Life in Transition from the First to the Second Covenant
BEYOND THE BASICS | Larry Fuller | Whitney, Ontario
Introduction
Paul effectively argued against Israelites who still disbelieved in Christ, insisting incorrectly they maintain Judaism with its Law of Moses. Rom 7:12-25, Paul puts forth a personal example as an Israelite under the old covenant that was very relatable. First, he recognized the law of Moses was in fact spiritual, holy and good. He had a great desire to do what he knew was right and good, yet the worldliness he hated, he did! Creating an uncontrollable “tug of war” within his members leading to a wretched feeling from which seemingly there was no remedy.
There certainly was no remedy within the law of Moses in terms of complete forgiveness. Oh, the futility and exasperation of it all! Fellow Israelites could relate to Paul’s dilemma put forth; they too were restrained under sin with no forgiveness available in the law of Moses. Who will save this wretched man, Saul? Who could similarly save fellow Israelites? Christ! Their faith pointed to fulfillment and salvation in no other than Christ.
Knowing Paul through the lens of his stalwart character presented in the new covenant under Christ, it is hard to imagine Paul at one time struggling in the old, wanting to do right but eventually succumbing! An example of his life in Christ, is when he called the Ephesian elders to Miletus in Acts 20:18, “you know from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you”. Such a statement paints a far different picture than this wretched man of Rom 7:24! It exudes strength, integrity, and stalwart example!
This leads me to my thought, if the OT Law was holy and good, and Paul frequently succumbed to sin to be self-professed as wretched, what is totally different in Christ and the law of it, that would make such a dramatic difference? May we explore some reasons:
I. TOTAL RELEASE FROM BONDAGE OF SIN
The OT law was holy and good, if one kept it perfectly. Only trouble was, only one did, Christ. When sin occurred in the old there was no forgiveness. Sins were “remembered”, Heb 8:12. Remembered by God, and remembered by the offender to seriously consider and grapple with. In such reflection of sin, as the High Priest intervened annually with the blood of bulls and goats, could the condemnation of sin not grow ever more burdensome; the possibility of added cumulative pressure; further weakening the mood and state of mind to a level of wretchedness; perhaps affording less inclination to strive against sin?
Conversely in Rom 8:1-2 a dramatic difference existed, for “there is no condemnation for those in Christ, as He had come in the likeness of sinful flesh” (such as the dust man Adam and our ensuing sinfulness). Although tempted in all points like us, yet without sin, He paid the penalty of our sin, and through His shed blood every sin could be washed away, enabling us to stand un-condemned. Quite an exhilarating difference between the first and second! Rom 3:26, through the righteousness of Christ, God is both just and justifier to the one who has faith in Christ Jesus. No such avenue existed in the Mosaic law, Acts 13:39.
In Rom 6:6, in the process of baptism symbolized by Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, our old man of sin is “crucified” with Him. Again, a tremendous advantage over the old covenant, as nowhere in the old covenant is the old man of sin “crucified”. We are raised a new creature, affording us a new and “living” way, Heb 10:20. Notice the terminology “living” way, as compared to the ministry of death. Such a new and living way offered a newfound liberty and joy and was welcomed heartily by Paul! Who would not attempt to live wholeheartedly by the perfect law of liberty?
II. AN ADVANTAGE TO UTILIZE
The Israelites had the OT law, an advantage over gentiles not having such, who at the very best had only an unwritten law unto themselves, ruled only by conscience knowing very basic right and wrong. The Israelite written OT law expanded greatly that knowledge base. For example, Paul did not know the full extent of coveting until OT law revealed it, Rom 7:7. For Paul, such knowledge brought an increase in what he knew to be sinful, and with it, the resulting condemnation. One might think, doesn’t sound like an advantage?
However, the OT law preserved the lineage of a faithful remnant until Christ was born, (Gal 3:19), and it also served as a tutor to bring them to faith in Christ. A tutor increases the learning curve of a student, affording a better opportunity, a smoother route to transition. For example, they were already accustomed to being God’s covenant people and observing a law within it. In fact, when extended families of Israelites were converted, the possibility existed already for elders meeting qualifications that could be appointed in every Church! So, Mosaic law did have an advantage after all, even though for a time being it could make you feel wretched.
Transitioning to the second and better covenant should have been a slam dunk. They knew the many prophesies about the Messiah coming, had miracles to attest to Christ being that Messiah, and even a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah, whom they regarded as a prophet, to testify of Him and prepare His way. In Lu 1:17, John was to “turn hearts, make people wise, to make a people prepared for the Lord. Did the Israelites indeed have an advantage, yes in every way! Advantage to life in Christ!
III. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST
John 1:17 says, “for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth comes by Jesus Christ.” There was grace and truth in the law of Moses, albeit in a more limited way as necessary for His first covenant people. However, the fullness of grace, truth and life was made manifest in Christ! The first covenant had a “colder beginning”, starting with necessity to be born into it, circumcised fleshly the eighth day as an outward symbol of belonging to it, and then being told to know God. It was imperfect compared to a purposeful personal choice to be circumcised of heart. Israelites were born physically the first time, but now would be “born again” spiritually. In retrospect, that aspect of re-birth is truly significant. Peter describes it as a “season of refreshing”, Acts 3:19.
Aside from this refreshing state of mind, was a marked change from the letter of the law itself, or ministry of death, to what is known as in Rom 8:2, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”. The difference was so great that Paul explains in Gal 2:20, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God”. Could Paul make that claim in the Law of Moses?
A biblical definition of justification by Britannica: the act by which God moves a willing person from a state of sin or injustice to a state of grace or justice. Gal 2:16, “no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law (old), and repeated in Acts 13:39, “you could not be justified by the law of Moses”. Per 2 Tim 1:10, Christ abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel! Christ is the light of life of men, although we bear the image of the dust man with all its futility, we can bear the image of the Heavenly Man. Yes, there were Old Testament worthies highlighted in Heb 11, “they obtained a good testimony by faith, but did not receive the promise.” But God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us”, (Heb 11:39-40).
The Israelites seemed so proud of their physical genealogy traced back to Abraham, but it means little now. The olive tree of ancestry could have wild branches grafted in (Gentiles) and natural branches (Israelites) grafted out, depending on one’s obedience to the gospel. The covenant given 430 years later cannot annul the promise given to Abraham, (Gal 3:17) and that promise was fulfilled in Christ, and thus we become Abraham’s seed who put Christ on (Gal 3:29), whether Jew or Gentile. Could they not see the old covenant and law they so desperately clung to as only a part of the bigger picture?
IV. STRUGGLE DOES NOT RESUME AUTOMATICALLY
Gal 5:17 specifies, “the flesh lusts against the Spirit, so that you do not what you wish”. This scripture on its own, suggests an automatic continual struggle still exists in the new, and with it the same level of wretched state Paul declares in the old. But where in the New Testament is one considered as rendered wretched automatically? Yes, there can be a struggle, but only if you personally allow the flesh to reign, as opposed to being led by the Spirit. The old man of sin was crucified with Christ, not only the very act, but also the propensities and thought processes toward it. The possibility exists to resurrect this old man of sin from the waters of baptism. In that instance, the choice between life in Christ or the flesh has been sadly realized. Rom 6:12 therefore, do not let sin reign, that you should obey its lusts. We do have a choice! If we allow it, the flesh will overpower the Spirit, like the thorny soil allowed to choke out the word. We can choose to have either a “thorny heart” or a “good heart”. Gal 5:16 would further indicate “I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of flesh. Choosing to be led by the flesh bears evident lusts such as in 19-21. But in comparison, to be led by the Spirit, we bear the fruit of it in vs 22-23 which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness. The “good heart” bears fruit for God some thirty to ninety-fold. Which will you choose?
The covenant of Christ is glorious, where the first was not perfect and vanished away. Jesus is known as the light of the life of men; He is the bright and morning star able to dawn in our hearts; He is the living manna which we imbibe fully; a river of water of life flowing from our hearts. It inspires a confident heart that was not available in the old. We are quickened from the dead, made alive to spiritually to bear the image of Christ, raised to sit with Him in heavenly places, Eph 2:5-6.
CONCLUSION
We tend to see things filtered through the new covenant we live in. Do we then really appreciate, how Paul transitioned from the colder letter of the law to life in Christ? From the wretched man to the Spirit of life? Do we understand the plight of the Gentiles, hopelessly lost before The Christ and their excited grasp of life after? Concerning the lands of Zebulun, Naphtali, Galilee in Mtth 4:16-18, “they have seen a great light, a light has dawned in the region of shadow and depth, and Jesus preached, repent for the kingdom is at hand”! Are we excited too, about being “born again” ourselves, to live according to the light of life of man, Christ? If we truly are, will we choose to live by the Spirit, rather than let sin reign?
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January 2025 | GROW Magazine
