In a similar way, all that we know and do in Christianity has its earliest foundation in the Old Testament. We depend on that foundation as we grow in Christ. The difference is that our education from the Old Testament continues. We belong to the New Covenant, but the Old Covenant has much to teach us even now.
The Old Covenant has much to teach us.
Suppose, in our illustration, that the child’s school had a rule about wearing shoes in all classes. Later, as an adult, he finds that the university has the same rule. When he obeys the university’s rule about shoes, does that imply a move back into his childhood school? No, he obeys university rules because he is at university.
Yes, he first encountered that rule as a child, but his obedience as an adult never suggests a return to childhood.
In the same way, many great principles carry over from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. When we fulfill principles previously stated in the law that hardly suggests a return to the childhood school—the law. We obey those ageold principles because Christ showed their validity for us in the spiritually mature agreement called the New Covenant.
For example, when we love, we fulfill the law (Romans 13:8, 10). Does that place us under Moses? “No” would be the clear reply from Romans itself (Romans 6:14; 7:6; 10:14). More than ever, love is now “the royal law” (James 2:8)—the supreme ruling principle of Jesus our King. Certainly, the command to love was in the law, and can be quoted as such (James 2:8-11). Nevertheless, we love, not because we are slaves to an old legal system, but because we follow Jesus and value His “law of liberty” (James 2:12).
To state the case another way: We love, not because Moses rules us, but because Christ rules us. Our motivation is not set on Moses, but on the Lord: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We now say with Paul that we are under Christ.
To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law)… To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ)….(1 Corinthians 9:20-21)
The Old Covenant was made with the physical nation of Israel. Gentiles were never part of that covenant. But we all, Jews and Gentiles, have the infinite blessing of joining Christ in the New Covenant. This is the covenant to which we belong!
We conclude as does the Book of Hebrews, with the special blessing found only in the New Covenant (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Now may the God of peace
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
equip you with everything good that you may do His will,
working in us that which is pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen!