Many people interpret a key Old and New Testament Bible truth to mean that there are two ways to be saved to eternal life. But is this a correct interpretation?

In this post, I will show that the truth is that there is really only one way to be saved according to both the Old and the New Testament.

Our Bible Quotation of Focus

Now, humanity’s general question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) is recorded in the Bible, and the entire Bible is God’s answer to this question.

For those who are new to Bible notation, “John 18:38” is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “John 18:38” is taken from the book of John in the Bible, the 18th chapter, and the 38th verse.

The answer to the question of what is truth regarding how humanity is saved is of utmost importance. Why? Because it affects humanity’s ability to avoid errors in their understanding of God and how to gain eternal life.

The Context: God is on Trial

Who is God? God is a Family of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

God says to humanity, “I will make a man [or woman] more precious than fine gold; even a man [or woman] than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12. “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7.

“Bring forth the blind people that have [spiritual] eyes, and the deaf that have [spiritual] ears. Let all the nations [of humanity] be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things?” Isaiah 43:8, 9.

“Produce your cause [case], saith the LORD [God to humanity]; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King.” Isaiah 41:21. “Let them [humanity] bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth” (Isaiah 43:9) what God says.

So, we see that God is on trial before the court of the universe. For the people of earth, who were previously “blind” and “deaf” to “things pertaining to God” (Hebrews 2:17), are summoned. They are called to examine evidence that the Lord is the true God, able to make human beings “holy and without blame before him in love.” Ephesians 1:4. Thus, are to decide for or against the truth.

In addition, the nations of the earth are summoned to present their case. They are given an opportunity to vindicate themselves, but failing this, they are to acknowledge that the Lord is God and that all His ways are ways of truth.

The outcome of the trial will be that, thereafter, there will be no excuse for blindness of heart regarding God on the part of humanity.

Why is God on Trial?

We may ask the question, Why is God on trial? To answer this question, we will need to trace the history of the universe from eternity in the past.

God in Eternity Past

God tells humanity about Himself in the Bible, saying, “Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Psalm 90:2. This means that God has always existed and will always exist.

God describes His nature as “I AM THAT I AM.” Exodus 3:14. That is, the nature of God is beyond the comprehension of finite beings such as humanity. For if we could know everything about God, we would be as wise as He is and would ourselves be gods.

“His understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5), beyond that of finite beings and we should not pry into what God has not revealed and which we cannot comprehend.

But we may ask, What is God’s character like? God answers, “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. This is something that God desires to be understood about Him by finite beings.

What does the fact that God is love mean? The answer, “As for God, his way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31), He is “faultless.” Jude 1:24.

God as the Creator

Now God is the “Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:1) and “God…made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2) including the earth.

Also, God says, “Even every one that is called by my name…I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:7.

“I am the LORD [God], your Holy One, the creator…your King.” Isaiah 43:15.

So, there are many worlds in the universe inhabited by intelligent, created beings just as the earth is populated by human beings.

God is the Creator of all that exists in the universe and He lives “in heaven thy [God’s] dwelling place.” 1 Kings 8:30. Where is heaven? It is a place “of which we cannot now speak particularly” (Hebrews 9:5) because God has not revealed this to humanity.

Harmony in the Universe

God created intelligent beings, including humanity, with the intent that they should “be…holy; for I [God] am holy” (1 Peter 1:16) and humanity was perfect in holiness.

Speaking of Himself, God said, “I…put my law [of love] in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and…[I am] their God, and they…[are] my people.” Jeremiah 31:33.

So, the universe was happy and harmonious because the inhabitants all lived according to God’s ways of love. The inhabitants found that “in thy [God’s] presence is fulness of joy…[and] there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11.

Thus, the language of the hearts of all the intelligent beings was I will “give unto the LORD [God] the glory due unto his name; [and] worship the LORD [God] in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:2. “I delight to do thy will, O my God.” Psalm 40:8.

A Controversy in the Universe

The peace, joy, and bliss of the universe was broken by an angel in heaven named “Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:12) who rebelled against God.

Lucifer said to God, “Ye [God] take too much upon you [to have law], seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and…wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation.” Numbers 16:3.

That is, Lucifer thought that there was no need for God’s law of love and that he had a better way of governing the universe.

