God has always shown love for mankind. From the very beginning, He desired to give only good things, but man chose to go his own way. People who see 'Old Covenant vs New Covenant' as a dramatic shift usually don't give enough emphasis to God's unconditional love. At first, God provided animal sacrifice as atonement for sin. Later, He provided His own son as the way to salvation.
God initiated the first binding agreement - or covenant - with Abram. He called this man out of Haran and Abram came, trusting in the promises the Lord made to him about many descendants and a land to call their own. This account is given in the book of Genesis, starting in the twelfth chapter. Abram's trust - or faith - in God's promises is one of the great foundations of Christianity.
The actual agreement is made by the Lord in answer to Abram's request for assurance that he would really get what God promised. Genesis, chapter 15, contains the details. Abram is asleep when a blazing torch, representing the Lord, passes through a sacrifice laid out by Abram. God once again promises to give him the land 'from Egypt to the Euphrates'. Abram apparently sees and hears in a dream state, because he is reassured.
The law of Moses, which many feel is part of the first agreement, really comes centuries later. It is a complex system of rules that structure the life of the chosen people. We have similar regulations today, in that they shape our society. For instance, drivers own their automobiles but must operate them according to the rules of the road.
The intent of the Lord has always been to establish relationship with His creation. Adam and Eve were given much but chose to take the only thing they were forbidden. The law of Moses included God's provision of a way for man to atone for sin by sacrificing animals.
It was never the Father's intent to institute only the first agreement. The Old Testament is full of prophecy that foretells the coming of a messiah. The New Covenant is contained in the sacrificial blood of Jesus, which paid for sin once and for all. No longer would regular animal sacrifices be required; belief in Jesus Christ and repentance of sin are what is needed to enter into the eternal life of God's kingdom.
The old and new covenants are different, but the intent of God does not change. He wants relationship with man, but He cannot exist with sin. God's love is unconditional and everlasting, but He retains the right of judgement and the right to define the way to salvation. He requires men and women to accept responsibility for personal sin and accept the sacrifice that atones for it. This preserves justice, another attribute of God.
Under both covenants, the state of a person's heart is the real test. No sacrifice could or can replace a sincere love of God and dedication to obedience and worship.
God initiated the first binding agreement - or covenant - with Abram. He called this man out of Haran and Abram came, trusting in the promises the Lord made to him about many descendants and a land to call their own. This account is given in the book of Genesis, starting in the twelfth chapter. Abram's trust - or faith - in God's promises is one of the great foundations of Christianity.
The actual agreement is made by the Lord in answer to Abram's request for assurance that he would really get what God promised. Genesis, chapter 15, contains the details. Abram is asleep when a blazing torch, representing the Lord, passes through a sacrifice laid out by Abram. God once again promises to give him the land 'from Egypt to the Euphrates'. Abram apparently sees and hears in a dream state, because he is reassured.
The law of Moses, which many feel is part of the first agreement, really comes centuries later. It is a complex system of rules that structure the life of the chosen people. We have similar regulations today, in that they shape our society. For instance, drivers own their automobiles but must operate them according to the rules of the road.
The intent of the Lord has always been to establish relationship with His creation. Adam and Eve were given much but chose to take the only thing they were forbidden. The law of Moses included God's provision of a way for man to atone for sin by sacrificing animals.
It was never the Father's intent to institute only the first agreement. The Old Testament is full of prophecy that foretells the coming of a messiah. The New Covenant is contained in the sacrificial blood of Jesus, which paid for sin once and for all. No longer would regular animal sacrifices be required; belief in Jesus Christ and repentance of sin are what is needed to enter into the eternal life of God's kingdom.
The old and new covenants are different, but the intent of God does not change. He wants relationship with man, but He cannot exist with sin. God's love is unconditional and everlasting, but He retains the right of judgement and the right to define the way to salvation. He requires men and women to accept responsibility for personal sin and accept the sacrifice that atones for it. This preserves justice, another attribute of God.
Under both covenants, the state of a person's heart is the real test. No sacrifice could or can replace a sincere love of God and dedication to obedience and worship.
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