Discovering the New Covenant by Greg Taylor - exAdventist Outreach
Discovering the New Covenant by Greg Taylor - exAdventist Outreach
Discovering the New Covenant by Greg Taylor - exAdventist Outreach
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CONCLUSION<br />
resignation letter that included much of <strong>the</strong> Bible study<br />
covered in this book. One of <strong>the</strong> elders, in particular, was<br />
concerned that it not get into <strong>the</strong> hands of <strong>the</strong> members<br />
because it might shake <strong>the</strong>ir faith in <strong>the</strong> Adventist system. He<br />
pointed out that <strong>the</strong>re are various <strong>the</strong>ological viewpoints that<br />
people can choose from regarding <strong>the</strong> Old and <strong>New</strong><br />
<strong>Covenant</strong>. Many believe <strong>the</strong> Old <strong>Covenant</strong> (specifically <strong>the</strong><br />
Sabbath) is just rewritten in <strong>the</strong> heart of believers in <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong><br />
<strong>Covenant</strong>. Many believe that <strong>the</strong> Ten Commandments have<br />
been here for eternity past and will be in force for eternity<br />
future. “You just have a different view. So what difference<br />
does it make? Isn’t what you are sharing just ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
viewpoint?”<br />
I responded with two key points. I told him, “The idea<br />
that <strong>the</strong> Old <strong>Covenant</strong> (specifically <strong>the</strong> Ten Commandments<br />
including <strong>the</strong> fourth) is eternal and is just written in <strong>the</strong> heart<br />
in <strong>the</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Covenant</strong> is a nice concept except for <strong>the</strong> fact<br />
that nowhere does <strong>the</strong> Bible teach this to be true. In fact,<br />
Galatians specifically tells us it is not true. Secondly, and<br />
more importantly, this very issue came up in Acts 15. Some<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Jewish believers insisted that <strong>the</strong> Gentile believers be<br />
required to be circumcised and keep <strong>the</strong> Law of Moses. The<br />
early church leaders refused to compromise <strong>the</strong> Gospel and<br />
place a yoke of bondage on <strong>the</strong> new believers that <strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
had been unable to bear. What would have happened<br />
to <strong>the</strong> spread of Christianity had <strong>the</strong>y given in to <strong>the</strong>se<br />
Jewish believers and required <strong>the</strong> new believers to become<br />
Jewish in order to be Christian? It would have destroyed <strong>the</strong><br />
evangelistic power of <strong>the</strong> early church. Christianity would<br />
have been severely crippled. It would have become just<br />
ano<strong>the</strong>r Jewish sect ra<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> massive world religion it<br />
is today. If <strong>the</strong>y had not stood strong on <strong>the</strong> truth of <strong>the</strong><br />
Gospel, it is probable that none of us would be believers<br />
today. We are Gentiles. If it was that important <strong>the</strong>n, it is just<br />
as important today. I told <strong>the</strong>m, “It would personally be<br />
much easier for my family and me just to compromise, keep<br />
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