Though the Gospel is clearly based upon faith in the unmerited grace bestowed upon us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, there is much confusion regarding what Laws, if any, Christians are obligated to observe. Are there Laws to keep in the New Covenant, and if so what are those Laws? Some believe in no Law at all, some believe in only the Laws found specifically mentioned in the New Testament, and others believe in keeping all the Laws found in the writings of Moses.

In an effort to make some sense of what Laws are important to Christians, some break down the Laws of the Torah (first five books written by Moses) into sections such as "ceremonial," "sacrificial" and "moral," etc., and argue that only the moral Law is a part of the New Covenant. What is painfully clear across the board is that almost all pick and choose for themselves what they believe to be relevant to the New Covenant.

Exodus 19 reveals that God was offering Israel the opportunity to enter into Abraham’s Covenant of Promise rather than the Sinai Covenant which was settled on until Jesus, the Promised Seed should come. God instructed Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves for in three days the Lord Himself would speak His Covenant to them and if they would obey this Covenant that He would make them a "kingdom of priests", -"Now then, if you will indeed obey MY VOICE (spoken Word) and keep MY COVENANT, then you shall be My own possession. . .and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (verses 5-6) Chapter 20 tells us that God spoke the Ten Commandments directly to them and nothing else.

With this in mind lets read Exodus 34: verses 1 and 28, -"Now the Lord said to Moses, ‘Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered. . .So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; . . .And He wrote on the tablets the WORDS OF THE COVENANT, the TEN COMMANDMENTS."

Now notice Deuteronomy 4:10-13, -"Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb (Mt. Sinai) when the Lord said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them HEAR MY WORDS so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’ You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the very heart of the heavens; darkness, cloud and thick gloom. Then the Lord SPOKE to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form, only a voice. So HE DECLARED to you HIS COVENANT which He commanded you to perform, that is, the TEN COMMANDMENTS; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone."

What is not always readily understood but is clear in the writings of the Apostles, is that the New Covenant is the same Covenant of Promise that God made with Abraham 430 years before the Sinai Covenant (Gal.3:17). "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29, NASB). "For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel (Jacob); nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s (natural) descendants, but ‘THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.’ That is, it is not the children of the flesh (natural seed) who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants" (Romans 9:6-8).

Isaac, not Jacob, was the child of promise and the followers of Jesus are named after him because they are born again of the Promised Seed and are heirs of better, eternal promises. Jesus is the Promised Seed and those born in Him and are spiritual Israel (Gal.6:16).

Since a Covenant is a contract which contains specific terms of agreement, we must understand what our obligation is. The terms of my car loan are very different from the terms of my mortgage. There are certain conditions and assurances in both; but they are not the same. Once the contract is agreed upon by both parties and ratified, no conditions can be added or removed from it. The dealer I purchased my car from cannot come to me a month later and say that he sold me the car too cheap and wants to add more to my debt, nor can I go to the dealer and demand my debt be reduced because I have decided the car isn’t worth what I am paying for it. Once the contract is ratified (today by signing a contract), the terms, requirements, and conditions are set.

The only way to change the conditions is to void the original contract and make a new one. Paul actually addresses this to prove that the Sinai Covenant did not replace the promise of Abraham’s Covenant, "Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: (giving an example) even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it" (Galatians 3:15).  

Some argue that the Torah Laws remain, but are written into the minds and hearts of the believers in the New Covenant. Others insist that many of those Laws are not a part of Abraham’s Covenant of Promise, but were added to the Sinai Covenant because of the transgressions of the people.

When reading Galatians chapter 4, it becomes clear that the Sinai Covenant and Abraham’s Covenant are two different testaments indeed. The Apostle’s word to the Hebrews was that while the Sinai Covenant had the priesthood’ of Aaron and Levi, the New Covenant of Promise has a different priesthood; one that preceded and is greater than that of Aaron and Levi, the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek, which means there must also be a change in Law, "For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of Law also" (Hebrews 7:12).

The previous verse indicates that the Law of Moses (Sinai Covenant) was given on the basis of the Levitical Priesthood and not on the basis of the Priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek, "Now if perfection was through the Levitical Priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron.?" (Hebrews 7:11) The children of Israel were given the Levitical Priesthood, but the Church of Jesus Christ is a Priesthood of the order of Melchizedek-Jesus being the High Priest, the Author and Perfecter of the faith.

The Catholic Church and virtually all Protestant denominations believe in the necessity of keeping the Ten Commandments, though most follow the Catholic example of setting aside or replacing the fourth Commandment to keep holy the seventh day with the first day of the creation week; that is, replacing the Sabbath (Saturday) with Sunday.

When a Catholic is questioned about why he does not keep the fourth Commandment as it was given by God, he will say that the Church made the decision to replace the Sabbath with Sunday and that he believes the Church has the power and authority to change any Law. Protestants reject this idea. The rallying cry of the Protestant Reformers was "sola scriptura," which is Latin for "Scripture alone;" meaning that the Scriptures are the final authority.

Although millions of Protestant Christians keep the Sabbath according to the Commandment, the vast majority retain the Catholic doctrine of Sunday. When these Protestants are questioned regarding observing the Ten Commandments, they offer various reasons why keeping the Sabbath Commandment is different and unnecessary. Sabbatarians of course disagree with this reasoning.

All Catholics and virtually all Protestants will acknowledge the habit of breaking any of the other nine Commandments as practicing sin. Perhaps here we should make it plain what the Bible definition of sin is, "Sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John 3:4). So, it is clear that Catholics and Protestants alike see the need for keeping the Ten Commandments (or at least nine of them) in order to stay in God’s grace; which means, keeping the Ten Commandments have a vital and active role in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant He ratified with His own blood.

We are saved by grace but not saved to continue to practice a lifestyle of sin. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His worksmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). It is obvious that no Law or works of keeping Laws could save us from the penalty of our sins, but notice that we were saved for good works that we would walk in them.

Paul taught the Roman believers what were seemingly opposite teachings, "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).  Further "it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified" (Romans 2:13). To "justify" means to be found or made to be innocent. To bring these two teachings into harmony we must conclude that keeping Laws cannot justify or make us innocent; but neither can we stand justified in God’s sight if we practice breaking His Laws after receiving justification by the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9).

"For if we go on sinning willfully (on purpose) after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26). The following verses show that there are two Covenants; one containing the whole Law of Moses in which a sinner dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses, and a greater Covenant ratified by the blood of Jesus, "the covenant by which he (a person) is sanctified" (Hebrews 10:29). The point being here is that there will be "severer punishment" for those who practice sin as to "trample under foot the Son of God" (Hebrews 10:29) and the blood He shed for the Covenant.

When looking into the face of modern Christianity we see the heavily ceremonial Catholic Church, the various denominations which were birthed in the Protestant Reformation, the Sabbatarian groups, and then the Messianics who claim to observe the Torah, the whole Law of Moses. There is one common thread found among the vast majority, and that is, they pick and choose what Laws they believe to be relevant to the New Covenant. Most completely reject all the Laws in Torah (excluding, and I might add, curiously, the Law of tithing) except the Ten Commandments.

