The New Faith Covenant Versus the Old Faith Covenant

The New Faith Covenant versus the Old Faith Covenant

(How Were the O.T. Saints Saved? By Herb Evans)

. . . The LORD is GRACIOUS, and full of COMPASSION . . . and of GREAT MERCY . . . The LORD is nigh unto ALL them that CALL upon him IN TRUTH. -- Psa. 145:8, 18

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose HOPE IS IN THE LORD his God. -- Psa. 146:5

The salvation of the Old Testament saint must remain the same throughout the Old Testament or Covenant, rather than changing multiple plans of salvation based on an accessory, corollary, and/or sub covenants, which God progressively adds throughout the Old Testament. The OLD or FIRST or MAIN covenant of faith is a consistent, coherent, one size fits all covenant of faith, which begins in Genesis and threads its way through Malachi and the four Gospels until the cross of Calvary and the Mediator of the New or SECONDFAITH Covenant. There are basically only TWO covenants or TESTAMENTS, the NEW Testament of faith and the OLD Testament of faith (containing accessory, auxiliary, corollary, and sub-covenants for various reasons but not salvation).

The over, ultra, and hyper dispensationalists' O.T. plan of salvation has no such coherent, consistent PLAN of God, only chopped up multiple salvation plans for different parts of the Old covenant. Some even have different salvation plans within the same O.T. dispensation and even make a grace and mercy exception for David (under the law) by “pat answering” their difficulties, using the "sure mercies of David." Still, they can't figure out how to get Lot and Samson in under such an exception, wishing that they would just go away. Of course, all this in the name of rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Covenant of Eden, the Only Covenant by Works

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE. -- Gen. 2:16, 17

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and HER SEED (virgin born Messiah); IT (Yes, KJB Bible for Jesus - like it or lump it) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise HIS heel (the crucifixion). -- Gen. 3:15

Adam and Eve, in the dispensation many call "innocence," were NEITHER saved nor lost in the Garden of Eden. They were under a covenant of WORKS, and the penalty for failure was DEATH - both spiritual and physical. They failed and broke this covenant of works, needing then to be redeemed or saved. So they entered into the FIRST FAITH covenant of redemption, having DIRECT promises and indirect ordinances, which included animal, blood sacrifices, which typified the coming Messiah/Mediator of the New or Second Faith Covenant, whether they comprehended the deeper meanings or not. Still, we are told that the Targum of Jerusalem says:

"There will be a remedy for man, but not for the serpent, but he shall wound his heel, at the end of the days of the king Messiah." The Targums of Jonathan, and numerous other Hebrew authorities, say substantially the same thing. They assert that "The seed of the woman is MESSIAH."* So, over-disps can whine all they want about what the O.T. saints did not know, while they ignore any evidence that unsaved Jews knew this. *(Vide Gill in loco, et Paulus Fagius)

Knowing and Calling upon the Name of the Lord in Faith

Now Samuel did not YET KNOW THE LORD, neither was the word of the LORD YET revealed unto him. -- 1 Sam. 3:7

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they KNEW NOT the LORD. 1 Sam. 2:12

. . . and there arose another generation after them, which KNEW NOT the LORD . . . -- Judges 2:10

And to Seth . . . was born a son . . . then began men to CALL UPON the NAME of the LORD. -- Gen 4:26

The distinction between the saved and lost, knowing and calling upon the name of the Lord is found throughout the Old Testament and even enters into the future prophecy of Israel and even Egypt (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:11; Hosea 2:20; 6:3; Isa. 19:21). The calling upon the name of the Lord had a very early beginning, with the Adams family being the first. Such distinctions apply to the saved versus the lost, even and especially, when found during the Law and in Israel.

The Everlasting Covenant of Salvation

Whom (Christ) the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of ALL his holy prophets SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN. -- Acts 3:21 (Acts 26:22,23; 28:23; Luke 23:44; 24:27; John 5:46,47; Rom. 1:2; 3:21; Titus 1:2)

Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an EVERLASTING COVENANT, ORDERED in all things and SURE: for this is ALL MY SALVATION . . . -- 2 Sam. 23:5

But Israel shall be SAVED IN THE LORD with an EVERLASTING SALVATION . . . -- Isa. 45:17

[Of course] . . . they are not all Israel, which are OF Israel [same problem that churches have]: Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called . . . the children of PROMISE are counted for the SEED . . . -- Rom. 9:7, 8

Incline your ear, and COME UNTO ME; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an EVERLASTING COVENANT with you, even theSURE MERCIES of David. -- Isa. 55:3

By FAITH Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was RIGHTEOUS . . . -- Heb 11:4

By FAITH Enoch was translated . . . BEFORE his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But WITHOUT FAITHit isIMPOSSIBLE to please him . . . -- Heb. 11:5, 6

From the very beginning of the world and prior to it, God had a faith redemption plan, and it was spoken of by ALL his holy prophets and BEFORE the world began (wrestle with that one for a while). Paul preached everlasting salvation, using Moses and the Prophets. Philip used Isaiah to convert the Ethiopian Eunuch to everlasting salvation. The early Christians did not have the recorded New Testament to preach after the cross. Did that make folks any less saved by using O.T. scriptures? No, well, neither did it make O.T. saints any less saved, using some of the same O.T. scriptures.

