Our Position On Covenant Theology
(Also Known As Reformed Theology)
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
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"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!" (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)
Departing from the simplicity of Christ is one of many warning signs that follow various false teachings found within Christendom. This is certainly true when examining the tenants of Covenant Theology, which also travels under the names of Reformed Theology, Replacement Theology and Calvinism. There are countless variants and mixtures involving all four of these belief systems. This makes any simplified examination or discussion extremely difficult. In this study, we attempt to shed light on this popular Protestant doctrine, not only through our own comments and observations ... but by also including information from other credible sources within the Christian Church.
Avoiding the Trap of
Personal Opinion
One of the most dangerous misconceptions found among modern-day Christians is thinking that we can choose to believe in God or the Bible any way we want (or the way our church teaches) ... and He will respect our good intentions. However, if you're looking for authentic salvation ... taking this popular path is 'a train wreck waiting to happen'. Christians who consider themselves 'Bible-believers' often make this assumption. Yet, the Bible is God's official rule book for how salvation is obtained following Christ's crucifixion ... and He strictly follows His own rules. No one (this includes churches and denominations) has the authority to to create different rules that contradict what God has declared. Contrary to popular opinion, God has not given the Roman Catholic Church nor its Pope this privilege. The Holy Scriptures is the only source for this kind of authority.
As a result, if we go against
God - and choose a good-looking
religious path that He does
not honor - we should not
expect to receive salvation or
anything else.
In this situation, it is foolishness (and disastrous) to assume that God places more value on our 'good intentions' - than His own will. Contrary to popular opinion, He simply does not operate this way. More information concerning this truth is avaialbe HERE
The Rock of Offence ministry is dedicated to evangelism. However, we also possess an apologetic and counter-cult bias that many find offensive. This means that we preach the Gospel of Christ ... but also seek to expose false teachings that are disguised as the gospel. We take this unpopular position because of the eternal consequences involved. The problem we often face is the "He said - She said" syndrome. This occurs when both sides of a dispute accuses the other of being wrong. As a result, the supporters of the real gospel claims the false gospel is wrong by citing Scripture ... while the supporters of the false gospel accuses the real gospel as being wrong - by also citing Scripture.
Here's the problem that
often goes unnoticed:
The false gospel defends itself
by using Scripture that has
either been 'spiritualized'
or lifted from the context where
God originally placed it.
Out of all the erroneous doctrines found within Christendom, we decided to write about Covenant Theology (also called Reformed Theology). Our decision was based on the size and scope of its influence, the deceptive methods used in its defense - and the threat it poses to the "truth of the Gospel".
Tyranny of the Majority
BGEA Decision Magazine's ran an article in August of 2015 entitled; "Billy Graham’s Challenge for a Floundering Church", where the popular evangelist addressed the problem that he referred to as; 'the church within the church'.
Graham stated:
"Almost every minister will agree that there is a church within the church - that group of people, OFTEN A MINORITY, in almost every congregation who have personally met the living Christ and can never be the same again. The word church comes from a Greek word, ecclesia. This is from a verb meaning “to call out.” The church is composed of all those true believers from Pentecost onward who are united together in Christ. The Bible teaches that we are the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head (Ephesians 1:22-23). As such, the true church is a holy temple for the habitation of God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22).
Therefore, within the vast complexities, bureaucracies, organizations and institutions of Christendom there exists the true Body of Christ. The members of this true Body are, for the most part, known only to God. They are the ones who have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). They are scattered in all denominations, AND MANY ARE IN NO DENOMINATION AT ALL. They are the “called-out” ones. It is this church within the church against which Christ promised the gates of hell would never prevail (Matthew 16:18)".
Fair Use Disclaimer
Due to the non-profit research and educational
nature of the Rock of Offence website, we qualify
under Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the “fair use”
clause for copyrighted materials. For this reason,
any copyrighted work on this website is provided
under the “fair use” provision without profit or
payment for non-profit research, educational and
discussion purposes only.
Important Note:
Providing this information should not necessarily be
interpreted as complete agreement with the theology,
eschatology or political views of the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association. It should also be understood
that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association may not
necessarily agree with all the teachings found on
our website.
