Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NKJV)

What is the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant? The context of both is the exactly same. In short, it is to love God with all our heart and our mind and our strength and to love one another. The difference between the old and the new is not chronological. It is not true that the people who lived in the old are under the old covenant and the people who live in the new, under the new covenant. The demarcation line is Christ Jesus. A new life can be begun in Christ who paid the price of sin and death with His body and His blood in our place, which is acceptable and holy to the Father in heaven.

All is born under the old covenant, so all is bound to the Law of God which is implanted in the hearts and mouths of mankind. Thus, all the naturally born are bound to keep the Law of God, otherwise death is the price. It doesn’t mean the immediate termination of physical life but the cessation of spiritual life. Emptiness, boredom, loneliness, despair, guilt dominate the lives of the disobedient, because no one keep up to meet the demand of the old covenant. “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." (Galatians 3:10 NIV)

Under the new covenant, the born again Christians cease the works of the law and rely on the works of Christ who once for all paid the full price for the redemption of mankind. Whosoever believes in Him has eternal life (John 3:16). The eternal life is given to those who find themselves completely inadequate to meet the commandments of God. Jesus says that happy are those who are poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

The Scripture says clearly not to hate our enemies but to love our enemies. There is only one Person who can love the enemies. He is Christ Jesus who laid down His life unto sinners. Jesus added one phrase, ‘as I have loved you,’ when He uttered the new commandment to His disciples in the Upper Room Discourse. We cannot love our enemies but Jesus can and did, so that we can. Death is in the picture of the new covenant, the death of Christ in Calvary. His death is our death. So, we are entitled to have the whole new life, the life of resurrection now and forever. We must be what He was to have what He is.