The Ten Commandments are the Covenant, did you know?

[JesusFollowerForever]

The PROMISE [of Christ thee seed that would redeem] came 430 years before THE LAW came. The Law was only added because of continual sinning by Israel. Now, the below verses in Gal. 3 destroys your thesis my friend. Why not accept this as factual and move on? As a matter of fact Paul calls the Galatians FOOLISH because having come to Christ BY FAITH (in the spirit) they had started serving God by (THE LAW) trying to please God vis the [works of] THE FLESH. Paul rebukes them, and basically he's saying STOP trying to be Jews is order to gain heaven [by works of the flesh]. This is the chapter that so confuses many people that they think the Church has taken Israel place.

They do this all because Paul is basically saying "HEY Galatian's stop trying to make it to heaven by keeping the Law of Moses" we are all ONE in Christ on how we get to heaven via FAITH ALONE, both Jew and Gentile, Slave and Freeman, Male & Female. How come no one ever says thee is now only ONE SEX? Its the exact same principle being used, if we are all one as a Church new and thus there is no Jew nor Gentile, then that would mean Paul is also claiming we are all one sex now because there are no Male nor Females in Christ. But of course by looking at THE CONTEXT we understand that this is just Paul rebuking the Galatians for foolishly turning back unto the law instead serving God in the Spirit (By Faith alone). The below verses proves this 1000 percent, we are not under THE LAW, but under THE PRIOMISE. And by the way, the Promise was the original Covenant, not the Law who came 430 years later, so its not really a New Covenant, its just new to those Jews who had only known the Law of Moses, but it was never new really, Abraham was considered Righteous because HE BELIEVED God (FAITH ALONE).


Gal. 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. (The LAW which came 430 years after the PROMISE can not void the Promise)

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed(Jesus) should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (We are no longer under THE LAW says Paul)

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

So, its very cleaer, we ARE NOT under the Law, but the Promise.

How can a word of one man, Paul , nullify the law? What about Christ said of the law? was he wrong when he said;


Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

Mat 5:18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Mat 5:19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

you have to understand the law Paul was referring to was the laws of Moses added as you say because of transgression and that some of them cannot be followed today like the sacrificial laws. Jesus clearly says that the Commandments would not change, he was teaching the commandments and did not abolish them.

please see the post for more info;

THE LAW OF MOSES FLOWS FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS​

 

[RandyPNW]

They do this all because Paul is basically saying "HEY Galatian's stop trying to make it to heaven by keeping the Law of Moses" we are all ONE in Christ on how we get to heaven via FAITH ALONE, both Jew and Gentile, Slave and Freeman, Male & Female. How come no one ever says thee is now only ONE SEX? Its the exact same principle being used, if we are all one as a Church new and thus there is no Jew nor Gentile, then that would mean Paul is also claiming we are all one sex now because there are no Male nor Females in Christ.

Yes, Paul was not saying that the distinctions of Israel/Gentile and male/female had ceased, but only that *for purposes of Salvation,* they had lost their relevance. Under the Law, the distinction between Jew and Gentile was critical because in following the Law the Jew had a temporary connection to God and to His blessings. The Gentiles were excluded because they had no such contract.

But under the New Covenant, the message included Gentiles, making the distinction between Jew and Gentile, who are now under a single contract, irrelevant. In the same way, the male/female distinction under the Law no longer required all kinds of different things for men and women, eg cleansing ceremonies for childbirth. The new contract with God depended not on the ceremonies undertaken by sin-infected Jews but rather on Christ's death on the cross as a sinless man.

But of course by looking at THE CONTEXT we understand that this is just Paul rebuking the Galatians for foolishly turning back unto the law instead serving God in the Spirit (By Faith alone). The below verses proves this 1000 percent, we are not under THE LAW, but under THE PRIOMISE. And by the way, the Promise was the original Covenant, not the Law who came 430 years later, so its not really a New Covenant, its just new to those Jews who had only known the Law of Moses, but it was never new really, Abraham was considered Righteous because HE BELIEVED God (FAITH ALONE).