So, God responded, saying to Lucifer, “Thou hast said, My doctrine [teaching] is pure, and I am clean in thine [God’s] eyes.” Job 11:4. But “ye do err.” Matthew 22:29.

“Shall even he [Lucifer] that hateth right govern? and wilt thou [Lucifer] condemn him [God] that is most just?” Job 34:17.

Lucifer’s rebellion ripened into open revolt among the angels and controversy broke out in heaven. The central issue of the controversy was, “What is truth?” John 18:38. Is God’s way of love the best way to live or does Lucifer have a better way?

“And there was war in heaven: Michael [Christ] and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” Revelation 12:7, 8.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, [who is Lucifer now] called the Devil, and Satan…was cast out…and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9.

God’s Plan to End the Controversy

Satan (Lucifer) and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49), in full knowledge of God’s ways of love, have rebelled against God. Therefore, God says, “And thou…O [Satan]…hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.” Daniel 5:22.

Hence, “God spared not the angels that sinned [did evil], but cast them down…and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4.

So, then God has allowed Himself to be put on trial before the court of the universe as to the question, “What is truth?” John 18:38.

It is God’s will that evil be eliminated from the universe with the annihilation of those who, like Satan and his angels, have become fixed in their evil ways. God also desires that His act of annihilation have the approval of the onlooking universe. Thus, love, peace, and harmony would reign in the universe once more.

The Controversy on Earth

When God created the first human pair, a man named Adam and a woman named Eve, they were perfect and holy. But Satan came to them as “the tempter” (Matthew 4:3) and as a result of Satan’s temptation, both Adam and Eve fell into sin which is evil and wrongdoing.

In effect, Adam and Eve took Satan’s side of the controversy between God and Satan. That is, Adam and Eve rebelled against God for in their minds, the answer to the question of what is truth was that word was truth.

This sinful nature of Adam and Eve was inherited by all their descendants. So, “there is not a just man [or woman] upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20.

Thus, every human being is born with a sinful nature, “having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Ephesians 4:18.

Hence, “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19. Moreover, “every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 21:2) and “they…[do not] see eye to eye” (Isaiah 52:8) with God. They do not agree with God as to “What is truth?” John 18:38.

This then is the situation in which humanity finds itself in that the controversy begun in heaven has found its way into the heart of every human being.

God then has an uphill task to convict humanity of their sinfulness, to teach them His ways of love, and to get humanity to agree with Him on all things.

Essentially, humanity is naturally inclined to be witnesses for Satan in the court of the universe, and God wants mankind to be witnesses for God in God’s trial.

The Key Truth Which God Teaches Humanity

God seeks to impress upon every human being that “all [humanity] have sinned, and come short of the glory [the character of love] of God.” Romans 3:23.

And “the wages of sin is [eternal] death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

That is, “there is hope” (Ezra 10:2) that “by [God’s] grace ye are saved.” Ephesians 2:5. For “I [God] will put enmity” (Genesis 3:15) in your heart for sin and Satan.

This enmity for sin, this hatred for sin, will cause humanity to be able to say in truth that God has “transformed” (Romans 12:2) us. Therefore, we are such “that we may do all the words of…[God’s] law” (Deuteronomy 29:29) of love.

So, all of this about salvation which is God’s saving of humanity from eternal death (annihilation), is the key truth which God seeks to teach humanity.

Satan Counterfeits the Truth

The sad truth is “the Devil, and Satan…deceiveth the whole world.” Revelation 12:9. That is, for truth of God, Satan has one or more counterfeits.

So, on the issue of salvation, Satan has sown his counterfeits on earth. Thus, many have erroneous beliefs about how to be saved by God, and, therefore, fail in their bid to take hold of God’s offer of salvation to them.

As promised then this post will show that there is only one way of salvation taught in the Bible’s Old and New Testaments.

The Truth that Christ is Love

“God is love” (1 John 4:8) and since “Christ…is over all, God blessed for ever” (Romans 9:5), it follows that Christ is love.

This means that the character of God, that is, the character of the three divine Persons (the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit) defines what is love. In other words, we can only say that we have love in our hearts if our character is identical to God’s character of love.

Thus, only those persons will be saved by God if they are “holy and without blame before him [God] in love.” Ephesians 1:4.