The Scriptures Reveal Two Covenants

God sent Moses to deliver the Children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. God used Moses in a very special way. He was not an ordinary Prophet, but a deliverer Prophet and a type and shadow of the true deliverer who came as Jesus. God gave His Laws to Israel through Moses, and Moses sat as the judge of the people. But Moses prophesied of another that God would someday raise up as a deliverer Prophet, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to Him" (Deuteronomy 18:15).

About a thousand years later during the last canonization of the Old Testament Scriptures, the Great Assembly of 120 faithful Israelites including Malachi, Zechariah, Haggai, Nehemiah, and led by Ezra the Priest, added Chapter 24 of Deuteronomy and ended it with, "Since that time no Prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to  face" (Deut. 24:10).

This was added to Deuteronomy about 450 years before Jesus was born, so all the Prophets whose writings were a part of the canonization had not fulfilled Moses prophecy; leaving it open for Jesus to be received as that Prophet who would deliver the people from the bondage of their sins. Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of Moses prophecy, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. . .Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me" (John 5:39-46). Jesus is emphatically making the case for Himself, and was saying that they erred in setting their hope on Moses, for Moses had not set his hope on himself but on the One of whom he had prophesied..

Jesus is clearly saying that merely learning the Scriptures will not give anyone eternal life, unless we receive Him to whom the Scriptures lead us. Though Moses commanded concerning the one who would come after him, "you shall listen to Him," only a remnant of Israel did; choosing rather to continue to set their hope in Moses (Deut.18:15). Concerning this, the Apostle Paul wrote, -"But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the Old Covenant the same veil (Moses wore to hide the Glory) remains uplifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away" (2 Corinthians 3:14-15).

On His last Passover Jesus inaugurated the memorial ceremony of the New Covenant saying,"This is My Body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. . .This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in My blood" (Luke 22:19-20). In the Sinai Covenant, an unblemished lamb was slain and eaten on the Passover, but the New Testament writings show that this was only a shadow of a coming reality in Jesus, "For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7). John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and declared, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). In Revelation we see the Hosts of Heaven say of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a Kingdom of Priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth" (Chapter 5:9-10). Notice that those who have been saved by the true Lamb are made a "Kingdom of Priests."

This is a Priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek. As High Priest of the New Covenant of Promise, Jesus serves as the High Priest Melchizedek (Hebrews 7). Israel entered into the Sinai Covenant and received the Priesthoods of Aaron and Levi; but had they entered Abraham’s Covenant of Promise, they would have become a whole nation of priests, "Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My Covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation" (Exodus19:5-6). Notice God connected this Covenant with obeying His voice. In the next chapter, God Himself speaks to Israel for the first and last time, giving them His Ten Commandments. Since Israel never "became a Priesthood," but later received a Priesthood of the Order of Levi, we must conclude that they never entered into the Covenant of Promise. As they received a lesser and temporary Priesthood until the Promise should come, they also received a lesser Covenant, the Sinai Covenant, until the Messiah should come.

Jeremiah the Prophet foretold of another Covenant, "Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, "when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the Covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My Covenant which they broke, although I was husband to them,’ declares the Lord " (Chapter 31:31-32).

The New Testament reveals this to be the Christian Covenant, "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the Mediator of a better Covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first Covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. . .Behold the days are coming when I will effect a New Covenant. . .For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.’ When He said, ‘A New Covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But what ever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear" (Hebrews 8:6-13).

Perhaps the most comprehensive explanation concerning these two Covenants and how they differ is found in the Book of Galatians. Paul, formerly a student of Gamaliel, having risen to the level of a Master of the teachings of Moses, gives his dissertation of the meaning of the Gospel and the New Covenant. We will go through all the highlights of Galatians later; but now we just want to see that Paul confirmed the existence of two Covenants, and that it is clearly witnessed in the Torah when it is spiritually discerned.

Notice in the fourth chapter, "Tell me, you who want to be under Law, do you not listen to the Law" (Gal. 4:21). In its broadest application, "Law" simply means "instruction." The Law here is the Torah, the writings of Moses; and Paul is saying that the Galatians erred by reading only the letter of the Law, and were failing to understand what Moses' writings were meant to convey spiritually. "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the Promise [or according to the Spirit]" (Gal.4:22-23). The Covenant of Promise involved not only Abraham himself, but Sarah his wife, and Isaac who would be born as a type for Messiah. Isaac was the child God promised to give Abraham and Sarah; but Sarah’s faith was not strong enough for her to conceive for more than twenty years (Heb. 11:11).

During this time she deceived herself into believing that God would give her the promised child through her handmaid, Hagar. After convincing Abraham of this, Hagar conceived and gave birth to Ishmael whom Sarah received as her own. Years passed until one day, God appeared to Abraham and reconfirmed that He would fulfill His promise to give Abraham a son through Sarah; to which Abraham replied, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" But Ishmael was not the child of Promise, and God reminded Abraham that Sarah would bear a son. Abraham loved Ishmael, so God assured him that He would bless the lad; but that His Covenant would be established through Isaac, "But My Covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year" (Gen.17:18-21).

Now back to Galatians 4 concerning who Sarah and Hagar and their sons represent, "This is allegorically speaking, for these woman are TWO COVENANTS: one proceeding from Mount Sinai (Sinai Covenant) bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar" (Gal. 4:24). Sarah and Isaac represent Abraham’s Covenant of Promise which is the New Covenant ratified by Christ, and Hagar and her son represent the Sinai Covenant in which God used Moses. As both women and their sons were blessed, there are blessings in both Covenants if obeyed. But the true heirs of the eternal and better promises, come through Sarah and Isaac, the New Covenant of Promise.

Something else we learn from this passage is that as the two women and their two sons were not compatible, the two Covenants cannot exist together; notice "And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of Promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son. For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.’ So then brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman" (Gal.4:28-31). After Isaac was born Sarah demanded that both Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. The son she once loved as her own, she now despised and never wanted to see again. When reading this, it is obvious that we are receiving fresh revelation from the Apostle Paul of the true meaning of this story.

I think we can be assured that when the children of Israel heard Moses read every Sabbath, they never even considered that Sarah and Hagar and their sons represented two Covenants.

This is but one of many examples of how Jesus and the Apostles lifted the veil on the true meaning of the O.T. writings. How wonderful and blessed it is to live at a time such as this.

The N.T. tells us that the Prophets longed to understand what they were writing but were denied. Even the angels are watching the Church to see and learn the mystery of God being revealed in us. "As to this salvation, the Prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven -things into which angels long to look" (1 Peter 1:10-12).

Paul wrote, "By revelation there was made known to me the mystery. . .when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit. . .the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the rulers and the authorities in the Heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:3-11).

Abraham Kept God’s Laws

The Covenant announced by the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Covenant promised to Abraham, which is why he is called "the father of all who believe" (Rom.4:11); and why believers are called descendants and heirs of the promises provided in the New Covenant, "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise" (Gal.3:29).

Though Abraham entered into this Covenant with God 430 years before Moses, he has a testimony that he observed the Laws of God as witnessed by what the Lord spoke to Isaac, "I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. . .by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My Commandments, My Statutes and My Laws" (Genesis 26:3-5).

