Testament
What do you think of when you see the word testament?
The bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament part written before Christ came and the New Testament written after Christ Came.
You may also think of the words the Lord used in the upper room “this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you”. Luke 22 v 20.
The original Greek word used is translated as “Testament” 13 times and “Covenant” 20 times.
The bible idea behind the word is that God makes a promise (almost like a contract or an agreement). There are a number of such covenants in the old testament writings.
When we speak of the “Old Testament” we are referring to the covenant based on the Laws given by Moses. The promise given by God was for His blessing and care of His earthly people if they obeyed Him.
When we speak about the New Testament, we refer to God’s promise or covenant of grace (underserved blessing) which has come to us, not by Moses, but by the Lord Jesus Christ. His death of the cross was a sacrifice to pay for our sins, providing the blessing of forgiveness for sin and everlasting life for all trust in Him as Saviour.
The Bible says
John 1 v 14. For the Law was given by Moses but Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 9 v 11 to 14
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.