Summary Abrahamic Covenant Israel as the Unbelieving People of God Mosaic or Old Covenant Ten Commandments

New Covenant Law of Christ A Survey of Israel’s Unbelief The Imagery of John 15

by Geoff Volker and Mike Adams
Originally posted on In Depth Studies
Statement on offsite articles

Summary Top

New Covenant Theology (NCT) describes how the unfolding plan of salvation in Scripture is to be understood. It focuses on the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. It views the nation of Israel as a picture of the people of God but not the believing people of God. It understands the Mosaic Covenant to be a legal covenant that demands perfect obedience in order to receive the promised blessings. It views the Ten Commandments as the essence of the Mosaic law and not the essence of all of God’s law. It views the New Covenant as a new and better covenant that replaces the Old Covenant. New Covenant Theology differs from both Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism.

Covenant Theology errs in trying to read the Old Covenant as though it were the New Covenant.

Dispensationalism errs in reading the Old Testament without taking into account the New Covenant.

The Abrahamic Covenant is a revealing of God’s plan of salvation through Abraham and his physical descendents. The true seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ and believers are the true children of Abraham.

The Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant, also called the First Covenant) is a legal, conditional covenant, not another administration of the Covenant of Grace. Although God had a gracious purpose for giving the Mosaic Covenant the covenant itself is a legal covenant that was intended to show the Israelites their sin.

The nation of Israel is the "unbelieving" people of God. They are only a picture of the real people of God that is revealed in the New Covenant era. Only a remnant of the nation of Israel were believers.

The Ten Commandments are the essence or terms of the Old Covenant not the essence of all of God's law. The Ten Commandments as a unit are not brought into the New Covenant era, although the New Covenant era does bring over 9 of the 10 (Sabbath excluded). The essence of all of God's law is found in the 2 great commandments

The New Covenant is a description of the saving work of Jesus Christ. The day of Pentecost is the historical beginning of the New Covenant era.

The Law of Christ is the law in the New Covenant era. The issue is not whether or not believers in the New Covenant era are under law. The issue is which law are the believers under in this present era.

The Abrahamic Covenant reveals God’s plan to save a people. His plan is physically pictured by his bringing the nation of Israel into existence and giving them the promised land. His plan is fulfilled by redeeming a people through Jesus Christ and causing them to dwell with him in heaven

Galatians 3:1-29 (The old is interpreted through the lens of the new.)

• Abrahamic Covenant introduces justification by faith alone.

• The promise of the Abrahamic Covenant is opposite the legal demands of the Mosaic Covenant.

• The true seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ and all those he represented.

• The Mosaic law had its purpose, but its purpose was not to save a people.

• The Mosaic law no longer is our guide.

• True believers are the children of Abraham.

• Great Nation

• Blessing to Others

• The Promise Land

• Isaac

• Many Descendants

• Special Natural

• Unique

• Spiritual

Although the nation of Israel was called the people of God it was only a picture of the true people of God. Israel as a people is viewed as the unbelieving people of God.

(Commentary on Romans, by Haldane, page 444.)

Israel as a nation was treated far differently than all the other nations around them.

If Israel was the real people of God then they could not be rejected by God.

Israel was only a picture, not the real thing. The church is the real people of God.

• The redemption that Israel experienced by crossing through the Red Sea was only a picture of true redemption. They were, as a whole, rejected for their unbelief.

• The Israelites under Moses had the gospel preached to them and they rejected it.

• The Mosaic Covenant is described as the ministry that brought death.

• The Israelites are described as having a veil of unbelief over their faces whenever they read the Old Covenant (Mosaic Law).

• Only a small portion (remnant) of the nation of Israel were really believers.

• It was prophesied that Israel would never, except for the remnant, be a believing people. Although at the time of Second Coming a great number of Jews would come to faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 11.

