The most common argument put forth by Christians in opposition to the Torah and the Law is based on Covenant Theology. They argue that the New Covenant has replaced the Old Covenant. Our printed English Bibles are organized that way. There is an old part and new part. This has to do with their definition of “covenant.” They define “covenants” in the Old Testament more like contracts. Then there is the word “Testament” and its definition. The New Testament is treated like it is “God’s Last Will and Testament,” replacing (the Old Testament) His former Last Will and Testament. Just as governments put a new law on the books replacing an old law, Christians will say that God did the same by replacing the Law of Moses with the Law of Christ. But is this what the Bible really says? Are God’s covenants conditional like a contract? Did God make a New Last Will and “Testament” as a result of the Messiah’s death?
Before we go any further, we need to explain “Covenant Theology” a bit further. Theology is the study of God, or an explanation of how God and man relate together. According to “Covenant Theology,” there are two types of covenants that God makes with mankind: a covenant of works and a covenant of grace. Another variation of “Covenant Theology” labels three of them, adding a covenant of redemption that relates specifically to the Messiah. Covenant Theology says that all of the previous covenants (those in the Old Testament) were covenants of works. They remain in effect only if the conditions are met. It is also added that Israel failed to keep the conditions; therefore, the covenant is done away with (It is fulfilled). Covenant Theology defines the New Covenant as a covenant of grace, and it remains in effect forever.
Whenever a believer references the Torah and approaches another believer referencing “Covenant Theology” there is conflict and immediate disagreement. Why? Because “Covenant Theology” says that the Old Testament has been replaced by the New Testament, and the Old Covenant is no longer the proper source of spiritual instruction. Covenant Theology lumps all former covenants (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David) into one “Old Covenant,” labeling it as a covenant of works and making the New Covenant a covenant of grace.
The Bible is organized and printed by the Church Fathers to support their theology about the Old Testament (everything is lumped together as the Old Covenant), and then starting with the Gospels, headed by a page never written by any Apostle, there is a page called “The New Testament.” This definition for our present Bible did not actually happen until the fourth century when Jerome (the Bishop of Rome) put the book of Hebrews into his compilation of the New Testament. Prior to that, the book of Hebrews was disputed as appropriate for the Bible.
The debate about the book of Hebrews is an ancient argument. The debate about “Covenant Theology” was won or lost, depending on your position, when the book of Hebrews was inserted into the Bible. I am not going to solve those conflicts in this article. What I am going to do is address where covenants are given, what promises are given, and define those covenants with the symbols and language used by the Scripture. You can then decide whether “Covenant Theology” and the writer of Hebrews are consistent with those Scriptures.
With that said, let us examine the covenants that God has made with mankind throughout history. The Scriptures say that God has made six covenants with us and plans to make one more when the Messiah returns. The Scriptures define a covenant as a “cutting” agreement. The Hebrew word is “Brit.” Have you ever heard the expression “cut a deal?” As you will see, God “cuts” something to make a covenant with us.
The following list summarizes the name of the person and the symbol used by God for each covenant. Because of the length of this subject, this article is divided into several parts as admin rights allow:
1. Adam (the Adamic Covenant) symbolized by the Ground of the Earth
2. Noah (the Noahic Covenant) symbolized by the Rainbow
3. Abraham (the Abrahamic Covenant) symbolized by the Stars
4. Moses (the Mosaic Covenant) symbolized by the Two Tablets of the Law
5. David (the Davidic Covenant) symbolized by Jerusalem
6. Messiah Yeshua (the New Covenant) symbolized by the Passover Cup and Bread
7. Peace (the Covenant of Peace) anticipated by the Messianic Kingdom
To see the full article: The Seven Everlasting Covenants / September/October 2005 | Lion and Lamb Ministries
While each of these covenants are with different persons and made at different times, they all share one description. God refers to them individually and collectively as an “Everlasting Covenant.” The symbol used to express them all is “salt.”
Salt is one of the basic ingredients of life that never goes away. From generation to generation, salt is an essential ingredient to our lives. It is more than the white substance in the “salt” shaker. In ancient times the most common payment for labor was not money, it was salt. You may have heard the expression, “He is worth his weight in salt.” The modern word “salary” is a derivative of the word “salt.”
