"Love one another, as I have loved you."

This is the Seventh post from Chapter 8 of Friends With God: God’s Friendship With Israel And The Church, which addresses the similarities and differences between the Old and New Covenants.

Love Of God Motivates Us To Hear God’s Words

As we have seen in the previous posts, the Old Covenant is a voluntary covenant based on loving God and neighbour. We have also seen that the continuation of this relationship with God into the New Covenant is emphasised by the fact that Christ did not sin, but kept the Old Covenant fully. (2Cor 5:21, 1Peter 2:22, 1John 3:5)

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. … "This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:10-12)

We therefore follow Jesus’ example in the New Covenant, by how he kept the law of God within the Old Covenant. The continuity from Old to New is inescapable and undeniable.

As love is the foundation of both covenants, those who are of physical Israel, descended from Abraham, and who choose to hear God’s words, will also understand and love Christ and will be motivated to follow him.

The Deeds Of Your Father

The Pharisees said Abraham is our father. Yet Jesus replied:

If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham (They did not follow the actions of Abraham).
But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. (although they were the physical children of Abraham, they were not his spiritual children, for they did not do what he did)
You do the deeds of your father. (meaning that their father was, spiritually, not Abraham.)
Then they (the Pharisees) said to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. (they understood that Christ was talking spiritually)
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; … Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word. (because their spiritual father was not God, it was clear to Christ that..)
You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do… He that is of God hears God's words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God. (John 8:39-47)

In order to love God, we must live in the truth, doing the deeds of God, as did Abraham and Christ, then we will be of those that hear God's words and do them.

James also makes this point, (as discussed in Chapter 1 of Friends With God) that faith and works are essential and complementary aspects of being children of God:

Do you want proof, you foolish person, that faith without actions is worthless? Our ancestor Abraham was justified by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar, wasn't he? You see that his faith worked together with what he did, and by his actions his faith was made complete. And so the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." And so he was called God's friend. You observe that a person is justified through actions and not through faith alone. (James 2:20-24)

To hear God’s word, means we are justified by both our actions and our faith working together. As Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, to listen to him and appreciate and do what he has to say is to hear the Words of God: for I proceeded forth and came from God; … Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word. (also John 1:1&14)

The Spirit Of God In Both Covenants

Anyone can physically hear God’s words, if they have access to the scriptures. However, it takes a relationship with God in order to love God and live his truth in our actions, and that requires God to call you so as to open your ears and eyes to understand and obey him.

As we have seen in Chapter 3, we can’t really obey God unless we have the Spirit of God:

Because the carnal (flesh focused) mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those that are in the flesh (flesh focused) cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (follower). (Rom. 8:7-9)

If we don’t have God’s Spirit then we are unable to follow him.

The last recorded words of Jesus, before his ascension into heaven, included the promise of the Spirit. (Acts 1:8) About ten days later, at the Feast of Pentecost, the disciples were baptised with the Holy Spirit, as manifested by the appearance of the tongues of fire. (Acts 2:1-4)

In the Old Covenant the Ten Commandments were also given at the time of Pentecost. The fact that these significant events were directed by God to occur on Pentecost, supports the understanding that it is essential to have the Spirit of God in order to understand and obey the Law of God. (Rom. 8:7-9) The timing of these two events on the same Holy Day, demonstrates and emphasises the continuity and compatibility between the Old and New Covenants.

It’s also interesting that Pentecost is the one festival that both Jews and Christians commonly keep today. Perhaps in this way God is maintaining a clear link between these two covenants, so that those who have ears to hear will consider, and understand that these covenants are essentially based on the same truths?

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God Is Calling Us In Order To Give Us His Spirit

If we are called by him to listen to his words, and then we willingly change our life to follow those words, the Father will give us his Spirit, which will enable us to obey him and continue to grow in understanding about him.

This is the process of change to perfection, as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2Peter 3:18, John 17:23, Matt 5:48) Once converted to his way of life, by the indwelling of his Spirit, we then need to work on ensuring that our deeper motivations are founded on love toward God and others.

Once we are called by God to come into the New Covenant, and after we receive the Holy Spirit, if we continue to grow in understanding, we will receive eternal life at the resurrection. (John 6:40-44, Acts 2:38)

In contrast, in the Old Covenant, the Spirit was available to some in Israel, as is shown by the many faithful people recorded in Hebrews chapter 11, but it was never specifically promised as an element of the Old Covenant . Even so, we see in Proverbs a process similar to that of New Covenant repentance and receiving of the Spirit:

Wisdom cries outside; she utters her voice in the streets; she cries in the chief place of gathering, in the openings of the gates; in the city she utters her words, saying,
How long will you love simplicity, (you who are) simple ones?
And (how long) will scorners delight in their scorning? (scoffing at the existence of God)
And (how long) will fools hate knowledge?
Turn (repent) at my warning (correction);
behold, I will pour out my Spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
(Proverbs 1:20-23)

Israelites were all called into the Old Covenant, so they would listen to God and turn away from their sins of wilful ignorance, scorning, and foolishness. If they did choose to do this, God said he would give them his Spirit to enable them to understand more of his words- so they could grow in even more understanding. This is the same process of growth for those in the New Covenant:

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Act 2:38)

All of those baptized were Israelites, and there is no mention of the Old Covenant being negated at this time, or at any other place in scripture.