This seems to make it clear that the Covenant of Promise has Commandments, Statutes, and Laws. This should put to rest the idea that because believers are saved by grace through faith, that there is no obligation to observe Laws. The question is which Laws?

One cannot automatically assume this to mean all the Laws of Torah, of which hundreds were added later because of transgressions. In fact, as we learned in Galatians 3 nothing could be added or removed from Abraham’s Covenant,  "no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. . .What I am saying is this; the Law which came four hundred and thirty years later does not invalidate a Covenant previously ratified by God, as as to nullify the Promise" (Gal.315-17). That is to say, that the Sinai Covenant and its Laws do not nullify or replace Abraham’s Covenant of Promise.

The Sinai Covenant provides that righteousness comes from keeping all of God’s Commandments and Statutes; this is the rule of the Sinai Covenant as witnessed in Torah, notice, "So the Lord commanded us to observe all these Statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all these Commandments before the Lord our God" (Deuteronomy 6:24-25). But the New Testament teaches that though Abraham was obedient, his righteousness was through his faith, "Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness" (Romans 4:9). And concerning his heirs according to the Promise, "For the Promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith" (Rom. 4:13).

Both the Old and New Testaments reveal that no one was ever truly righteous on the merits of their own works (though it was sometimes credited), "There is none righteous, not even one" (Ps 14:1-3, Rom.3:10). This is one important reason why the New Covenant is superior: we don’t produce a righteousness of our own but receive the perfect righteousness of Christ, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

One may conclude that since Abraham and his heirs according to the Promise have a righteousness by faith and not by works that Christians are being legalistic, trying to save themselves by works if they strive to obey God’s Commandments. The truth is, works alone cannot produce salvation; but true faith will produce faithful works of obedience. James clarifies this in his epistle, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?. . .faith, if it has no works is dead, being by itself. . .But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. . .For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26)

To be completely honest, I must point out here that the works referred to are not what we commonly think of as Law, though "Law" means "instruction." Abraham’s works mentioned here were obeying God in faith when He told him to leave the city of Ur to live in the desert, receiving by faith that he would have a son in his old age, and trusting God enough to obey Him when he told him to offer his son, Isaac. However, obedient works are obedient works in whatever God instructs; and we already have testimony that Abraham obeyed God’s Laws, Commandments and Statutes.

I believe Abraham knew and observed God’s Ten Commandments, the annual Holy Days, the Law of Clean and Unclean meats, and the Law of Tithing. I believe these are the Laws, Commandments and Statutes which Abraham knew and kept.

It’s obvious that the Ten Commandments were known by all from the creation. God, Himself created and observed the first Sabbath on the seventh day of creation week. The Sabbath is a weekly reminder that the true God is the Creator and that there are no gods but Him. Therefore, to worship and idol as if it were God is wrong, and was known to be wrong from the beginning. When God gave this Commandment to Israel He said "remember" the Sabbath to keep it holy. You cannot remember something you never knew. Cain knew that is was sin to murder his brother Abel, and God cursed the serpent for lying. In disobeying God they were breaking the First Commandment. All of these are Laws from the Ten Commandments.

Abraham may have not observed the Holy Days as the Festivals later commanded, but it’s almost certain that he knew the annual High Sabbaths since the timing for them was given at the beginning. "Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years" (Genesis 1:14). The Hebrew word translated "seasons" here is "Moed" which means, "an appointed time to assemble for a festival." When these times were announced to Israel God began by saying, "The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations - My appointed times are these" (Leviticus 23:2). Notice, they are the "Lord’s appointed times" written in the heavens from the beginning. We see the Church observing these Holy Days in the New Testament writings. Paul marked his travels around them and commanded the Gentiles to keep them as well (Acts 20,1 Cor.5,11).

Abraham most certainly knew and observed the Law of Clean and Unclean meats since it also was given and well-known from the beginning. This is witnessed by the instruction given to Noah to take seven pairs of clean animals aboard the Ark while only one pair of unclean animals. Noah knew and understood the difference, and there is no Scriptural account where God had to explain to him why, or what constituted a clean animal from and unclean one. Obviously, it was common knowledge in his day.

Regarding the Law of Tithing, we need go no further than seeing that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, High Priest of the Most High God.

　

The Ark of the Covenant

God spoke the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel Himself. He made a divine appointment and gave them three days to prepare themselves to appear before Him at the foot of Mt. Sinai. When He was finished, He had given them only the Ten Commandments, nothing more. "These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, of the cloud and of the thick gloom, with a great voice and He added no more. He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me" (Deuteronomy 5:22).

Notice also, "So He declared to you His Covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is the TEN COMMANDMENTS; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone (Deuteronomy 4:13). Here we see that God’s Covenant is the Ten Commandments, and He added no more. God wrote these Ten Commandments onto tablets of stone by His own finger and gave them to Moses. Deuteronomy 9:11 refers to these as the "Tablets of the Covenant."

The first set of tablets were destroyed when Moses threw them down because of Israel’s idolatry; but God wrote them onto another set of stone tablets and commanded Moses to place them inside the Ark of the Covenant. "At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an Ark of wood for yourself. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered, and you shall put them in the Ark’" (Deuteronomy 10:1-2).

Concerning this Ark, God gave very specific and detailed instructions in how it was to be made, the type of wood, and the size. The Lord commanded that the wood be overlaid with gold but that the top, the Mercy Seat, was to be made of solid gold with two cherubim fashioned above with out-stretched wings to cover the seat. An ark is simply a vessel, box, or container. The name reveals what it contains. For example, a cookie jar is a vessel which contains cookies. If it contained candy then it would be called a candy jar. "Ark of the Covenant" contains the Covenant, the Ten Commandments written onto tablets of stone. Hebrews reveals what else was placed in the Ark, -"The Ark of the Covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the Covenant." (Heb. 9:4).

(1) We see the Ten Commandments which are God’s standard for living and which reveal to us what sin is.

(2) We see the golden jar of manna which represents Jesus, the true Manna from Heaven who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true Bread out of Heaven. For the Bread of God is that which comes down out of Heaven and gives life to the world. . .I am the Bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:32-35). This is why we eat unleavened bread at the Passover service; we are feeding on the unleavened (sinless) Body of Christ who is the giver of life.

(3) And we see Aaron’s rod, a dead stick that came to life and produced fruit. Wood is a symbol for cursed humanity. This is why the Chief Priests demanded Jesus to be crucified on a piece of wood. The Torah says, "Cursed is anyone who is hung on a tree." Since we are all sons of Adam and born under the curse, we must be born again of the Spirit of God in order to be saved. This is accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit. Aaron’s dead stick which came to life and bore fruit is symbolic of what the Holy Spirit does for us. The Ten Commandments, Jesus, the Bread from Heaven, and the Aaron’s rod, the work of the Spirit, are all a part of the Covenant of Promise.

When the time for judgment comes and the Lord’s servants receive their rewards, the true Ark of the Covenant will appear in the Heavens, "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the Prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth. And the Temple of God which is in Heaven was opened; and the Ark of His Covenant appeared in His Temple" (Revelation 11:18-19).

