What the Old and New Covenants Reveal About the Gospel, the Law and the Sabbath Skip MacCarty, D. Min “The LORD Confides in those who fear him’ he makes

In Granite or Ingrained: What the Old and New Covenants Reveal About the Gospel, the Law and the Sabbath

Skip MacCarty, D. Min

“The LORD Confides in those who fear him’ he makes his covenant known to them.” Ps 25:14

Abrahamic Covenant

Sinai Covenant “Old Covenant”

New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3

Promise/Faith Grace/LoveHoly Spirit

Heb 8:7-9, 13

Evangelical Model of the CovenantsEspecially the Old and New Covenants

1. Perfect, holy, just, righteous, spiritual

2. Written in the heart3. Ordained to life4. Established by faith5. Truth6. Converts the soul7. Liberty/freedom8. Fulfilled in the life of

Spirit-filled believers, kept by God’s saints

1. The power of sin, condemnation

2. Written on stone3. A letter that kills4. Not based on faith5. Veils the truth6. A curse7. Slavery/bondage8. Must die to in order

to have a relationship with Jesus

God’s law/Covenant/Commandments are:

Abrahamic Covenant

Sinai Covenant New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13

•Galatians 1:6-9 One Gospel

•Hebrews 4:2 Same Gospel in OT and NT

•Revelation 14:6 Everlasting Gospel to all

The New CovenantJer 31:31-34; Heb 8:10-12

The New Covenant“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Heb 8:10-12

New Covenant DNAJer 31:31-34; Heb 8:10-12

1.

2.

3.

4.

The New Covenant“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. [1] I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. [2] I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 [3] No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 [4] For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Heb 8:10-12


1. I will write my laws in their minds/hearts

2.

3.

4.



2. I will be their God; they will be my people

3.

4.




3. Everyone will know me; no one need teach people to know me

4.





4. I will forgive their sins

Ascribe a Theological Term to Each Promise Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:10-12










•Sanctification






•Sanctification

•Reconciliation






•Sanctification

•Reconciliation

•Revelation






•Sanctification

•Reconciliation

•Revelation/Mission






•Sanctification

•Reconciliation


•Justification






•Sanctification

•Reconciliation


•Justification

GospelHeb 4:2






•Sanctification

•Reconciliation


•Justification

GospelHeb 4:2Grace-based Gospel-bearing Mission-intended Faith-inducing

New Covenant at Sinai?

New Covenant DNA at SinaiJer 31:31-34; Heb 8:10-12





•Sanctification – Dt 30:6, 11-14/Rom 10:6-8; Ps 37:30-31; 40:8; Isa 51:7

•Reconciliation – Lev 26:12

•Revelation/Mission – Ex 19:5-6/Gen 28:14; Ps 67:1-2

•Justification– Ex 34:4-7

GospelHeb 4:2Grace-based

Ex 34:7Gospel-bearing

Heb 4:2 Mission-intendedEx 19:5-6; Ps 67:1-2

Faith-inducing Mt 23:23

How the Covenants Differed

If new covenant DNA was embedded in all God’s covenants, including and especially at Sinai, then why did God say the new covenant “will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them of Egypt” (Jer 31:32; Heb 8:9)?

How the Covenants Differed

1. God anticipated a different response – Heb 8:7-9; Mt 21:33-39

2. Like the “new” commandment which wasn’t new – 1 Jn 2:7-8; 2 Jn 5-6

4. Ceremonies changed• Circumcision Baptism• Animal sacrifices Lord’s Supper

3. A greater revelation of the same thing– Ex 6:2-3; Gen 15:1-8

5. Jesus came in the middle

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13


Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13

•Galatians 1:6-9 One Gospel

•Hebrews 4:2 Same Gospel in OT and NT

•Revelation 14:6 Everlasting Gospel to all

New Covenant DNA New Covenant DNANew Covenant DNA

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13New Covenant DNA New Covenant DNANew Covenant DNA

Evangelical Model of the Covenantsmisrepresents the unity and coherence of the New Covenant throughout Scripture.

A replacement model is needed

Covenant of GraceGod’s Universal Gift to Humanity

(Everlasting Gospel Bridge from Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored)

God’s Historical Old Covenant(Everlasting Gospel - OT Era)

CreationPost-Fall Adam

NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS

God’s Historical New Covenant(Everlasting Gospel - NT Era)

Holy-Spirit-Generated New Covenant Experience – Gospel Accepted and Internalized

Sinful-Nature-Generated Old Covenant Experience – Gospel Perverted and Externalized

Humanity’s Response to God’s Gift (faith or disbelief)

Gospel In Symbols

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New Covenant DNA

New Covenant DNA





NoahAbraham

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Gospel In Symbols

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New Covenant DNA

New Covenant DNA Above the lineHistorical Orientation

Below the lineExperiential Orientation

Galatians 4:21 – 5:1

“Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. 24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants.

