A Word About the Holy Bible: Understanding God’s Covenant with Humanity
The Holy Bible is how our Creator, God, communicates certain principles and truths to mankind such as the terms of the relationship between God and man. This article explores the significance of the Old and New Covenants, how they shape our understanding of faith, and how they communicate God’s plan for us to go to heaven. There is nothing that a person can do that has more importance than understanding how to go to Heaven.
Discovering God’s Plan
Through the exploration of the Old and New Covenants, we learn essential truths about God’s intentions for humanity. The Old Covenant established laws that defined the Israelites’ relationship with God, while the New Covenant introduces a transformative ‘grace through Jesus Christ’ understanding of salvation.
Understanding Covenants: A Divine Agreement
The term “covenant” refers to an agreement between two parties which outlines promises, stipulations, and responsibilities. Throughout the Bible, covenants have played a crucial role in defining the relationship between God and mankind. Two main covenants emerge:
- The Old Covenant (found in the Old Testament, no longer valid)
- The New Covenant (found in the New Testament, which supersedes the Old)
The Old Covenant: A Binding Agreement
Under the Old Covenant, God required the Israelites to keep a set of laws. The laws “bound” the Israelites. In return, He offered protection and blessings.
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish.” Deuteronomy 30:16-18
The Old Testament concluded around 430 BC with the book of Malachi, which alerted the Israelites that the Messiah was coming. It also foretold that the Messiah Himself would deliver the message of the new covenant.
And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:1 (partial)
When the Messiah (Jesus) appeared 430 years after the completion of the book of Malachi, that ended the terms of the Old Covenant. An entirely new and different covenant replaced the Old Covenant.
The New Covenant: A Paradigm Shift
In the New Testament, God outlines the parameters of the New Covenant, introducing a significant shift in our relationship with Him. This covenant is no longer limited to the Israelites; it now extends to all people. Key passages, such as Matthew 1:23 and Luke 2:10-11, highlight the arrival of Jesus as the Savior, the messenger of this new agreement.
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
In the verses above God is telling us:
- That the parameters of this new covenant require a “Savior.”
- That the messenger of the covenant, as mentioned in Malachi 3:1, had just arrived on Earth. The messenger of this new covenant is Jesus the Christ Himself.
- That the covenant would be between God and all people (not just the Jews as was the case with the Old Testament).
- NOTE: the Hebrew (Old Testament) word Messiah is the same as the Greek (New Testament) word Christ.
New Covenant Principles: Faith and Grace
The New Testament elaborates on the essential requirements of this covenant. In the below verses we learn a fundamental parameter of the new covenant. That is, we must believe in Jesus the Christ. We learn it’s not enough to believe that Jesus existed and was a good man. We must believe in the redemptive work of Jesus, and we must confess that Jesus is our Lord. That is how to go to Heaven.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Additional Contract details
“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7:4,6 (partial)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
When Jesus began His ministry, we read many accounts of how the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes (the religious leaders of the Israelites) strongly opposed His message. As Jesus delivered the message of the new covenant (as mentioned in Malachi 3:1 above) they simply couldn’t accept the parameters of the new covenant. The shift from a covenant of “law” to a covenant of “grace” absolutely turned their world upside down. They structured their lives around the law. Their ability to keep the letter of the law gave them reason to boast.
As we start to combine these ideas, we begin to understand this paradigm shift: in the Old Covenant, the law bound the Israelites. The law had governance and control (dominion) of their lives and the blessings of God were contingent upon their obedience to the law. But that old covenant of obedience to the law ended when Jesus completed His mission. We are no longer bound to the law. We are free from the law because of the completed work of Jesus the Christ.
It’s critical that we understand that we are no longer bound to the law. Our relationship with God is no longer contingent on our ability to keep the law. Our relationship with God is contingent entirely on faith in Jesus the Christ. Faith in the redemptive act of Jesus the Christ is the New Covenant. <– This is the paradigm shift. This is How to go to Heaven.
Embracing the Shift: From Law to Grace
So, what does this all really mean? It means we must not construe our acts of obedience as a part of the new covenant. Our obedience to the law is holy, just, and good, but it is not part of the God-ordained new covenant. That’s why God says we are saved ‘Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ Our salvation is entirely, 100%, an unmerited, unearned, and undeserved gift from God, provided by Jesus’ redemptive act.
We must not think that our efforts, our obedience to the law, contributes to the work of Jesus the Christ. They do not. Not baptism, not an ability to restrain ourselves from sin, not giving to the poor, etc, etc. Obedience to the law is not how to go to Heaven. Salvation from sin was accomplished by Jesus + nothing. If we think some level of obedience is necessary we are essentially saying “thank you Jesus for dying for my sins – I have done my part as well.” No! There is no thing for you to do! All praise and honor and glory be to God for this wonderful plan of salvation that He alone has completed for us.
Does that mean I can sin all I want? No! Before we were saved, we ran toward sin. Now that we are saved, we run from sin because we desire to live pure and clean lives that honor God.
Conclusion: A Call to Faith
The Old Testament shows us the righteousness and the sovereignty of God. It shows our inability to not sin. And it shows the consequences of our sin. The New Testament shows us that God loves us so much that He provided the solution (Jesus) to mankind’s sin problem as only He is able to. The New Testament of the Holy Bible clearly defines how to go to Heaven.
Related content: The wonderful Jesus the Christ