of God, in the strength of God.
We see the next and final string of New Covenant DNA illustrated in Genesis 22, reconciliation. Abraham had finally received the son that God had promised to him. Now, God calls Abraham, and asks him to sacrifice his son to Him. Now, Abraham likely knew child sacrifices were abhorred by God. But he also knew the voice of God. He knew when God was speaking to him. He still may have had doubts about this command, but he trusted God enough to obey it.
But we see in this story a type, or symbol, of the Gospel. Reconciliation is one of the most foundational aspects of every single covenant God has made with mankind. 2 Corinthians 5 says that those of us who love God have been reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ, and therefore, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Romans 5:8 says that even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He does not love us because of any worthiness in ourselves. But He lavishes His love upon us to make us worthy, and to help us love Him in return. Every true Christian is born again as a missionary of sorts.
Isaac was a type, or symbol, of Christ. He was the son that was promised to Abraham. This experience really helped Abraham to further understand the Gospel. He had some modicum of experience as to what God the Father felt when His own Son died on the cross.
THE SINAITIC COVENANT
This is what is referred to both by the Bible and Christians as the Old Covenant. Many Christians, though, misinterpret it. They say that it was works based covenant. They say it was salvation by works, no grace involved. However, this could not be further from the truth. It has always been salvation by grace. And we find every single piece of New Covenant DNA within the Old Covenant, thus proving it is a fully grace-based covenant.
The first string of New Covenant DNA that is found in the Old Covenant is found in Leviticus 11:45; 19:2; and 20:7-8. Here they are quoted below:
“For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45).
“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2).
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.” (Leviticus 20:7-8).
Notice that in both of the first two references, God tells Israel that they “shall be holy” because He is holy. The kicker, however, is found in the third reference. This one really dismantles the notion of the Old Covenant being salvation by works. God specifies once again that they need to be holy, because He is their God. The proof of their holiness comes in whether or not they follow His command in this verse to keep His laws. Now, how do they do this? In their own strength? Hardly. God tells them how: through His strength. “I am the Lord which sanctify you.”
Just so we don’t think this is isolated to just one book, we also find this in other Old Testament books. Consider the following passages:
"Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them...And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." (Ezekiel 20:12, 20).
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
"the just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4).
"Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you." (Exodus 31:13).
"Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the Lord, which sanctify you, am holy." (Leviticus 21:8).
Even in the Old Testament era, it was God who sanctified His people. Anybody who tried to sanctify themselves without God was attempting an impossibility. Peter, in Acts 15:10 referred to those who tried to gain salvation by observing the Ceremonial Law, by saying they were sinning against God by trying to force others into a legalistic mindset.
Skip MacCarty, in his book, In Granite or Ingrained: What the old and new Covenants reveal about the Gospel, the Law, and the Sabbath, pages 39-40, quotes Deuteronomy and points out how Paul, when teaching about righteousness by faith, also quotes from this Old Testament book.
"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live....For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it." (Deuteronomy 30:11-16).
"For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:5-13).
The next string of New Covenant DNA that is found within the Old Covenant is reconciliation, which is brought to view in the blessings and curses of Leviticus 26, according to Skip MacCarty. Many atheists claim that God is not fair because of His punishments on the wicked. They complain when He seemingly does nothing, and then when He very clearly does something to deal with the problem of evil. The problem is, they don’t read the Bible through the lense of, “God is Love.” (1 John 4:8). This is vital to do, otherwise we will misunderstand who God is, which can be fatal.
Judgments, with few exceptions, have always been one of God’s ways to wake up the wicked. The only time they are not, is when the sinner has gone past the point of no return. But even in His judgments, God is Love. God has always sought to win us over by showing us His love for us, because, only “by love, is love awakened.” (The Desire of Ages, p. 22, Ellen G. White). But God also sends and warns of judgments to come, should we persist in our rebellion. These are meant to wake us up to our danger.
We are told in Prophets and Kings, that even the prophet Elijah prayed that God, if necessary, would send judgments upon Israel in order that they would see their sin and turn from it. God hates to punish. He loathes to send judgments. But if that is the only way a sinner will wake up, then because God is Love, He will send those judgments in order to try and bring about the sinner’s reconciliation with the God who loves him.