This requirement is stated in both the Old and the New Testament of the Bible. But how can this be?

God declares the truth about how this can come about in the Old Testament as follows: “The LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed [descendants], to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live [eternally].” Deuteronomy 30:6.

Likewise, God declares the same truth in the New Testament as follows: “The love of God is shed abroad [poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5.

So, though stated in different ways, both the Old and the New Testament say the same thing. For any human being to have a character of love identical to that of God, there must be a supernatural operation by God upon the human heart.

This is a key Bible truth to grasp–there is no genuine love in human hearts unless God places it there.

Thus, in order for any person to be saved by God they must have the love of God in their heart, which is to have Christ, who is love, in them.

The Truth About the Law and Sin

God’s law of love is summarised in the same way in both the Old and the New Testament of the Bible.

The Old Testament summarises God’s law of love this way: “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Leviticus 19:18.

The New Testament says the same thing: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:37-39.

Now God says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth [breaks] also the law: for sin is the transgression [breaking] of the law.” 1 John 3:4.

Furthermore, God says to humanity, “Love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:8-10.

Now humanity breaks God’s law of love. How? Chiefly, because “men…[and women are] lovers of their own selves.” 2 Timothy 3:2. They have no love for God nor for their fellow human being, they only have love for themselves.

The truth then about the relationship between sin and the law is that to lack love in the heart is to break God’s law of love.

The Truth About Christ and the Law

In order then for humanity to keep, to fulfil, God’s law of love, they must have Christ, who is love, in them. In other words, they must have God’s law of love in their hearts.

In effect, we can say “the law is love” and so “Christ, who is love, is the law.” And this is what the Old Testament means when it says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul [the person to Christ].” Psalm 19:7.

Therefore, the language of the heart of converted persons is, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8.

These persons obey God’s commandment in the New Testament, “Walk [live] in love” (Ephesians 5:2) in that they do God’s will at all times.

Thus, Christ says, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21.

So, we see then that these three things, namely, keeping God’s law of love, having Christ who is love in our heart, and doing God’s will at all times, all mean the same thing.

Hence, both the Old and the New Testament in the Bible are in agreement regarding the truth about Christ and the law. They do not contradict each other.

The Truth About Christ and the Word of God

The New Testament declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word was made [human] flesh, and dwelt among us [humanity].” John 1:14.

Who is the Word? It is Christ who was born in human flesh as a baby boy named “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21) over 2,000 years ago.

God declares in the Old Testament that every human being should be able to say of themselves in truth, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11.

This means that with the word of God in our hearts, which is to say, with Christ who is the law in our hearts, we will live according to God’s law of love. If we do so, we will be saved by God.

For God says in the Old Testament, “Whoso walketh uprightly [according to God’s law of love] shall be saved.” Proverbs 28:18.

Likewise, the New Testament says to humanity, “Wherefore [therefore] lay apart [put away] all [moral] filthiness and superfluity [abundance] of naughtiness [depravity], and receive with meekness the engrafted [implanted] word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21.

So, we see that Christ, the word of God, in our heart will result in our being saved by God. Thus, the Old and the New Testament do not contradict each other regarding the truth about Christ and the word of God.

Christ and Truth

Here we will first consider what God has to say in the Old Testament about Christ and truth.

God says, “Ye [every human being] shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land [heaven] which ye shall possess.” Deuteromomy 5:33.

This means that, as God says, humanity is to “walk in my [God’s] law” (Exodus 16:4) by doing God’s will at all times.

Now it can be said of God’s law of love, “Thy [God’s] law is the truth.” Psalm 119: 142.

So, since Christ is the law, and the law is the truth, then Christ is the truth. Thus, Christ in humanity’s hearts means God’s truth is in their hearts.

In keeping with this, the Old Testament states, “Open ye the gates [of heaven], that the righteous nation [people] which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isaiah 26:2.

That is, those people who keep God’s truth, which is to say, the people who have Christ the truth in their in their hearts, will be saved by God.

Now in the New Testament Christ says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.

And God says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children [people] walk [live] in truth.” 3 John 1:4.

According to the New Testament then Christ is the truth and those people who walk (live) in truth receive God’s approval. In other words, such people have Christ who is the truth in their hearts and, hence, they will be saved by God.

