The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum the New Covenant

Can someone make a quick, summary explanation of the New and Old covenants. I understand then, but I have been unable thus far to explain the difference to a Church of Christ friend (the extremely conservative church), who takes certain verses way too literally. For examples, the new covenant makes the old covenant obsolete, so we should disregard the old covenant teachings. He claims certain verses like Heb 7:12 does away with the Ten Commandments.

I probably should just stay away from him in discussing matters of theology as we come from entirely different systems. I don't think he has a system except certain verses override other passages.

John

I just noticed this thread, but need to head to bed, this needs to be a quick answer.
I would however, if you have it look at a good Reformed Commentary. I highly recommend William Henriksen's New Testament Commentaries. However, there are other good ones as well.
Concerning the 10 Commandments. Nobody but Christ has kept them perfectly, having fulfilled them perfectly. He "fulfilled them", he did not make them obsolete.
The 10 Commandments represent God's perfect standards. As such, they can never be made obsolete.
They actually show because they are impossible to keep perfectly, that no man can be saved from keeping the law. They make man trapped with no way out. that is the bad news. The good news is not good, unless we know the bad news. Only then can we understand the Gospel, that we must repent and turn to Christ. Christ's righteousness imputed to us.
We then, obey the commandments not because they can save us; but because we love God.

Hope this quick response helps.

Tom

Yes, the Lord Christ kept the law perfectly of which the moral law was necessary in order to qualify as a bona fide substitute for sinners unto justification. AND, in doing so He set the living example of how men are to live before God. To fail to keep that law is sin and thus not an option but of necessity, with or without having been made right with God through Christ. "If you love me, keep my commandments", said Jesus. And it was the Son of God who gave those great 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai (Heb 12:18-29) and thus they are perpetually required and binding upon all men for eternity.

Pilgrim
Thanks for expanding on the answer I gave.

Tom