The Old Testament Was An If-Then Testament

For the people of Israel, the old covenant/testament of law that came through Moses was a conditional covenant based on an if-then principle.

For example, forgiveness for the people of Israel under the law/before the cross was this:

2 Chronicles 7:14

“IF my people [people of Israel], which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Matthew 6:14-15

“For IF you forgive other people when they sin against you, [THEN] your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But IF you do not forgive others their sins, [THEN] your Father will not forgive your sins.”

So we see that forgiveness for the people of Israel under the law of Moses was conditional upon their forgiveness of others.

Whereas the old covenant of law for the people of Israel that came through Moses was conditional, the new covenant of grace for all people that came through the blood of Jesus is complete.

Notice the change in the verses below with the issue of forgiveness from conditional forgiveness under the law for the people of Israel to complete forgiveness for all people under grace.

2 Corinthians 5:19

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.”

Ephesians 1:7-8

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Colossians 2:13-14

“God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”

Hebrews 10:17-18

“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.”

We see the obvious contrast between the two covenants in the above verses.

It is not that the Bible contradicts itself.

Not at all.

Rather, it is that the covenant of law given through Moses for the people of Israel was conditional, and the new covenant of grace which came through the blood of Jesus for all people is complete and is received by faith.

Under grace, we do not forgive to be forgiven...that would be law.

Instead, we forgive because we have been forgiven...that is grace!

Under grace, we give to others what God has freely given to us...forgiveness.

That is the opposite of law.

To simplify it, under the law, we give to others to get from God.

Under grace, we give to others what we have received from God.