I Can’t Reconcile Covenant Theology

Introduction:

At my church , I was and am under the teaching of pastors that adhere to the system of theology known as covenant theology.  I have tried for years to understand and reconcile covenant theology with Scripture and I just have not been able to do it.  The more I have tried, the more inconsistencies and statements I found that were in conflict with Scripture.  I finally came to a point where I had to try and find another way to understand what the Bible taught about redemptive history and the covenants.  Dispensationalism [the other major Biblical theological system] made even less sense than covenant theology.  So, for a while I was left more or less twisting in the wind for an understandable theology.

A few years ago, through a blogging friend from Rochester, NY, I discovered some writers who presented another view of redemptive history.  This view held that redemptive history unfolded through a series of historical covenants that contained promises and fulfillments as well as a focus on Jesus Christ rather than the nation of Israel.  This view accepts the Bible’s reporting of covenants exactly as stated by Scripture and is known as New Covenant Theology.  While it is in the process of being developed, it does have some historical roots from the early reformation.  My views as expressed in this article borrows greatly from new covenant theology, but is not meant to necessarily be in lock step with the views of the leaders of this theology.  Although I have learned much from these new covenant theologians, my views are based on my understanding of Biblical revelation.  I am also indebted to numerous covenant theologians and pastors in my denomination as well as others. They have been and continue to be a tremendous blessing to me.  I just cannot accept their teaching on covenant theology and especially the single covenant of grace view.

My purpose here is to point out my objections to Covenant Theology as explained by Louis Berkhof in chapter 13 of his book, A Summary of Christian Doctrine.  While I believe new covenant theology bests explains redemptive history, I am not going to attempt to explain my view of it here.  This article will focus totally on my objections to one aspect of covenant theology known as the covenant of grace.  

A. covenant of grace defined
Berkhof presents the covenant theology perspective that a single covenant of grace covers all of redemptive history after the fall of Adam, rather than a series of historical biblical covenants that are presented in Scripture.  This is the part of covenant theology that I will address.  Since Scripture does not mention a covenant of grace that covers all of redemptive history, it is entirely a theologically deduced covenant.  I think it would be correct to call this period a part of the gospel of grace, but not the covenant of grace.  Paul says in Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.  In the book of Romans Paul explains this gospel.  He never refers to a covenant of grace in any of his epistles.

NOTE:  Direct quotes from Berkhof’s book will be italicized and underlined in this article.    

Berkhof gives the following definition for the covenant of grace: So conceived, it may be defined as that gracious agreement between God and the elect sinner in Christ, in which God gives Himself with all the blessings of salvation to the elect sinner, and the latter embraces God and all His gracious gifts by faith.

Berkhof presents the covenant theology perspective that a single covenant of grace covers all of redemptive history after the fall of Adam, rather than a series of historical biblical covenants that are presented in Scripture.  The different biblical covenants are viewed as different administrations of the one covenant of grace.  This is the part of Covenant Theology that I will address.  Since Scripture does not mention a covenant of grace, it is entirely a theologically deduced covenant. 

B. Parties of the Covenant
Berkhof states: The contracting parties. God is the first party in the covenant. He establishes the covenant and determines the relation in which the second party will stand to Him. It is not so easy to determine who the second party is. The prevailing opinion in Reformed circles is that it is the elect sinner in Christ. 

It is understandable that it is difficult for covenant theologians to determine who the second party in the covenant of grace is since the deduced covenant of grace spans several historic biblical covenants that are between God and different parties.  Covenant theology claims that all of Abraham’s descendents were in the Covenant of Promise.  This would mean both elect and non-elect were parties in this covenant instead of just the elect sinner in Christ.  No wonder it is not easy for Reformed circles to determine who the second party is in the Covenant of Grace since they have a contradiction before they get out of Genesis 17.  While the covenant of circumcision was made with all of Abraham’s physical descendents, the covenant of promise made with Abraham was made with the elect and not all the physical offspring of Abraham as Paul explains in Romans 9:6-8, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”  Paul is pretty clear here.  It is the children of the promise who are Abraham’s offspring, not the children of the flesh [physical descendents]. 

