Paul's Passing Thoughts

The Old Covenant was:

1. A guardian until Christ came (Galatians 3: 23-29).
2. All sin is imputed to the law (Galatians 3:22, 1John 3:4, possibly Hebrews 9: 1-5).
3. A ministry of condemnation and death (2Corinthians 3: 7-11).
4.  Christ came to redeem believers from the captivity/guardianship of the OC (Galatians 4: 4,5).
5. As a covenant that held “the called” captive, the law demanded a ransom for the release of those who committed sin under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
6. It was a will ratified by blood, and like all wills, consummated by a death resulting in an inheritance (Hebrews 9: 16-27).
7. During the time of the OC, it was a slavery to both believers and unbelievers, or like slavery to believers because they were captive to it, but now, it only represents slavery to sin by the unregenerate. Being captive under the OC was a legitimate standing for believers while the OC was active, but now, any return to it is a slavery to sin and claiming to be under a ministry of death (Galatians 4:21-31).
8. The temple and the Jerusalem on earth correspond to the OC, the temple and new Jerusalem in heaven correspond to the New Covenant (Galatians 4:21-31).

The Promise is:

1. “The Promise” is the gospel and a promise to Abraham, Christ, Israel, and the Gentiles that includes several promises and covenants that are unfolded in time.
2. The Promise is completely separate and apart from law.

The New Covenant is:

1. It set the captives free from the OC and released gifts to mankind (Ephesians 4: 7-10).
2. It ended sin; in that, sin under the law and its subsequent condemnation is ended, and is no longer existent for believers (Romans 3:19, 20, 4:15, 5:13, 7:6.8. 10:4, 1Timothy 1:9, Galatians 2:19, Colossians 2:14).
3. It baptized Jews and Gentiles into one body (Ephesians). In fact, it eradicated all differences among people and made them all heirs in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
4. It made our bodies the temple of God where the Spirit dwells, and made us all priests with Christ as the one and only High Priest (numerous).
5. It demands a literal family operation functioning as a body under one head (numerous).
6. Christ, through His death and resurrection, established the NC baptism of the Spirit for all believers under the NC.
7. The NC baptism changes the believer’s relationship to the law: the condemnation of the OC is ended, and the believer is free to obey the law in order to love God and others without any fear of condemnation. When a person is under the OC (under law) it is under the Spirit’s first use of the law to convict the world of sin and the judgement to come. Under the NC, the believer is “free to serve another” ( Romans 7 and 8).

In comments below, add your building blocks to our understanding.