Old & New Covenant

Genghiz Cohen

Inspired by this

What are the differences between the Old and New Covenant?
When was the switch over(for lack of a better term)?
My knowledge is sketchy at best so go slowly

Seaneh

Genghiz Cohen wrote: »

Inspired by this

What are the differences between the Old and New Covenant?
When was the switch over(for lack of a better term)?
My knowledge is sketchy at best so go slowly

Here, this should help.

antiskeptic

Genghiz Cohen wrote: »

Inspired by this

What are the differences between the Old and New Covenant?
When was the switch over(for lack of a better term)?
My knowledge is sketchy at best so go slowly

My knowledge is sketchy too

But in essence, the Old Convenant (or contract) governs dealings between man and God and was conditional in nature: if man obeyed Gods Laws then he would be blessed by (and ultimately saved by) God. Mans obedience to the Law was the basis of the condition being applied or not.

The New Covenant also governs dealing between man and God but is unconditional in nature. In other words, a man is blessed (and ultimately saved) by God, aside from his adhering to God's law. His being blessed by God doesn't rely on his being good, moral, upstanding in other words.


(You can evaluate a faith system yourself just by looking at the basis by which man finds favour with God (especially wrt salvation/positive afterlife outcome). According to the above it is pretty clear that the likes of Islam, Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovahs Witness-ism are Old Covenant style religions. Your position before God depends on your obedience to his Laws)

As to when the big switch? It would appear that both covenants existed from the start. Adam was given an instruction with conditions attached relating to his favourable position before God (Old Covenant) yet as soon as Adam fell, God's way of salvation by grace (New Convenant) was indicated. When it comes to more formal expression of both, Abrahams 'conversion' experience would appear to be a clear enough mention of the New (albeit it in veiled form still) and the giving of the Law in Exodus and signalling of the Old.


Globally, the Old Contract can be seen to govern relationships between lost men and God. Lost men are subject (in the salvific sense) the Law of God: break the Law and your bunched! Saved men are subject to the New Contract: their salvation is achieved by God - and not by their adherance to His law. All men are born lost and so are subject to the Old Contract until they, like Abraham (or me) are born again - at which point they are governed by the New Contract with the Old Contract being torn up by God.

Which is why it's called good news. It dispenses with the bad news (being subject to the Old Contract)

wolfsbane

Seaneh wrote: »

Here, this should help.

Neat!