Two CovenantsGalatians 4:21 – 5:1

Old Covenant/New Covenant

• Abraham’s son “by the slave woman” (4:22)

• Abraham’s son “by the free woman” (4:22)

• “Born according to the flesh” (4:23, 30)

• “Born as result of promise,” “born according to the Spirit” (4:23, 30)

• “Hagar… Mount Sinai… present Jerusalem… slavery” (4:25)

• “Jerusalem above” is “our mother”… “free” (4:26)

• “persecuted” the free son (4:29) • “Persecuted” by the slave son (4:29)

• “slave . . . will never share in the inheritance” (4:30)

• [“free woman’s son” shares in the inheritance] (4:30)

• “Burdened. . . By a yoke of slavery” (5:1)

• “Freedom… Christ has set us free” (5:1)

Two CovenantsGalatians 4:21 – 5:1

Old Covenant/New Covenant












What in this list would appear to support the Evangelical Model of the covenants? Old Covenant/New Covenant

Gal 4:21-5:1












Old Covenant/New Covenant Gal 4:21-5:1

What historical reference in this list does not match the Evangelical Model?

Galatians 4:21 – 5:1“Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise. 24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.”













These biblical concepts reveal that an experiential covenant model is in view

“The Flesh” Vs. “The Spirit”“Flesh gives birth to flesh” John 3:6 “Spirit gives birth to Spirit”

Can’t fulfill Law’s requirements Rom 8:4 Fulfills the Law’s requirements

Mind set on what flesh desires Rom 8:5 Mind set on what the Spirit desires

“Death”; “will die” Rom 8:6, 13 “Life and peace”; “will live”

“Hostile to God”; “Cannot submit to God’s law”

Rom 8:7 [Love God; “submit to God’s law”]

“Cannot please God” Rom 8:8 [Can “please God”]

“Does not belong to Christ” Rom 8:9, 14 “Does… belong to Christ”“Children of God”

Unrighteous works;“Won’t inherit kingdom of God”

Gal 5:19-24 Righteous fruit“inherit kingdom of God”

“Faultless” law righteousness Phil 3:4-10 “Righteousness from God by faith”

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3

Promise/Faith Grace/Love

Heb 8:7-9, 13

Evangelical Model of the Covenantsof the Old and New Covenants

An inadequate model for the “two covenants” of Galatians 4

“The Flesh” “The Spirit”



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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Below the line Experiential Orientation?

(Galatians 4:21 – 5:1)

Below the lineExperiential Orientation?

“The flesh”

“The Spirit”















These biblical concepts reveal that an experiential covenant model is in view

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“Never share in the

Inheritance”?“Share in the Inheritance”?

Evangelical Model of the Covenantsof the Old and New Covenants

An inadequate model for the “two covenants” of Galatians 4



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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(Galatians 4:21 – 5:1)


“No inheritance”

“Inherit the kingdom”














Which of these two lists describe the believers listed in Hebrews 11?




NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS




Gospel In Symbols

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Below the lineExperiential issues


(Hebrews 11 believers – Old Testament/New Covenant)



Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“The letter that

kills”?The Spirit that

gives life?


An adequate model for the of the old and new covenants of 2 Corinthians 3?

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“The letter that

kills”?The Spirit that

gives life?


An inadequate model for the of the old and new covenants of 2 Corinthians 3



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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(2 Corinthians 2:14 - 4:6)

“Perishing”



“The letter [that] kills,” “brings death”

“The letter [that] kills,” “brings death”

Above the lineHistorical Orientation



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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(2 Corinthians 2:14 - 4:6) “Being saved”




“The Spirit gives life/transforms”“The Spirit gives life/transforms”

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3

Grace/Faith

Heb 8:7-9, 13

“Bound by the Law” “Realm of the flesh” “Bore fruit for death”

“Married to Christ” “New way of the Spirit”

“Bore fruit for God”


An adequate model for died-to-the-law / married-to-Christ motif in Romans 7:1-6?

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3

Grace/Faith

Heb 8:7-9, 13

“Bound by the Law” “Realm of the flesh” “Bore fruit for death

“Married to Christ” “New way of the Spirit”

“Bore fruit for God”


An Inadequate model for died-to-the-law / married-to-Christ motif in Romans

7:1-6



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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“Bound by the Law of sin”

“Married to Christ


(Romans 7:1-6)





NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

Eter

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“Realm of the flesh”

“New way of the Spirit”


(Romans 7:1-6)





NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

Eter

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“Bore fruit for death”

“Bear fruit for God”


(Romans 7:1-6)



Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“Under the law” “Under grace”


An adequate model for the “under the law… under grace” concepts of Rom 6:14?

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“Under the law” “Under grace”


An inadequate model for the “under the law… under grace” concepts of Rom 6:14



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

Eter

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(Romans 6:14)


“Under the law”

“Under grace”



Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“Under the law” “Led by the Spirit”


An adequate model for the “under the law” vs. “led by the Spirit” in Gal 5:18?

