In an effort to quickly simplify and help you contrast the differences, I am including a chart below, which is an excerpt from a great book called, "Unmerited Favor" by Joseph Prince. It is a very useful visual to help us see clearly the differences of each covenant with several scriptural references. (I highly recommend the book, by the way.)
*The Differences Between The Old Covenant of Law And New Covenant Of Grace
Under the old covenant of law… | Under the new covenant of grace… |
God demanded righteousness from man. | God imparts righteousness to man through the finished work of Jesus (Romans 4:5-7). |
God will visit your sins to the third and fourth generations (Exodus 20:5). | God will by no means remember your sins (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). |
The children of Israel were blessed only if they obeyed God’s commandments perfectly - inwardly and outwardly (Deuteronomy 28:13-14). | Believers don’t have to depend on heir self-efforts to receive God’s blessings, because Jesus fulfilled every one of the requirements of the law on their behalf (Colossians 2:14). |
The children of Israel were cursed if they did not obey God’s commandments perfectly (Deuteronomy 28:15-16, 18, 20). | Believers can enjoy God’s blessings and undeserved favor because Christ became a curse for them on the cross (Galatians 3:13). |
Depending on self-effort produces behavior modification without heart transformation. | Beholding the loveliness of Jesus and His finished work brings about inner transformation, which produces good works that are motivated by God’s love (2 Corinthians 3:18). |
The blood sacrifices of animals covered the sins of the children of Israel for only one year, and the process had to be repeated every year (Hebrews 10:3). | The blood of Jesus has removed the sins – past, present and future – of believers, completely and perfectly, once and for all (Hebrews 10:11-12). |
Obeying the law could not and did not give the children of Israel the power to stop sin in their lives. The law has no power to make anyone holy, just and good. | Sin has no dominion over believers (Romans 6:14), as the power of Jesus to overcome temptation kicks in when they are conscious that they are righteous in Christ apart from their works (Romans 4:6). |
The children of Israel were robbed of their confidence in the goodness of God because they were always looking to themselves to see how well or poorly they performed (i.e. self-conscious). | Believers can have a tremendous sense of confidence and security in Christ because they are now looking to Jesus and not themselves (i.e. Christ-conscious). |
The children of Israel could not have an intimate relationship with God because their unrighteousness put distance between them and God. | Believers can enjoy a close, intimate relationship with God as their Father because they are made righteous by faith in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 5:7-9; Hebrews 10:10). |
The children of Israel could not enter the holy of holies (where the presence of God was). Only the high priest could, and that only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2, 14). | Not only can believers enter God’s holy presence, they can also come bodly to His throne of grace to find mercy and grace in their time of need because of Jesus’ perfect atonement (Hebrews 4:16). |
The children of Israel were under the ministry of death (2 Corinthians 3:7). | Believers are under the ministry of Jesus’ abundant life (2 Corinthians 3:6; John 10:10). |
*This entire chart is an excerpt from Joseph Prince’s book, “Unmerited Favor” – pages 178 & 179. You can visit his site at: www.josephprince.org .
Praying that as you read and reflect, you will get a deeper revelation of just how deeply loved you are by God and that you will know all that he has provided for you in the new covenant, by his great grace. Would love to hear from you.
Grace, grace,
Ruben
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