Then 430 years later God made another covenant at Mt. Sinai with the people that God delivered out of Egypt and them alone.  Deut. 5:3 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.  Therefore, the Mosaic or Old Covenant was made with the nation of Israel and them alone.  This covenant had a beginning at Mt. Sinai and it had an end when Jesus was crucified on the cross of Calvary.  Many and in fact most of these people were not saved [Heb. 3:16-19, Rom. 9:27].  Therefore, Covenant theology fails to acknowledge that most of those with whom God made the Mosaic Covenant were not saved.  They were not elect.   

I will agree that it is hard to determine the parties in the mythical Covenant of Grace since the parties change in the different covenants.  However, if each covenant is treated as presented in the Holy Bible, it is not hard at all to determine whom the parties are and how the covenants work together in a unified gospel of grace.

C. Promises of the Covenant
Berkhof states: The promises of the covenant. The main promise of the covenant, which includes all others, is contained in the oft repeated words, "I will be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee," This promise includes all others, such as the promise of temporal blessings, of justification, of the Spirit of God, and of final glorification in a life that never ends.

In this statement Berkhof  clearly asserts that the promise includes justification, glorification and eternal life.  Therefore, when a person is in this covenant relationship with God, they have been regenerated and redeemed.

However, Berkhof also states: It is evident that the Bible sometimes speaks of the covenant as including some in whom the promises are never realized, such as Ishmael, Esau, the wicked sons of Eli, and the rebellious Israelites who died in their sins.  What?  How can God’s promises not be realized?  God promises eternal life through the covenant, but it is not realized in some who are included in the covenant!  How can this be? 

Some will say it was because they didn’t meet the requirements of the covenant.  But Berkhof also states: Moreover, it should be borne in mind that even the requirements are covered by the promises: God gives man all that He requires of him.   If some are included in the covenant of promise and God gives all he requires to be in the covenant, then how can some not receive the promises?  Has the Word of God failed?  This makes no sense and it is impossible for all three of these statements to be correct. 

Paul explains in Romans 9 which one of these three statements is incorrect and that is Berkhof’s assertion that the covenant of promise includes some who never receive the promises.  Paul states in Romans 9:6-8 that it is NOT the children of the flesh who are Abraham’s offspring, but it is the children of the promise are counted as offspring.  Therefore, Ishmael, Esau, the wicked sons of Eli, and the rebellious Israelites who died in their sins were NOT included in the covenant of promise even though they were included in the covenant of circumcision. 

D. Requirements of the Covenant

Berkhof states: Moreover, it should be borne in mind that even the requirements are covered by the promises: God gives man all that He requires of him. The two things which He demands of those who stand in covenant relationship to Him are (a) that they accept the covenant and the covenant promises by faith, and thus enter upon the life of the covenant; and (b) that from the principle of the new life born within them, they consecrate themselves to God in new obedience.

This does not make sense to me.  Those who are in covenant relationship with God must accept the covenant promises by faith in order to enter the covenant???  It would make sense if they were NOT in covenant relationship and through faith entered into covenant relationship, but how can you be in the covenant before faith and enter the same covenant by faith.  These are the kind of assertions that make the covenant of grace very complicated and confusing for me. 

E. Characteristics of the Covenant

(1) Berkhof states: It is grace from start to finish. It is also an eternal and inviolable covenant, to which God will always be true, though men may break it.

Berkhof here asserts that those included in the covenant are secure in the covenant even though they may break the covenant.  He also said earlier the promises were not realized in many that were included in the covenant such as Ishmael, Esau, and rebellious Israelites [see above].  I don’t know how you reconcile this contradiction, as both assertions cannot be true.  They were either not included in the covenant or they were not secure in the covenant.  It can’t be both.   

(2) Berkhof states speaking of the covenant of grace: It is essentially the same in all dispensations, though the form of its administration changes.

Well this is just not accurate as Hebrews 8:8,9 points out, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.”  First this text says ‘establish a new covenant’, not change an existing covenant.  Then it states that this new covenant is not like the mosaic covenant.  I don’t think ‘essentially the same’ reconciles with ‘not like’.  Verse 6 states that the ministry of Christ is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.  From this passage in Hebrews, how can anyone say the new covenant is essentially the same as the old covenant?  You can’t!  Paul also declared that new covenant believers were not under law, but under grace and the old covenant was a ministry of death.  He also declared himself to be a minister of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the spirit.           

