Summary Points on the Law & Covenants

The promises made to Abraham were given by God’s grace, not earned by any "works," but they were conditional upon his obedience (Genesis 22:16-18, 26:5).

The Old Covenant was temporary, not the laws of the Old Covenant (Galatians 3:19, 23-25).

All the terms of the Sinai covenant are recorded in the Old Testament "Book of The Law (Galatians 3:10)."

There is no indication that all the terms (laws or requirements) of the New Covenant are written in the New Testament.

The New Testament cannot therefore be equated with, or referred to, as "the New Covenant."

The terms of the New Covenant are written in the minds and hearts of those with whom the covenant is made (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10, 10:16).

The New Covenant has made the Old Covenant obsolete (Hebrews 8:13).

However, the fact that the covenant (agreement) is obsolete does not mean all the laws (terms) of the covenant (agreement) are obsolete.

It is thus safer to assume that we should observe any and all Old Testament laws except for those the Bible clearly explains are not necessary to be kept under the New Covenant than to assume that any Old Testament law that is not commanded in the New Testament need not be kept under the New Covenant (Matthew 4:4).

Nothing in The Law will pass away until it has come to completion, i.e., fulfilled its purpose (Matthew 5:18).

The New Testament clearly explains (especially in the book of Hebrews) which laws are "obsolete" (in the sense of having fulfilled their purposes) under the New Covenant.

There is no proof that the weekly sabbath, annual holy days, tithing and the laws of clean and unclean meats are not still in effect for New Testament Christians under the New Covenant.

Summary Points on Law & Grace

Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, available only by faith in Jesus Christ.

It is not possible to earn or "qualify for" the kingdom of God by any kind of "works" (obeying law).

It is possible to DISqualify for the kingdom of God and thus forfeit eternal life (I Corinthians 9:27).

Our initial (at baptism) justification (being declared righteous or acquitted) is solely on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice available to us by faith alone.

Justification cannot occur from works alone, nor can it come from faith alone, except in cases where no faith is possible (Romans 4:4-6; James 2:14-26).

No one can be justified by works of law except/unless (if not) through faith of Christ (Galatians 2:16 correctly translated).

Abraham’s faith was the basis of his righteousness, but faith and works are inseparable (James 2:14-26).

We can have righteousness "imputed" to us because of our belief just as Abraham was considered righteous by his faith (Romans 4:3-5).

Righteous actions and character are the result of the combination of the forgiveness of sin, by the grace of God through the sacrifice of Christ, combined with our obedience to God and His laws (Galatians 2:16 correctly translated).

The law of God defines sin and provides a minimum standard of human conduct.

Christ died for our sins, but He does not keep the law for us. We have to do that ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit, even though no one can avoid sin or keep the law perfectly (I John 1:8).