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     The Old Testament is the first division of the Bible.  The second and noticeably smaller division of the Bible is the New Testament (Covenant).  This division begins with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (the Gospel accounts), which are about Jesus of Nazareth, the founder of the New Covenant, although he lived during the period of the Old Covenant, not the New.
     Although the Gospels are occasionally called the biography of Jesus, in fact they only cover parts of about 40 days of His life.  Their primary focus is upon His three year ministry, during which, He announced Himself as the Savior of mankind (e.g. Luke 19:10).  About 30% of the gospels emphasizes Jesus’ last week before He was crucified.  This special emphasis culminates in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, giving the singular qualification to Jesus as the founder of the New Testament.
     The New Testament as a covenant actually begins in the book of Acts, following the Gospels.  Unlike the Old Covenant which is concisely stated and ratified as a Covenant with the involved parties (God and Israel) being present, stipulations (600+ laws), benefits (national prosperity) and penalties (famine, drought, removal from the land), the New Covenant is not so concisely stated.  The New Covenant’s stipulations, benefits and penalties are sprinkled throughout the New Testament, beginning in the book of Acts through Revelation.  Thus constant and thorough study of it is necessary for those who become subject to God via the New Covenant.
     What about the Old Covenant?  Does God have two covenants in force?  The Old Covenant was between God and Israel.  The primary stipulation was obedience to the law – perfect law keeping.  Violation of the law required death of the sinner.  Immediate death of the sinner was prevented by substitutionary animal sacrifices.  But forgiveness of sins was never obtained by animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:4).  Since man could not obey the law, God, in His mercy and grace, put on human flesh (John1:1, 14) and obeyed the law for him (Matthew 5:17).  Thus Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice, paying the penalty for the sins of every person who will ever live.  When Jesus died, he set aside or nullified the Old Covenant with Israel (Colossians 2:13-14).  So what is God’s relationship with Israel?  For that matter, what is the relationship any of us have with God?  How does the New Covenant fit into the puzzle of mankind’s life and destiny?

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