Lesson 1b in the Personal Bible Study Series
Helpful Hints
This lesson is for those who are reluctant to accept that the Old Covenant, including the 10 Commandments, is now obsolete (e.g. 7th-Day Adventists). If the student is still not convinced at the end of lesson 1b, this may indicate a closed mind.
Lesson 1b: Contrasting the Old and New Covenants (PDF version)
Instructions: Read each passage of Scripture, then answer the questions underneath. For additional Scripture references, refer to the corresponding numbers at the end of the lesson.
1. Exodus 34:27-28
With whom did God make this covenant?
Did this covenant include the Ten Commandments?
2. Joshua 23:14-16
Were the promises of this covenant conditional?
3. Jeremiah 11:8-11
Was Israel faithful to God’s covenant?
4. Jeremiah 31:31-34
Did God promise to make a new covenant?
Was this covenant to be different from the previous one?
5. Hebrews 8:6-13
Did the new covenant of Christ replace the old covenant of the Jews?
DID THE OLD COVENANT CONSIST OF TWO SEPARATE LAWS: A PERMANENT “MORAL LAW” & A TEMPORARY “CEREMONIAL LAW”? OR WAS THERE A SINGLE LAW FOR ANCIENT ISRAEL CONTAINING MORAL & CEREMONIAL ASPECTS? LET’S CONSIDER WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS . . . .
6. Deuteronomy 5:1-2; Malachi 4:4
Is the covenant, which God made with Israel, also called “the Law of Moses”?
7. Nehemiah 8:1, 8, 14, 18
How is the old covenant law described?
the Law of Moses
the Law of God
the Law
Is there a distinction made between a “Moral Law” and a “Ceremonial Law”?
8. Romans 2:17-18
How many “laws” did the Jews have? *
*Note: Jesus even considered the book of Psalms to be part of that law: John 10:34; 15:25 (cf. Psalm 82:6; 69:4).
9. Romans 2:21-25
Which of the following were contained in “the law”?
Do not steal
Do not commit adultery
No idols
Circumcision
Were the 10 commandments recorded in a “moral law” and circumcision in a separate “ceremonial law,” or did the one law contain both?
10. Romans 3:20-22
Are we, today, justified by that law?
11. Romans 7:4-7
What does Paul mean when he says that we have become dead to the law (v. 4) and have been delivered from the law (v. 6)?
Is this the same law that contains the Ten Commandments? (v. 7; cf. Exodus 20:17)
12. Galatians 3:10; 5:3
If a person wants to observe any part of the law, is he obliged to observe all of the law?
13. Which of the following are we to observe from the law today?
7th-Day Sabbath Exodus 20:8-11
Animal sacrifices Exodus 20:24
Slavery Exodus 21:7
Polygamy Exodus 21:10
Stoning transgressors to death Exodus 21:29
Three annual feasts Exodus 23:14-17
Daily offerings Exodus 29:38-42
Death for Sabbath-breaker Exodus 31:15; 35:2
Forbidden foods Leviticus 11:4-47
Circumcision Leviticus 12:3
Death penalty for immorality Leviticus 19:20; 20:10
Levitical priesthood Numbers 3:1-13
Tithing Numbers 18:25-32
Dancing/musical instruments Psalm 149:3; 150:4
Daily incense Malachi 1:11
If you chose any of the above, should you observe all of the above? Explain.
14. Galatians 5:1-4
What is the consequence of trying to follow the old law?
Additional Scripture References
- Deuteronomy 4:13; 5:1-22; 9:9-10; 1 Kings 8:9, 21
- Leviticus 26:14-39; Deut. 11:26-28; 28:15 ff.; 1 Kgs. 9:6-7; Jer. 22:5-9
- Josh 7:11; Judg 2:20; 2 Kgs. 17:22-23; Isa 42:24; 65:2; Jer. 31:32; Hosea 4:1; 8:1
- Zechariah 11:10; Hosea 2:11; Malachi 3:1; Hebrews 8:7-12
- Ephesians 2:15; Hebrews 7:12, 18-19, 22; 9:15; 10:9
- Deuteronomy 4:44-45; 33:4, 9; Joshua 23:6; Ezra 7:6; Heb. 9:18-22
- 2 Chronicles 31:3; Daniel 9:11; Luke 2:22-23
- John 1:17; 7:19; Romans 3:19; 4:13-16
- Genesis 17:10-14; Ex. 20:3-4, 14, 15, 23-24; Acts 15:1, 5; Phil. 3:3-9
- Acts 13:39; Romans 3:28-30; 8:3; Galatians 2:16; Hebrews 10:1
- Galatians 2:19-21; 3:22-25; 4:21-31; Col. 2:14-17; 2 Cor. 3:5-16
- Romans 2:21-25; James 2:10-11
- Galatians 2:16, 21; 3:11-14; Hebrews 10:1, 8-10
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).