The entire nation of Israel was blessed to be called by God to be in covenant with him, and, as we have seen above, his Spirit was also promised to them. However, this promise of the Spirit is not overt, as it is in the New Covenant. It is only mentioned incidentally in God’s relationship with certain people, such as the elders, prophets and judges and kings. (Num 11:17, Judg 3:10, 11:29, 1Sam 10:10, 16:13, 2Cron 15:1)

The Process of Salvation Is The Same In Both Covenants

In both covenants God gives the Holy Spirit to those who love him, and part of that love is to trust God enough to obey him. When David was first anointed king, it’s recorded that God gave him the Spirit:

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him (David) in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. (1Sam 16:13)

Yet, it was actually prior to David’s being given the Spirit that we have the record that he was a man after God’s own heart. (1Sam 13:14) God gave David the Spirit to help him to continue to grow in righteousness, as he already was someone who was listening to and following God.

Later when David disobeyed God, and grievously sinned by committing murder and adultery, he asked God to not take his Spirit away from him. In his prayer of repentance, we see the same process of salvation as in the New Covenant.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
(Psa 51:9-13)

David asked God for forgiveness, for guidance to change his mind, and to have within him the Spirit of God. He had obviously not listened to the Spirit’s promptings at the time of his sins, and there is a period of at least 12 months between his sins and his repentance.

David therefore had some serious soul searching to do, which he gives us the record of in Psalm 51. David knew he needed the Spirit to change his heart, in order for him to once again be keeping the intent and letter of the law of God, so as to restore his relationship with God.

Losing Salvation

King Saul had also been given the Spirit of God, but he did not allow it guide him, so it was taken from him. (1Sam 10:6, 11:6, 16:14) Initially, when King Saul was humble, God was able to work with him. However, when he became self-important, he would no longer listen to the Spirit, and God removed it from him. He also removed Saul from being King. (1Sam 15:17-23)

The Spirit of God doesn’t force you to obey the law, but it does help you to do so if you are willing to be guided by it:

But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. (John 14:26)

The Spirit prompts us to remember the truth, which then motivates us to walk in the footsteps of Christ. The Greek word “comforter” can also mean intercessor, consoler and advocate. The Spirit guides us, in order to motivate us with the truth. But, like King Saul, we can certainly ignore such promptings, if we choose to do so. (Eph 6:16, 1Thes 5:19) And, like King Saul, we may have the Spirit taken from us.

Stephen, when on trial for his life, stated that the Spirit of God was always guiding those of the Old Covenant, even the Pharisees, yet they stubbornly resisted it:

O stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!
You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do.
(Acts 7:51)

They had the Spirit of God with them, but they resisted it. And, continuing to resist the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the Pharisees proceeded to stone him to death!

It is those who resist the Holy Spirit who will not have their sins forgiven:

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt 12:31-32)

Yet, in order to resist the Spirit you need to have it available to you in the first place.

Being Tested By God

Having love for God and being tested by him is the same process in both the New and Old Covenants.

The Old Covenant included a national law unlike any other, which also required a personal relationship with God the King, based on love for God and neighbour. No other nation has ever had love for others and God as a foundation for all human interaction

In addition, God was willing to test an individual’s genuine commitment to him by allowing things to go wrong, or to even raise up a false prophet showing signs and wonders. (Deut 13:1-5)

It’s through allowing difficulties that God ensures that those in covenant with him are not merely going through the motions of keeping his law in order to look good, while not actually believing it is good. God requires individuals to demonstrate, through these trials, that they trust and love him with their whole heart, mind and soul.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying (contradicting) the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. … For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, …if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, … if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, … then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.
(2Peter 2:1-9)

Similarly, when asked about the future, Jesus answered them:

“See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet… All these are but the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matt 24:4-13)

This requirement for love in the Old Covenant had nothing to do with the need to do animal sacrifices. It was all about justice, and mercy, and walking the way of humility, which is the same way that Jesus demonstrated in his life for us to follow in the New Covenant:

With what (offering) shall I come before the Lord, to bow myself before God the Most High? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with (sacrificial) calves of a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of (sacrificial) rams, with ten thousands (sacrificial) rivers of oil?
Shall I give (sacrifice) my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (None of that is required)
He has (already) shown you, O man, what is good (acceptable to God). And what (sacrifice) does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God? (Micha 6:6-8)

Such a sacrifice is exactly the same as what is required in the New Covenant.

In addition to the above, as discussed in the previous post, the law was important in the physical land of Israel to keep in check those people who did not love God.

Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers … etc (1Tim 1:5-10)

Hopefully, such lawless people would eventually come to love God- if not, the law would at least reduce their impact upon those who did love God. However, the law can also be used unlawfully by the rulers (without love, justice, mercy, or faith in God) to attack innocent and righteous people, as we see with the murders of Stephen and Jesus. (1Tim 1:5-8)

Given these significant similarities, what are the differences between these two covenants? We will continue to explore that question in the next post in this series.