CovenantLesson 11

Old and New Contrasted

Old Covenant• Letters on stone• Servants of the letter• Came with glory that

faded• Killed• Condemns• Hearts are covered with

a veil

New Covenant• Letters on human heart• Servants of the Spirit• Came with abounding

glory• Brings life• Brings righteousness• Veil is taken away and

we see clearly

Galatians 3:1-18• Spirit is revealed by faith, not works of the Law• Abraham was righteous before the Law was given• Those who have faith, as he did, are God’s children• Abraham didn’t keep the Law; he didn’t have the

Law• The Law brings a curse• No one is justified by the Law• The Abrahamic Covenant blessed the Gentiles with

salvation• The Law did not do away with the Abrahamic

Covenant.• The Law did not nullify the promises

Galatians 3:19-29• Law’s purpose:• To define transgressions• Didn’t give life: only the Spirit does that• “Kept” those who would listen to it• “Phroureo”: A sentinel; a guard, to watch or keep,

providing protection against the enemy, blocking up every way of escape as in a siege.

• Faith in Christ is the way to God and His righteousness. The Law pointed to the need for a Savior.

• No distinction: All are heirs of the promise

Galatians 4:1-11• Illustration of a slave and a child who is an heir• Both, as children, are kept under guardians and

managers• The Law kept in bondage, but when the Father sent

His Son, the difference was made clear• The Spirit makes believers His children• Vs. 9 “How is it that you turn back again?”• If one claiming to be saved goes back under the

Law, returns to the Old Covenant, then that one was never part of the New Covenant – he was never really saved.

Galatians 4:12-31• Where is the blessing you had?• Allegory: Bondwoman and the Freewoman• Free woman: Sarah Son: Isaac• Bond woman: Hagar Son: Ishmael• Hagar represented the present Jerusalem in legalism• Sarah represented the Jerusalem above: freedom of

the New Covenant• There are more in bondage than free (vs. 27)• The children of the promise are true believers• Cast out the bondwoman of legalism• Live by the Spirit

How do we live by the Spirit?• “Living by the Spirit is a life of obedience, with the

witness from within of a good conscience, and from above of God’s pleasure. The Holy Spirit is to be the unceasing, universal, all-sufficient worker of everything that has to be wrought by the Christian.” Andrew Murray

• Last use of the word “Covenant”: Heb. 13:20-21

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”