The New Testament Teaches the Ten Commandments

Matthew 19 tells a story of a young rich man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Now, there is eternal life only in the Covenant of Promise - eternal life is one of the "better promises." Jesus told this man that if he wished to inherit life he must keep the Commandments. Since there were hundreds of Commandments in the Law of Moses the man asked, "which ones?" Jesus then named a number of the Ten Commandments to which the man replied, "I have always kept these. What else do I lack?" Jesus then told him that if he wanted to be perfect, then sell his possessions, give them to the poor, and come and be a disciple. Jesus certainly was not meaning to say that the Commandments alone have the power to give life, but He was saying that those who pursue life will live obedient lives. I will follow here with a few passages concerning keeping the Commandments.

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these Commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19)

"He who has My Commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him" (John 14:21). Notice that Jesus is saying that He will "disclose" or reveal Himself to those who keep the Commandments. This gives a good explanation of what John wrote in His first epistle, "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His Commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him’ and does not keep His Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him" (1 John 2:3-5). Notice that knowing God and having the love of God perfected in us are connected to keeping God’s Commandments.

"If you keep My Commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s Commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10).

"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the Commandments of God" (1 Corinthians 7:19).

"For whoever keeps the whole Law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not commit murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. So speak and so act as those who will be judged by the Law of liberty" (James 2:10-12). The "whole Law" referred to here is obviously the whole Ten Commandments since the two Laws specifically mentioned are the sixth and seventh Commandments.

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His Commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments; and His Commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2-3). Love is connected to obeying God. To say "yes Lord," and fail to obey Him is a self-contradiction. Here we see that keeping the Commandments is the love of God. Observing God’s Commandments is not a burden to those who love Him and love others.

"And this is love, that we walk according to His Commandments. This is the Commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it" (2 John vs 6).

The book of Revelation reveals that the true and faithful saints are those who keep the Commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus, -"So the dragon (devil) was enraged with the woman (Church accounted worthy to be protected during Great Tribulation) and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the Commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus" (Rev.12:17).

Chapter 14 shows the difference between the faithful saints of God and those who receive the mark of the beast, "Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the Commandments of God and their faith in Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). The end-time true believers will obey God’s Commandments and put their faith in Jesus for their salvation.

Remember, as we have learned, no Law or set of Laws have the power to forgive and save us from the penalty of our sins. All have sinned and have come short of the standard and glory of God. Therefore, His Laws stand against us as a witness of our sinfulness. This is where Jesus, the Lamb of God comes in to rescue all who will confess their sin and turn from willfully practicing it. He washes away our sins and stands as our faithful High Priest at the altar with His own blood.

In Adam we are born with the sin nature; but once we are born again into Christ we are a new creation without sin, having received His perfect righteousness by faith and are partakers of His divine nature. Though Satan the adversary will direct charges against us, the saints have an Advocate who stands in the gap for us, "If we say that we have no sin (therefore no need of repentance or forgiveness) we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation (satisfied and accepted payment) for our sins" (1 John 1:8-10, 2:1-2).

"Blessed are those who do His Commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates of the city (New Jerusalem)" (Revelation 22:14). As rendered by the King James Translation. This fits perfectly with what Jesus told the young rich man, "if you wish to enter into life keep the Commandments" (Matthew 19:17).

The New Testament writings of Christ and His Apostles make it clear that keeping the Ten Commandments is a vital part of walking obediently in the terms of the New Covenant. Though they have no power to save, they reveal what is important to God and how we should strive to live - Jesus said that these Commandments can be summed up in the two great principles of love toward God and love toward your fellow man.

Does the N.T. Teach the Whole Law of Moses?

The New Testament says that the Torah is good if it is used lawfully, "For some men, straying from these things (from love and sincere faith) have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that Law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious" (1 Timothy 1:6-9).

In Matthew 5 Jesus declared that He had not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but the question is, what Law? Was He referring to the Book of the Law of Moses, or the Ten Commandments, or both? In verse 20 Jesus concluded the thought with, "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." What was the "righteousness" of the scribes and Pharisees? According to Torah it was a righteousness according to Law, "So the Lord commanded us to observe all these Statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this Commandment before the Lord our God, just as He commanded us" (Deuteronomy 6:24-25).

Jesus is saying that such a righteousness is not good enough to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. It will take the righteousness of God revealed in Jesus through faith.

The N.T. teaches the righteousness of Christ is received by grace through faith, "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly" (Galatians 2:21). The Apostle Paul wrote the Roman Church regarding how his countrymen, the Jews, had stumbled, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end (goal) of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on Law shall live by that righteousness" (Romans 10:1-5).

In Matthew  Jesus spiritually magnified the Ten Commandments while addressing some Laws in the Book of the Law as not being acceptable for His followers. He explained that the Commandment to not commit adultery also included lust, and the Commandment to not murder also included not having hate or anger for your brother. Not only did Jesus not take away these Commandments, but He gave to them greater meaning. But regarding the Laws of Moses he said, "You have heard (in Torah), ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ but I say to you, make no oath at all" (Mat. 5:33-34) This is a clear change because Deuteronomy commands those under the Sinai Covenant to swear by God’s name, "You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name"(Deut.10:20). James, the brother of Jesus, wrote the Church concerning this instruction, "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment" (James 5:12).

Jesus continues in Matthew by giving His followers a different position on divorce than what Moses gave in Deuteronomy 24:1 saying, "But I say to you, that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (Mat.5:32) Jesus quotes Exodus "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" ; but then forbids His followers to practice this Law saying, "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."(Mat.5:21-24,39). Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 23:3-6, another Law of Moses, saying, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven" (Mat.5:43-45). Notice how many times after quoting Moses, Jesus says, "But I say unto you."

Moses was a faithful servant of God, but he prophesied of another who would come with greater authority as a deliverer Prophet. Jesus is that Prophet and Moses hoped in Him too. "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house - whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end" (Hebrews 2:1-6).

Under the Sinai Covenant the Holy Day Festivals were commanded to be kept in the place where God chose. He later chose Jerusalem (Deut. 16). During the days of the early Church Jerusalem was still the one and only established place to observe the Holy Days, yet the Church observed them wherever they lived (Acts 20:6 , 1 Corinthians 16:8, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

Perhaps the most blunt Scripture of all that showing that the Laws added because of transgressions are contained in the Book of the Law (Law of Moses) is found in Galatians. Judaizers were troubling these Gentile converts by insisting that they were not in Covenant with God unless they be circumcised and keep the whole Law of Moses. This is the problem Paul is addressing as he says, -"Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace" (Gal.5: 2-4). Notice that Paul is "testifying" against them in this matter. In saying that they would be "severed from Christ" if they receive circumcision and begin observing the "whole Law," they would be forsaking Abraham’s Covenant ratified by Christ, for the Sinai Covenant. One may argue that they are not keeping the whole Law for justification but simply for obedience sake. Concerning that, I remind you that the Sinai Covenant based upon the Laws of Moses states,"It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this Commandment (Whole Law of Moses)" (Deut.6:25).