The Adams’ family was made aware to some degree of this redemptive plan. Able knew the Lord and was saved; Cain did not know the Lord and was lost. Abel had faith before he ever made the proper sacrifice, which continued as an O.T. ordinance throughout the O.T. into the Gospels. By the proper faith sacrifice he obtained witness that he was righteous by faith.

Enoch's faith pleased God, and we see here that from the very beginning that faith was required for salvation and on and on. By faith Noah (Gen. 6:8,9; 7:1 - just, perfect, found grace, righteous) . . . by faith Abraham . . . also Sarah (Heb. 6:13-15; 11:7-11, 17-19; Gen. 22:1-18) . . . by faith Isaac . . . by faith Jacob (Gen 28:11-14; Heb 2:16,17) . . . by faith Joseph . . . by faith Moses . . . by faith Rahab . . . Samson (Whoa! - that is almost as bad as Lot and his daughters being just, righteous, and godly - 2 Pet. 2:7,8,9) . . . David (Heb. 11: 20-32). These ALL DIED INFAITH (Heb. 11:13). Did you hear that? IN FAITH!

There are other auxiliary, everlasting covenants in the O.T., simply because they were instituted forever, covenants that pertain to peace, land possession, the Sabbath, circumcision, posterity, all which have faith connected with them, but they in themselves did not save anyone. But the everlasting covenant of salvation is something else. It does not involve works; it involves faith WITHOUT WORKS as David describeth. Some over-disps make an exception for David (under the law) as receiving grace and mercy for salvation, by “pat answering” the "sure mercies of David." This allows Isaiah 55:3 to be an invitation to everyone under the law, regarding the sure mercies of David. We cannot view such an invite to be meaningless any more than we can God's invitation, "Look unto me and be ye SAVED . . . " of Isaiah 45:22 (Spurgeon’s conversion text).

The Development of the Everlasting Covenant of Faith

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, PROMISED BEFORE the WORLDBEGAN. -- Titus 1:2

. . . whose names are not written in the book of life of the LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. -- Rev. 13:8

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy SEED and HERSEED. IT shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise HIS HEEL . . . Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. -- Gen. 3:15, 21

And the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, UNTILSHILOH come; and unto him shall the gathering of people be. -- Gen. 49:10

Behold, I will send my MESSENGER (John the Baptist), and he shall prepare the way BEFORE ME (Jesus): and the LORD (Jehovah Jesus), who ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the COVENANT . . . -- Mal 3:1

God's salvation plan was designed before the foundation of the world. Still, the first promise of the promised SEED, the Messiah, the Christ, and the Saviour is found in the very beginning of Genesis. The last promise of Shiloh coming at the end of Genesis was, no doubt, for Joseph, Jacob, and company's faith.

From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Malachi there is a consistent, coherent, unified promise of the Christ or Messiah, both DIRECTLY through promises and indirectly through typology. Even Job said (some think the oldest written scripture) “I know that MY REDEEMER liveth, and that he shall stand at the LATTER DAY on the EARTH." (Job 19:25). Now, from where do you think that the knowledge of Job’s Redeemer and the part about Job’s expected resurrection came? Daniel supports Job with his prophecy of some Jews awakening to everlasting life and others to everlasting contempt (Dan. 12:2). Faith versus no faith, simple as that.The development of the everlasting Covenant is such that it begins with an announcement of the Deliverer/Messiah, which is reiterated at the end of Genesis and Malachi and in the beginning of the Gospels.

The basis of this announcement of the Eternal Covenant is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, announced also by John the Baptist, so that there can be no mistake about the Lamb being the basis of salvation for the WHOLE world (both Jew and Gentile as stated in the O.T.). Still, No one gets to heaven without the BASIS of the GOOD NEWS of the REMISSION OF SINS by the Lamb's death, burial, and resurrection of the Lamb, the ONE sacrifice for all and forever, whether they knew, were told, understood, comprehended, or NONE of the above.

The reason for this everlasting covenant of faith is the failure of Eden’s covenant of works. God will not implement another covenant of works upon people, who are more so sinners than the innocents in the garden that failed -- even in their innocence. Without innocence nor any indwelling Holy Spirit one does not get very far in ANY dispensation, lacking faith. Of course, there had to be some sort of regeneration or spiritual quickening, but that is another matter for another article.

God illustrated His eternal covenant and Gospel plan of salvation by using the types, sacrifices, tabernacle, temple, other ordinances, symbolism, and etc. So, we have both DIRECT and indirect references to the coming Messiah in promise and in typology. When Christ came to an apostate Israel, some were still waiting for Him in faith. Simeon recognized Christ as SALVATION - not the Law as salvation (Luke 2:30, 31), and Anna waited for Christ’s redemption - not the Law's redemption (Luke 2:37, 38). The angels named Jesus the Saviour, who would take away their sins rather than the Law taking them away (Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11).