EVERLASTING PRIESTHOOD - Aaron Exodus 40:14Þ Christ Hebrews 7:11-21

EVERLASTING PASSOVER - Passover Exodus 12:14Þ Lord’s Supper 1 Corinthians 11

EVERLASTING SABBATH - Sabbath Exodus 31:17Þ Salvation Colossians 2:16-17

EVERLASTING CIRCUMCISION - Circumcision Genesis17:13Þ Regeneration Colossians 2;11-12

EVERLASTING LAND - Palestine Genesis 17:8 Þ Heaven Hebrews 4

The Covenant of Death
The Mosaic or Old Covenant is described as the letter kills, the ministry that brought death, and the ministry that condemns. 2 Corinthians 3:6-18

The Curse of the Old Covenant
The Mosaic Covenant demands of the Israelites perfect obedience. The promise of God is that if the Israelites do not fully obey his demands he will pursue them and destroy them. The physical destruction of Israel is a picture of their spiritual destruction. Deuteronomy 27-29

The Old Covenant Breeds Sin
The purpose of the Mosaic Covenant is to cause the Israelites to sin in a much greater way. Only a legal covenant could have this effect on the Israelites. Romans 5:20

The Old Covenant is Law not Promise
The Mosaic Law is not a gracious covenant. It was never intended to provide a true way of salvation. It was intended to bring deep conviction of sin. The promise of the gospel is contrasted with the law of the Mosaic Covenant. Galatians 3:15-25

The Old Covenant produces a people who are in SLAVERY to Sin
The two sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, are contrasted to describe the Mosaic Covenant. Ishmael is the rejected son, the son not of the promise. He is a picture of the people of Israel. They are rejected as the true people of God. They are the product of the Old Covenant. Galatians 4:21-31

The Old Covenant is a DEADLY Written Code
The effects of the Mosaic Covenant are contrasted with the effects of the New Covenant. The New Covenant gives life while the Old Covenant kills. Romans 7:4-6

The Old Covenant is WEAK and USELESS
The Mosaic Covenant is weak and useless in that it can never transform anybody. In the plan of God it was never intended to be covenant the produced a true, transformed people of God. Hebrews 7:18

There was something WRONG with the Old Covenant
From the point of view of producing a true people of God the Mosaic Covenant could not produce the required results. This does not indicate that God gave a defective covenant to the nation of Israel. God intended from all eternity that Israel experience the condemning results of the Old Covenant. Hebrews 8:7,13

The Positive Purposes of the Mosaic Covenant
We wholeheartedly agree that God had a gracious purpose in putting the nation of Israel under the law as a covenant, but the fact cannot change the law covenant into a covenant of grace. The law, as a covenant, was intended to be a "needle that pierced the conscience so that the thread of the gospel could follow and heal." However, to be able to accomplish that ministry the law had to have the teeth of a true legal covenant with the power of life and death. If the Decalogue could not make men feel lost in sin and condemned by God, then how could it "prepare the sinner for the gospel?"
(Abraham's Four Seeds by John G. Reisinger, published by Sound of Grace, page 81.)

If an Israelite is one of the elect then the Mosaic Covenant will be used show him that he cannot save himself and cause him to turn to the living God to be saved. Romans 7:7-13

The Old Covenant was used to bring forth the Messiah who was to save his people from their sins.

The Old Covenant preserved the Word of God as it was given to the nation of Israel. It also produced all the physical pictures that are used to encourage and teach the true people of God in the New Covenant era. Romans 9:1-5

The Ten Commandments are the essence of the Mosaic or Old Covenant. They are not the essence of all Moral Law. The Ten Commandments as a unit are inseparably tied to the Mosaic Law. Since the Mosaic Covenant is no longer in effect, the Ten Commandments are no longer applicable as a unit to the people of God who are living in the New Covenant era.

(chapter 19, paragraphs 1-5)

The First Mention of the Ten Commandments
Exodus 34:27-28

Although this is the second time that the Ten Commandments are referred to in Scripture (Exodus 20:1-22) it is the first time that they are mentioned by name.

• The Ten Commandments were written on Tablets of Stone by God Himself.

• This event occurred at Mt. Sinai when God entered a special and unique covenant relationship with the nation of Israel.

• The Ten Commandments were the specific terms, or "words of the covenant" that were written on the Tables of Stone at Mt. Sinai: "He wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments."

• The Ten Commandments, or covenant, was made only with the nation of Israel: "I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel."