F.  Membership in the Covenant

(1) Berkhof states: From the preceding it follows that unregenerate persons may temporarily be in the covenant as a purely legal relationship.

This is not accurate with either the Mosaic covenant or the new covenant.   In the Mosaic covenant the entire nation of Israel was in a permanent covenant relationship with God whether or not they were regenerate.  The new covenant as defined in Hebrews 8 is made up of nothing but regenerate saved Christians and has no temporary members.  Therefore, neither of these covenants includes anyone on a temporary basis.  The Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant represent nearly all of redemptive history as revealed in the Holy Bible and neither have temporary covenant members.

(2) Berkhof states: Children of believers, however, enter the covenant as a legal arrangement by birth, but this does not necessarily mean that they also at once enter it as a communion of life, nor even that they will ever enter it in that sense.

Berkhof here asserts that children of believers enter into the covenant as a legal arrangement at birth, but they may never enter it as a communion of life.  From #1 above these children are temporarily in the covenant at birth and some of them prove to be unregenerate and are expelled when they become covenant breakers.  Hebrews 8 alone disproves this view, and Paul in Romans 9 makes it clear that it is not the children of the flesh that are the children of God.  Paul even goes on in Romans 9 to state that while Esau was in the womb with Jacob, which was before either had done anything good or bad, God said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”  If ever there was a full-blooded covenant child it was Esau.  Does this mean God hates some covenant children before they even have a chance to be covenant breakers?  The Bible gives no support for children of believers being born into the new covenant in any way and although Abraham’s descendents in the Old Testament were born in into the physical covenant of circumcision, they were not included in the covenant of promise according to Paul in Romans 9.  

G. Different dispensations of the Covenant

Berkhof states: The covenant at Sinai is essentially the same as that established with Abraham, but now takes in the whole nation of Israel, and thus became a national covenant. Though it strongly stresses the keeping of the law, it should not be regarded as a renewed covenant of works.
It strongly stresses keeping the law????  No, it was a legal or works covenant that required keeping the law.  The covenant contract was the Ten Commandments.  Deuteronomy 4:13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.  AND   Exodus 34:27,28 And the LORD said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.

While it had a gracious purpose, pointed to mercy, and a coming redeemer, the covenant at Sinai promised blessings for obedience to the law and curses for disobedience to the law.  It did more than strongly stress the keeping of the law since keeping the law was the very terms of the covenant as pointed out in Exodus 19:5,6 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”  Israel responded by accepting the terms of the Mosaic covenant.  Exodus 19:7,8 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.

This does not mean anyone other than Jesus Christ succeeded in keeping this covenant or that no one was redeemed under this covenant.  The remnant that was saved under the old covenant was saved by faith in the coming redeemer.

H. Covenant breakers

Berkhof states: The covenant of grace is a GRACIOUS covenant, because it is a fruit and manifestation of the grace of God to sinners. It is grace from start to finish. It is also an eternal and inviolable covenant, to which God will always be true, though men may break it.

By asserting both the old and new covenants are just one covenant some contradictions and problems arise with this statement.
1) How can men break a covenant that Berkhop states that God gives man all he requires of him to be in the covenant? 
2) How can God be said to be true to his covenant promise if men are expelled from it due to breaking it? 

When you consider each of these covenants as they are presented in Scripture, the confusion clears up.  Men can break the old covenant as Hebrews 8:9 states in speaking of the old covenant:  For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.  Men broke the old covenant and God was true to his word as spelled out in the terms of the old [Mosaic] covenant.  In the new covenant God gives man all he requires.  Therefore, God is true to his word and man cannot break covenant per the terms of the new covenant.  God states in Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.     

In Exodus 19:5 God says: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples,……… Speaking of new covenant believers Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  The distinction between old covenant members [Israel] and new covenant members [believers] couldn’t be more striking.  With the old covenant it is IF YOU OBEY and with new covenant members it is YOU ARE A CHOSEN RACE.   

