When it comes to thinking about New Covenant versus Old Covenant, the lines often get blurred.

But there can be some simple ideas that may help a person distinguish between the two fairly easily.

Old Covenant thinking when it comes to obedience operates from a declaration of what obedience is meant to look like with an air of pull up your bootstraps and get to it, or prayers may be unanswered, and punishment dealt out swiftly.  It ministers insecurity and death in one’s relationship with God. It is a continual roller coaster ride of ups and downs based on a person’s own performance rather than Christ’s obedience.

New Covenant thinking about obedience begins with one’s relationship to God through the obedience of Christ and thus has a handle on who they are because of who He is and knows what they can now do because of what He has made them to be.  Their security is rooted in Christ’s performance, and the more secure they are in it, the more they discover obedience is an outflow of who they have become in Him.

New Covenant begins and ends with identity in Christ, whereas Old Covenant thinking begins and ends with identity in oneself.

Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

In the New Covenant, we walk by faith in Christ.  In the Old Covenant, they walked according to the demands of the law.

Notice that Colossians declared the saints to be complete in Christ.  Completeness in the New Covenant is only realized in Christ.  Righteousness, glory, power, and promise flow through Christ to His new creations.

In the Old Covenant, righteousness, glory, power, and promise had to be earned, and if not earned, then opposite consequences ensued.  It was to keep it or be cursed.

In the New Covenant, Christ became a curse for us so that we could be set free from the curse under the law.

The New Covenant places us under and in Christ.  The Old Covenant places a person under the Law.

Which covenant do you find yourself spending most of your time and thought in?  I encourage you today to be mindful of the New Covenant in Christ at all times and not let anyone cheat you from it.