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“Under the law”


An inadequate model for the “under the law” vs. “led by the Spirit” in Gal 5:18

“Led by the Spirit”



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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(Galatians 5:18)


“Under law”

“Led by the Spirit”





NoahAbraham

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Gospel In Symbols

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(1 Corinthians 15:56-57)


“The power of sin”

“Victory through Jesus”



Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“Not based on

faith”“Based on

Faith”


An adequate model for the Law’s relationship to faith in Gal 2:12?

Abrahamic Covenant


New Covenant

Promise/Faith

Gen 15:6, 18

Law/Obedience

Deut 4:12-13 5:2-3


Heb 8:7-9, 13“Not based on

faith”?Based on

Faith?


An inadequate model for the Law’s relationship to faith in Gal 2:12



NoahAbraham

Israel David JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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(Galatians 2:12)


“Not based on faith”

“Based on faith”



Hebrews 7-10

Hebrews 7-10

• A major NT passage on the old and new covenants which it calls the “first” and “new” covenants.

Hebrews 7-10


• The discussion focuses on the contrasts between the earthly (historical old covenant) and heavenly (historical new covenant) institutions of priesthood, sanctuary and sacrifices—an above-the-line orientation to the covenants. (In Granite or Ingrained?, 251-265)



NoahAbraham

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Gospel In Symbols

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Below the line Experiential Orientation

(Hebrews 7-10)

Priesthood, animal sacrifices, sanctuary Fulfilled in Jesus



Hebrews 7-10


• The discussion focuses on the contrasts between the earthly (historical old covenant) and heavenly (historical new covenant) institutions of priesthood, sanctuary and sacrifices—an above-the-line orientation to the covenants. (In Granite or Ingrained?, 251-265)

• But it also quotes (Heb 8:7-12) the definition God gave to Jeremiah of the new covenant, and then makes a statement in vs. 13 that evangelicals believe proves that the new covenant was not instituted until the NT historical period.

The New Covenant“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. [1] I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. [2] I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 [3] No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 [4] For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Heb 8:10-12 “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” Heb 8:13

Hebrews 8:13 “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one

obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”

That this statement does not refer to God’s OT promises and moral law is evident in that the discussion in Heb 7-10 focuses primarily on the obsoleteness of the ceremonial elements of the historical old covenant (OT sanctuary, priesthood and animal sacrifices) now that Jesus has fulfilled their symbolism and ministers in the heavenly sanctuary for us. Also, God’s new covenant definition—the four gospel promises—are embedded in all His covenants, including and especially His covenant at Sinai. What are “obsolete and outdated” are the ceremonial elements, not God’s OT promises or moral law.



It is likely that God included His trans-generational and experiential definition of the new covenant where He did (Heb 8:7-12) in this dominantly historical discussion of the covenants (Heb 7-10), as a parenthetical statement, reiterating that people in both historical dispensations of His Covenant of Grace were saved through faith in the same gospel promises.

Heb 7 - 8:6 (Heb 8:7-12)Parenthetical

Heb 8:13 - 10



Heb 7 - 8:6•The priesthood

and sacrifices of the OT “first covenant” were transitory types of the perfect sacrifice and heavenly priesthood of Jesus

(Heb 8:7-12) Parenthetical

Heb 8:13 - 10





(Heb 8:7-12) Parenthetical

Heb 8:13 - 10•The priesthood and

sacrifices of the “first covenant” are “obsolete” and “will soon disappear” now that Jesus has ratified His covenant promises once for all by His sacrifice





(Heb 8:7-12)• (The “new

covenant” promises that span and unify the OC and NC historical dispensations with the “eternal gospel”)

Heb 8:13 - 10•The priesthood and

sacrifices of the “first covenant” are “obsolete” and “will soon disappear” now that Jesus has ratified His covenant promises once for all by His sacrifice





NoahAbraham

IsraelDavid JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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NC Promises

NC Promises



(Hebrews 7-10)

(Hebrews 8:7-12)

Priesthood, animal sacrifices, sanctuary Fulfilled in Jesusobsoleteobsolete

PermanentAbove the lineHistorical Orientation



NoahAbraham

IsraelDavid JESUS





Gospel In Symbols

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NC Promises

NC Promises



(Hebrews 7-10)

(Hebrews 8:7-12)

Priesthood, animal sacrifices, sanctuary Fulfilled in Jesusobsoleteobsolete

Permanent

Covenant of RedemptionGod’s Universal Gift to Humanity




NoahAbraham

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Gospel In Symbols

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New Covenant DNA

New Covenant DNA

Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 32?

Documents

What the Old and New Covenants Reveal About the Gospel, the Law and the Sabbath Skip MacCarty, D. Min “The LORD Confides in those who fear him’ he makes