Summary

Sinners were saved by grace alone through faith alone throughout redemptive history including the old [Mosaic] covenant and all the covenants had a gracious purpose in God’s plan.  However, when there are so many major differences in the covenants, I don’t see how it is possible to arbitrarily deduce that they are all actually just one covenant when Scripture does not report it that way.  There is certainly one gospel of grace that covers the entire period, but I believe Scripture shows this is done with separate covenants that have different parties covered, different promises, different requirements, and different characteristics.  Old covenant membership is based on physical birth, whereas new covenant membership is based on the Spirit giving a new heart and spiritual life.  Paul points out in Romans 9:27 that only a remnant of old covenant Israel was saved, while 100% of those born of God in the new covenant are saved [Rom. 8:29-30].  God gives all he requires to covenant members in the new covenant of grace including the faith to believe, but old covenant members [Israel] was under law and only a remnant was saved by God’s grace.  The bottom line difference is that old covenant membership was by physical birth, while new covenant membership is by spiritual birth.  This precludes any possibility that children of believers are in the new covenant by physical birth.   

The Proper Response to Grace

A PCA pastor wrote an article on the Ligonier Ministry Blog titled, “What is the Proper Response to Grace?”.  He stated the following in that article:

“Grateful law-keeping is the saved sinner’s response to received grace.”  

He has also stated his opinion elsewhere that the wretched man experience that Paul talks about in Romans 7 is Paul’s experience after he became a believer.  Now, I believe this passage is about pre-conversion Paul, but since his position is based on that view, this view must be reconciled with his other views. 

This wretched man experience in Romans 7 shows a totally defeated person who is attempting to be a law-keeper:

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

(Romans 7:19 ESV)

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

(Romans 7:24 ESV)

Bear in mind in his view this is the spiritual condition of a mature believing Apostle Paul and not a new immature Christian.  Therefore, he must believe that the wretched man experience is the normal outcome for a Christian who tries to be a law-keeper.

With such a result to expect from law-keeping he states that the Christians’ response to grace should be “Grateful law-keeping”!!   Excuse me???  Thank you Lord for your grace and now my response is to pursue “law-keeping” through the Old Covenant ministry of death.  I am sorry pastor, but I think I will listen to the Apostle Paul who said:

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  (Romans 8:2 ESV)

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

(Galatians 5:18 ESV)

No, the Christians’ response to received grace is shown through the Holy Spirit who gives the fruit of the Spirit.  This includes love, joy, peace, etc.  It does not include becoming a law-keeper, which leads to becoming a wretched man.  How can a joy and peace be a characteristic of the wretched man?

I am certainly not advocating ignoring God’s righteous precepts.  However, it is by God’s grace and the Spirit that Christians pursue the good works that God has prepared for us and NOT by becoming a wretched man law-keeper.  Christ has freed us totally from the Old Covenant for both justification and sanctification. 

Is Barack Obama a true Christian?

More to the point, is everyone a true Christian who claims to be a Christian? What did Jesus have to say about claiming to be a Christian and truly being a Christian? In what some have called the greatest sermon every delivered, Jesus did answer that very question when he said:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’(Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

The answer straight from Jesus is no, not everyone who claims to be a Christian is in fact a Christian. How do we know among those that claim to be Christians who really are Christians? The answer can be found in Matthew 13:24-30 in the parable of the weeds and the answer is human beings can not tell for certain who is a true Christian.

While we can’t know for sure, we do have Biblical clues on how true Christians believe, think, and behave. The Bible gives us the characteristics of Christian discipleship. Jesus in his high priestly prayer to God asked, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 ESV). Paul said, “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV). Therefore, it is clear that true Christians are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and believe in the truth of God which is found in the Holy Bible.

Christians are not perfect and still sin on a regular basis, which means this sanctification is always a work in progress. True Christians even disagree on points of doctrine and there are many points that can be debated. However, true Christians agree that God’s word [Holy Bible] is to be their truth and their standard for faith and practice, and on points that are crystal clear and not debatable true Christians believe and follow these precepts. This is a basic characteristic of all true Christians and nothing illustrates this truth more than the current situation in America on the practice of homosexuality. The Bible is clear in Romans 1 and elsewhere that this practice is a sin and an abomination just as adultery is a sin. There is no wiggle room on this subject and since the Bible is crystal clear on this point, true Christians will acknowledge this fact even if they struggle with the temptation themselves.

