A Tale of Two Covenants

The Bible is comprised of two primary covenants: the old covenant and the new covenant. This is actually where we get the names Old Testament and New Testament, for the Old Testament describes life for God’s people under the old covenant, and the New Testament describes life for God’s people under the new covenant. The covenants are similar in that they are both based on grace. Just as we did not deserve for Christ to rescue us from our sin, the Israelites did not deserve for God to rescue them from Egypt. And yet rescue was offered because of God’s grace.

Though the covenants are both based in grace, they are different in how they are carried out. The old covenant, based in external laws, was never intended to be permanent. Rather, it was intended to demonstrate that humans in their fallen state cannot live faithfully before God. Unless there was a perfect human who actually was able to live out God’s law perfectly . . .
 
Enter Jesus Christ: God in the flesh, who lived a sinless life, thus qualifying himself to become the perfect sacrifice to end all sacrifices. And so, through his death and resurrection he enacted a new covenant. When we come to God through that covenant by repentance and faith, one of the benefits we receive is the indwelling Holy Spirit. And this is where one of the most significant differences between the old and new covenants comes into play.

Whereas God’s people under the old covenant did not have the capacity in and of themselves to live in faithful covenant relationship, now through the power of the Holy Spirit we do have that capacity. We have been given a new heart, the image of God has been restored in us, and we live in a new supernatural capacity for obedience that those under the old covenant never possessed. Though there is much we can still learn about being God’s people from the old covenant, it is also important to remember that we have a capacity for knowing him and relating to him through Christ in ways that those under the old covenant never did.