Click Here to Access the
Original Article
A problem that has always existed within Christendom is the belief that the majority is always right. When a particular theology dominates a sector of the church, it is often presumed to be 'God's authentic doctrine' due to its popularity. This is especially true when it has hundreds of years of church history behind it - along with professional theologians who are skilled at allegorizing or twisting Scripture to defend its teachings. Yet, in Acts chapter 15, the Bible warns about a certain 'historical theology" that God condemns - but has now spread throughout the Christian Church.
We clearly see this religious force at work in Roman Catholicism. Yet, the same force operates on the Protestant side of the fence. Scripture warns that just because a theology or doctrine is old and historical - or popular with a majority of Christians - does not mean that it comes from God. The correctly interpreted (or 'rightly divided') Holy Scriptures always have the final say in these matters.
Our Lord Jesus Christ had to confront this same religious 'tyranny of the majority' during his earthly ministry - when dealing with the Scribes and Pharisees and their religion.
As a result, Jesus made the
following statement:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:13-15)
Then, our Lord went on to say...
"I am the way, the truth
and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me."
(John 14:6)
Yet, Jesus was eventually nailed
to the cross by this 'majority
religion' He so often had to
confront.
We see this same attitude that, 'the majority is always right' when dealing with the supporters of Covenant Theology; also known as Reformed Theology. Yet, the Bible warns that the majority is often wrong.
Church history credits Martin Luther as being 'the Father of the Protestant Reformation'. However, many Protestants believe that Covenant/Reformed theology, propagated by John Calvin and his ministry associates, was the Reformation's official doctrine. What they fail to understand is that Luther and Calvin did not teach the same doctrine. Calvin was a devout disciple of Augustine, who was considered to be the 'the Father of Roman Catholicism'. As a result, the original roots of Covenant/Reformed theology can be traced through John Calvin and back to Augustine. This is why there are legitimate claims that Covenant theology was originally derived from Augustine's Roman Catholicism, which was deceptively rewritten in Protestant language and disseminated throughout the Reformation movement. Later, it spread into the Great Awakening revival in the American Colonies - and then adopted by the various denominations we see today.
On the other hand, church history reveals that Martin Luther rejected Augustine's unbiblical and legalistic teachings - and instead chose to follow the New Testament writings of Saint Paul, which are based on the unmerited favor of God known as 'Grace'. The general theme of Luther's ministry was 'justified by grace through faith in Christ alone" - as revealed in Romans 3:24-26. Yet, historians shorten it to just "justification by faith". The problem with the shorten version is that it can be interpreted in different ways. It can mean 'justified by faith plus works' as Calvin and Augustine taught - or 'justified by faith alone' (apart from works) as taught by both Luther and Saint Paul.
These two different ways of
interpreting "justified by
faith' represents, not only
the dividing line between
the doctrine of Luther and
Calvin - but also the dividing
line between the authentic
Gospel and the false gospel.
Contrary to popular opinion, Martin Luther did not start the Luthern denomination, which was later formed by some of his followers dispite his objections.
Important Note: We believe that the initial seeds for the modern-day Evangelical movement were planted by Martin Luther (and those who worked with him) and used by God to confront the unbiblical tenants of Catholicism ... and later, Covenant Theology - both of which seek to redefine the grace-based principles governing the salvation of His Son.
One thing that keeps Covenant/Reformed
theology from being properly examined
is the 'massive confusion' caused by the
complexity of its theology. We belive it
was deliberately designed this way. The
theological terminology used by its
defenders often leaves the reader asking
the question...
"What in the world does that mean?"
The following is one such example.
Paul Benware, from Paul Benware
Ministries, attempts to simplify
some of these complex tenants.
He states (we are paraphrasing):
Covenant theology claims there are three covenants in the Bible - but some supporters say there are only two. These covenants are known as: works, redemption and grace. However, these covenants are not derived from actual Biblical covenants, but are theological ones that have been postulated by theologians.
Additional Comment from Rock of Offence: In other words, these three (or for some - two) covenants are 'theological constructs' derived from Scripture that is 'spiritualized' (or religiously theorized) ... and does not 'literally' come from what the Scripture actually says. When you spiritualize and abuse the context of Scripture - you can make God say just about anything. In order to possess authentic faith for salvation, the Bible must represent a literal form of 'absolute truth' that we know comes from God's throne ... and not from 'spiritualized Scripture' and religious theory. Once again, a theory can be anything. This is one reason that 'doubting salvation' or the inability 'to know that you have eternal life' - is a characteristic that follows Covenant theology and its many denominational variants. Saint John speaks about this kind of assurance;
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:13-15)
Note: John is saying that it is God's will for us to have eternal life - and when we ask Him for it, we can know (have the assurance) that He hears us and will therefore grant our petition.
