Page 298 - Bible Writers Theology Original

282 ♦ Bible Writers'Theology Chapter Nine
Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a
stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness:" (I Corinthians 1:22-23).
9.2 The Old and New Covenants
According to the saving plan of God, the Church is not a continuation of the old covenant system. First, Israel and the Church are not synonymous terms. Paul distinguished- between Jews, Gentiles, and the Church (I Corinthians10:32). TheChurchisonebodycomposedofbelievingJewsand believing Gentiles. Paul teaches the distinction between the two covenants saying, "In that he saith, A new covenant, he has made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away" (Hebrews 8:13).
The old covenant had a worldly sanctuary "...in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience" (Hebrews 9:9): "For he testifieth. Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. For there is verily a disan nulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprof itableness thereof" (Hebrews 7:17-18). The ordinances of the old covenant,
weremadewithoutanoath," butJesuswas"madeasuretyofabettertes tament,"withanoathofGod. (SeeHebrews7:18-28;8:1-7;9:9-10.)
God made covenants with Noah (Genesis 6:18; 9:9-17), Abraham 15.8-18, 17:1-14; Galatians 3:8-28), Moses (Exodus 6:1; Deuteronomy 29:12-13), and David (II Samuel 7:4-19; Isaiah 55:3). The
Mosaic covenant was made between God and the circumcised nahon of Israel, starting in the wilderness. Nevertheless, this covenant rested on a heart of stone, which was "a ministration of death", and God promised to introduceanewcovenantremovingthisheartofstone(MosaicLaw). God
said he would give a heart of flesh (which is Christ) to His new covenant people (Ezekiel 36:25-27; IICorinthians 3:3-18).
The Old Testament ministration was the letter of condemnation and a curse for everyone who continued not in all things written therein to do them. TheministrationoftheSpirit,thenewcovenant,islifeandright eousness (Romans 10:5; Leviticus 18:5; Romans 14:17; II Corinthians 3:14-18). The took of Hebrews emphatically declares that Old Testament believers,
having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise," and that they should not be made perfect" without the New Covenant saints, who have received "some better thing" from God (Hebrews 11:39-40). The Old Covenant embraced exclusively the circumcised nation of Israel, whereas the New Covenant addresses all nations, and is for whosoever will.