Again, the Old and the New Testament do not contradict each other. Both agree that Christ is the truth.

The Truth About Christ and Faith

The Old Testament states, “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live [eternally] by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.

The New Testament quotes the Old Testament, saying, “Now the just shall live [eternally] by faith.” Hebrews 10:38.

But what does this mean? The Old Testament says of Christ, “Faithfulness [shall be] the girdle [belt] of his reins [loins].” Isaiah 11:5.

That is, Christ in His life on earth was faithful in all His doings to the truth that God is seeking to save humanity from eternal death (annihilation). Hence, Christ’s sacrificial death was accepted by God and Christ was resurrected by God, meaning that Christ rose from the dead to live again.

Now the New Testament states, “The saints…keep…the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

Who are the saints? They are the people who have Christ in their hearts, and so they have Christ’s faithfulness to God’s truth in their hearts.

The saints then are those people who are faithful to live according to God’s truth and are, therefore, just in God’s sight.

So, both the Old and the New Testament agree regarding the truth that the just shall live eternally by Christ’s faithfulness in their hearts.

The Truth About Christ and Righteousness

The Old Testament says, “All thy [God’s] commandments are righteousness.” Psalm 119:172. This means that God’s law of love, which is expressed as commandments, is righteousness.

The Old Testament also says, “This is his [Christ’s] name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 23:6.

So, here we see that Christ is righteousness and God’s law of love is righteousness.

Again, the Old Testament says there are people who “shall receive the blessing from the LORD [God], and righteousness [Christ] from the God of his [or her] salvation.” Psalm 24:5.

Such people who have Christ, who is Himself righteousness, in their hearts will be saved.

The New Testament states that “Christ Jesus [is He] who of God is made unto us [to humanity]…righteousness.” 1 Corinthians 1:30.

And “they which receive abundance of grace [God’s unmerited favour] and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in [eternal] life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17.

Thus, in both the Old and the New Testament, the gift of righteousness is equated to the gift of Christ, which is to say, Christ is in the heart. Anyone who has Christ in their heart will be saved by God.

Both the Old and the New Testaments then agree on the truth regarding Christ and righteousness.

The Truth About Christ and Grace

The Old Testament states Christ’s words to humanity, “I [God] will put enmity” (Genesis 3:15) in your hearts for sin and Satan.

According to the New Testament, this enmity is manifested when “the love of God is shed abroad [poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5.

That is, love for God and our fellow human beings is hatred or enmity for the evil and wickedness of sin and Satan. The Holy Spirit is the divine Agent through whom Christ works on human hearts.

Love is one of the components of God’s grace, God’s unmerited favour in blessing humanity.

The second component of God’s grace is moral strength provided by Christ, “the Strength of Israel” (1 Samuel 15:29) as the Old Testament says. Here Israel refers to “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) who are the saints of God, Christ’s true followers.

According to the New Testament, the saints are “are kept [from sin] by the power of God [the moral strength of God] through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5.

So, both the Old and the New Testament agree regarding the truth about Christ and grace for both love and moral strength come from Christ who is God.

The Truth About Christ and Sanctification

Sanctification is the lifelong process whereby God tests humanity, saying, according to the Old Testament, “that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” Exodus 16:4.

For God says in the Old Testament, “Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments [my law of love], and live [eternally].” Proverbs 4:4.

Also, according to the Old Testament, Christ says, “I am the LORD [God] which sanctify you” (Leviticus 20:8), who causes you to keep my law of love.

The New Testament states, “Sanctify them [humanity] through thy [God’s] truth: thy [God’s] word is truth.” John 17:17.

Since we have established that Christ is the truth, and Christ is also the word of God, then the New Testament is saying that it is Christ who sanctifies humanity.

God pronounces a blessing on the sanctified in the New Testament, saying, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord [God] hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12.

So, both the Old and the New Testament agree regarding the truth about Christ and sanctification.

The Truth About Christ and Wisdom

The Old Testament states, “The spirit of the LORD [the Holy Spirit] shall rest upon him [Christ], the spirit of wisdom.” Isaiah 11:2.

That is, Christ being God was full of the wisdom of God to the same degree as God, the Father, and God, the Holy Spirit. In essence then Christ is wisdom.