The Use of the Phrase "Ten Commandments"
The phrase "Ten Commandments" is only used 3 times in all of Scripture.

As can be seen, the only references in the whole Bible to the "Ten Commandments" as a unit, or a specific document, are the three verses connected with Israel at Mt. Sinai when the Ten Commandments were written with the finger of God on the Tablets of Stone and given to Israel as the terms of a covenant. It is essential that the words "Ten Commandments" always be thought of as a single unit or document. The individual commandments continue in force, as individual and specific commandments, long after the Tables of Stone end as a covenant. (Tablets of Stone, page 4.)

• Tablets of Stone Exodus 24:12

• Tablets of Testimony Exodus 31:18

• The Testimony Exodus 25:15-16

• First Covenant Hebrews 8:7, 9:1

• Old Covenant Hebrews 8:6-7, 13, 2 Corinthians 3:14

• Words of the Covenant Exodus 34:28

• Tablets of the Covenant Deuteronomy 9:9-11, Hebrews 9:4

The Holy Spirit always relates the Ten Commandments, when considered as a unit, with the words of the covenant that were written on the Tables of Stone at Mt. Sinai. (Tablets of Stone, page 32.)

The Ten Commandments (as part of the Old or Mosaic Covenant) were given to the nation of Israel. Exodus 34:27-28, Deuteronomy 5:2-3, Romans 2:14-15

Why 7th Commandment is not in force TODAY
The Sabbath The Sabbath day was a sign between God and the nation of Israel. Exodus 31:12-18, Ezekiel 20:12-20To violate the Sabbath was to repudiate the covenant that Israel had with the living God. Numbers 15:32-36The first instance of Sabbath-keeping is not found until Israel is formed as a nation. Although the concept of the Sabbath is given at creation the commandment is only given to the nation of Israel. Exodus 16:21-30, Genesis 2:1-3, Nehemiah 9:13-14In the New Covenant era the Sabbath day is no longer in force. Colossians 2:16-17, Galatians 4:8-10In the New Covenant era there is no such thing as a required day for the believer. Romans 14:5-8In the New Covenant era the Sabbath-rest is not a day but a description of entering into heaven. Hebrews 4:9-11 The Ark of the Covenant
Deuteronomy 10:1-5, Exodus 25:16 The Ark of the Covenant housed the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the Old Covenant. It was called the Ark of the Covenant and the Ark of Testimony because it was written covenant testimony against Israel when they disobeyed the covenant terms, or Ten Commandments. (Tablets of Stone, page 66.)The Ark of the Covenant closed off all approach into the immediate presence of God until the terms of the covenant spelled out on the Tablets of Stone had been fully met. Those terms demanded a kind of life that no sinner could produce. It was the failure to obey the covenant terms that closed off the entrance into God's presence. Aaron alone was allowed, one day a year, to enter the Most Holy Place. He always had to take with him some blood that had been shed on the altar of sacrifice. The whole purpose and function of the Ten Commandments in the Ark of the Covenant can be summed up in one word DEATH. The message in the box was the same message on the veil. In big letters it said KEEP AWAY: DO NOT EVEN TOUCH! It was disobedience to this message that caused Uzzah to die (II Sam. 6:6,7).(Tablets of Stone, page 68.)The relationship of the Law Covenant (the stone tablets in the Ark) to the Mercy Seat (the lid of the Ark) is one of the clearest pictures of the Gospel in the OT Scriptures. It also sets forth the Biblical relationship of the law and grace. The Tablets of the Covenant (Ten Commandments) in the Ark represents the just demands of the law covenant. There is the Law! The lid of the Ark covers the broken covenant of law with the blood of atonement. There is the Gospel! (Tablets of Stone, page 72.)

Key Passage
Hebrews 8

• The New Covenant is a term used to describe the saving work of Jesus Christ.

• The Old Covenant was faulty in that it did not produce a believing, God-loving people of God.

• The product of the Old Covenant, the nation of Israel, was also rejected and will be replaced by a people who are real believers and God-lovers.

• The New Covenant results in the forgiveness of sins for all who were included in it.