What Paul was distinguishing was not just that the covenant of Abraham was for all and that the covenant of Moses was only for Israel. More, Paul noted that the Law, which was exclusively for Israel, would eventually have to eliminate the things that excluded Gentiles. And he asserted that there was something unique about Abraham's covenant that would allow this to take place, namely the element of "Promise."

The doom of Moses' covenant was Israel's failure to obtain final justification by offering their own flawed obedience to God under that system. But by the element of "Promise" under Abraham's covenant God would provide a means of showing mercy to both Israel and the Gentiles despite the shortcomings of Israel's flawed worship under the Law.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

We are to be loyal to God, especially when our church is teaching error, like we no longer need to keep God's commandments or they have authority to edit when God said not to. The only way to safeguard our salvation is through Christ, not our church.

You mentioned two passages in Revelation

1. And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, 'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death. Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!' So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus. Rev 12:7-17 NRSV
2. Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand! Another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, 'Use your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.' So the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, 'Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.' So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth, and he threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the wine press, as high as a horse's bridle, for a distance of about two hundred miles. Rev 14:14-20 NRSV

I do not see the link that your post suggests exists between these passages.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

You mentioned two passages in Revelation

1. And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, 'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death. Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!' So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus. Rev 12:7-17 NRSV
2. Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand! Another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, 'Use your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.' So the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, 'Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.' So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth, and he threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the wine press, as high as a horse's bridle, for a distance of about two hundred miles. Rev 14:14-20 NRSV

I do not see the link that your post suggests exists between these passages.

Thanks for reading the quotes, I accidently posted the wrong verse.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Thanks for reading the quotes, I accidently posted the wrong verse.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

I want to ask you, how do you interpret "the commandments of God"?

 

[SabbathBlessings]

I want to ask you, how do you interpret "the commandments of God"?

Well, they definitely include the commandment that God supernaturally wrote and spoke on the Authority of God that He claims as His commandments. His personal Testimony Deut 4:13 Exo 34:28 Exo 32:16 Exo 31:18 Exo 20:6

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Well, they definitely include the commandments God that were both written and spoken on the Authority of God that He claimed as His. His personal Testimony Deut 4:13 Exo 34:28 Exo 32:16 Exo 31:18 Exo 20:6

You interpret it to mean "the ten commandments"?

 

[SabbathBlessings]

You interpret it to mean "the ten commandments"?

As I said they include them- God called them His - does not God get the right to determine what is His or not? Or do we? I am not aware of anyone with more authority than God. Not even our church, this would in essence break the very first commandment Exo 20:3

Deut 4:13 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Exo 20:6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

As I said they include them- God called them His - does not God get the right to determine what is His or not? Or do we? I am not aware of anyone with more authority than God.

Deut 4:13 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Exo 20:6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

I was curious, SDAs often refer to the ten commandments. And especially the Sabbath commandment. It seems to be central in their thinking, a pillar of their teaching about end times.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

I was curious, SDAs often refer to the ten commandments. And especially the Sabbath commandment. It seems to be central in their thinking, a pillar of their teaching about end times.

