What are the Relations Between the Covenants?

The Lord Jesus has fulfilled the bloody signs and types of circumcision and has replaced them with bloodless signs.⁴³ Christ's death was the reality to which the old signs and seals pointed.

Now, Christ having died, there is no need for the old sacraments and feasts. Scripture teaches that, by faith, all believers died with Christ.⁴⁴ If Christ died an accursed death and we died with Christ, then by faith in Christ we have undergone the curse implied by circumcision. Colossians 2:20; Philippians 3:3 explicitly say that by faith, in Christ's death, all believers have undergone circumcision.

Romans 6:2-10 says that we are baptized into Christ's death. That is, when the sign of the covenant is applied, the recipient is identified with Jesus' death and the cursedness of Christ.

The main difference between the old and new covenants is that what the old covenant promised through ceremonies and sacrifices, have been fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus. The New Covenant Scriptures refer constantly to the Old Covenant. Romans 3:21, 9:27, 11:13-32; Luke 24:27; Hebrews 9:15, and the whole of chapter 11 all teach that the covenant of grace instituted by God through Abraham continues into the new covenant. God's Word clearly teaches that new covenant believers are the new covenant Israel.⁴⁵ Everyone who believes is the true son of Abraham.⁴⁶ Romans 9:6-9 teaches that a Jew is one who loves the Messiah Jesus and trusts him only for salvation.⁴⁷

Thus we cannot say that there are two completely different "churches" or peoples of God. Paul teaches clearly in Romans 2:29; 4 [all]; 9:6-9 and Jesus teaches explicitly in John 8:31-58 no one is saved by being Jewish.⁴⁸

⁴³ Hebrews 9:11-10:1.

⁴⁴ 2 Timothy 2:11; Romans 6:2,5,6,8.

⁴⁵ Ephesians 2:1-13 3:6; 1 Peter 2:9,10, 4:17.

⁴⁶ Romans 4:11,17.

⁴⁷ 1 Corinthians 10:3; Ephesians 2:8-9.

⁴⁸ Galatians 5:2-6.

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