John the Baptist's mission was to give KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION through the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the WORLD (Luke 1:77; John 1:29, 34, 36, 37) not the LAW that taketh away the sin of the world. John preached everlasting life through Him–not through the Law (John 4:36).

The O.T. Damned Were Lost Due to Unbelief & Self Justification

For had ye BELIEVED Moses, ye would have believed me: for he WROTE of ME. But if ye believe not HIS WRITINGS, how shall ye believe me. -- John 5:4

. . . if some did not believe? shall their UNBELIEF make the FAITH of God WITHOUT EFFECT? -- Rom. 3:3

Now we KNOW that what things soever the LAW saith, it saith unto them who are UNDER THE LAW: that EVERY mouth may be stopped, and ALL THE WORLD may become GUILTY before God. Therefore by the DEEDS of the LAW there shall NO FLESH be JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the LAW is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN. -- Rom. 3:19, 20

. . . in thy faithfulness, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight SHALL NO LIVING MAN BE JUSTIFIED. -- Psa. 143:1, 2

For unto us was the GOSPEL preached, AS WELL as unto them: but the WORDPREACHED did not profit them, not being MIXED with FAITH in them that heard it. -- Heb. 4:2

For I bear them (Israel) record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. For Christ (Messiah) is the end of the law for righteousness to EVERYONE that BELIEVETH. For MOSES describeth the righteousness, which is of the LAW, That the man which doeth those things shall live in them. BUT the righteousness WHICH IS OF FAITH speaketh on this wise . . . The word of FAITH is nigh thee, even in THY HEART: THAT is the WORD OF FAITH, which we PREACH. -- Rom. 10:2-8

For this commandment which I command thee this day, IT IS NOT HIDDEN FROM THEE, neither is it FAR OFF. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldst say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it down, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea, for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the WORD IS VERY NIGH UNTO THEE, and in thy mouth, an IN THY HEART, that thou mayest do it. -- Deut. 30:11-14

The word and Gospel, if not recorded specifically, was preached in the O.T. And that word (whether written or audible) and Gospel (good news, whatever it was) must be joined by faith throughout the Old Testament from Genesis to Malachi and beyond. No, we are not saying that they knew about the cross or every detail in that regard, but they did KNOW what He revealed to them as He unfolded the Gospel panorama through the types and promises of the Christ to come and even some details of Messiah’s death in the Psalms (22) and Isaiah (53). They were responsible to believe what God revealed to them, whether all, some, or none of the O.T. saints comprehended or not. In regard to salvation, no man living, then or now, can be justified by the DEEDS of the LAW nor anything else but FAITH. Having neither a Jewish pedigree nor works by going through the motions can ever obtain such salvation (or the Pharisees might have made it). Righteousness that exceeded the righteousness of the Pharisees was required. Faith righteousness (Matt. 5:20)!

The Purpose of Sacrifice and Law Was Not to Save

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy SEED, which IS CHRIST. And this I say, that the COVENANT, that was confirmed BEFORE of God IN CHRIST, the LAW, which was four hundred and thirty years after, CANNOT DISANNUL, that it should make the PROMISE of NONE EFFECT. -- Gal 3:16,17

Wherefore then serveth the LAW? IT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS, till the SEED should come . . . Is the LAW then against the PROMISES of God? God forbid: for if there HAD BEEN a law given which COULD HAVE GIVEN LIFE, verily RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD have been BY THE LAW (but it wasn't) -- Gal. 3:19-21

Even though we intend to use great plainness of speech (2 Cor. 3:12), in reading the O.T., the veil will still be on the Jews' hearts as well as some over-dispensationalist hearts, whose minds are blinded by them not being able to recognize that the "letter killeth" (2 Cor. 3:6) and the LAW was the ministration of "death"and not life (2 Cor. 3:7) and was the ministration of "condemnation" and not "salvation" (2 Cor. 3:9). The LAW WORKETH WRATH NOT Salvation (Rom. 14:15). Nevertheless, the veil can be removed, for it is done away in Christ (2 Cor. 3:14), if one does not resist or fight the truth. The main purpose of the law was that it was added because of transgressions UNTIL the promised SEED of Genesis should come. A special family was chosen to produce the promised Seed even Christ. If there was a commandment that should have given LIFE, it was the law, but it didn't. Righteousness was not by the law; righteousness has always been by faith. The faith covenant of the LAW was confirmed of God IN CHRIST and it could notDISANNULthe original PROMISES. The LAW gives no inheritance, butPROMISE does (Gal. 3:18). The law was a DRY RUN in which those under it were children that did not differ from servants. The tutorship of the LAW was appointed over those under the law until the fullness of time was come, when they could become full-fledged sons. (Gal. 4:1-7).