We also find the New Covenant DNA known as mission within this Old Covenant. “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary.” (The Desire of Ages, p. 195, Ellen G. White). And ancient Israel had the same calling. Skip MacCarty, when talking about this particular string of DNA, brings up 1 Peter 2:9. The apostle Peter here makes it clear that as God’s people, part of our calling is to declare the goodness and amazing love of God.
But where does Peter get this idea from? He quotes it directly from the Old Covenant. Observe the similarity between the two passages:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light..." (1 Peter 2:9).
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 19:5-6).
Skip MacCarty goes on to say this:
“Their proclamation was not to be limited to declaring the laws of God. They were also to reveal His plan for the salvation of the world as depicted in the sanctuary. And their most important mission was to reveal His loving character in their actions: ‘The nations will know that I am the LORD,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.’’ (Exodus 19:5-6; Ezek. 36:23, italics added). [In Granite or Ingrained: What the old and new Covenants reveal about the Gospel, the Law, and the Sabbath, page 43].
We also see it written in the Psalms, that those who loved God, prayed for His salvation to be known in all the earth. Here are a few examples:
"I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation" (Psalm 40:10).
"My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof." (Psalm 71:15).
"Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day." (Psalm 96:2).
But we cannot make God known, if we do not have a living, experiential relationship with Him. And how do we get to know God? We must spend time in His Word, and as Seventh-day Adventists, we must spend time in His Spirit of Prophecy as well. Both declare His goodness and His love. To know God truly, is to love Him.
This portion of the study wouldn’t be complete without talking about justification, the next string of New Covenant DNA. Quoting again from Skip MacCarty:
“Surprisingly, the first time the Bible refers to God as a forgiver of sins, or even announces that forgiveness is available, is on the occasion of the second giving of the Ten Commandments. The LORD said to Moses, ‘Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke…So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up to Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty [unrepentant and unbelieving] unpunished.’ (Exod. 34:1-7, italics added).” (In Granite or Ingrained: What the old and new Covenants reveal about the Gospel, the Law, and the Sabbath, page 44-45).
“God chose the law as the vehicle in which to reveal Himself as a forgiver.” (In Granite or Ingrained: What the old and new Covenants reveal about the Gospel, the Law, and the Sabbath, page 46).
OLD AND NEW: WHY THE DIFFERENCE
So what is the difference between the Old and the New Covenants? “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises…For finding fault with them, he saith…” (Hebrews 8:6, 8). We find one difference here. In Exodus 24, the people hear the words of the covenant twice, and both times say, “All the words which the LORD has said we will do…All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 19:8; 24:3, 7).
The fault with the Old Covenant, was not with the covenant itself, nor with the 10 Commandments, nor even with God, but with Israel. Notice their response to the readings of the Covenant. They were trusting in themselves. They were relying on their own strength to keep the law. They did not feel their need of a Savior, nor their need of His grace in order to keep the covenant.
Another difference, is that this covenant included something that the New Covenant does not: the Ceremonial Law. We can find this enumerated upon in the first 5 books of the Bible. This was Israel specific. Many people say that the 10 Commandments were just for the Jews, often just as an excuse not to keep the true Sabbath. They use the texts referring to the fulfilling of the Ceremonial Law to say that the 10 Commandments were abolished. But a quick reading of a few texts proves that the 10 are eternal, whereas the Ceremonial was fulfilled in Jesus, and nailed to the cross.
Israel had been in captivity to Egypt for over 400 years, and, to a great extent, had lost the knowledge that God had committed to their forefathers, the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was therefore necessary for the Ceremonial Law to be written and expounded upon extensively. The sacrificial system had been in existence since the fall of man, but Israel needed this education. But when Jesus was nailed to the cross, so was the system of types and shadows. It is no longer necessary to keep these feasts and sacrifices.