First Church Council Addresses this Question

"Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some other of them should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and elders concerning this issue" (Acts 15:1-2).

"When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the Church and the Apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses" (Acts 15:4-5). Obviously Paul and Barnabas was describing the conversions of the Gentiles, the miracles which happened, and how God gave them the Holy Spirit while uncircumcised and while outside the Law of Moses.

After their testimonies, Peter, the Chief Apostle of Jesus Christ, stood and reminded the saints how he was the first to preach the Gospel to Gentiles when he was called to Cornelius’ house (Acts 15: 7). Then Peter testified that he witnessed God give them the Holy Spirit while they were uncircumcised and outside the Law of Moses (Sinai Covenant), "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples (new Gentile converts) a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear" (Acts 15:8-10)?

Notice that Peter is saying that requiring circumcision and observance of the Law of Moses is putting "God to the test." The Apostle is also making it clear that this would be placing a yoke upon the Gentiles' neck that no Israelite (other than Jesus) has ever been able to bear. This is referring to the Law of Moses, and could not be referring to circumcision only because all Israel’s males were able to "bear" circumcision on the eighth day after their birth. Circumcision was successful, what was unsuccessful was being faithful to observe all the Laws of Moses since all hve sinned and have broken the (Sinai) Covenant.

After hearing many testimonies and opposing arguments, James, the brother of Jesus and Bishop of the Jerusalem Churches, declared his judgment, "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath (Acts 15:19-21).

James ruled that the Gentiles were not required to be circumcised and directed to keep the whole Law of Moses, except for those three essentials from the Law, notice, "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials; that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well, Farewell" (Acts 15:28-29). This is, of course, in addition to all the teachings of the New Covenant which had already been delivered to them by Paul, Barnabas, and others when they had established the Churches years earlier.

To think that these Gentile congregations were unlearned in Scripture is to greatly err. They had been firmly established in the faith for many years and every congregation had its own Pastor and elders. The deepest theology found in Scripture is contained in the epistles of Paul sent to instruct them. These letters prove that these converts had command of Scripture and great spiritual understanding of it.

Why did James mention that Moses is read in the synagogues in every city? There are two reasonable explanations: (1) That the Gentile converts to Christianity would learn the rest of the Law of Moses as they were taught in the synagogues by Jews. (2) That though Paul was sent as the Apostle to the Gentiles, the other Apostles were committed to bringing salvation to their Jewish countrymen, and they wanted the new Gentile converts to be careful to not offend them in the meantime.

Let’s examine the first hypothesis. There is no Scriptural indication that the Gentile converts were attending weekly synagogue services. In fact, if they had been, it would have discredited the prophecy of Jesus when He prophesied concerning His followers, saying, "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me" (John 16:2-3). Why would God’s faithful Apostles send their new converts to those who "have not known the Father or Jesus?" Jesus called the Jewish teachers "blind guides of the blind."

Neither Jesus, nor His theology was taught in the synagogues; Moses was taught there. The epistles of the Apostles were not read in the synagogues; Moses was read there. If the Gentile converts were being taught in the synagogues, then why would Paul say this to them? "But their (the Jews') minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the Old Covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away" (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). When a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed and that veil is wherever Moses is read. This is certainly not to mean "don’t read the Torah." but it does mean that when we do we must read it as to not misapply it, or as Paul said, "use it lawfully." It is not the Christian guidebook, or the guidebook of Abraham’s Covenant, but of the Sinai Covenant.

Add to this the fact that the Christians had been severely persecuted by the Jewish leaders since even before Paul was converted. And add this also, the epistles clearly show that the early Church had services in private homes. We see many of these mentioned in Scripture at the end of Paul’s letters.

And concerning who would be entrusted to guard, teach, and sanctify the Church of Jesus Christ, we need not speculate.

Ephesians 4 tells us that Christ gave "gifts" to the Church to teach them His ways. Among those mentioned here are Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. These men were Spirit-filled saints of God who were blessed with a special anointing to fulfill each office and calling.

It would truly be ridiculous to believe that Jesus and His Apostles would leave the teaching and spiritual growth of the Church to blind guides who had rejected Christ, had become persecutors of the faithful, and those who were devoid of the Holy Spirit.

Now this is not to say that Paul and some of the other Jewish converts did not initially go into the synagogues to try to convince them to receive Jesus, they did. They did not go to learn, however, but to teach the truth of the Gospel; and they were largely rejected.

So, if the new converts were not to be taught the rest of the Law of Moses in the synagogues, then why did James mention that Moses was read in every city? I think the best explanation is in order that the Jews there would not be offended by the conduct of the Gentile converts to Christianity. These converts differed from the Jews in many ways, but they professed to believe and worship the same God and read the same Scriptures.

The Apostles were trying to reach these Jews for Christ and knew that they would be greatly offended if they saw Gentile converts eating meat which had been sacrificed to idols, or eating meat with blood in it. The Gentiles had already been taught not to commit fornication which was a common practice in many Gentile cultures, but perhaps James wanted to emphasize the importance of this.

Concerning the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, Paul actually taught that under the New Covenant it was not wrong in and of itself, but that one must be careful with his liberty so as not to offend another. "Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. . .However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to (follow your example) eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died" (1 Corinthians 8:4-11). Paul is saying that it doesn’t matter one way or the another, but that the main concern here is making sure that there is no offence. It makes sense to me that this is what James was concerned with when he made his ruling at the Council.

Let’s remember here that the problem in Christianity is that Catholics and Protestants as a whole pick and choose what Laws and instructions that seem to make sense to them, and Messianics feel as though they must observe and defend the whole Law of Moses. I believe that the problem can be solved by understanding that there are two Covenants, the Sinai and the Abrahamic, and that there are major differences in them; different Priesthoods, different promises, and different Laws, though the Ten Commandments are in both.

Step by Step Through Galatians

The problem Paul is writing the Churches about here is that Judaizing Christians had come and told the brethren that they were not saved and needed to be circumcised and keep the whole Law of Moses to be saved. Paul had established these congregations in Galatia many years earlier, had taught them his theology and had left them in the faithful hands of ordained Pastors and elders, so he was very perplexed as to how they were so easily moved away from what he had taught them.

Paul begins his letter by declaring that the Gospel that he had preached to them was directly from the Father and Jesus, "Paul, an Apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)" (Gal.1:1). Paul wanted to first establish the authority of his message and ministry and restates it in verses 11 and 12.

Paul labels this adding the whole Law of Moses to the New Covenant as a distortion of the true Gospel message and even pronounces a curse against those who were teaching this, "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different Gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, should preach to you a Gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed" (Gal 1:6-8)! Notice that this distorted Gospel was causing the brethren to "desert" the Father who had called them by the grace of Christ. They were leaving the true faith. They were leaving Abraham and the Covenant of Promise for the Sinai Covenant.

In the next few verses Paul reminds the brethren that he was no stranger to these teachings, and that he had lived that life before and was advancing in Judaism before his conversion to Christianity. He then reminds them of how he had already gone up to Jerusalem and had met Peter and James and had presented to them his teachings and that they had added nothing to him.