• The New Covenant results in a new heart for all who were included in it.

• Every last individual who was included in the New Covenant will get what was accomplished by it.

Definition of the Law of Christ
The Law of Christ is the law that believers are obligated to obey in the New Covenant era. The New Covenant era begins at Pentecost. The Law of Christ is the moral law for the New Covenant era.

The Believer is ALWAYS under law
There is never a time when you are not under law. Since there is always the possibility of sin, this side of heaven, there must also be the existence of law. 1 John 3:4

Oral law
The Oral law contains those commands that were given by the Lord to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. There is no written record of them. All we have is the biblical account that indicates that there were some commands given. Genesis 2:15-16, 4:1-5

Mosaic law
The Mosaic Law is the Old Covenant. It is a legal covenant that was made with the nation of Israel. This Law was never meant for the real people of God. With the coming of the New Covenant the Mosaic Law is no longer, as a unit, applicable to the believer. Exodus 19, 20

law of the Conscience
The law of the conscience is that fuzzy sense of right and wrong that every person has to some degree. Even though this is a very imperfect law it still functions as a condemning law to every man. No one can live up to its requirements and is therefore condemned. Romans 2:12-16

law of Christ
John 13:34
The people of God in the New Covenant era are motivated internally to obey the Law of Christ. The love for Jesus Christ is planted in the heart of every believer and is the fundamental motivation for the believer.

1 Corinthians 9:21
In this passage it is specifically mentioned that the Apostle Paul is no longer under the Mosaic Law, but he is under the law of Christ. The law of Christ contains all of the teaching passages in the New Covenant era and whatever portions of the Mosaic law that are brought over. Ephesians 6:1-3

Galatians 6:2
The law of Christ is described as loving as Jesus Christ loved. His love ought always to be our motivation to obey the commands in the New Covenant era.

Different Options in Understanding the Sermon on the Mount
#1 Historic Dispensationalism
This view states that the Sermon on the Mount is not given to the Church but is purely Jewish. It is the Law of the Kingdom (millennial reign of Christ in the future). The laws in the Sermon on the Mount are the legal rules for the future kingdom age, or millennium. The Jews rejected this earthly kingdom when Christ offered it to them and it was postponed until after the Second Coming of Christ. At that time all of these legal laws will be in force. However, until that time we must never apply kingdom truth to the Church today. A Christian may draw some beautiful and helpful applications from the Sermon on the Mount since all of Scripture is written TO us even though all of it is not FOR us. The Epistles of Paul, which first make known the doctrine of the Church, are the believer's rule of life during the Church age. (But I Say Unto You, by John Reisinger, page 8.)

#2 Covenant Theology
This view agrees that the Sermon of the Mount contains the rules of the kingdom, but insists that the kingdom is here and now and not in the future. Covenant Theology insists that Christ was not in any way contrasting Himself, His teaching, or His authority with Moses. He was only contradicting the wrong interpretations and additions to Moses. Christ was merely giving us the true spiritual meaning of Moses as contrasted with the Rabbinical distortions. (But I Say Unto You, pages 8-9.)

#3 New Covenant Theology
The PROMISE/FULFILLMENT, or New Covenant, view
This view starts with the New Testament Scriptures and allows them to mean exactly what they say. Christ is seen as asserting His unique and final authority as the New Lawgiver by giving a new and higher canon of conduct to the Church. He is most assuredly correcting the perversions of the Pharisees, but He is also clearly giving new and higher truth that Moses never taught. Christ sometimes applies the same truth that Moses taught but does so in a manner that Moses could never have done. At other times Christ is making new and more spiritual demands on His disciples because of their being under grace. Neither Moses nor the law covenant could ever have made these demands or laws. (But I Say Unto You, pages 12-13.)

It is based on an understanding of the nature and relationship of the two major covenants (the Old legal Covenant with Israel at Sinai and the New gracious Covenant that replaces it) in Scripture (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:6-13; Gal. 4:21-31). This view sees Christ establishing a distinctly New Covenant in His blood at Pentecost. However, it also insists that this present new age in which we now live is the inauguration of the kingdom promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. We now live in the times of the Messiah envisioned by the Old Testament prophets. (But I Say Unto You, page 13.)