Benware goes on to comment ...
"CT (or Covenant Theology) teaches that prior to the fall of man, God entered into a covenant relationship with Adam. This is the covenant of works and in it man was promised eternal life for obedience but death for disobedience. Man failed badly, bringing death into the human experience. After this failure, God graciously instituted the covenant of grace in order to bring salvation through Jesus Christ. Covenant theologian Louis Berkhof says that this covenant was not made with all of mankind, but was a covenant made between God and the elect sinner. God promises eternal life and the elect sinner accepts this salvation, promising a life of faith and obedience. This covenant of grace is actually based on the covenant of redemption made in eternity past between the Father and the Son. According to CT (or Covenant Theology), each dispensation or covenant mentioned in the Bible is simply another stage of the progress of revealing the covenant of grace in history, with the result that there is one, and only one, people of God. In other words, the Church and Israel are not distinct in God’s plan or dealings."
Click Here For The Original Commentary
Fair Use Disclaimer
Due to the non-profit research and educational
nature of the Rock of Offence website, we qualify
under Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the “fair use”
clause for copyrighted materials. For this reason,
any copyrighted work on this website is provided
under the “fair use” provision without profit or
payment for non-profit research, educational and
discussion purposes only.
Important Note:
Providing this information should not necessarily be
interpreted as complete agreement with the theology,
eschatology or political views of "Paul Benware
Ministries". It should also be understood that "Paul
Benware Ministries" may not necessarily agree
with all the teachings found on our website.
[ End of Benware Comments ]
Even though Paul Benware does an
excellent job of simplifying some
tenants of Covenant Theology, the
the average reader might still
ask the question:
"What in the world does that mean?"
As a result, we decided to include another commentary from Rev. Jack Brooks from 'Endtimes.org' on the subject of how Covenant Theology distorts Bible prophecy. You can read it HERE
Finally, we wanted to add yet another perspective from "Got Questions.org", which gives a brief and excellent over-view of Covenant Theology. Unfortunately, the original commentary was recently removed and replaced with one that provides more detail. However, after reading the new one, we feel that it is indeed more detailed ... but also a bit confusing. For this reason, we will excercise our 'fair use' priviledge under Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 and repost the original article for educational and discussion purposes, while giving full credit to the original authors. No link to the original commenatary can be provided - since it no longer exists.
The Following Information Was
Originally Provided By
"Got Questions Ministries"
What is Covenant Theology
and is it Biblical?
Answer: Covenant theology is based on the theory that God has only one covenant with men (the covenant of grace) and only one people, represented by the Old and New Testament saints—one people, one church and one plan for all. These beliefs require the adherents of covenant theology to interpret prophecy in a nonliteral way. Dispensationalism, on the other hand, is a system of theology with two primary distinctives: (1) a consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy, and (2) a distinction between Israel and the Church in God's program.
Those who hold to covenant theology believe that there is, and has always been, only one people of God. They believe that Israel was the Church in the Old Testament, and the Church is Israel in the New Testament. The promises of land, many descendants, and blessing to Israel in the Old Testament have been “spiritualized” and applied to the Church in the New Testament because of Israel’s unbelief and rejection of their Messiah. Those who hold to covenant theology also do not interpret prophecy in a normal sense. As an example, in Revelation 20, the thousand-year reign of Christ is spoken of. Covenant theology would say that the number 1,000 is symbolic and really does not mean a literal 1,000 years. They would say that we are in the millennium right now, that the reign of Christ with His saints is going on in heaven right now, and that the 1,000-year period is symbolic, beginning with the first coming of Christ and ending when He returns.
Scripturally, covenant theology is wrong in both how Israel is viewed and how prophecy is interpreted. The proper method for interpreting Scripture is to read it in a normal sense. Unless the text indicates that it is using some kind of figurative language, it should be taken literally. When Scripture speaks of Israel, it is not referring to the Church, and when the Church is spoken of, it is not referring to Israel. God has one plan for Israel and another for the Church. Also, with reference to prophecy, all prophecies that have been fulfilled were fulfilled literally, not figuratively. Christ literally fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah when He came 2,000 years ago. There is no reason to think that unfulfilled prophecies are to be understood in a figurative sense. As with those in the past, future prophecy will be fulfilled literally in the future.