The New Testament confirms that Christ as a “child grew, and waxed strong in spirit [in the Holy Spirit], filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” Luke 2:40. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead [the Family of three divine persons] bodily.” Colossians 2:9.

The New Testament agrees, saying, “Christ [is] the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24. In other words, Christ is wisdom.

Now the Old Testament states, “Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son.” Proverbs 28:7. This means that such people have Christ who is the law, and Christ who is wisdom, in their heart.

Likewise, the New Testament states, “Wisdom [Christ personified as a woman] is justified [shown to be just] of all her children.” Luke 7:35. These are spiritual children of Christ in that they have Christ, who is wisdom, in their hearts.

Anyone who has Christ who is Himself wisdom in their heart will be saved by God.

Thus, both the Old and the New Testament agree regarding the truth about Christ and wisdom.

The Truth About Christ and Peace

Let us first consider what the Old Testament has to say about Christ and peace.

“The LORD [God] hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh [all humanity]; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 25:31.

Praise God, however, “for unto us [humanity] a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called…The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

So, God says to humanity, “Let him [every human being] take hold of my strength [the moral strength of Christ], that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.” Isaiah 27:5.

Continuing in this same line of thought, the New Testament declares, ” Christ Jesus…he is our [humanity’s] peace.” Ephesians 2:13, 14.

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son [Christ], much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his [Christ’s] life.” Romans 5:10.

Thus, both the Old and the New Testament agree regarding the truth about Christ and peace.

The Truth About Christ and Rest

The Old Testament states that God says to humanity, “Whom shall he [God] teach knowledge [Bible truth]? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk [basic truths], and drawn from the breasts.” Isaiah 28:9.

“Blessed are ye that sow [spread Bible truth] beside all waters [everywhere].” Isaiah 32:20. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isaiah 32:17.

“To whom he [God] said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing.” Isaiah 28:12.

This means that those people who have been taught deep Bible truth by God, and who teach it to others, find rest, quietness, and a refreshing for their hearts.

Likewise in the New Testament, Christ who is God says to humanity, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

“Take my yoke [of service to God] upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29, 30.

So, in the New Testament, Christ offers rest to the sin-sick and toil weary person, calling them to join with Him in service to God in spreading God’s truth others. Thus, they labour for God so that, not only themselves, but others also, may be saved.

So, both the Old and the New Testament on the truth about Christ and rest.

The Truth About Christ and the Gospel

As we have seen so far, both the Old and the New Testament teach the key Bible truth that in order to be saved by God, the individual must have Christ in their heart.

This is God’s desired outcome of “the gospel” (Matthew 4:23) which is God’s plan of saving humanity from eternal death (annihilation).

Christ in the human heart enables the person to cease from sinning. However, this does not take care of the person’s past sins for which the penalty is eternal death.

So, in order for God to forgive the sins of any person, Christ made an atonement, a sacrificial offering through His death. For, as the New Testament states it, Christ died “for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2.

This atonement was taught by ancient Israel’s sanctuary services where the sinner was required to “bring a lamb for a sin offering” (Leviticus 4:32) “slay [kill] it for a sin offering.” Leviticus 4:33.

Here, the slain lamb symbolised Christ, who is described in the New Testament as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

Christ, as humanity’s Sin Bearer, by exhausting the penalty of eternal death for the human race, made it possible for God to forgive the sins of every human being.

These then are the provisions of the gospel to forgive sins and to transform a sinner into a saint.

Thus, both the Old and the New Testament agree on the truth about Christ and the gospel.

The Truth About the Everlasting Covenant

The Old Testament records God’s gospel promise to the first himan pair, Adam and Eve, after they had sinned.

As was said before, this was the promise of God’s “everlasting covenant” (Genesis 9:16; Hebrews 13:20) as it is called in both the Old and the New Testament. God’s promise was “I [God] will put enmity (Genesis 3:15) in your hearts for sin and Satan.

Why was this necessary? The Old Testament is, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye [all humanity] also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23.

The New Testament answer is, “The carnal [sinful] mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

The truth then is, according to the Old and the New Testament, that it is utterly impossible for any human being to change themselves from sinfulness to holiness.