Biblical Evidence
Matthew 5:27-30

Adultery
Jesus is using the exact words of the Ten Commandments. He is then taking them to a higher level of understanding. It is a level of understanding that is for the New Covenant era. Jesus is a new law-giver.The Tablets of Stone cannot be the foundation of the Christian's rule of life. However, this is not because the Tablets contain laws and the Christian is somehow against laws just because his is not under law but under grace. That is nonsense. Nor is the problem that the Law of Moses is too high a standard for a Christian today. The heart of the difficulty is that the laws on the Tablets of Stone are not high and spiritual enough for a full fledged son of God living under the New Covenant. The Tablets of Stone are great for the purpose for which God designed and gave them. However, conviction of sin that leads to justification by faith is not the goal of the laws of Christ given to people who are already justified. (But I Say Unto You, page 21.)

Matthew 5:38-42

An Eye for an Eye
Other relevant OT Scriptures are Exodus 21:22-25, Leviticus 24:17-20, Deuteronomy 19:16-21. These passages show us that the Law demanded punishment… Mt. 5:38-42 teaches that Christ is deliberately contrasting a legal rule by pure law (which is right and good under a covenant of law) and a gracious rule (which is higher and better but only possible under a covenant of grace). (But I Say Unto You, page 30.

Christ is not applying His teaching to the magistrates and telling them how they area to apply Moses. But His is telling individual Christians how they, as individuals, are to act under His new gracious law. (But I Say Unto You, page 39.)

Matthew 5:43-43

Love for Enemies

• Israel was commanded to wipe out the Canaanites when they invaded the Promise Land. Joshua 6:15-21

• Israel was called to reject the Ammonite and the Moabite but not the Edomites or Egyptians. The Israelites were to abhor some and not others. Deuteronomy 23:6-7

• Using the sword against the enemies of Christ can be a natural extension of the Mosaic Law. The reformers and puritans both used this against their enemies.

• The New Covenant era gives a clear command as to how the believer is to handle all his enemies. Romans 12:17-21

Matthew 5:31-32, 19:1-12

Divorce

• The Mosaic Law did allow divorce for any and every reason. Deuteronomy 24:1-4

• The Israelites had hard hearts because they were unbelievers.

• Jesus was giving a higher law than that of the Mosaic Law.

This whole subject is as clear as crystal the moment we see that Christ established a New Covenant that replaces the Old Covenant, and that the New Covenant brings with it new and higher laws of conduct that are based entirely on grace. These new laws are just as objective as any law under the Old Covenant. These objective commands can demand a kind of behavior that Moses could never demand simply because these new laws are based on the truth and power of grace. These new demands are given to true believers and not to a nation of lost rebels. We must not confuse a physical redemption from Egypt with a spiritual redemption from sin. (But I Say Unto You, page 73.)

A Survey of Israel’s Unbelief - The Unbelieving People of God Top

New Covenant Theology (NCT) views the flow of biblical history as the result of God’s eternal purpose in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:11; II Timothy 1:9). This purpose unfolds for us in the Old Testament in a plurality of historical covenants, culminating ultimately in the New Covenant (Hebrews 1:1-2; I Corinthians 11:25). Because of the biblical emphasis on God’s one eternal purpose in Christ, NCT avoids the pitfalls of Dispensationalism’s "one plan for Israel" and "one plan for the Church". We also reject Covenant Theology’s "different administrations" of the "one covenant of grace".

NCT differs from both Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism in its view of Israel and the Church. While Covenant Theology would maintain that the nation of Israel IS the Church in the Old Testament, Dispensationalism would tell us that the Church is simply a parenthesis in history while we await the restoration of Old Covenant Israel to its former glory. Covenant Theology flattens out biblical history, making Israel and the Church synonymous; both under the one "Covenant of Grace". On the other hand, Dispensationalism makes a sharp contrast between the two, emphasizing the continuation of both, to the point that we are almost left with two brides of Christ – Israel AND the Church.