In Romans 11:1, Paul poses the question of Israel’s future and answers it definitively: “I ask then: ‘Did God reject his people?’ By no means!” The rest of the chapter makes it clear that Israel has been “hardened” or temporarily set aside “in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). Israel did not become the Church; rather, the Church was “grafted in” (v. 17) to the root of God’s family, creating one body out of the two, while they remain separate in origin, although united in the faith. If the Church was to replace Israel, the imagery would be as a tree (Israel) uprooted and replaced by another (the Church). But the imagery of a branch grafted into a tree is perfectly clear. This is the “mystery” Paul speaks of in verse 25. A mystery in the New Testament refers to something previously not revealed, and the idea of another group of people becoming part of the chosen people of God was unheard of to the Jews at that time.
Will God cast away His people Israel? No, God will not cast away His people. On the contrary, verse 25 and following says, "God will save his people." At some future point, “the deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.” Here is God’s promise to His chosen people for their future restoration. What a glorious plan! No wonder the contemplation of it caused Paul to burst forth with “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” God is faithful, He is merciful and His plans are perfect, and one day both Jew and Gentile will worship the Lord Jesus Christ as one body.
This commentary and quote is from Got Questions Ministries. When we use their information as an additional resource - it should not be viewed as a "universal agreement" with everything they teach - nor should readers think that they agree with everything we teach. However, their excellent response to this complex question addresses a major false theology that has plagued the Christian Church for hundreds of years.
Fair Use Disclaimer
Due to the non-profit research and educational
nature of the Rock of Offence website, we qualify
under Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the “fair use”
clause for copyrighted materials. For this reason,
any copyrighted work on this website is provided
under the “fair use” provision without profit or
payment for non-profit research, educational and
discussion purposes only.
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One of the goals of this ministry is to discuss important Biblical subjects clearly and simply. After observing religion and how it operates within Christendom, we learned that few church members will be successful at; "Coming to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Timothy 3:7). Many will find religious tradition and denominational doctrine that is often referred to as "Biblical truth". But, when a close examination of these teachings is performed, we find that they are actually established on out-of-context Scripture. The Bible isn't that hard to understand. It's the confusion caused by thousands of man-made doctrines and traditions that make it difficult to sort out. Some preachers and theologians take full advantage of this confusion. With the pressures of our modern society, it's difficult for believers to uncover the truth that often exists 'deep beneath the surface'. We apologize for some of the more complex and confusing topics discussed on this website - since it violates our desire for simplicity. This forces us to make a decision: We we can either discuss some of these subjects ... or contribute (through silence) to the massive and mainstream misinformation campaign operating within the world-wide Christian Church.
Recently, a reader commented that some of our articles appear to be contradictory. The contradiction seemingly involved our teachings concerning the importance of the historic institution of the blood covenant in the Holy Scriptures vs. the doctrine of "Covenant Theology" related to the teachings of Calvinism and Reformed Theology. The principles of Covenant Theology (also called Reformed Theology) can be traced back to Augustine of Hippo - a prominent Roman Catholic theologian (354-430 A.D.).
Augustine’s theology became the foundation for modern-day Roman Catholicism. Unfortunately, major elements of this doctrine, which includes tenants of what is now called 'Covenant Theology', were transmitted to the early Protestant Reformation by those who had left the Roman Catholic Church ... to "protest" its unbiblical teachings. This "protest movement" was later simply called "Protestantism". As a result, Covenant theology (in various forms and expressions) became the foundation of many influential mainline denominations such as; Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Anglican, Holiness congregations (including Pentecostal Holiness churches) – and many (but thankfully not all) churches that refer to themselves as “fundamentalist”. It even found its way into some independent Baptist churches, parts of the Charismatic movement - and the world-wide Discipleship and Shepherding movement.
Even worse, there are several historical versions of the Bible that were translated according to the tenants of Calvinism ... rather than using a literal interpretation the original manuscripts. The Authorized King James Bible is a notable exception.
When you include all the denominations influenced by Covenant Theology and its variants - both Roman Catholic (under Augustine) and Protestant (under Calvin and his ministry associates) - we're talking about more than 80 per cent of Christendom.