Another difference is that the Old Covenant was ratified by the blood of an animal, while the New Covenant was ratified by the blood of Jesus Himself. The Old Covenant was a covenant of symbols, types, and shadows, with the exception of the 10 Commandments and God writing His laws on their hearts. There were daily sacrifices of animals, and a yearly sacrifice at the Day of Atonement. Hebrews 10 speaks about the weakness of the animal sacrifices, and the superiority of the blood of Jesus.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins…For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins…Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God…For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:1-2, 4, 9-12, 14).
JESUS AND THE COVENANTS
“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles…” (Isaiah 42:6).
Skip MacCarty points out on pages 66-67 of his book that this passage quoted from Isaiah says something vitally important about Jesus. This Messianic prophecy points out that Jesus IS the covenant. And indeed, the various covenants given to man are simply an expression of who God is, and how incredibly passionate His desire is to have us dwell with Him in His physical presence, once again. We can no more do away with the Law of God, than we can do away with God Himself.
“And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.” (Deuteronomy 4:13).
The Bible here points out that the Ten Commandments are God’s covenant. The basis of every covenant God has made with His creatures is His Ten Commandment Law. The righteous saved will be saved because their lives were found to be perfectly obedient to the Ten Commandments, through faith in Jesus. This is not legalism. This is simply fact. Revelation points to the people of God as those who keep the Commandments of God because of their faith in Jesus and His death for them on the cross. Indeed, this is part of why Satan hates the Remnant Church with such intense hatred. Observe:
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11).
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:17).
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12).
GOD IS
THE LAW IS
Luke 18:19
Good
1 Timothy 1:8
Isaiah 5:16
Holy
Romans 7:12
Matthew 5:48
Perfect
Psalms 19:7
1 John 3:2,3
Pure
Psalms 19:8
Deuteronomy 32:4
Just
Romans 7:12
John 3:33
TRUE
Psalms 19:9
1 Corinthians 10:4
Spiritual
Romans 7:14
Jeremiah 23:6
Righteousness
Psalms 119:172
1 Corinthians 1:9
Faithful
Psalms 119:86
1 John 4:8
Love
Romans 13:10
James 1:17
Unchangeable
Matthew 5:18
Genesis 21:33
Eternal
Psalms 111:7,8
Now, before anyone says, “See, the Ten Commandments were part of the Old Covenant! Therefore, they were done away with and no longer matter!” If you are such a person, please re-read Jeremiah 31:34 and Hebrews 8:12. The basis of every single covenant God made with man is for Him to write His Ten Commandment Law of Love on our hearts. And if Jesus is the Covenant, and the Covenant is the Ten Commandments, can we really do away with them? Observe this chart, adapted from AmazingFacts.org Bible study on the Ten Commandments:
This idea that the law has somehow been set aside by the death of Jesus on the cross is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. What is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans? Jesus mentions in the letters to two of the churches that He hates their deeds, and also their doctrines. Revelation 2:6 (deeds) to the Ephesians, and Revelation 2:15 (doctrines) to Pergamos.
The Adam Clarke Commentary says:
“The Nicolaitanes taught the community of wives, that adultery and fornication were things indifferent, that eating meats offered to idols was quite lawful; and mixed several pagan rites with the Christian ceremonies.”
The Prophet of the Lord, Ellen G. White, says:
Is it [our sin] the sin of the Nicolaitans, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness (The Review and Herald, June 7, 1887)?
The doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the law of God of no effect; that by “believing” we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned (The Signs of the Times, January 2, 1912).
We see this deadly deception being preached and accepted by most of Christianity today. The vast majority of Christians have accepted the teaching that the death of Jesus on the cross somehow has changed the law of God and has released us from obedience to God’s requirements. But if the law of God could be changed, then the death of Jesus was not necessary, and was completely in vain.
What does the Bible say about God’s Law? Here are just a few verses:
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:7-10.)
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21.)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3.)
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3-4.)
God’s Ten Commandment Law being written on our hearts has been the basis of every single covenant God has made with humanity. And every single covenant, as we have seen, has been salvation by grace. Nothing less, nothing more. God is Love, and He never changes. Therefore, to conclude this study, it has ALWAYS been salvation by grace.
