If you take up the book of Deuteronomy and read its 7 sermons, perhaps one per day, what themes would be in your mind? Then the next week, what would happen if you read the book of Acts keeping in mind your previous reading of those sermons that Moses gave the children of Israel? Any thoughtful reading would immediately notice important points of both similarity and difference.
The NT speaks commonly about the differences between the Covenants.
In each of these passages below, there are great changes between the old revelation and the new revelation.
- Matthew 5:21-48
- Matthew 13:35
- Matthew 9:16-17
- Matthew 17
- Matthew 16:18
- Matthew 18:15-20
- Matthew 21:33-46
- Matthew 28:18-20
- Acts 2
- Acts 10
- Acts 13-21
- Romans 3-4
- Romans 6-7
- Romans 11
- Romans 13
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-31
- 2 Corinthians 3
- Galatians 3-4
- Ephesians 2
- Ephesians 3
- Colossians 2:14-17
- 1 Timothy 2
- 1 Timothy 3
- Hebrews 4
- Hebrews 8
- 1 Peter 2:9-10
The NT promotes categories that are foreign or rare to the OT revelation.
- Believers set their hearts on spiritual blessings rather than physical blessings.
- A universal invitation is made to all nations rather than one small country alone.
- Apostles, pastors, and deacons lead the believers rather than priests, kings, or judges.
- Church discipline punishes believers rather than the penalties of the Mosaic law.
- Spirit baptism effects all believers permanently in powerful, spiritual ways rather than temporary, physical help offered only to a few believers in the OT.
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ dominates the preaching and letters rather than the Law of Moses in the OT.
- The weakness of Mosaic revelation mentioned rather than Mosaic revelation only held in honor.
- The deity of Christ and the Trinity explicitly and constantly referenced rather than merely the unity of Jehovah.
- Persecution promised to the faithful church rather than prosperity promised to the faithful nation of Israel.
- Union with Christ including adoption, access, and eternal security is revealed rather than hidden in types and shadows.
- Evangelism is a natural habit rather than waiting for the occasional outsider to ask about truth.
- The Second Coming of Jesus is a constant theme rather than a mystery.
Category Changes from Old to New | ||
| OLD: Described as old, first, weak, useless, temporary, shadow, and ministry of death and condemnation | | NEW: Described as new, second, better, ministry of glory and righteousness |
| OLD: Physical blessings | | NEW: Spiritual blessings |
| OLD: Ethnic Israel | | NEW: All nations |
| OLD: Priests, kings, and judges | | NEW: Apostles, pastors, and deacons |
| OLD: Many death penalties | | NEW: Church discipline |
| OLD: The Holy Spirit helped a few believers like Samson and Saul | | NEW: The Holy Spirit permanently and powerfully changes all |
| OLD: Preaching emphasizes the Law of Moses | | NEW: Preaching emphasizes the Gospel |
| OLD: The honor of the Mosaic Law consistently upheld | | NEW: The weakness of the Mosaic Law mentioned |
| OLD: The unity of Jehovah | | NEW: The deity of Christ |
| OLD: Prosperity promised to the faithful | | NEW: Persecution promised to the faithful |
| OLD: Union with Christ unknown | | NEW: Union with Christ revealed |
| OLD: Gentiles ask Jews about truth | | NEW: Confrontational evangelism |
| OLD: Silent on the Second Coming | | NEW: The Second Coming is a constant theme |
Conclusions
- The NT is the pinnacle of God’s revelation because in it we see His Son most clearly.
- In the NT He reveals the mysteries that had been kept secret in the OT.
- Bible translators recognize this when they begin with the NT rather than the OT.
- Evangelists recognize this when they give out copies of the gospel of John or Romans.
- If we allow the NT to teach us how to speak in contrast to the OT, we will emphasize words, doctrines, and terms that are not found or are rare in the OT.
- Unity is definitely assumed by the Lord Jesus and apostles, but words that mean dramatic changes are the regular pattern of their preaching and writing.