Chapter 2 begins with Paul stating that he, Barnabas, and Titus had gone up to Jerusalem for the Council called to decide this very subject. Here he identifies those as "false brethren" who had stood up there demanding that the Gentiles be circumcised and directed to keep the Law of Moses "But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus (New Covenant), in order to bring us into bondage (Sinai Covenant) (Gal. 2:3-4). The Judaizers who came from Jerusalem to Galatia had claimed that James had sent them, but after the Council James sent the Gentiles a letter saying, "We have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls" (Acts 15:24).

In the latter part of Chapter 2 Paul tells the story of how he openly rebuked Peter for his hypocrisy when he withdrew from associating with the Gentile converts at Antioch. Certain Jews from Jerusalem had come and Peter began to treat his Gentile brethren as though they were unclean. When Paul saw that others were joining in the hypocrisy and were not acting straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, he said, "If you, being a Jew, live like Gentiles and not like Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews" (Gal.2:14)? Paul was reminding Peter that when these visiting Jews weren’t around, you couldn’t tell the difference between him and the Gentiles. Paul was saying, "Peter, you want Gentiles to live like Jews, but you are a Jew, and you haven't lived like a Jew since your conversation! You’re being a hypocrite!" Verse 11 says that Peter stood condemned, and of course he repented. Paul continued to Peter, saying, "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified" (Gal. 2:15-16).

Verses 19-21 are especially powerful and significant, "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God." The Law referred to here is the Book of the Law which Moses wrote onto animal skins and placed beside the Ark. We know this because it is specifically named in Chapter 3, verse 10. In saying that he had died to the Law Paul is saying that he has been released from the Sinai Covenant through death in Christ in order to be joined to another, Christ in the New Covenant.

Remember, both Covenants are a type of the marriage Covenant. Notice Paul's epistle to the church at Rome, "Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the Body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. . .But now we have been released from the Law (Sinai Covenant/Law of Moses) having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the Letter" (Rom. 7:4-6).   Israel had entered into Covenant with God, a type of marriage covenant, but in order to be joined to Abraham’s Covenant of Promise (New Covenant), a death and resurrection to a new birth was needed.

This is why Jesus told Nicodemis that he must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemis was a noted Rabbi who came to Jesus secretly at night to inquire of Him. Nicodemis understood that Jesus had to be a man of God because of the miracles which He performed, but he wasn’t sure if Jesus was merely a Prophet, or the Messiah who would restore the kingdom to Israel. Jesus knew what the Rabbi was thinking and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (John 3:3). This amazed Nicodemus. Nicodemus thought that he was already an heir of the Kingdom since he was a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But here Jesus was saying that it was not enough to be born of a natural seed to enter into the Kingdom of God, but one must be born again of the Spirit. I Corinthians 15 says that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God - there must be a spiritual birth; but before this birth can occur, one must die in Christ. If we die in Christ, then we are raised in Him.

Now continuing with Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly" (Gal. 2: 20-21).

Since we are reading Scripture regarding Law, let us remember that keeping Law is a part of the New Covenant. When a Jew goes from Sinai and the Book of the Law, to Abraham, he is not going to a lawless Covenant, but is going to a Covenant which contains the Ten Commandments, forgiveness of sins, and better promises.

"Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh" (Gal. 3:3)? The flesh represents the Sinai Covenant and the Spirit represents the New Covenant. (We will see this clearly in Chapter 4) The point Paul is making here is that the Gentiles were never in the Sinai Covenant. The Jews began in this Covenant, in the flesh, but as Jesus told Nicodemus, a spiritual birth is required to enter God’s Kingdom. The Jewish converts went from the Sinai Covenant (the flesh), to Abraham’s Covenant (the Spirit), by dying and being reborn in Christ. The Gentiles actually began in the Spirit. So, Paul is asking, "how is it that are you now seeking to be perfected by the flesh when even Jews must be perfected by the Spirit?"

"Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness" (Gal.3:6). Jesus once said, "You (disciples) have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those who have believed yet have not seen" (John 20:29). Unlike Christians today, Abraham could not look back at the cross and see the salvation provided for him,;he had to receive by faith that God would provide it. We can look back, but Abraham had to look ahead and trust and believe. "Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham" (Gal.3:7). Verse 8 says that the Gospel was preached to Abraham beforehand and that the blessing of that Covenant would include people from all nations.

In the New Covenant, which is Abraham’s Covenant, righteousness comes through faith, a faith that believes that the righteousness of Christ is bestowed upon His followers. Though the saints strive to live holy lives, they know they can never be perfect without receiving Christ’s perfect life. To violate the Law is to be a transgressor, and the blood sacrifices of animals cannot pay the penalty for our sins, but serve only to remind us that we are in need of a worthy offering. "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Heb.10:4). To become a transgressor means to incur the curse of God. Under the Sinai Covenant the Aaronic High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies with animal blood, but under the Covenant of Promise Jesus as Melchizedek, stands with His own blood to atone for us so that we can enter into the presence of God without fear for He sees only the righteousness of Christ in us. Oh, how blessed are those who enter into this holy Covenant!

"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, to perform them" (Gal.3:10). In the Sinai Covenant righteousness came through keeping the Book of the Law, though everyone failed and were cursed. (Deut.6:25) In the New Covenant, Christians do not observe the Ten Commandments to become righteous; they understand that they are already saved, righteous, justified, being sanctified, and being glorified, by the work of the cross, the life of Christ in them, the Word of God preached to them, and the Holy Spirit which abides in them.

To be "justified" is to be examined and declared innocent, it is not to be a pardoned criminal.

Christians are not merely pardoned, but die with Christ and receive a new life in Him, with no history or record of sin ever committed!

Those who enter this blessed Covenant are not cursed when they slip up and break a Commandment because once the enter into Christ, sin is not imputed to them; they remain perfect in the sight of God, unless of course, they turn away from God and begin to sin willfully. "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His Seed (Jesus through the agency of the Holy Spirit) abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9).

Israel was cursed because, by sinning ,they broke their Covenant with God. All of God’s Laws are good and righteous, but when one violates them, they are cursed as we see in verse 10. Since no man other than Jesus has ever succeeded in practicing perfect obedience to God’s Laws, God declares, "There are none righteous, no not one." But in the Covenant of Promise Jesus became the curse for us in order that we may become the righteousness of God. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us - for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’ -in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Gal. 3: 13-14).

Break from Galatians for Points in Deuteronomy

The real blessing is in Abraham’s Covenant not in the Sinai Covenant. As I mentioned earlier, Israel was offered Abraham’s Covenant which would make them a whole nation of priests, but they backed away from God in fear. As a result, God gave them a Covenant containing hundreds of Laws added because of transgressions. God didn’t wait for these transgressions to happen first, but looked ahead and declared the end from the beginning. When God gave them these Laws and entered into this Covenant, He knew already that they would forsake Him and the Covenant. In giving hundreds of Laws, specific and detailed, God was, in effect, closing any loopholes. These Laws were given as a witness against a rebellious people who God knew had no heart to obey Him.

"Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this Law by doing them. And all the people shall say ‘Amen’" (Deut.27:26).

"Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear" (Deut.29:4).

After wandering for forty years in the wilderness, Joshua is about to lead Israel into the land and Moses is about to die. These are the last words of Moses as inspired by God to the children of Israel. Moses wrote all the Laws in a scroll and gave them to the priests and commanded that it be read at the Feast of Tabernacles each year of remission (every seven years). This was to be done as a witness against Israel because God already knew that they would fall into sin. "It came about, when Moses finished writing the words of this Law in a book until they were complete, that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, saying, -‘Take this book of the Law and place it BESIDE the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, that it may remain there AS A WITNESS AGAINST YOU. For I know your rebellion and your stubbornness; behold while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the Lord; how much more, then after my death? Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to WITNESS AGAINST THEM" (Deut.31:24-28).

The Lord knew that they had no desire to obey Him which is why he gave them more than six hundred Laws, spelled out in detail. There were no loopholes to slip through. Did God say that they would be blessed if they kept them? Yes. Did God not say that it would go well with them if they obeyed Him? Yes again. But as we have seen, God already knew they would not be faithful to Him because they had rejected the Covenant of Spirit and therefore were fleshly-minded people who had no heart for God.

Chapter 32 records the Song of Moses. God commanded Moses to write this song and teach it to the sons of Israel also as a witness against them. As often as they sang this song they were reminded of how corrupt, perverse, and rebellious they were in God’s sight. The song contrasts God's pure heart, and their wicked hearts. "But I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods. Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel" (Deut.31:19). I suggest now that you read through the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32.

Back to Galatians

Chapter 3, verse 15 begins to explain that though a (Sinai) Covenant was given to Israel when they became a nation, it does not invalidate the Covenant promised to Abraham 430 years earlier. The promises were spoken to Abraham and his "Seed", that is Christ, not "seeds" as in his natural descendants. "Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations; even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his Seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your Seed,’ that is Christ. What I am saying is this; the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a Covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise" (Gal. 3:15-17). Though the Jew was offered first, Abraham’s Covenant makes children of God from the descendants of all nations through a spiritual rebirth in Christ. Remember, Abraham kept God’s Laws, Statutes, and Commandments; but not the six hundred Laws of Moses Book of the Law which were added to Israel 430 years later.

"Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the Promise (Covenant) had been made" (Gal.3:19). These Laws were and are a witness against a sinful people. These Laws were written on a scroll and referred to as the "Book of the Covenant." Both the Laws and the Covenant were added because of transgressions as a witness against Israel. This Covenant is likened to bondage because it shut the children out of the Kingdom due to their sins. "But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed." (Gal.3:23).

This shows the great need for a Messiah who has qualified to take those sons upon Himself and offer forgiveness and newness of life to those who will repent and receive. That righteous and holy "Seed" has come. The Jewish leaders were blind to their spiritual condition and failed to see the need for a redeemer, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever, the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:31-36).

"Therefore the Law (Book of the Law) has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith (Covenant of faith in Christ) has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Gal.3:24-25). Where the NAS renders "tutor," some translations render "schoolmaster." Both of these are poor renderings and should be "guardian" as seen in Chapter 4, verse 2. Underage heirs and their affairs are managed by guardians until they come of age to receive their inheritance, -"As long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father" (4:1-2).

A "schoolmaster" or "tutor" implies that being educated by the Sinai Covenant and its Laws are necessary to come to Christ. But Peter, Paul and Barnabas argued against this at the Jerusalem Council, and James agreed and ruled that the new converts were not to be yoked with these Laws. Notice Gal.3:3 again, -"Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"

Abraham’s Covenant = Spirit, Sinai Covenant = flesh.

"Tell me, you who want to be under the Law, do you not listen to the Law?" The "Law" here is Torah. Though they were reading the Law in order to follow it they were misunderstanding what it was meant to teach them. "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are TWO COVENANTS; one proceeding from Mount SINAI bearing children who are to be slaves; she is HAGAR. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the PRESENT JERUSALEM, for she is in slavery with children. But the JERUSALEM ABOVE is free; she is our mother. . .And you brethren, like ISAAC, are CHILDREN OF PROMISE (Covenant of Promise). But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. (Jewish persecution of the Church) But what does the Scripture say? ‘CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON. FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.’ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free woman" (Galatians 4:21-31).

Clearly the bondwoman and her son represent the Sinai Covenant and the children who had entered and broken that Covenant. Those who were joined to this Covenant were in bondage to sin.

Hagar and Ishmael were welcome in Abraham’s house until Isaac, the child of promise was born, but then were cast out. Hagar and her son represent the Sinai Covenant who were kept in custody in Abraham’s house until the child of faith came. Sarah represents the Covenant of Promise and Isaac the child of promise is a type for the Promised Seed, which is Jesus. When Jesus ratified the Covenant of Promise with His own blood, the bondwoman (Sinai Covenant) was cast out for all who entered into the Promise. "But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house -whose house we are" (Hebrews 3:6). As partakers of a better Covenant with better promises, we understand that we are God’s House,  a House where there is no place for the bondwoman and her son.

Under the Laws of Moses a Gentile male could join the commonwealth of Israel by being circumcised and keeping the Laws of the Covenant. If he agreed to obey the Covenant, then he was circumcised and received. This is what is taking place with the Galatian believers. They weren’t merely receiving circumcision but were leaving the Covenant of Promise, which was ratified by Christ, to join themselves to the Sinai Covenant and its Laws. This is evident as we pick it up in Chapter five.

"Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you." And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:2-4). In the Christian Covenant believers are born in Christ. To join Sinai, Hagar, present Jerusalem, the flesh, you are then severed from Christ.

In the next chapter Paul exposed these false teachers as the hypocrites they were, -"For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. . .For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God" (Galatians 6:12-16).  Notice that the "new creation" is the "Israel of God." Not sons born of the flesh according to a natural genealogy, but sons born of the Spirit with a divine nature and a divine genealogy in Christ.

With what you have learned in this booklet, I suggest that you read carefully the Book of Hebrews and the Book of Romans. The teaching of how the two Covenants differ is made plain there to see, and will enrich your understanding.

The Book of Hebrews gives Testimony

I believe this epistle was written and sent to the Hebrews by the Apostle Paul, who knew best how to make the case to his countrymen of why they needed another Covenant  in order to be true heirs of the promises made to father Abraham. In Chapter 1, he says that whereas God spoke to them in the past by the Prophets, in these last days He was speaking to them in His Son Jesus. In Chapter 2 he declares that Jesus is greater than a mere angel and has been crowned with glory by God. Paul teaches here that sanctification comes only through Jesus. Chapter 3 reveals that Jesus is also the true and eternal High Priest and that He is greater than Moses. Chapter 4 states that Israel never entered the true rest of God, though Joshua led them across the Jordan into the land. The "rest" here refers to Abraham’s Covenant. Paul was telling them that they had a rest (Covenant) yet to enter. Chapters 5-7 give revelation of who Melchizedek was, and is, and how he was greater than Abraham since Abraham gave Him tithes and received a blessing from Him.