In contrast, New Covenant Theology views the Old Testament nation of Israel as a picture of the people of God, looking forward to the time of fulfillment in the New Covenant era, the Church. As a picture of the people of God, New Covenant Theology views the nation of Israel, not as the Church in the Old Testament, but as an unbelieving people of God living under the terms of the Old Covenant.

Defining the Biblical Terms

• The Mosaic Covenant is also called the Old Covenant. II Corinthians 3:14

• The Old Covenant or Mosaic Covenant is also called the First Covenant. Hebrews 8:7,13; 9:1,18

• The Ten Commandments were the terms or essence of the First Covenant and are inseparable from it. The Ten Commandments are not the essence of all moral law. Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13

The Problem of Old Covenant Law
The Mosaic Law was never intended to save anyone. Instead, the Mosaic Law was designed to reveal sin (Galatians 3:19) and to cause those under it to see their need for a Redeemer (Galatians 3:24-25, Heb.7:18,19). As we will see, the Law was never intended to produce a believing people of God.

• The Mosaic Covenant breeds sin. Romans 5:20

• The Mosaic Covenant could not impart righteousness, but produced a people enslaved to sin.Galatians 4:21-31

• The Mosaic Covenant brought death (II Corinthians 3:7) and condemnation to those living under it. II Corinthians 3:8

• The Old or Mosaic Covenant was ineffectual in producing a transformed people of God. Hebrews 7:18

• The Old Covenant kills; the New Covenant gives life. Romans 7:4-6

• Something was wrong with the First or Old Covenant and God found fault with the people. Hebrews 8:7,13

The Nation of Israel is a Picture of the People of God

• The Old Covenant was a conditional covenant. Exodus 19:3-6, Deuteronomy 28:1,2,15

• Israel broke the terms of the Old Covenant and forfeited its benefits. Deuteronomy 31:16, Romans 9:30-10:4

• The Nation of Israel is rejected by God. Israel’s physical destruction is a picture of their spiritual demise. Matthew 8:5-12, Deuteronomy 31:14-29

• There was always a remnant of true believers in Israel. I Kings 19:14-18 (Repeated in Romans 11)

How "NEW" is the New Covenant?
The New Covenant is not merely a "new administration" of the supposed covenant of grace, but is a completely new covenant, totally replacing the Old Covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13).

The day of Pentecost (Acts 2) inaugurated the beginning of the Church, the New Covenant people of God, made up of both Jew and Gentile. Jesus Christ, not Moses, is the mediator of the New Covenant, having completely met the requirements of the Old Covenant and fully purchasing for Himself a true people of God (Hebrews 8:7-13) in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant (Galatians 4:21-31). The Church has a new Priest and a new Law (Hebrews 7:12), the Law of Christ (I Corinthians 9:21, Galatians 6:2). Believers in the New Covenant era are called the true people of God (I Peter 2:4-10) and are internally motivated by His Spirit to obey the Law of Christ (Romans 8:1-4).

The New Covenant is a better covenant, founded on better promises with a better High Priest (Hebrews 7:22, 8:6).

The Customary View of John 15
"The allegory of the vine brings before us the importance of fruitfulness in the Christian life and the truth that this is the result, not of human achievement, but of abiding in Christ." (Leon Morris, The Gospel of John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, page 668.)

This statement represents the most common jumping off point of the metaphor of the vine and the branches in John 15. We open our bibles and read these verses and our first thoughts are those of being fruitful Christians. We know that as we go through life, God does in a sense "prune" us in order to make us more Christ-like. No one who has been a believer for any length of time would argue the fact that we are called to bear fruit. As we grow in the faith, we often encounter trials and periods of testing which ultimately cause us to change and grow in Christ (James 1:2-4). Even during the tough times, I am reminded of Romans 8:28 – that God works everything to His glory and my good as a believer. The external evidence that I have a changed heart is seen in the fruit of the Spirit that I display as I live my life in front of those around me (Gal 5:22ff). No problem. The question, however, still remains. What of the "vine" and "branches" imagery of John 15? How would the apostles have understood Christ’s words? Is there some significance associated with the images in this metaphor? That Israel was identified as a "vine" in the Old Testament is clear, but who then are the branches? If these are believers spoken of here, what is the significance of verse 6? Is the imagery presented here a glimpse into the life of a believer in the New Covenant era or could it be an historical snapshot illustrating some sort of transition where Jesus, as the "true vine", supersedes and replaces Israel, which served only as a picture of the true vine? D.A. Carson (a proponent of New Covenant Theology) sees it as this type of Old Testament imagery:

