The Old and New Testaments are founded on the idea of a covenant (or contract) between God and man. The contract in the Old Testament is between God and the Israelites. In Deuteronomy 5:1 Moses told the Israelites that, "These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.” The contract in the New Testament is between God and all believers. Paul tells us in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” These two contracts do not coexist. 

The old contract was faulty and the Jews did not continue in the contract. In Hebrews 8:7-9 we are told, "7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.” Now Jesus told the Jews in Matthew 5:14 that, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” 

The mission of Jesus was to fulfill the contract. With His death, the contract was completed and a new contract was established. In Hebrews 10:9 we are told, "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” A new and better contract with better promises as we are told in Hebrews 8:6 which states, "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Jesus confirmed this new contract in Matthew 28:18-20 when upon His resurrection He tells His disciples, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” As we can see, that contract will be until the end of the earth. 

Charles Royal,

Decatur AL