Therefore, while we may not know for sure who is a true Christian, we can beyond a reasonable doubt be sure that a person who claims to be a Christian, but argues that homosexuality is normal and not a sin is not a true Christian. This list would include many Christian clergy and professing Christians, and it would also include Barack Obama who even defended the practice by saying, “If people find that [his view on homosexuality] controversial, then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans,” Calling chapter one of Romans an obscure passage is like calling Babe Ruth an obscure member of the baseball Hall of Fame and to say that the sermon on the mount endorsed homosexuality is nonsense. When you consider that Obama supported and voted for a bill that legalized infanticide in botched abortions as an Illinois state senator, you again have to wonder about his Christian profession. The bill made it legal for babies that survived abortions to be killed.

I would sure hate to explain such unrepentant sins on judgment day. Since we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, there is still time for repentance and true faith for those who support and endorse such sin. Let us pray that many will do just that and conform their worldview to Christ and not to that of the world. 
　





　

Part 5: Verse 29- Abraham’s Offspring

Part 5: Israel, Gentiles, the covenants, and the gospel

In Galatians 3 Paul gives a concise overview on how the Jews, Gentiles, and covenants interact in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The final paragraph of Galatians 3 reveals a wealth of information and clarification on the gospel.    

(Galatians 3:23-29 ESV)

[23] Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. [24] So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.     

Part 5:  Verse 29- Abraham’s Offspring

In Genesis 17:7 God gave Abraham the covenant of promise to his heirs:  “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”

Here in Galatians 3:29 as well as Romans 9, Paul explains that this covenant was promised to the spiritual descendents of Abraham and not his physical descendents.  This promise was fulfilled and established with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.  This event also fulfilled the temporary Mosaic Covenant and ushered in the eternal New Covenant.  At the LORD’S supper Jesus instituted the new covenant when he said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood…..” [1 Cor. 11:25] 

Therefore, the covenant of promise to Abraham was fulfilled by Jesus and the recipients are the spiritual descendents of Abraham, who can be identified by being in Christ through faith and not in Abraham by flesh.  What about the physical descendents of Abraham that were not believers? 

Hebrews 8:9 tells us the following about them and the new covenant:
not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.  For they did not continue in my covenant and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.  Hebrews 8 reveals the new covenant is “not like” the Mosaic [old] Covenant and is enacted on better promises.  It also points out, the Jews did not keep the Mosaic Covenant and God showed no concern for them.  Hebrews 8 goes on to describe the characteristics and blessings of the spiritual descendents of Abraham and it is clear that there are no unbelievers in the New Covenant.

A few verses earlier in Gal. 3:24-25 Paul explains that the Mosaic Covenant was a temporary covenant acting as a guardian until the coming of the New Covenant.  Therefore, there is currently no covenant between God and man other than the New Covenant made with believers.  This means that neither unbelieving Jews nor Gentiles are in any kind of covenant with God.  God commands men everywhere to repent and believe the gospel, so unbelievers are without excuse according to Paul.  Those that do repent and believe by the power of the Holy Spirit are then brought into covenant with God.          

Part 4: Israel, Gentiles, the covenants, and the gospel

In Galatians 3 Paul gives a concise overview on how the Jews, Gentiles, and covenants interact in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The final paragraph of Galatians 3 reveals a wealth of information and clarification on the gospel.    

(Galatians 3:23-29 ESV)

 [23] Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. [24] So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.     
 
Part 4:  Verse 27-28 – Only one people of God.
The sons or people of God are all people that have been baptized into Christ Jesus through saving faith.  There are not different categories in the people of God.  In verse 28 Paul lists the physical differences that do not matter.  There is only one category of New Covenant member and that is all who are in Christ Jesus.  There was never a spiritual covenant relationship for each and every physical child of Abraham as God said the following about Abraham’s own grandson: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” [Rom. 9:13]  There is also no spiritual or physical covenant relationship for all of the children of believers.  There are many children of believers who are non-elect and will never become a new covenant member and there are many children of unbelievers who will become a new covenant member.  The promise is for all near and far who come to saving faith in Christ Jesus and not just for physical descendents whether they are Jews or children of believers [Acts 2:39].  As Paul states in Rom. 9:8, “it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God.” 