This can only be accomplished by the supernatural act of God in putting enmity for sin and Satan in human hearts.

The Truth About the Old Covenant

Now God spoke His law of love to ancient Israel as “the words of the [everlasting] covenant, [expressed as] the ten commandments.” Exodus 34:28.

The people of Israel’s response to God was, “All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.” Exodus 24:3.

“The children of Israel…sacrificed…oxen unto the LORD…and Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the [old] covenant, which the LORD [God] hath made with you concerning all these words.” Exodus 24:5-8.

That is, ancient took it upon themselves to change their own hearts from sinfulness to holiness.

This then is Israel’s Old Covenant where they were turned aside from God’s everlasting covenant with its promise of God sipernaturally making them holy.

The Old Testament records, “The [old] covenant that I made with their fathers [of Israel]…they brake [broke].” Jeremiah 31:32.

Likewise, the New Testament states, “The [old] covenant that I made with their fathers [of Israel]…they continued not in my covenant [they broke]…saith the Lord [God].” Hebrews 8:9.

This then is the truth about the Old Covenant on which both the Old and the New Testament agree.

The Truth About Christ and the Old and New Covenants

Since Israel broke the Old Covenant, the only covenant that was in force between them and God was “the everlasting covenant.” Hebrews 13:20.

Here literal Israel represented “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) which is spiritual Israel made up of all the saints of God.

Just before His death, Christ spoke of His death as the shedding of “my blood of the new testament [covenant].” Matthew 26:28. His death was, in fact, “the blood of the everlasting covenant.” Hebrews 13:20.

The “New Covenant” in both the Old Testament (Jeremiah 31:31) and the New Testament (Hebrews 8:8) is called “New” its blood, the blood of Christ, was shed after the blood of the Old Covenant.

So, the New Covenant is the same as the Everlasting Covenant. Both were confirmed, made sure, by the shed blood of Christ.

The Old Testament records the promise of God’s New Covenant (God’s Everlasting Covenant) as,”This shall be the [new] covenant that I will make with the house of Israel…saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah 31:33.

In quoting the Old Testament, the New Testament the same promise of God’s New Covenant (God’s Everlasting Covenant) as, “This is the [new] covenant that I will make with the house of Israel…saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” Hebrews 8:10.

So, we see that God’s New Covenant (God’s Everlasting Covenant) promises a supernatural act of God to make himan beings holy by putting His law of love in their hearts.

Thus, both the Old and the New Testament agree on the truth about Christ and the Old and New Covenants.

The Truth About the Conditions of the Everlasting Covenant

There are two conditions under which any human being can realise the promise of the Everlasting Covenant.

These conditions are stated in the Old testament where Israel was told by God, “ye shall afflict your souls” (Leviticus 16:31), meaning “You shall repent of your sins.” “Turn you [in faith] to the strong hold [to Christ], ye prisoners of hope” (Zechariah 9:12) of eternal life.

The New Testament gives these two conditions as, “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21.

Repentance is deep remorse, sorrow, for one’s own sins and faith in Christ means to believe the gospel of humanity’s salvation.

These are the prior conditions which every person must meet if they are to realise the promised blessings of the Everlasting Covenant. These blessings are the forgiveness of sins and God’s gift of righteousness.

So, again we see that both the Old and the New Testament agree on the truth about the conditions of the Everlasting Covenant.

Conclusion

We have gone through the Old and the New Testament point by point in looking at the truth about salvation as taught in the Bible. In every case both the Old and the New Testament agree.

Therefore, there is only one way of salvation taught in the Bible in both the Old and the New Testament.

So, I hope this post has cleared away all of Satan’s counterfeits of the truth, his errors, regarding humanity’s salvation and answered humanity’s question, “What is truth?” John 18:38.

For the truth about salvation is the key Old and New Testament Bible truth which God desires to teach humanity. Those persons who learn this truth and succeed in realising God’s promised blessing of salvation are the saints of God.

The saints will witness before the court of the universe that God is the true God. Also, that God is indeed “holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12) and that God’s law of love is the right way for the universe to live.

So, with such a glorious destiny before you as a human being, you should ensure that you take hold of God’s Everlasting Covenant so that you will be saved. Make haste for their no time to lose.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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