Yes, we do refer to the Ten Commandments often but we truly do not treat the Sabbath any different than the other 9 commandments. In Scripture, we break one we break them all James 2:10-12 They only reason we focus on it is because man teaches to forget or that is was edited, but God said to Remember, not a jot or tittle can pass Mat 5:18, I will not edit the words of My covenant Psa 89:34. In the end I believe the Sabbath will determine the test of loyalty, much like the tree in the garden was the test for Adam and Eve. Scripture tells us whoever we obey, is who we serve. Rom 6:16, so do we serve God and remember the Sabbath day, which God said is the seventh day to keep it holy Exo 20:8-11 or do we follow popular traditions and do something different despite what Jesus told us Mat 15:3-14 Mark 7:7-13 There are many gods of this world but only one God of Creation, the Sabbath points us back to this God Exo 20:11 and is a sign that He is our God Eze 20:20, our Creator and re-Creator through sanctification Eze 20:12 as we can't sanctify ourselves, we need God. I believe it was by design that God choose to place His seal right in the Sabbath commandment and a seal can only be broken by the one who seals it. God promises He wouldn't break, so that's where I place my faith in the God of Creation Exo 20:11 same God of Judgement Rev 14:7, God who personally wrote His law, because He knows what is best for His children Psa 19:7 and we keep through love and faith Exo 20:6 John 14:15 1 John 5:3

 

[hedrick]

The discussion here turned immediately to questions of the covenant for Christians. But I have a problem with the OP even in the OT context. I believe one sentence has been blown out of proportion, ignoring the rest of the OT.

First, at the very least the 10 commandments would be half the covenant. A covenant has obligations from both sides. God's commitment to save his people would be part of it as well.

But beyond that, the prophets judged various things to be violations of the covenant that aren't in the 10 commandments, e.g. the standard accusation of oppressing widows, orphans and immigrants.

Israel's obligation was broader, it was doing everything that God told them to.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

The discussion here turned immediately to questions of the covenant for Christians. But I have a problem with the OP even in the OT context. I believe one sentence has been blown out of proportion, ignoring the rest of the OT.

First, at the very least the 10 commandments would be half the covenant. A covenant has obligations from both sides. God's commitment to save his people would be part of it as well.

But beyond that, the prophets judged various things to be violations of the covenant that aren't in the 10 commandments, e.g. the standard accusation of oppressing widows, orphans and immigrants.

Israel's obligation was broader, it was doing everything that God told them to.

I think the definition of the covenant given by GOD is as explained in the O.P. is the right one;

"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone (Deuteronomy 4:13, NKJV)

it is also confirmed by the contents or the ARK of the Covenant, where the 2 tables of stone containing the 10 Commandments written by the finger of GOD himself were placed within. I think it is very clear, surprising to many I understand but cannot be overlooked. For the rest of the Laws given to Moses , these books were placed outside the Ark of the Covenant.

it is true that Israel's obligation was broader and they obeyed the rest of the law of Moses. This law given by Moses were derived from the ten commandments that served as a basis for the rest, of course all these laws rests on Love first to our Creator YHVH and to our neighbour also. I am not an expert of the law of Moses but I know many of these laws cannot be followed today such as sacrificial requirements to atone for sin since Jesus paid willingly the penalty once and for all.

I wrote a bit more on the topic if you are interested see the link below;

THE LAW OF MOSES FLOWS FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS​

Blessings.

 

[Fisherking]

There is a law that defines sin for breaking God's law 1 John 3:4 Romans 7:7 and a law that was added because of sin for breaking God's law, because sin is lawlessness 1 John 3:4.

Gal 3:19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.

So two laws, not one.

When Jesus came did He teach we can now worship other gods, vain His holy name, covet, and now steal or break the least of these commandments, He taught the opposite Mat 5:19 so obviously two different laws and the law that ended until the Seed came was the sacrificial law for the forgiveness of sins. Heb 10:1-22 Heb 9:10-15 Why we no longer sacrifice animals for sin, because Jesus became our Sacrificial Lamb. Is it still a sin to covet or steal or worship other gods, of course so, so different laws with different purposes.

I love how people use this against keeping God's law. If the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, can we just skip school, not keep the law and have a college degree. What school ever teaches one to lose their knowledge? When the law brings us to Christ, what does He teach, that we don't have to keep the law? He taught if you love Me, keep My commandments, not to break or teach others the break the least of these commandments Mat 5:19-30. Why His law is perfect for converting the soul Psa 19:7 When do we ever want an unconverted soul?

