• The old covenant enslaves while the new covenant sets you free

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 NIV)

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 NIV)

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

(Gal 5:1 NLT)

• The old covenant leaves man imperfect while the new covenant leaves man perfect

“For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”  (Heb. 7:19 KJV)

• The old covenant exposes sin while the new covenant covers sin

“Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised...” (Gal 3:19 NLT)

“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” (Rom. 4:1-8 NLT)

• The old covenant came by Moses while the new covenant came by Jesus Christ

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 NIV)

• The old covenant ends in death while the new covenant gives life

“He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.” (2 Cor 3:6 NLT) 

• The old covenant was ended by Jesus Christ 

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Rom. 10:4 NASV)

• The new covenant was established by Jesus Christ

 “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6 NLT)

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6 NKJV)

Covenant:  is a contract or agreement between two parties. The word is used with reference to God's revelation of himself in the way of promise or of favor to men. – Bible Dictionary

A new covenant in the blood of Jesus which is poured out for you

Our New Testament covenant is better than the Old Testament covenant because it’s paid for by the blood of Christ. 

“In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20)

“…to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Heb. 12:24)

Jesus became the guarantee of a better covenant that made the old covenant obsolete

We have a better covenant than the old one because it is guaranteed by Jesus. 

“Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.” (Heb. 7:22)

“By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” (Heb. 8:13)

Therefore…

“Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (Heb. 9:15)

“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Prov. 17:15 ESV)

You can learn and do new things!

Sometimes I have gotten frustrated when something goes wrong with my personal computer. I then call on the skills of my son, Mark, to help me. He understands computers and quickly fixes problems. One day, in frustration, I blurted out, “I wish I could fix these things myself, but I just don’t understand computers!” Mark gently corrected me with, “Dad, you need to change the way you’re speaking about yourself. You must say to yourself, ‘I can learn and do new things’, because you can!” Of course, he was absolutely right! So, I have now adjusted my negative self-talk to saying to myself, “I can learn and do new things.” Has it changed me? Yes it has! I no longer say I can’t do something without first searching for solutions myself. When computer problems happen I now search the internet for the answers before calling for Mark’s help. In the process I am learning and doing new things. I still call him once and a while, but not as often. And when he does step in to help me, I try to pay attention to what he does to fix the problem so that I can do it myself the next time. It also helps to understand where knowledge and skill comes from, which is from God. And, calling on God for help, is always the best place to begin whenever any kind of problem occurs. 

Knowledge from God 

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Prov. 2:6 ESV)

“For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” (Prov. 2:10 ESV)

“A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might…” (Prov. 24:5 ESV)

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim. 1:7 ESV)

Fear is a strong emotion caused by the anticipation of danger

Fear, according to Webster: is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. It often manifests itself as dread, fright, alarm, panic, terror and/or trepidation. 

Fear always presents itself as much bigger than it really is

Fear is an imagined anticipation of dangerous scenarios which become amplified in your head. These scenarios playing out in your mind aren’t real. Recognize that fear has no power unless you give it power. You must be strong and courageous. Understand that God would never command you do do something that you can’t control. The first step in controlling fear is recognizing it for what it is. Fear is an attack on you from the devil. Fear is negative imaginations (lies). Fear is not from God. You must recognize fear immediately when it shows its ugly head and bring your thoughts under control. 

God commanded you not to fear

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9 ESV)

Be strong and courageous because God is with you

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6 ESV)

Therefore…

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4ESV)

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 ESV)

Faith, without doing works, is dead

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17 ESV)

Be rich in doing good works

“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” ( 1 Tim. 6:18-19 ESV)

Be a doer and be blessed

“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:23-25)

Therefore…

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 ESV)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Gal. 1:3 NIV)

Don’t be resigned to evil

I’ve heard some Christians say they are frustrated with the evil they see all around them. Then they say, “Oh well, it will all be okay in the ‘sweet by-and-by’ when we all get to heaven.” Yes, that will surely be a glorious day without a doubt. But, a Christian should never be resigned to the evil that is around them. The above passage states that Jesus gave Himself to rescue us from the present evil age. Notice that it says “present” evil age. That’s the evil around us presently, right now. Even though evil exists in our world, Christians should never give into it. Instead, they must work to expose evil and defeat it. Christians should represent Christ in this world and affect everything they do through righteous decisions and actions. In other words, they should be like Jesus in this world. 

“…we live like Jesus here in this world.” (1 John 4:17 NLT) 

We are not of this world, yet we are in this world to do what God has created us to do  

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14)

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Christians must be willing to get actively involved, “in” the world to some degree and to some extent in order to fulfill their God given assignment. 

Therefore…

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matt. 5:14)

“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:11)

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor.  11:1)

“Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip relayed this appeal to Andrew, and both of them went and told Jesus.…." (John 12:20-22 NIV)

Behave like a follower of Jesus 

The above passage tells of a group of Greeks who asked to see Jesus. Philip then passed the request along to Philip, who then told Jesus. When you think about it, it was a very easy type of evangelism process; first came a request to see Jesus, then the follow-up  happened, ending with them meeting Jesus. So, how do you get people to ask to see Jesus? Actually, it’s not as hard as you may think. First, you make sure you behave like a follower of Jesus. You are always kind to people. You are always helpful to people. You are always generous to people. You are always quick to forgive people, no matter what they may have done. You always act gracious and you always put others first in every way you can. In other words, your behavior is always a reflection of Christ Jesus. Of course, you pray for them, too. When you live like this, People will see Him in you and then will ask you about Him. And, then, very importantly, be sure you are ready and willing to tell them how to know Him, when asked. By the way, when people ask me, and they do, I tell them about Jesus, usually by sharing my personal testimony with them (how I came to know Jesus) and I tell them how He has helped me since then in so many ways. 

Always be ready to explain it

“… And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Therefore…

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.” (1 John 2:20)

 The meaning of anointing

In Bible times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or call on that person’s life (Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:9; 2 Kings 9:6; Ecclesiastes 9:8; James 5:14). Another meaning for the word anointed is "chosen one." The Bible says that Jesus Christ was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News and free those who have been held captive by sin (Luke 4:18-19; Acts 10:38).

The anointing for believers today

After Christ left the earth, He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). Now all Christians are anointed, chosen for a specific purpose in furthering God's Kingdom.

"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee…" (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

Therefore…

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:27 NIV)