Chapter 8 explains why a New Covenant is needed and that now that it has come the old is obsolete, "When He said, ‘A New Covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear" (Heb. 8:13). In Chapter 9 we see that Jesus is the Mediator of this New Covenant by which we have forgiveness of sins and a righteousness by faith. Here we learn that Jesus stands at the Mercy Seat with His own blood to keep us sinless. Chapter 10 says that the old sacrifices of animals could never take way sins. They served to remind the children that they were in sin and were in need of a righteous sacrifice. The Father provided the sacrifice needed to ratify a New Covenant by offering His only Son, "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. . .Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but a Body You have prepared for Me" (Heb.10: 4-5).

We see in Chapter 10 that we enter into the Holy of Holies, the very presence of God through this living Way which the Father provided in Jesus. Under the Sinai Covenant, only the High Priest of Israel could enter once a year, on Atonement. But in this blessed Covenant, we are called through the veil into God’s presence as His beloved children.

Chapter 11, known as the "faith chapter" of the Bible, names the great cloud of faithful witnesses who had gone before the Church was established. All these men and women believed in and longed to see Abraham’s Covenant ratified by the Lamb of God. They set their hope in this, believing without seeing. It begins with righteous Abel who was murdered by his wicked brother, and continues with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joseph, and many of whom we don’t know by name. All of these were not looking for a temporal reward, but a heavenly, eternal reward in the presence of God. "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them" (Heb.11:16). Chapter 12 says that whereas Israel was brought to Mount Sinai, a mountain ablaze with fire, that the partakers of this Covenant have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the Living God.

Other Clues in Scripture

As we have seen in Galatians 4, the truth of the Covenants was written into the Old Testament Scriptures. When a Jew of Paul’s day read the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and the two sons, it was nothing more than historical information. One may gain some insight into the need to wait on God faithfully and to not act impulsively, but that’s about it. But when the Apostle Paul read this same story under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he saw two great Covenants and the great value of the Covenant of Promise. Here, Paul was using the Law, Torah, lawfully.

There are other examples that we may consider as illustrations of the two Covenants. The story of Cain and Abel is instructive; Abel representing Abraham’s Covenant, and Cain representing the Sinai Covenant.

Righteous Abel offered a lamb to God while wicked Cain offered produce from the ground. God received Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s offering. Cain became very jealous and envious of his brother and consequently murdered him. God had warned Cain beforehand and had assured him that if he repented it would go well with him; but he spurned God’s counsel, "Cain, who was of the evil one slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous" (1 John 3:12).

Cain went to the dark side and became a child of the devil by surrendering to and practicing his way. The Jewish leaders, who were stubbornly entrenched in the Law of Moses, rejected Christ and the Covenant of Promise, killing Him as well. Jesus testified that they too were of the evil one, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). To tie this in with the two Covenants, notice, "And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of Promise. (Covenant) But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also" (Gal.4:28-29).

Beware of "Proof Texts" taken out of Context

Consider that what we have studied has been exhaustive; so please do not allow "proof texts" taken out of context to cause you to stumble. Some will use what we’ve just read, -"You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace." to say that if you obey the Ten Commandments, this Scripture applies to you. But we have seen many N.T. Scriptures teaching believers to keep these Commandments. Paul, here is, referring to the Laws of Moses in the Sinai Covenant. This same Apostle taught, "Circumcision is nothing, or uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the Commandments of God" (1 Cor.7:19). Paul is not a teacher of lawlessness, but a teacher of the Laws of the right Covenant and a revelator of the true meaning and right use of the Torah.

Messianics may point to Acts 24 where Paul is standing before Governor Felix and says that he believes everything in the Law. What Paul actually said was that he believed everything in the Law that was "in accordance to the Way." That is, the Way of Christianity. He was severely persecuted by the Jews who made some false accusations against him, but he was clearly at odds with their teachings as attested to in his letters; so don’t just hang your faith on a "proof text" which does not match the context and revealed theology of the writer.

　

A Better Covenant: A Lesson in Contrasts

As Christians, we are under the terms of a better covenant than the one established at Sinai. It both precedes and supercedes it. It is as much better as freedom is better than bondage; as eternal spirit is better than temporal flesh.

Sinai Covenant: Added because of transgressions

Christian Covenant: Perfect Law of liberty

Sinai Covenant: Written on animal skins, ratified by animal blood

Christian Covenant: Written on the heart, ratified by the blood of Jesus.

Sinai Covenant: Says love your neighbor, hate your enemy

Christian Covenant: Says love your enemy, do good to those who hate you.

Sinai Covenant: Demands an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Christian Covenant: Demands that we turn the other cheek and leave vengeance to God

Sinai Covenant: Began with stubborn Israel after they rejected God’s offer to make them a nation of Kings and priests

Christian Covenant: Began with righteous Abel who had a heart to please God

Sinai Covenant: Lasts until Jesus, the promised seed, comes

Christian Covenant: Is everlasting

Sinai Covenant: Deals with a fleshly, stubborn people

Christian Covenant: Deals with a spiritual, obedient people

Sinai Covenant: Promises a fruitful land and a long healthy life

Christian Covenant: Promises the Kingdom of heaven and eternal life

Sinai Covenant: Requires the wearing of prescribed outward garments symbolizing righteousness

Christian Covenant: Requires putting on Christ and walking in the righteous acts of the Saints

Sinai Covenant: Commands animal sacrifice for sin every year to make atonement

Christian Covenant: Recognizes Jesus perfect sacrifice once and for all

Sinai Covenant: Says to stay utterly separate from the world

Christian Covenant: Says go into all the world and make disciples

Sinai Covenant: Requires physical circumcision

Christian Covenant: Requires circumcision of the heart

Sinai Covenant: Had Aaron as High Priest

Christian Covenant: Has Jesus, appearing as Melchizedek, as a High Priest

Sinai Covenant: Symbolized by Hagar and represents being a slave outside of God’s house

Christian Covenant: Symbolized by Sarah and represents becoming God’s house

Sinai Covenant: Represented by Ishmael, born through the will of man by natural means

Christian Covenant: Represented by Isaac, born through the promise of God through a supernatural miracle

Sinai Covenant: Focused on the letter of the law and the outward man

Christian Covenant: Focuses on the spirit of the law and the inward man

Sinai Covenant: Forbade committing adultery

Christian Covenant: Forbids holding an unlawful desire for a woman in your heart

Sinai Covenant: Forbade killing your brother

Christian Covenant: Forbids holding your brother in contempt in your heart

Sinai Covenant: Says don’t muzzle the ox which treads the grain

Christian Covenant: Says to give of your physical things to God’s servants who preach God’s word

Sinai Covenant: Corresponds to physical Jerusalem

Christian Covenant: Corresponds to spiritual Jerusalem, the Jerusalem above

Sinai Covenant: Severs adherents from Christ

Christian Covenant: Binds believers to Christ

Sinai Covenant: Justifies those who keep it perfectly through their works

Christian Covenant: Justifies those who receive it through faith in Jesus’ perfect works

 

Related Materials: "Understanding Galatians 4:8-12"

"Should Christians Be Torah Observant?"