The Old Covenant Compared to the New Covenant
Throughout the Church Age, there have been many religious institutions and groups that have advocated the keeping of certain Old Testament laws. The two most popular O.T. laws today are tithing and sabbath keeping. Some groups take the concept so far as to wear fringes on their underwear! We realize that there is nothing wrong with someone setting aside money or time to the Lord, but there is something wrong with using Old Testament laws as the basis for doing so. Christians are to rely on the Holy Spirit for our direction and not the Mosaic Law. The following table shows conclusively that the Mosaic Law has ended and is no longer in effect, and that the Law of the Spirit is the present manifestation of God's direction for our lives.
| Mosaic Covenant | New Covenant |
|---|---|
| Old covenant II Cor. 3:14 | New covenant II Cor. 3:6 |
| First covenant Heb. 8:7, 9:1 | Second covenant Heb. 8:7, 10:1-9 |
| Came by Moses John 1:17 | Came by Christ Heb. 8:6, 9:15 |
| Law of Moses Acts 13:38-39 | Law of Christ Gal. 6:2 |
| Law of sin Rom. 7:5-6 | Law of righteousness Rom. 9:30-31 |
| Law of the flesh Rom. 7:5-6 | Law of the Spirit Rom. 8:2 |
| Not of faith Gal. 3:2 | Law of faith Rom. 3:27 |
| Yoke of bondage Gal. 5:1 | Law of liberty Jam. 1:25 |
| Ended by Christ Rom. 10:4 | Established by Christ Heb. 8:6, 10:9 |
| Law of death II Cor. 3:7 | Law of life Gal. 3:11, 6:8 |
| Entangles Gal. 5:1 | Makes free John 8:32, 36 |
| A shadow Col. 2:14-17 | The reality Heb. 10:1-18 |
| Fulfilled Mat. 5:17-18 | Now in force Heb. 8:6, 10:9 |
| Leaves imperfect Heb. 7:19 | Makes perfect Heb. 7:19 |
| Glorious II Cor. 3:7 | More glorious II Cor. 3:8-10 |
| Powerless to save Heb. 9:9, 10:4 | Saves to uttermost Heb. 7:25 |
| Many sacrifices Heb. 9:12-13 | One sacrifice for sin Heb. 10:12 |
| Temporary priest Heb. 7:23 | Eternal priest Heb. 7:17 |
| Remembers sins Heb. 10:3 | Forgets sins Heb. 8:12, 10:17 |
| Yearly atonement Heb. 10:3 | Eternal atonement Heb. 10:14 |
| Priests have sin Heb. 5:1-4 | Sinless priest Heb. 7:26 |
| Aaronic priesthood >Heb. 7:11 | Melchisedec priesthood Heb. 5:5-10, 7:21 |
| Out of Levi Heb 7:11 | Out of Judah Heb. 7:14 |
| Animal sacrifices Heb. 9:12 | Human sacrifice Heb. 9:14-28 |
| Earthly tabernacle Heb. 9:2 | Heavenly tabernacle Heb. 8:2 |
| Imperfect mediator Gal. 3:19 | Sinless mediator I Tim. 2:5 |
| No inheritance Rom. 4:13 | Eternal inheritance Heb. 9:15 |
| Instituted upon animal blood Heb. 9:16-22 | Instituted upon blood of Christ Mat. 26-28 |
| Law of works Rom. 3:27 | Law of grace and faith John 1:17 |
| Works wrath Rom. 4:15 | Saves from wrath Rom. 5:9 |
| Non-redeeming Heb. 10:4 | Redeems Gal. 3:13, Heb. 9:12-15 |
| Non-pleasing Ps. 40:6 | Pleasing to God Heb 10:5-18 |
| Abolishment predicted Is. 51:6 | Establishment predicted Heb. 8:7 |
| Circumcision Ex. 12:48 | No circumcision Rom. 4:9-12 |
| Made to change Heb. 7:12, Gal. 3:25 | Made eternal Heb. 13:20 |
| Faulty Heb. 8:7 | Perfect James 1:25 |
| Weak Heb. 7:18 | Strong Heb. 7:25 |
| Unprofitable Heb. 7:18 | Profitable Heb. 7:19,25 |
| Natural program Heb. 9:10-14 | Spiritual program II Cor. 3:6, 18 |
| Daily program Heb. 7:27 | Finished program Heb. 10:10-18 |
| Infirm high priests Heb. 5:2, 7:28 | Perfect high priest Heb. 7:26 |
| Made priests by law Heb. 7:12, 28 | Made priests by an oath Heb. 7:21, 28 |
| No salvation Heb. 10:2-4 | Eternal salvation Heb. 5:9, 10:10 |
| Perfected nothing Heb. 7:19 | Perfects believers Heb. 7:19, 10:14 |
| Earthly priests Heb. 5:1-4 | Heavenly priest Heb. 9:24, 10:12 |
| Repeated inability Heb. 10:11 | Glorious success Heb. 10:10-18 |
| Many offerings Heb. 9:7 | One offering Heb. 10:10-14 |
| Good promises Dt. 28:1-14 | Better promises Heb. 8:6 |
| A good covenant Rom 7:12 | A better covenant Heb. 7:22, 8:6 |
| Many high priests Heb. 7:23 | One high priest Heb. 7:24-28 |
| Typical tabernacle Heb. 9 | True tabernacle Heb. 8:2, 9:11 |
| No mercy Heb. 10:28 | Complete mercy Heb. 8:12 |
| Handmade things Heb. 9:1-5, 24 | Not handmade Heb. 9:23-24 |
| An old way Heb. 8:13 | New and living way Heb. 10:19-20 |
| Unavailing ministers Heb. 7:18 | Able ministers II Cor. 3:6 |
| Carnal ministry Heb. 9:9-10 | Spiritual ministry II Cor. 3:6 |
| Ministration of condemnation II Cor. 3:9 | Ministration of righteousness II Cor. 3:9 |
| Glory covered II Cor. 3:13 | Glory uncovered II Cor. 3:18 |
| Brings bondage Gal. 4:24-25 | Brings liberty II Cor. 3:17 |
| Cannot justify Gal. 2:16 | Does justify Acts 13:38-39 |
| Brings a curse Gal. 3:10 | Redeems from the curse Gal. 3:13 |
| Live by works Gal 3:10 | Live by faith Gal. 3:11 |
| Cannot give life Gal. 3:21 | Does give life John 6:63-68 |
| Exposes sin Gal 3:19 | Covers sin Rom. 4:1-8 |
| Under law Rom 6:14-15 | Under grace Gal. 3:22-25 |
| Done away II Cor. 3:7-14 | Not done away II Cor. 3:11 |
| Abolished II Cor. 3:13 | Continues glorious II Cor. 3:11 |
| Ministry of death II Cor. 3:7 | Reconciliation ministry II Cor. 5:18 |
| For Israel only Dt. 4:7-8, 5:3 | For all men Luke 22:20, Mark 14:24 |
Mixing the Old Covenant with the New is liking mixing the blood of bulls and goats with the blood of Christ. Foolish Christians, who has bewitched you?! (Gal. 3:1)