That the Bible speaks of two covenants is obvious from the text above. The writer continues by referring to the writings of Jeremiah. "For find fault with them, he said, Behold the days come saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Hebrews 8:8).
Let us first look at some of the characteristics of the first covenant.
1. It was given by Moses. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
2. It was only a shadow of things to come. "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 comer thereunto perfect" (Hebrews 10:1).
3. It was the ministration of death. "But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away" (II Corinthians 3:7).
4. It was a schoolmaster. "Wherefore, the law was out schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:7).
5. It could not justify. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).
While there are other characteristics that we could refer to, these will be sufficient for us to get a clear picture of the relationships and contrasts between the covenants.
It is already evident that the first covenant was to be replaced by the second, which was to be superior to the first. That brings up the question, "Why not just give the better covenant to begin with?" In one sense the better was given first. It was given to Abraham by promise (Galatians 3:15-18). The law then was given "because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made" (Galatians 3:19).
Having noted some of the characteristics of the first covenant, and having introduced the fact that the law was given because of transgressions, we now turn our attention to the question: Is the first covenant binding on men today?
So many in the religious world today do not recognize the difference between the two covenants, or that there is a difference. Failure to "rightly divide the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15) is the cause of such ignorance. They see no need to differentiate at all. However, what do the scriptures say?
1. The first covenant was blotted out. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Colossians 2:14).
2. We are no longer under the schoolmaster. "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:25). We earlier introduced this thought from Paul's letter to the Galatians. Since the law was termed a "schoolmaster" to bring us to Christ, and since Christ has come, we are no longer under that which was to bring us to Christ. The schoolmaster [law] has been replaced.
3. It was done away. "For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious" (II Corinthians 3:11). It was not done away because it was inglorious, but because the new was more glorious.
4. It was disannulled. "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before, for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof" (Hebrews 7:18).
5. It was taken away. "Then saith he, Lo I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first that he may establish the second" (Hebrews 10:9).
In view of the overwhelming evidence that the Scriptures contain on this subject, it is amazing that so many still hold to the "Ten Commandments" as the criteria for today's religion. Not only is there a preponderance of material, but it is so plain as to be difficult to misunderstand.
What is it that makes the New Covenant superior to that which was taken out of the way. We will now turn our attention to the vital subject: Characteristics of the New Covenant.
The Old Covenant, having been "taken out of the way, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14); and Christ's having "taken away the first that he may establish the second" (Hebrews 10:9); it is now time for us to examine briefly some of the CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW COVENANT.
1. It is Better Than The Old. "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Hebrews 8:6). If it were not better than the first, there would really have been no need to replace the old with a new covenant.
One of the reasons for the change was that there had been a change in the priesthood. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Hebrews 7:12). And since Christ was a superior Priest (Hebrews 7:11-17), it just follows that the law accompanying the new priesthood would also have to be superior.
2. It is The Power of An Endless Life. "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life" (Hebrews 7:16). The Old Covenant (law of Moses) could not offer such eternal blessings. The purpose of the law was not to that end, but rather simply to act as "our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that the faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Galatians 3:24,25).
3. It Sanctifies. "By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). We had noted in the previous verse that Jesus took away the first that the second may be established. Now we are again made aware of the reason. The sanctification could not come through the first, due to the purpose of that covenant.
As previously stated, the New Covenant was, in a sense, before the Old Covenant. That is because we almost always associate the old with Moses' law, and the New Covenant is based on the promise given to Abraham several hundred years before the law was given from Mt. Sinai.
It is most evident, according to the things we have studied, that we are no longer under the Old Covenant, for it has passed away. We are now under covenant to Christ through the will of the New Testament.