I found it confusing too so I set about studying and praying as I went. It took a few days but it was so very well worth it! A clear understanding of the old covenant and what is referred to as the new covenant but actual translation from original Aramaic texts show that the correct term is “renewed” covenant.
Experience has shown me over and over that what God says in His Word is true, and most professing Christians would agree with that simple statement. Likewise, it has also been proven that many professing Christians are exactly that – professing to be Christians, all the while having been misled somewhere along the way, into believing that their carnal minds are somehow compatible with the Word of God which is only spiritually discerned. It is not warm and fuzzy. It is many times not logical by our 21st century standards. It is however, the very Words of El ‘Elyon (The Most High God), every one of which we are to live by according to both Deuteronomy 8:3 - He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD, and Matthew 4:4 - But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' "
God likes to use covenants. They are important to Him and should be to us…but they aren’t.
There really is no such thing as “new” and “old” covenants, as we commonly hear in the Christian community - they are different levels of a progressive restoration process.
Then there is the scripture that uses the term “New Covenant” which those who prefer to disregard the Old Testament as being anything more than mere history like to point out. They claim this entirely nullifies the “Old Covenant” or the “Law” and they teach others to ignore what God requires of us, which is to keep the covenants which began with God and Adam. It is always a challenge to think about something we have some degree of familiarity with in a different aspect because we are used to thinking about it a certain way. We are creatures of habit, after all. However, to study for the purpose of learning the truth, this is what must be done.
Obviously, it is of the utmost importance to let scripture speak for itself and to always compare scripture with scripture, taking context into account. Another thing often forgotten is that there are words that have been added that were not in the original text when the KJV was written, and they are the italicized words. The KJV is not my favorite translation but it does clearly show these italicized words which makes it a beneficial version to use when studying alongside other versions or translations.
I found it fascinating and I will be happy to go on if you would like to read more.
Greetings just-us-2,
If you follow this path by putting yourself under the works law, you will belong to the slave woman and her son who will not share in the inheritance with the free woman and her son of promise. You will also become what Paul described below:
"What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone." (Rom.9:30-32)
"It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression." (Rom.4:13-15)
"For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God." (Rom.10:4)
Friend, Jesus came and meet the righteous requirements of the law on our behalf, fulfilling what humanity could not do. If you put yourself under works as a requirement for salvation, you are in essence saying to Jesus, "your sacrifice was insufficient". If you attempt to keep the works of the law as a condition for salvation, it will have the opposite affect upon you keeping you out of eternal life. Father Abraham is our example. Scripture says, He believed God regarding his promise to give him a son and Abraham believed him and it was credited to him as righteousness, and that's it, no works, no baptism, no feeding and clothing the poor, etc., just faith alone.
When we have faith regarding God's Son whom he sent, by faith in him we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life because he kept the law perfectly and he paid the penalty for our sins with his blood, then we too are credited with righteousness as father Abraham was. Good works will come later from the indwelling of the Spirit and that for the glory of God and not to obtain or maintain salvation, which Christ already provided with his blood.
Anyone who has a list of requirements to be saved along side of Christ's sacrifice has been alienated from Christ and has wander away from grace. Grace and works are opposed to each other, for grace is unmerited favor, a gift, that is, unearned favor, where the works of the law are an attempt to earn your own way into the kingdom of God by your own efforts.
"Now to the one who works, his wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness." (Rom.4:4)
In the example above, the one who works represents the one who is trusting in the law and would receive his pay as an obligation. But for the one who does not work (does not put himself under the works of the law) but trusts in God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited to them as righteousness, which is God's way to eternal life.
"know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."
My friendly advice to you, is to go back and closely read the letter to the Galatians and the letter to the Romans and pay attention to everything that Paul says regarding salvation by grace through faith vs. the works of the law.
Blessings in Christ!