The word 'covenant' appears hundreds of times in Scripture — and most Christians couldn't tell you the difference between the Old Covenant and the New one if asked to explain it in plain language. This is a problem, because every promise, every obligation, and every relationship with God is defined by which covenant applies to you.

Last time we distinguished the Kingdom of Heaven from the Kingdom of God. Now we examine the legal framework that governs how God relates to humanity in each age: the Old Covenant made at Sinai and the New Covenant ratified in Christ's blood.

Here's something that might surprise you: the entire law of God and Moses—including the Ten Commandments and all the civil and ceremonial laws built on them—was abolished in Christ on the cross. The New Covenant has completely taken the place of the old one.

Paul makes this crystal clear in 2 Corinthians 3:6-15: "Who hath made us able ministers of the new testament... if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones (the Ten Commandments); was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which was to be done away. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that (the Old Covenant) which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that (the Old Covenant) which is done away was glorious, much more that (the New Covenant) which remaineth is glorious... not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that (the Old Covenant) which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which is done away in Christ" Ephesians 2:15.

Now, here's something important to notice: the word "vail" in verse 14 isn't actually in the original Greek. So it's not just the veil that's "done away"—it's the Old Covenant itself that's done away in Christ on the cross.

You might think you need a scholar to explain this passage, but honestly, it's pretty straightforward for any reader. The Old Covenant has been "done away" and "abolished" entirely, and the New Covenant has taken its place. Remember, the Ten Commandments were the only part of the law written and engraved on stone tablets, so they were done away with on the cross Exodus 24:12Exodus 31:18Exodus 32:15Exodus 34:1-4, 27-35Deuteronomy 4:13Deuteronomy 5:22Deuteronomy 10:4.

Some folks argue that only the glory of the Old Covenant was done away. But think about it—what good is a covenant that's lost its glory? Why would we cling to it when we have a better, more glorious New Covenant that's still in force?

Paul's logic is this: the Old Covenant was given in glory, so if its glory is done away, the covenant itself is also done away. When you leave out the second "glory" in verse 7 and the second "vail" in verse 14 (which aren't in the original Greek), you see plainly that it's "the old testament; which is done away in Christ." And notice in verse 15 that the Old Covenant is called "Moses"—proving that Moses gave the Ten Commandments.

Let me show you the contrasts Paul draws between the Old and New Covenants in 2 Cor. 3:

• The first is "old"; the second is "new"
• The first brought "death"; the second brings "life"
• The first was "glorious"; the second is "much more glorious"
• The first brought "condemnation"; the second brings "righteousness" that frees from condemnation Romans 8:1-4
• The first was of "the letter"; the second is of "the Spirit"
• The first had "no glory" compared to the second "by reason of the glory that excelleth"
• The first was "done away" and "abolished"; the second "remaineth"
• The first came by "Moses" and was "done away in Christ"
• The first required a veil to hide the glory because it was "the ministration of death," but the exceeding glory of the second can be looked upon with "open face" because it is "the spirit that giveth life"
• The first brought blindness and bondage; the second brings enlightenment, liberty, and transforms character by the Spirit of the Lord

Think of it like this: a mere change in how the Old Covenant was administered, or a failure by either party to keep it, or even where it was written—none of that changes one covenant into another or affects its glory. Some may argue and try to get around this plain Scripture that says three times the Old Covenant was "done away" and once that it was "abolished" in Christ.

It's similar to a contract or a will: if you just change how a contract is administered, that doesn't change the contract itself. The contract or will itself would have to be changed—or a new one would have to take the place of the old one—for it to be "done away" and "abolished" as Scripture says of the Old Covenant.

Why any group, if they had the slightest honesty and faith that the Bible is God's Word, would twist Scripture to fit some human theory is hard to understand. It would be much easier to accept God's plain words and, if human theories don't harmonize with them, throw those theories away and stick with God and His Word on all questions.