Category: Old Covenant

Why the Thief on the Cross is Not the Pattern for Salvation Today

  • The New Covenant was not yet in effect. It came into effect after Christ’s death (Heb. 9:15–17; Col. 2:14). The thief was forgiven under the Old Covenant, not the New Covenant of Christ. We now live under a different covenant with different conditions of forgiveness.
  • The Great Commission had not yet begun. Jesus had not yet commanded belief and baptism for the salvation of all nations (Mt. 28:19–20; Mk. 16:15–16).
  • Jesus still had authority on earth to forgive sins personally.
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Recent Headlines vs. Bible Truths

1. No one man pastor system – God’s Word never shows one man as “the pastor” of a congregation (always a plurality who meet God’s strict requirements), and pastors (elders/bishops/overseers/shepherds) are not the same as evangelists/preachers (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).

2. No sinner’s prayer for salvation – forgiveness is granted at baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16); prayer is how people get forgiveness after baptism (See Acts 8:12-13, 22-24; cf.… Read more

Isaac, a Foreshadowing of Christ

Jesus told the Jews who sought to kill Him, “Search the [Old Testament, JPH] scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Christ is seen throughout the Bible, including in the life of Abraham’s son Isaac, who lived about 2,000 years before Christ came to earth:

ISAAC – Son of Abraham, the son of promise (Genesis 17:16ff)
CHRIST – Son of Abraham, the Son of promise (Gen.… Read more

The Truth May Seem Strange at First

Just because simple New Testament Christianity may seem “strange” to you, that does not mean you should reject it.

When Christ’s church first began, it was new and unfamiliar to everybody. It did not match the Jewish traditions or the pagan practices people had followed for centuries. However, when they realized the Truth, they did not let unfamiliarity stop them. They made the necessary changes and became part of it. That is what God expected then, and that is still what He expects today.… Read more

Why Christians Do Not Observe the Sabbath (Brief)

The Bible teaches that the Sabbath was given only to Israel, and only from the time of Moses until the cross of Christ. It was never meant to be a law for all people across all generations. Today, under the New Covenant, Christians live under the Law of Christ, not the Law of Moses. The following points briefly explain why Christians do not observe the Sabbath.

  • Because the word “Sabbath” is not found in Genesis—there was no Sabbath command, example, or punishment for anyone from Adam to Moses, indicating it was not a universal law for all people of all periods.
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Questions for Those Who Observe the Sabbath

Some religious groups claim that Sabbath observance is still required today—whether on Saturday or Sunday. However, the Bible teaches that the Old Covenant, including the Sabbath law, was given only to Israel and was never intended to be a law for all people in all generations. Under the New Covenant, Christians follow the Law of Christ, not the Law of Moses. The following questions are designed to challenge the belief that Sabbath-keeping is still binding today.… Read more