Page 17 - Torch Magazine #26 - Autumn 2024

CUFI ORG UK
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you you and multiplying I will multiply multiply you you ”
Hebrews 6:13 Confusion over covenants
The The false teaching of Replacement Theology has the the the tendency to obscure how Christians view the the the the the Covenants in the the the the the context of the the the the the Church It is is therefore important to understand how the the the the Covenants are framed in the the New Testament The New Covenant Covenant has NOT replaced the Abrahamic Covenant Covenant Some Christians wrongly confuse the the Mosaic Covenant Covenant (conditional) and the the Abrahamic Covenant Covenant (unconditional) As a a a a a a a a a a a a result they wrongly assert that the the the New Covenant Covenant has replaced the the the the Abrahamic Covenant Covenant Covenant However only the the Mosaic Covenant Covenant is described as having been made obsolete by the the the introduction of the the the New Covenant Nowhere in in the the the Bible does it say that God’s promises to Abraham have been replaced by the the the the New New Covenant Covenant rather the the the the New New Covenant Covenant Covenant relates to the the the the Abrahamic Covenant Covenant in in fully understanding how Gentiles have become partakers of the blessing The Mosaic Covenant promised conditional blessing through keeping the the law but the the Abrahamic Covenant promises unconditional blessing because of God’s favour The Mosaic Covenant promised cursing upon those failing to keep the the law but the the the the New Covenant promises redemption through the the the work of the the the Cross (Galatians 3:13) Therefore Replacement Theology’s conflating of Covenants is a a a a a a a a deliberate attempt to to create confusion and perpetuate the the heresy that the the promises to to Israel are null and void The New Covenant has not “destroyed” the old
English translations of of Hebrews 8:13 describe the original covenant of of law as “obsolete” “old” “fading away” and “growing old” old” This is is because God has fulfilled (not
merely replaced it) through through the work of Christ which brings salvation through through faith and not by works Hebrews 8:6 refers to the New Covenant as as a a a a a a a “better covenant which was established on better better promises ”
And Hebrews 9:15 explains that the the the purpose purpose of the the the the New Covenant is related to the the the the purpose purpose of the the first:
“And for this reason He is is the the the Mediator
of of of the the the the new covenant by means of of of death for the the the the redemption of of of the the the the transgressions under the the the the the first covenant that those who are called may receive the the the promise of the the the eternal inheritance ”
Galatians Galatians 3:19 says that the the law was given till the the the ‘Seed’ (Christ) came Galatians Galatians 3:23 says that “we were kept under under the the the law law ”
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or in in some versions “in custody under under the the the law law law ”
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Verse 24 says “the law law was our tutor to to to to to bring us us to to to to Christ Christ ”
Our attitude as as Christians to to to to the the Mosaic Law should be how Jesus Jesus viewed it In Matthew 5:17 we we read Jesus’s words: “Do not not think that I I I came to to destroy destroy the the the Law or the the Prophets I I did not not come to to to destroy destroy but to fulfill ”
Even though the the New Covenant Covenant has in effect made the the the Mosaic Covenant Covenant “old” Christians should recognise that the the the Jewish Law including the the Ten Commandments is is is is is foundational in in in in understanding our Christian faith and and God’s code of of what constitutes sin Christians owe a a a a a a a a debt of of of gratitude to to the Jewish people who have been custodians of of of of the the oracles of of of God for for thousands of of of years Let us us us not take for for granted the the the the precious
gift of the the the the Torah and and the the the the whole Hebrew Scriptures and and how they connect us as Christians with the the the Jewish roots of our faith Any Christian Christian who dismisses the the “Old Testament” as no longer pertinent to Christians is is is making a a a a a a a a a a huge theological mistake and gives ground to to Satan who is is is is on the the attack to to destroy the the Law of of God The The danger of of Replacement Theology is is is that that it it has the the the tendency to dismiss the the the Old Testament Testament as as as being “old” with the the the the the belief that that the the the New Testament Testament has replaced it it Other forms of Replacement Theology contend that that the the “Old Testament” is is still important but that that that all the the the the promises to Israel have been appropriated for the the the Church and that that the the the nation of Israel today bears no no connection This is is simply not Biblical