I think many misunderstand Paul when he says we are not under the law, he explains himself clearly what he means

Rom 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Being under the law means being under the condemnation of the law that the whole world, may be guilty before God. The wages of sin is death, being under the condemnation of the law if not in Christ. Those in Christ abide in Him, keeping His commandments following in His footsteps 1 John 10:5-10 1 John 2:6

Paul is not teaching lawlessness because Jesus will say depart from Me, those who practice lawlessness at His Second Coming Mat 7:23

This is what Paul is teaching in context

Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The condemnation of the law Rom 3:19, not the law itself as Paul clearly shows....

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God

The Holy Spirit writes the law on our hearts, if we yield to the holy spirit we will never walk in sin, even though we have sin nature and sin by omission at times, those who walk in the holy spirit via letting him guide their lives walk not in willful sins.

The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, we know what is right and wrong, but you or eye keeping the Law CANNOT make us Righteous, only Faith in the Promise can.

 

[Fisherking]

How can a word of one man, Paul , nullify the law? What about Christ said of the law? was he wrong when he said;


Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

He fulfilled the Laws of a Sacrificial Requirement for Atonement? I think you missed what he meant there.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

The Holy Spirit writes the law on our hearts, if we yield to the holy spirit we will never walk in sin, even though we have sin nature and sin by omission at times, those who walk in the holy spirit via letting him guide their lives walk not in willful sins.

The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, we know what is right and wrong, but you or eye keeping the Law CANNOT make us Righteous, only Faith in the Promise can.

The purpose of the law is to show us our sin so we are not depending our version of righteousness, but instead on God's Psa 119:172 and the last thing we want to do is cover our sin because we didn't allow God to define it. Pro 28:13 1 John 3:4 James 2:10-12

Paul relied on the law to show us sin, if he needed the law, I am pretty sure we do too

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

The Holy Spirit helps us keep these commandments through our love of Him

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

The Holy Spirit is given to convict us of sin and come out of our rebellion if we hear His voice Heb 3:7-8, by breaking God's law and His Spirit leads us in remembrance what God said, His Word. John 16:8, 13

The Holy Spirit resides in those who obey God

Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
1 John 3:24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

 

[ARBITER01]

The Bible does present the Ten Commandments as the covenant itself. In Exodus 34:28, it is written:

"So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."​

​

"So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone (Deuteronomy 4:13, NKJV)​

This clearly states that the Ten Commandments are the covenant. When we look at Jeremiah 31:31-33, we see God speaking of a new covenant, but notice what He says:

"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord.​

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."​

This passage does not say the law itself would change. Instead, it tells us that instead of being written on stone, it would be written in our hearts and minds. That means the law remains the same, but its place changes, from external tablets to internal conviction. This is why we see in the Gospels of John, Matthew, Luke and Mark, Jesus teaching the commandments and magnifying them.

Now, let's connect this with the Ark of the Covenant. In Deuteronomy 10:1-5, God commanded Moses to place the two tablets of the Ten Commandments inside the Ark:

​

"At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make yourself an ark of wood... Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are, just as the Lord commanded me.’"​

This shows the special place of the Ten Commandments, inside the Ark, symbolizing their central role in the covenant. But what about the rest of the law? In Deuteronomy 31:24-26, Moses wrote the book of the law and placed it beside the Ark:

"So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying: ‘Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you.’”​

This distinction is important. The Ten Commandments were placed inside the Ark, showing their eternal, unchanging nature as the foundation of the covenant. The rest of the law was placed beside the Ark, acting as a witness.

Now, when Jeremiah speaks of the law being written in our hearts, he is speaking of the same law—the Ten Commandments. The "new" part of the covenant is not that the law changes but that God Himself ensures it is within us, guiding us from within rather than being an external set of rules. This aligns perfectly with how Jesus upheld and fulfilled the law, always pointing back to love for God and neighbor as the foundation of obedience (Matthew 22:36-40).

