The New Covenant Is Fundamentally Different From the Old Covenant - Observations

       The Old Covenant Was Made With One Nation

        Exodus 19:3-8 - Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

        Psalm 147:19-20 - He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.

       The New Covenant Includes Many Nations

        Galatians 3:8 - The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you.“

        Revelation 7:9 - After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.

       The Old Covenant Included Believers and Unbelievers

        Believers

        Hebrews 11:23-40 - Moses' parents  . . . Moses . . . Rahab,  . . . Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets . . . These were all commended for their faith

        Unbelievers

        Jeremiah 2:8 The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.

        Jeremiah 4:22 "My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good."

       The New Covenant Includes Believers Only

        Jeremiah 31:34 - No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

 

       The Old Covenant Focused on Physical Blessings

        Physical Health

         Deuteronomy 7:15 - The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.

        Physical Wealth

          Deuteronomy 28:11-12 - The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity-- in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground-- in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. 12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

        Military Victory

          Deuteronomy 28:7 - The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

 

       The New Covenant Focuses on Spiritual Blessings

        Spiritual Health

        1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

        Spiritual Wealth

        1 Timothy 6:18 - Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

        James 2:5 - Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

        Revelation 2:9 - I know your afflictions and your poverty-- yet you are rich!

        Spiritual Victory

        Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

         2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.