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Law in the Gospels - Where New Covenant Begins
by Rene P. Brown
At the very outset, I want to make this unequivocal statement: All the books of the bible are true from
beginning to end, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,"2Tim 3:16 (NKJV). It is the truly God’s revelation to
man.
Over thirty years ago when the Lord filled me with His Holy Spirit, I received this revelation: 1) The
bible is the word of God and 2) I was saved. Nothing has changed!
With those things made clear, I want to say that where we put verse divisions, where we put the title
New Testament, explanations of verses and so on is not necessarily inspired by the Holy Spirit but
were put there by man for ease of use. This is very helpful but somewhat misleading in some cases.
Even what some of the books were named did not appear in earlier versions but are deductions from
the content. This in no way takes away from the truth and literacy of the books themselves.
I. New Testament or New Covenant as a Title to the Books
Modern bibles have the preceding words just before the Gospel of Matthew
A. But are the gospels part of the new covenant message in their entirety?
Answer: Not entirely. Until Jesus died on the cross, the New Covenant could not have been in
effect - though part of what Jesus spoke looked forward to that day.
B. The New Covenant is a covenant of Grace - God’s grace extended to man based on the
sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.
C. The New Covenant is not based on law, not Moses’ Law, not the Ten Commandments, nor any
other part of the Levitical Law nor is it based on law we can dream up for ourselves.
It is purely a Covenant of Grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.
D. Much of what Jesus said was Law and thus not part of the New Covenant of Grace
E. Jesus was a man under the law, speaking to Jews under the law!
He was speaking appropriate truth for the Jews; it is just not for believers!
F. Some example scriptures
Performance based acceptance = LAW
Grace based acceptance = Jesus Righteousness!
1. Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) ""For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. 15"But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses." This is law teaching!
It is also a works righteousness teaching: I am forgiven based on performance!
1a. Now let us compare that to a completely New Covenant of Grace teaching:
Col 2:13 (NKJV) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all
trespasses," This is grace teaching. It is based upon the sacrifice of Jesus, not
works.
It is based upon my new identity in Christ Jesus as a result of His sacrifice, not my
performance.
“All” in the scripture from Colossians means just that: all our sins and trespasses are
forgiven based on the sacrifice of Jesus, not anything that I do or can do.
by Rene P. Brown
At the very outset, I want to make this unequivocal statement: All the books of the bible are true from
beginning to end, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,"2Tim 3:16 (NKJV). It is the truly God’s revelation to
man.
Over thirty years ago when the Lord filled me with His Holy Spirit, I received this revelation: 1) The
bible is the word of God and 2) I was saved. Nothing has changed!
With those things made clear, I want to say that where we put verse divisions, where we put the title
New Testament, explanations of verses and so on is not necessarily inspired by the Holy Spirit but
were put there by man for ease of use. This is very helpful but somewhat misleading in some cases.
Even what some of the books were named did not appear in earlier versions but are deductions from
the content. This in no way takes away from the truth and literacy of the books themselves.
I. New Testament or New Covenant as a Title to the Books
Modern bibles have the preceding words just before the Gospel of Matthew
A. But are the gospels part of the new covenant message in their entirety?
Answer: Not entirely. Until Jesus died on the cross, the New Covenant could not have been in
effect - though part of what Jesus spoke looked forward to that day.
B. The New Covenant is a covenant of Grace - God’s grace extended to man based on the
sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.
C. The New Covenant is not based on law, not Moses’ Law, not the Ten Commandments, nor any
other part of the Levitical Law nor is it based on law we can dream up for ourselves.
It is purely a Covenant of Grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.
D. Much of what Jesus said was Law and thus not part of the New Covenant of Grace
E. Jesus was a man under the law, speaking to Jews under the law!
He was speaking appropriate truth for the Jews; it is just not for believers!
F. Some example scriptures
Performance based acceptance = LAW
Grace based acceptance = Jesus Righteousness!
1. Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) ""For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. 15"But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses." This is law teaching!
It is also a works righteousness teaching: I am forgiven based on performance!
1a. Now let us compare that to a completely New Covenant of Grace teaching:
Col 2:13 (NKJV) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all
trespasses," This is grace teaching. It is based upon the sacrifice of Jesus, not
works.
It is based upon my new identity in Christ Jesus as a result of His sacrifice, not my
performance.
“All” in the scripture from Colossians means just that: all our sins and trespasses are
forgiven based on the sacrifice of Jesus, not anything that I do or can do.
