New Covenant Theology Essentials # 2

New Covenant Theology Essentials # 2

3. The Old Covenant was Temporary by Divine Design

The  third distinctive on New Covenant Theology is that the Old Covenant was temporary by divine design. God intended for it to be an interim covenant. The NT is emphatic about the fact that those in Christ are no longer under the law (1 Cor. 9:20; 2 Cor. 3; Romans 6:14, 7:6; Gal. 3:23, 5:18; Hebrews 8). Galatians is very clear about this point. The Judaizers needed new watch batteries They failed to realize what time it was in God's plan. The Bible depicts history as being divided up between this age and the age to come. This present evil age consists of sin, flesh, and death but when the Messiah comes, He would usher in the new age of righteousness, Spirit, and life. Paul sees the old covenant law as part of the old age (Gal. 1:4; Romans 6:14). The Judaizers were trying to force Gentile believers to observe the old covenant law. Paul insists that its day is over. The law was given after the promise to Abraham and until the Messiah came. Galatians 3:19 says, "Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come." Verses 24 -25 say, "So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian." Here Paul calls the law a guardian (paidagogos). In the first century, this referred to the household slave who was responsible for a child until they reached maturity. Paul's point is the temporal nature of the old covenant. Once we are grown up, we no longer need a guardian. The old covenant law was intended parenthesis in God's plan and has now been replaced by the New Covenant (Heb. 8). The new covenant is not merely a renewal, but really is new covenant unlike the old one (Jere. 31:32).

4. There is No Tripartite Division of the Law

The fourth distinctive of New Covenant Theology is that the law is presented as a unit throughout Scripture. Covenant Theology divides the law up into three parts: moral, civil, and ceremonial. While we see how some commandments could be classified as moral in nature, as opposed to civil or ceremonial, New Covenant Theology denies this "tripartite" division of the law because the writers of Scripture do not make such distinctions. The law is presented as a unit throughout Scripture 

5. We are not under the Law of Moses, but under the Law of Christ.

The fifth distinctive of New Covenant Theology regards its relation to law. If we are not under the law, does that mean we are lawless? No! We are no longer under the law of Moses, rather we are under the law of Christ. This phrase only occurs once in Scripture: Galatians 6:2, which reads, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Probably the most important passage for New Covenant Theology is 1 Cor. 9:20-21, which reads, "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law." This helpful passage summarizes what New Covenant Theology is all about. Paul is clear that he is not under the law (nomos meaning law of Moses), but he is not free from God's law. So we see that God's law is no longer equivalent to the Mosaic law but is now Christ's law. The law of Christ can be defined as those prescriptive principles drawn from the example and teaching of Jesus and His apostles (the central demand being love), which are meant to be worked out in specific situations by the guiding influence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

6. All in the New Covenant Community Have the Holy Spirit.

The sixth distinctive belief is the nature of the new covenant community. In the New Covenant, unlike the Old, every member is fully forgiven and every member has the Holy Spirit. This is another way of saying they are all believers. The prophets looked forward to a day when God would pour out His Spirit from on high (Ezek. 36-37; Joel 2; Isa. 32:15, 44:3). This is one of the major differences between Israel and the Church. Not all within Israel had the Holy Spirit. All within the new covenant community do.

Jesus is the hermeneutical key! New Covenant Theology is consistently Christocentric. The New Testament is Israel-Jesus-church. Believers are considered the offspring of Abraham by being united to Jesus. Galatians 3:7 says, "Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham (Israel)." Galatians 3:29 says, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 6:15-16 says, "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule - to the Israel of God." All of the promises of God are yes in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20).

~Blake White~

(The End)