Vine imagery is so common in the ancient world that scholars have been able to discover parallels they find compelling in a wide range of literature….Two factors decisively decide the issue in favor of an Old Testament background: (a) the frequency of John’s appeals to the Old Testament, both in allusions and in quotations; (b) the dominance in the Fourth Gospel of the ‘replacement’ motif, for that motif strongly operates in this passage. (D.A. Carson The Gospel of John page 513.)

The Historical Context of John 15

• These words were spoken by Christ 50+ days before the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and the beginning of the age of the Spirit - that is, the church.

• Jesus is alone with His 11 apostles. Judas Iscariot, the unbeliever, has already gone out to betray Jesus. The words of Jesus’ metaphor are directed to Jews who believe in Him.

• Jesus and the 11 are living under the Old Covenant and about to transition to the New Covenant (Acts 2). It is doubtful that the concept of the Church, Christianity as revealed in the New Testament teaching passages - especially a Church made up of both Jews AND Gentiles would make much sense to His disciples at this point in redemptive history.

• We can assume that the 11 understood Jesus’ imagery since John makes no mention of their questioning it. John is very careful to let his readers know when the disciples or the crowds did not understand an event or a concept being taught (John 6:60; 9:2; 10:6; 11:7,8,12-16; 12:16; 13:36,37; 14:8,22; 16:17,18,29,30) and the resulting dialog. There is no mention of that here.

• The concept of bearing fruit as a Christian in a community of Christians seems a far reach at best, for 11 men who couldn’t even grasp the fact that Jesus was about to be crucified (John. 16:5,6).

• To understand Israel as a vine and individual Jews as branches would be quickly understood by these men, as we will see.

The Larger Context of John
In earlier chapters of the Gospel of John, John has already shown Jesus to be either superior to:

The Temple
John 2:12-22 cf. Hebrews 9:11-12

Jewish Feasts
John 7:37-39
On the seven days of the feast, a golden flagon was filled with water from the pool of Siloam and was carried in a procession led by the High Priest back to the temple. As the procession approached the watergate on the south side of the inner court three blasts from the sopar - a trumpet connected with joyful occasions - were sounded. While the pilgrims watched, the priests processed around the alter with the flagon, the temple choir singing the Hallel (Psalms 113-118). When the choir reached Psalm 118, every male pilgrim shook a lulab (willow and myrtle twigs tied with a palm) in his right hand, while his left raised a piece of citrus fruit (a sign of the ingathered harvest), and all cried ‘give thanks to the Lord!’ three times. The water was offered to God at the time of the morning sacrifice, along with the daily drink offering (of wine).( D.A. Carson The Gospel of John pages 321-322.)

John 8:12-20
‘He who has not seen the joy of the place of water-drawing has never in his life seen joy’: this extravagant claim stands just before the description of the lighting of the four huge lamps in the temple’s court of women and of the exuberant celebration that took place under their light (Mishnah Sukkah 5:1-4). ‘Men of piety and good works’ danced through the night, holding burning torches in their hands and singing songs and praises. The Levitical orchestras cut loose, and some sources attest that this went on every night of the Feast of Tabernacles, with the light from the temple area shedding its glow all over Jerusalem. In this context Jesus declares to the people, I am the light of the world. D.A. Carson The Gospel of John pg. 337

Jerusalem
John 4:19-24

Moses and manna
John 5:45-47, 6:32-40

Abraham
John 8:54-59

Israel
John 15:1-8

In the Old Testament the vine is a common symbol for Israel, the covenant people of God…Most remarkable is the fact that whenever historic Israel is referred to under this figure it is the vine’s failure to produce good fruit that is emphasized, along with the corresponding threat of God’s judgment on the nation. Now, in contrast to such failure, Jesus claims, ‘I am the true vine’, i.e. the one to whom Israel pointed, the one that brings forth good fruit. (Carson, page 513.)