But thankfully, not everyone in
the Protestant Reformation followed
this doctrine. Some chose to follow
Martin Luther, who correctly based his
teachings on the New Testament
Epistles of Saint Paul.
Covenant theology (and all of its
various denominational expressions)
is one of the major modern-day
corrupting influences behind what
Saint Paul called; 'a different
gospel', which is a false gospel
that God rejects. All these things
give us a compelling reason to sound
an unpopular warning in our studies
and commentaries.
The common thread that links all these
church organizations together (in varying
degrees) is the doctrine of John Calvin,
a prominent leader of the Protestant
Reformation ...
and a devoted disciple
of Augustine.
Yet, in modern times the principles of Covenant (or Reformed) theology has quietly crossed all denominational lines and operates under countless different and misleading labels, often without the knowledge of the congregation.
Additional information is available
at the following link:
Why The Term 'Christian Fundamentalism'
Causes So Much Confusion
Calvinism's Surprising Catholic
Connection - By Dave Hunt
Clearing Up the Confusion
On the surface, it appears as if the Rock of Offence ministry is teaching Covenant theology. I want to assure our readers that this is not the case. Our ministry rejects this popular, yet aberrant denominational doctrine. After a thorough examination of the facts, Covenant Theology (or Reformed Theology - along with all its various expressions) represents one of the most serious threats to the truth of the Gospel within the Christian Church. It's a serious threat ... because it originates from both the Roman Catholic and Protestant sides of the isle. It mixes Old Testament Law (and its works) with the New Testament Grace of Christ, which is a forbidden practice after the cross. This mixed 'law and Grace doctrine' is then given names such as; 'Christian fundamentalism and Biblical Christianity' - which gives the impression that it represents God's original intentions concerning the Christian faith.
The Apostle Paul warned that mixing
these two radically different
Biblical programs "perverts the Gospel
of Christ" and carries a curse.
(Galatians 1:6-9)
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)
"You have become estranged (separated and cut-off) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from Grace." (Galatians 5:4)
"And if by Grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." (Romans 11:6)
It's unfortunate that such an important Biblical word like "covenant" can be applied to a group in such a way that if you use the same term ... it appears that you agree with the theology of that group. It also explains why believers aligned with all the different variants of Covenant Theology (or Reformed Theology) find information on this website offensive.
The reader should understand that Calvinism, Covenant theology, Reformed theology, The Institutes of Christian Religion and Replacement theology are all interrelated belief systems that are foundational to many Protestant denominations.
What Is Covenant Theology?
It's not the goal of this commentary to perform a detailed examination of this problem. Therefore, our comments will be generalized and limited. If the thousands of Christian books, sermons and teachings that exist on this topic failed to end the sometimes vicious dialogue - neither will these writings. The hostilities between Reformed Theology (which includes various popular forms of Calvinism) - and other Christian beliefs, such as Dispensationalism have existed for many years. Endless debates and emotionally-charged arguments continue to this day - and are unavoidable.
Two major forms of religious thought exist in Orthodox Christianity: Covenant Theology and Dispensational Theology (also known as Dispensationalism).
Covenant Theology generally views
Biblical history as one continuous
"uniform flow" that does not
disagree and is expressed in two
basic "Covenants" known as:
WORKS
&
GRACE
However, Covenant theology considers these
two covenants to be 'two aspects' (or subsets)
of a single major covenant that represents the
entire Bible. They are more like "religious
ideologies" or theological constructs that
enable Calvinism and Covenant Theology (or
Reformed Theology) to make sense of their
fundamental "uniform flow" doctrine.
At this point, the reader might ask;
"What does "uniform flow" mean?"
It's another way of saying that the Bible only
has one spiritual program and message. It's a
clever way to combine the program of Old
Testament Law with the New Covenant program
of Christ. It is called "uniform" ("uni" meaning
one) because it represents the merging of two
different Biblical programs - into one. Yet,
Saint Paul warns against this practice when he
told his disciple Timothy that the Word of God
must be 'rightly divided' (2 Timothy 2:15). In
other words, the Bible is a divided book - and
not 'uniform'. The Apostle John speaks about
the Bible's 'divided nature' when he said ...
