The Old Covenant is a covenant of law where the emphasis was on YOU — YOU shall or YOU shall not, but the New Covenant is a covenant of love where the emphasis is on what JESUS has done for us.

The term “Old Covenant” refers to the covenant between God and the Israelites after they left Egypt. The Ten Commandments and other laws were given to make us aware of our sin and our need for a Savior (Galatians 3:24-25). The New Covenant is a covenant between Jesus and anyone accepts His death on the cross as payment for their sins. It’s a covenant of His love for us. Not only will God forgive our sins, but He will also be our God and we will be His people.

Moses gave the Israelites a COVENANT of law

Key Bible Reference: Exodus 19-Deuteronomy 34

After the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, God made a covenant with the Israelites, not Christians, primarily through the Ten Commandments, but the Old Covenant encompassed many other laws as well.  The Ten Commandments were recorded on stone tablets, preserved in the Ark of the Covenant, which is a gold-covered box, and affirmed by the blood of animals.  The focus was “thou shall not” and was intended to reveal man’s sin and need for a Savior.   Those who obeyed were blessed and those who disobeyed were cursed.  However, God knew the people could not obey the laws perfectly, so He instituted animal sacrifices to provide temporary forgiveness and blessings when they sinned.

Jesus gave us a COVENANT of love

Key Bible Reference: Acts 1-2; Hebrews 8-10

After Jesus died, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, all who accept Jesus as their Savior become heirs to the New Covenant which is totally dependent on Jesus.  The New Covenant is written on our hearts, stored in our minds and made effective by the perfect blood of Jesus.  God loves us so much that Jesus left His Heavenly throne to die as our perfect and permanent sacrifice to redeem us from the curse of the law.

When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the physical temple that protected the Ark of the Old Covenant was torn.  The torn curtain symbolizes our immediate and direct access to God for those who choose to be purified by the blood of Jesus. Through Jesus, our sins are permanently forgiven, we have eternal life, the curse is reversed, AND we have the blessings of God!

Connecting the Old & New Testament

Old Covenant of Law vs New Covenant of Love

The Old Testament law was recorded on stone tablets, preserved in the ark and affirmed by the blood of animals.  God knew that laws don’t make people obey, but the law allowed Him to demonstrate His love and mercy, first through animal sacrifices that provided temporary forgiveness, but later through Jesus, the Christ, who gave us true freedom and permanent forgiveness with His life and blood. 

The New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant (Hebrews 8:13) and is available to everyone by faith in Jesus.  It is written on our hearts, stored in our minds and made effective by the precious blood of Jesus.  God loves us and wants a relationship with us, so He sent Jesus to die as our perfect and permanent sacrifice.  Through Jesus, our relationship with God is restored, our sins are forgiven, we have eternal life, the curse is reversed, and we have the blessings of God!

Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and be an heir to the New COVENANT of love where Jesus says “I will” because I love you.

CONTINUE READING…Puzzle Piece 6: Leaders

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