So, the New Covenant is not about replacing the Ten Commandments but about making them part of who we are, just as they were placed inside the Ark.

Blessings

Let me ask you one question,... is it a new covenant or a re-newed covenant?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

"So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.""So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone (Deuteronomy 4:13, NKJV)

What was saint Paul teaching in this passage?

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.​

​

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ towards God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.​

​

Now if the ministry of death, chiselled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory so that the people of Israel could not gaze at Moses' face because of the glory of his face, a glory now set aside, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory! Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory; for if what was set aside came through glory, much more has the permanent come in glory!​

​

Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.​

2Co 3:1-18 NRSV

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

Let me ask you one question,... is it a new covenant or a re-newed covenant?

NEW

The New Covenant is the fulfillment of God’s promises, established through the work of Jesus Christ. It is a divine agreement that brings believers into a new relationship with God, distinct from the Old Covenant. This covenant is based not on the law written on stone, but on a heart transformed by God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Let us examine the core elements of the New Covenant, as revealed in the Scriptures, using the New King James Version (NKJV).

The foundation of the New Covenant is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed on the cross, seals this new agreement. As He instituted the covenant during the Last Supper, He declared:

"This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20).​

This moment is important. Jesus, by His death, makes forgiveness of sins possible for all who believe in Him. The covenant is sealed in His blood, and through it, the promise of redemption is extended to humanity.

A defining feature of the New Covenant is the transformation it brings to the hearts of God’s people. Unlike the Old Covenant, which was external, relying on written laws and rituals, the New Covenant is internal. God promises to change the hearts of His people, enabling them to live according to His will, not by external command but by an internal transformation. The prophet Jeremiah foretold of this change:

"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jeremiah 31:33).​

Through the New Covenant, God's law is no longer an external set of rules to follow, but becomes part of the believer’s inner being. This internal change is the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live in alignment with God’s will. Another key promise of the New Covenant, is the complete forgiveness of sins. Under the Old Covenant, the sacrifices of animals covered sin temporarily, but they could never fully cleanse the conscience. In contrast, the New Covenant offers total forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The prophet Jeremiah continues:

"For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more" (Jeremiah 31:34).​

This promise is fulfilled in the sacrifice of Christ. The forgiveness offered under the New Covenant is permanent, once and for all. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, believers receive complete remission of their sins, a forgiveness that is not conditional on further sacrifices but is freely given.

One of the most profound aspects of the New Covenant is the intimate relationship it establishes between God and His people. Unlike the Old Covenant, where access to God was mediated through priests and rituals, the New Covenant opens the door to direct fellowship with God. Each believer can now know God personally, experiencing His presence through the Holy Spirit. As Jeremiah prophesied:

"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 31:34).​

This new relationship is characterized by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who leads believers into all truth and empowers them to live for God. In the New Covenant, the veil is torn, and all who believe can approach God boldly, knowing that they are accepted in Christ

The New Covenant brings with it the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God who enables believers to walk in the ways of the Lord. In Ezekiel, God promises to give His people a new heart and spirit:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).​

Through the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live out the righteous standards of God. The Spirit not only changes the heart but also guides, comforts, and strengthens God's people to live in a way that honors Him.

While the Old Covenant was given specifically to the nation of Israel, the New Covenant extends to all people, Jew and Gentile alike. The promises of the New Covenant are available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and receives the forgiveness of sins through His sacrifice.

"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).​

The New Covenant, therefore, is not restricted by ethnicity or nationality. It is an open invitation to all who will come to Christ in faith.

The ultimate goal of the New Covenant is the eternal inheritance that believers receive. This inheritance is not of this world but is a promised future in the Kingdom of God. The New Covenant provides not only forgiveness and restoration but also the hope of eternal life with God.

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom'" (Matthew 26:26-29).​

This promise of eternal life in God's kingdom is the final fulfillment of the New Covenant. It is a promise that believers who follow the teachings of Jesus can look forward to—a life free from sin and suffering, in the presence of God forever.

