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UNDER THE NEW, NOT THE OLD

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.      Those familiar with the Bible know that it is divided into two large sections.

1.       The Old Testament consisting of 39 books.

2.       The New Testament consisting of 27 books.

 

B.      The Bible also speaks of the Old and New Testaments.

1.       Old Testament (II Cor. 3:14)

 

But their minds were blinded:  for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament, which vail is done away in Christ.

 

2.       New Testament (Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; I Cor. 11:25; I Cor. 3:6; Heb. 9:15).

 

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament…

 

C.      Even though a distinction is made verbally between the two testaments, most do not really understand what the distinction really involves.

 

D.     In this very broad, general lesson, we want to show that we are “Under the New, Not the Old.”

 

 

I.                   NUMEROUS TEXTS TO STUDY

 

A.      Individual passages

1.       John 1:17

 

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

a.       This verse shows that there is a distinction between the old and the new.

b.       This verse contrasts the two lawgivers:  Moses and Jesus.

2.       Ephesians 2:15

 

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

 

3.       Colossians 2:14

 

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

 

4.       Hebrews 7:12

 

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also in the law.

 

B.      Multiple verses

1.       Romans 7:1-6

a.       Paul uses the dissolution of the marriage bond in death to discuss the end of the old covenant and the marriage with the new.

b.       Two verses are extremely potent in this text (Rom. 7:4, 6)

 

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God…But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead, wherein we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

2.       Galatians 4:21-31

a.       Paul sets forth in this text, what he calls an “allegory.”

b.       It is from an Old Testament event, the casting out of Hagar and Ishmael by Sarah. 

c.        Each woman represents one of the covenants.  The sons represent the children of the covenants.

3.       Hebrews 9:15-17

 

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of a testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead:  otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth.

 

C.      Chapters of the Bible

1.       Acts 15

2.       II Corinthians 3

a.       One is glorious; the other is much more glorious.

b.       One is a ministration of death; the other is a ministration of life.

3.       Hebrews 8

 

D.     Books of the Bible

1.       Galatians

2.       Hebrews:  Christianity:  “The Better Religion”

a.       Angels versus Jesus

b.       Moses the servant of God versus Jesus, the Son of God

c.        Levitical priesthood versus the Melchizedekian priesthood

d.       Aaron as a high priest versus Jesus as a high priest

e.        Sacrifices of animals versus the sacrifice of Jesus Christ

f.         Earthly tabernacle versus the heavenly tabernacle

g.       The old covenant versus the new covenant

 

II.                THE OLD LAW IS NOT BINDING TODAY

 

A.      “…ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ…” (Rom. 7:4).

 

B.      “But now we are delivered from the law (Rom. 7:6)

 

Delivered

1.       Strong (2673):  to be (render) entirely idle (useless)

2.       Thayer

a.       To render idle, unemployed, inactive, inoperative

b.       To cause to cease, put end to, do away with, annul, abolish

 

C.      “…that being dead wherein we were held…”

 

D.     “…which vail is done away in Christ” (II Cor. 3:14).

 

Done away

1.       Strong (2673):  to be (render) entirely idle (useless)

2.       Thayer

a.       To render idle, unemployed, inactive, inoperative

b.       To cause to cease, put end to, do away with, annul, abolish

 

E.      “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances…” (Eph. 2:15).

 

Abolished

1.       Strong (2673):  to be (render) entirely idle (useless)

2.       Thayer

a.       To render idle, unemployed, inactive, inoperative

b.       To cause to cease, put end to, do away with, annul, abolish

F.      “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us…” (Col. 2:14)

 

Blotting out

1.       Strong (1813):  to smear out, that is, obliterate

2.       Thayer:  to obliterate, erase, wipeout, blot out

 

G.     Took it out of the way (Col. 2:14)

 

H.     Nailing it to his cross (Col. 2:14)

 

III.             WHAT THIS MEANS TODAY

 

A.      We do not appeal to the Old Testament to establish and undergird the things we believe, practice, and teach.

 

B.      What this means specifically.

1.       We do not offer animal sacrifices.

2.       We do not worship on the Sabbath Day.

3.       We do not practice the tithe in our giving.

4.       We do not use instruments of music when worshipping God.

5.       We are no longer tied to the city of Jerusalem.

6.       We do not put any importance on the Old Testament temple.

7.       We do not have a Levitical priesthood.

8.       We do not have the Aaronic high priesthood today.

9.       We no longer the view the Jews as the people of God.

10.   The 10 commandments are no longer God’s moral code that guides us.

 

C.      NOTE:  These statements cause some individuals a lot of trouble.  Because of this, they view us with suspicion.  They often make false charges against us because of these views.

1.       It happened in Paul’s day.  Some reasoned that if the law was not binding then it must be because the law was sin (See Rom. 7:7a).

 

What shall we say then?  Is the law sin?  God forbid.

 

2.       What do people say today?

a.       So you do not believe in the Old Testament?

1)      We do believe in the Old Testament.

2)      We believe the Old Testament has served it purposes.

a)      Made Israel a nation of people

b)      Set a boundary around Israel to bring the Messiah into the world

c)       Showed sin to be exceedingly sinful

d)      Foretold of the coming Christ

b.       So you don’t study the Old Testament today?

1)      Romans 15:4

 

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

 

2)      Many of the principles and teachings of the New Testament are found in the Old Testament, or, they are illustrated therein.

a)      The NT teaches the concept of obedient faith.  Abraham is an illustration.

b)      The NT teaches about the right and wrong uses of the tongue.  Many passages of the Proverbs teach similar things.

c)       God warns of coming judgment in the NT.  He warned the nations of Israel and Judah about coming judgment in the long ago.

3)      The old adage:  The OT is the NT concealed and the NT is the OT revealed.

c.        So you don’t believe in the 10 Commandments?

1)      We live by the New Testament and not the 10 Commandments.  They were a part of the Mosaic Law, a law that has been done away or abolished.

2)      In the New Testament, nine of the 10 Commandments can be found.  The command to “remember the Sabbath Day to keep is holy” is the only one omitted.  The NT authorizes the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2) as the day of worship.  Therefore, we do not assemble on the Saturday or the Sabbath.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.      In Acts 15, a meeting we held in Jerusalem in order to confront Judaizing teachers.

1.       These men taught

a.       “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Acts 15:1).

b.       Acts 15:5

 

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That is was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

 

2.       After all the discussion was completed, the apostles and elders wrote a letter to the Gentiles.  Two things are interesting in the reply.

a.       The summary of their decision (Acts 15:28-29)

 

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than those necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication:  from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.  Fare ye well.

 

b.       Acts 15:24

 

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law:  to whom we gave no such commandment.

 

1)      Those who try to get us to keep the law “trouble” us.

2)      Those who try to get us to keep the law “subvert” our souls.

3)      Those who try to get us to keep the law have “no such commandment” from the apostles.

 

B.      We, as the apostles, will not bind the Old Law on individuals.  It is out-of-date and obsolete.  Today, we are under a far superior law, the authority of the New Testament of Jesus Christ which was sealed with His precious blood (Matt. 26:28).