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mercredi 7 août 2013

The Difference Between Old Covenant Vs New Covenant

By Nita McKinney


Even for the believers of the Holy Bible, the definition of old covenant vs new covenant is often debated. For some, the latter complements the former. But for others, they are contradictory. In order to better understand the similarity or the difference between the two, it is of utmost importance to understand each.

In definition, covenant is a binding agreement. When used in this context, it refers to a contract forged by two parties. This is the agreement of man with God. It also speaks of God's commune with His people. Although both covenants were forged by the same God, the new compact is relatively loose when compared to the first one.

In the old Testament, God speaks through His prophets. He made a promise to the people of Israel of how He will protect and empower them. He made a vow to free them from slavery and bondage. He promised to take care of the Israelites. This also includes pact between God and Noah after the flood.

This spoke mainly of how the people of God should live their lives. It outlined the interactions between one another. It set down the regulations and policies about marriage, slavery, crimes and its corresponding penalties. This is where the ten commandments were forged with Moses. It was a timely compact when the people needed guidance more than anything else.

However, as years passed by, the needs, state and lifestyle of the people started to change. Hence, there was a need to renew the agreement. People have been given more freedom. Now, some promises were already acted on, including the freedom of the Israelites. The people have also learned to distinguish right and wrong. The compact was then modified.

This time, God reached out to His people through His own son. Jesus Christ preached about God's love. He performed many miracles to spread God's goodness. He also made the ultimate sacrifice when he was crucified just to save the humankind from the death of sin. The teachings of offering is no longer needed after the Lamb of God offered Himself.

In the Old Testament, the people can only be saved through atonement and offerings. To pay for sins and wrongdoings, blood sacrifices were required. However, the New Testament stipulates that salvation is achieved through faith alone. For as long as one believes, he is saved. The new agreement is rooted mainly on God's unfading love to His people.

The New Testament also emphasizes forgiveness as opposed to punishments in the Old. The ten commandments have been simplified to just two. First, you must love God more than anything else. Second, love your neighbor in the same way as you yourself. Jesus preached of the new commandment to the people.

Up to this point, debates about the old covenant vs new covenant still abound. Different religious denominations may have varying doctrines resulting from differing interpretations of the word of God. Yet, one sure thing is that both are coming from God and are intended only for the good of His people. Understanding each one is also the key to fully comprehend the directions from God.




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