While God made the Mosaic Covenant with all of the physical nation of Israel that was delivered out of Egypt whether they became believers or not, the New Covenant is made with only those who are in Christ through faith.  That is why Paul says all of the physical distinctions no longer matter and both Jew and Gentile alike have one and the same path to eternal salvation.  Today, the physical nation of Israel as a nation is not in either a physical or spiritual covenant relationship with God.  Individual Jews who are in Christ Jesus through faith are in a spiritual covenant in the same manner as Gentile believers.  There is neither Jew nor Greek according to Paul. 

 
There is much confusion about the current nation of Israel in America that could be cleared up if we would just let Paul and the New Testament clarify the Old Testament and distinguish the difference between physical Israel and spiritual Israel [Rom. 2:28-29].      

Part 3: Israel, Gentiles, the covenants, and the gospel

In Galatians 3 Paul gives a concise overview on how the Jews, Gentiles, and covenants interact in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The final paragraph of Galatians 3 reveals a wealth of information and clarification on the gospel.    

(Galatians 3:23-29 ESV)

[23] Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. [24] So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.     

Part 3:  Verse 26 – Sons of God.

In verses 23-25 Paul was speaking of Jews who were under law as evidenced by his use of the pro-nouns we and our.  But here in verse 26 Paul changes to the pro-noun you.  With the coming of the New Covenant, salvation now included the Galatian Gentiles and Gentiles everywhere that were in Christ through faith.  Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles are sons of God through faith.  Paul explains thoroughly in Romans 9 that it is not the physical children of Abraham that are the sons of God, but it is the children of the promise.  Thus, flesh counts for nothing in spiritual salvation, but only faith.  Faith alone makes a person a child of God and being a Jew or the offspring of a New Covenant believer does not put a person in a New Covenant relationship with God.     

Part 2: Israel, Gentiles, the covenants, and the gospel

In Galatians 3 Paul gives a concise overview on how the Jews, Gentiles, and covenants interact in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The final paragraph of Galatians 3 reveals a wealth of information and clarification on the gospel.    

(Galatians 3:23-29 ESV)

[23] Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. [24] So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.     

Part 2:  Verse 24-25 – The guardian. 

The law [Mosaic Covenant] was a temporary guardian that came 430 years after the covenant of promise was given to Abraham and ended with the coming of Christ.  Paul explains that Jews were no longer under the law; therefore, it was not a permanent covenant.  By fulfilling the law [Mosaic Covenant] Jesus made justification by faith a reality for all who believe.  Jesus instituted a New Covenant, which made the Mosaic “law” Covenant obsolete [Hebrews 8:13].  The law saved no one and even those saved under the dispensation of the Mosaic Covenant were saved by faith in a coming redeemer.  The New Covenant is completely new and not like the Mosaic Covenant that it replaced [Hebrews 8:7].     

PART 1: Israel, Gentiles, the covenants, and the gospel

In Galatians 3 Paul gives a concise overview on how the Jews, Gentiles, and covenants interact in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The final paragraph of Galatians 3 reveals a wealth of information and clarification on the gospel.    

(Galatians 3:23-29 ESV)

[23] Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. [24] So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.     

Part 1:  Verse 23 - Held Captive.  

Before faith came Israel was held captive under the law.  The faith referred to is Jesus and the New Covenant.  The Mosaic Covenant was made with the physical nation of Israel that was delivered from Egypt and them alone.  They were captive and imprisoned under the law provisions of the Mosaic Covenant UNTIL the coming faith.  While the Mosaic covenant had a gracious purpose and provision for God’s mercy, the Jews were under law and had an obligation to obey it or be cursed.  Once Jesus Christ came and fulfilled the Mosaic Covenant on the cross of Calvary, the Mosaic Covenant ended and the New Covenant began.  That is why Paul said in Romans 6:14, “you are not under law but under grace.”