God has always used simple things, things that are readily a part of our lives, to help us understand His relationship with us. Yeshua the Messiah spoke of this very subject when He taught the Sermon on the Mount.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Matthew 5:13
With every sacrifice offered by Israel, the priests were instructed to put salt on it.
Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Leviticus 2:13 All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you. Numbers 18:19
Salt is referred to as a preservative.
Let us examine each covenant and see how God symbolized it for our understanding.
Before we go any further, we need to explain “Covenant Theology” a bit further. Theology is the study of God, or an explanation of how God and man relate together. According to “Covenant Theology,” there are two types of covenants that God makes with mankind: a covenant of works and a covenant of grace. Another variation of “Covenant Theology” labels three of them, adding a covenant of redemption that relates specifically to the Messiah. Covenant Theology says that all of the previous covenants (those in the Old Testament) were covenants of works. They remain in effect only if the conditions are met. It is also added that Israel failed to keep the conditions; therefore, the covenant is done away with (It is fulfilled). Covenant Theology defines the New Covenant as a covenant of grace, and it remains in effect forever.
Whenever a believer references the Torah and approaches another believer referencing “Covenant Theology” there is conflict and immediate disagreement. Why? Because “Covenant Theology” says that the Old Testament has been replaced by the New Testament, and the Old Covenant is no longer the proper source of spiritual instruction. Covenant Theology lumps all former covenants (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David) into one “Old Covenant,” labeling it as a covenant of works and making the New Covenant a covenant of grace.
The Bible is organized and printed by the Church Fathers to support their theology about the Old Testament (everything is lumped together as the Old Covenant), and then starting with the Gospels, headed by a page never written by any Apostle, there is a page called “The New Testament.” This definition for our present Bible did not actually happen until the fourth century when Jerome (the Bishop of Rome) put the book of Hebrews into his compilation of the New Testament. Prior to that, the book of Hebrews was disputed as appropriate for the Bible.
The debate about the book of Hebrews is an ancient argument. The debate about “Covenant Theology” was won or lost, depending on your position, when the book of Hebrews was inserted into the Bible. I am not going to solve those conflicts in this article. What I am going to do is address where covenants are given, what promises are given, and define those covenants with the symbols and language used by the Scripture. You can then decide whether “Covenant Theology” and the writer of Hebrews are consistent with those Scriptures.
With that said, let us examine the covenants that God has made with mankind throughout history. The Scriptures say that God has made six covenants with us and plans to make one more when the Messiah returns. The Scriptures define a covenant as a “cutting” agreement. The Hebrew word is “Brit.” Have you ever heard the expression “cut a deal?” As you will see, God “cuts” something to make a covenant with us.
The following list summarizes the name of the person and the symbol used by God for each covenant. Because of the length of this subject, this article is divided into several parts as admin rights allow:
1. Adam (the Adamic Covenant) symbolized by the Ground of the Earth
2. Noah (the Noahic Covenant) symbolized by the Rainbow
3. Abraham (the Abrahamic Covenant) symbolized by the Stars
4. Moses (the Mosaic Covenant) symbolized by the Two Tablets of the Law
5. David (the Davidic Covenant) symbolized by Jerusalem
6. Messiah Yeshua (the New Covenant) symbolized by the Passover Cup and Bread
7. Peace (the Covenant of Peace) anticipated by the Messianic Kingdom
To see the full article: The Seven Everlasting Covenants / September/October 2005 | Lion and Lamb Ministries
While each of these covenants are with different persons and made at different times, they all share one description. God refers to them individually and collectively as an “Everlasting Covenant.” The symbol used to express them all is “salt.”
Salt is one of the basic ingredients of life that never goes away. From generation to generation, salt is an essential ingredient to our lives. It is more than the white substance in the “salt” shaker. In ancient times the most common payment for labor was not money, it was salt. You may have heard the expression, “He is worth his weight in salt.” The modern word “salary” is a derivative of the word “salt.”
God has always used simple things, things that are readily a part of our lives, to help us understand His relationship with us. Yeshua the Messiah spoke of this very subject when He taught the Sermon on the Mount.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
Matthew 5:13
With every sacrifice offered by Israel, the priests were instructed to put salt on it.
Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Leviticus 2:13 All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you. Numbers 18:19
Salt is referred to as a preservative.
Let us examine each covenant and see how God symbolized it for our understanding.