"And of His fullness we have all received,
and grace for grace. For the Law was given
through Moses, but Grace and Truth came
through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17)
Attempting to describe something as complex as Covenant Theology is a difficult task. It's an area of intense spiritual warfare that has - in various forms - deceived the institutional church since the first century. Simply understood, it's a belief that "the New Covenant in Christ's blood", which didn't start until after the cross, is just a continuation of the Old Testament program based on the Mosaic covenant made between God and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The key word here is "continuation". If the New Covenant is a continuation of the Old Testament program, then both systems are binding upon the New Testament believer. Yet, the New Testament warns that the program of Old Testament Law is made obsolete (meaning it isn't continued or extended) by the finished work of Christ at the cross (also called "The New Covenant" - Hebrews 8:6-13).
The New Covenant is also called "the new and living way of Christ" established on His blood (Read: Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20, 1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6, Heb. 7:11-22, Heb. 8:6-13, Heb. 9:15, Heb. 10:19-23, Heb. 12:24).
Covenant Theology teaches that God deals with the entire human race today "in the same or similar manner" as He dealt with Israel under the program of Old Testament Law. It's called "uniform" because Covenant theologians and their followers suggest that the cross caused no significant change to take place. They believe little or no change takes place because it's all part of the same "unified" Biblical program that started in the Old Testament. Later, we'll see how they bring all of this under their redefined covenants of “Works (the Law) and Grace”, which is empowered by an allegorized interpretation of Scripture.
The Bible has a lot to say about these two covenant-based systems of faith. The New Testament book of Hebrews refers to them as "the first covenant and the second covenant" (Hebrews 8:6-13). However, the way the New Testament defines the covenant programs of "Works (the Law) and Grace" is totally different than the way it is taught under Covenant/Reformed theology.
The names are the same, but the
definition behind the names is
very different. It's unfortunate
that such confusion is being
introduced on these important
subjects.
The word "uniform" is generally defined as "the same." If you stir a can of paint until its consistency is "uniform" - that means it’s the same throughout. However, applying this analogy to the Bible is both misleading and spiritually disastrous.
The New Testament strongly condemns this kind of "uniform theology". When Jesus describes the redemption His blood provides ... He called it a New Covenant. The words "uniform" and "new" hold different meanings. When something is said to be new, it is immediately understood that something old is being replaced (not continued). Otherwise, the word new becomes nonsensical, which is a serious error that the word 'obsolete' in Hebrews 8:6-13 is attempting to warn us about. It also means that instead of only one spiritual program to consider - there are actually two. This is why the Apostle Paul commanded that God's Word is to be "rightly (or correctly) divided” in order to correctly teach its truths (2 Timothy 2:15). When you divide something - it is separated into two parts. If the Bible is divided into two programs, as stated in Hebrews chapter 8, then claiming that Scripture must be treated as only one uniform program becomes a false teaching that redefines Christ’s salvation. In this situation God made the previous Covenant of Law that ruled the Old Testament religion of Judaism - obsolete. He then established a "New Covenant" that represents a totally different and revolutionary type of redemptive system for the human race.
Hebrews 10:19-23 calls it;
"A new and living way"
"But now hath he (Jesus) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second."
"In that He (Jesus Christ) says, "a new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:13)
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He (Jesus) consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:19-23)
Saint Paul refers to these two
covenants when he said. . .
“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are symbolic: For these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” (Gal 4:22-26)
If you put all these things together - you can see that the "first covenant" of Old Testament Law from Mount Sinai had "faults" and other problems. The book of Hebrews uses the word "faults" to describe the previous covenant. By using the word "faults", we are only repeating what the Bible says. We're not creating some kind of new teaching in this study. God considers this 'first covenant' as something that causes death and bondage. In Romans 8:2-4, Paul referred to it as "the law of sin and death". It is for this reason God sought to establish a brand new covenant, which He calls "a better covenant established on better promises" (Hebrews 8:6-7).
Again, the book of Hebrews uses the term "better covenant" to describe Christ’s “New Covenant” that makes the previous Old Covenant of the Law obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). The New Testament Church is now ruled by Christ’s New Covenant established on the blood He shed at the cross. The New Covenant (not the Old Covenant of Law) is the one that God now uses in His Grace-based relationship with the modern-day believer in Christ.
When you see the whole picture it’s simple to understand. Yet, a vast majority of Christendom fails to live in this liberating truth because of various misleading systems of theology that exist.
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