Blessings

 

[ARBITER01]

NEW

The New Covenant is the fulfillment of God’s promises, established through the work of Jesus Christ. It is a divine agreement that brings believers into a new relationship with God, distinct from the Old Covenant. This covenant is based not on the law written on stone, but on a heart transformed by God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Let us examine the core elements of the New Covenant, as revealed in the Scriptures, using the New King James Version (NKJV).

The foundation of the New Covenant is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood, shed on the cross, seals this new agreement. As He instituted the covenant during the Last Supper, He declared:

"This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20).​

This moment is important. Jesus, by His death, makes forgiveness of sins possible for all who believe in Him. The covenant is sealed in His blood, and through it, the promise of redemption is extended to humanity.

A defining feature of the New Covenant is the transformation it brings to the hearts of God’s people. Unlike the Old Covenant, which was external, relying on written laws and rituals, the New Covenant is internal. God promises to change the hearts of His people, enabling them to live according to His will, not by external command but by an internal transformation. The prophet Jeremiah foretold of this change:

"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jeremiah 31:33).​

Through the New Covenant, God's law is no longer an external set of rules to follow, but becomes part of the believer’s inner being. This internal change is the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live in alignment with God’s will. Another key promise of the New Covenant, is the complete forgiveness of sins. Under the Old Covenant, the sacrifices of animals covered sin temporarily, but they could never fully cleanse the conscience. In contrast, the New Covenant offers total forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The prophet Jeremiah continues:

"For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more" (Jeremiah 31:34).​

This promise is fulfilled in the sacrifice of Christ. The forgiveness offered under the New Covenant is permanent, once and for all. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, believers receive complete remission of their sins, a forgiveness that is not conditional on further sacrifices but is freely given.

One of the most profound aspects of the New Covenant is the intimate relationship it establishes between God and His people. Unlike the Old Covenant, where access to God was mediated through priests and rituals, the New Covenant opens the door to direct fellowship with God. Each believer can now know God personally, experiencing His presence through the Holy Spirit. As Jeremiah prophesied:

"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 31:34).​

This new relationship is characterized by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who leads believers into all truth and empowers them to live for God. In the New Covenant, the veil is torn, and all who believe can approach God boldly, knowing that they are accepted in Christ

The New Covenant brings with it the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit of God who enables believers to walk in the ways of the Lord. In Ezekiel, God promises to give His people a new heart and spirit:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).​

Through the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live out the righteous standards of God. The Spirit not only changes the heart but also guides, comforts, and strengthens God's people to live in a way that honors Him.

While the Old Covenant was given specifically to the nation of Israel, the New Covenant extends to all people, Jew and Gentile alike. The promises of the New Covenant are available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and receives the forgiveness of sins through His sacrifice.

"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).​

The New Covenant, therefore, is not restricted by ethnicity or nationality. It is an open invitation to all who will come to Christ in faith.

The ultimate goal of the New Covenant is the eternal inheritance that believers receive. This inheritance is not of this world but is a promised future in the Kingdom of God. The New Covenant provides not only forgiveness and restoration but also the hope of eternal life with God.

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom'" (Matthew 26:26-29).​

This promise of eternal life in God's kingdom is the final fulfillment of the New Covenant. It is a promise that believers who follow the teachings of Jesus can look forward to—a life free from sin and suffering, in the presence of God forever.

Blessings

Yes,... and very well said.

This is why we have such passages from our NT Apostles,...

For there is indeed, a nullifying of the previous commandment, on account of its weakness and unprofitableness (for The Law perfecteth nothing),

And the bringing in thereupon of a better hope, whereby we draweth nigh unto GOD.

 

[ARBITER01]

The Church is the body of Christ and as such Christians ought to be loyal to the Church because she is Christ's body.

Jesus is to be Lord in our hearts, not any denomination.