The Imagery of the Vine in the Old Testament
Psalm 80:1-16, Isaiah 5:1-7, Hosea 10:1-2

The true vine, then, is not the apostate people, but Jesus Himself (Carson, page 514.)

It seems to better fit the context that these men whom Jesus was addressing would quickly catch this imagery as opposed to a picture of the church and Christianity.

The Imagery of John 15

• The vine is Jesus. (the "true vine" vs. 1).

• The branches must be individual Jews. (Romans 11:11-24)

• Some branches bear fruit, others do not (vs. 2)

• Those that do, glorify the Father (vs. 8)

• Those that do not, receive judgment and are destroyed (vv. 2,6)

The Problems of John 15 and The Church

• Every believer bears fruit (Galatians 5:16-26, Romans 8:9). There are no "carnal" Christians (Romans 8:5-8).

• The imagery of branches in the N.T. teaching passages refers to Jews (Romans 11:13-23)

• Believers in any era do not experience condemnation, wrath, or destruction (Romans 8:1-4), but this is the picture of unbelieving Israel under the Old Covenant (Matthew 8:5-13, Hebrews 8:7-13).

What is the "Fruit" of John 15?
Whatever the fruit of John 15 is, it is closely associated with the term "remain" or "abide". That is, remaining in the vine (Jesus) enables fruit to be produced (vv. 2,4,5,6). To not remain in the vine results in judgment and a complete inability to produce fruit that glorifies God (vv. 2,5,6). In order to produce fruit, I must first be chosen, or elected by God to that purpose (vs.16).

In light of this, the fruit mentioned here must first and foremost be a fruit indicating, and as a result of, genuine salvation. It seems safe to say that in this context, Jesus was telling his disciples that if a Jew under the Old Covenant was to be saved, he or she must abide in the "true vine" (Jesus). To be born into the nation of Israel was not enough. It was only a picture of what it meant to be part of the "true vine". With this new revelation of John 15, it was not enough to be born a Jew - part of the vine of Israel - but a Jew had to now be born again (cf. Nicodemus, John 3:1-3). The disciples had already understood and believed this (vs. 3) and were being taught these truths in order to equip them to bring the gospel to the Jewish community they were about to face.

The Work of the Spirit in the Old Testament - Continuity and Discontinuity Top

Unraveling a Problem Passage
John 7:37-39

• In some sense the Holy Spirit was going to do something in the New Covenant era that he did not do in the Old Testament era. The impression that we get is that the Holy Spirit was not involved at all in the Old Testament era. John 1:17 (using an absolute statement to make a relative distinction)

• The new work of the Spirit in the New Covenant era seems to be the transforming work of the believer. The impression that we get is that Old Testament believers did not have that transforming work of the Spirit. Hebrews 8:7-13 (the New Covenant)

The Holy Spirit was ACTIVE in the Old Testament era
Numbers 11:16-17
The Holy Spirit was actively involved in the life of Moses as well as the elders of the Israelites.

1 Samuel 10:1-9
The Holy Spirit made Saul into a leader of the Israelites but never made him a believer. There is no evidence in the life of Saul that he was ever a God-lover. The Holy Spirit is the agent of change in the plan of God. He can work both in the life of the believer as well as the unbeliever.

The Holy Spirit did TRANSFORM believers in the Old Testament era
David
1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22
David is described as a man after God's own heart. One does not become a God-lover except by work of the Spirit of God. No man is able to believe in God much less love God on his own. Romans 3:10-18, Ephesians 2:8-9

Abraham
Galatians 3:6-14, Romans 4:1-3, James 2:20-24
Abraham was by birth a God-hater and could not have believed without the work of the Holy Spirit. To believe is to be a God-lover. 1 Corinthians 2:14,1 John 2:3-5

The New Covenant era is the Age of the Spirit
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Joel 2:28-32
The prophets in the Old Testament predicted this age of the Spirit.Acts 1:4-8
Jesus predicted the coming era of the Spirit. Acts 2:1-21
Pentecost was the beginning of this new era of the Spirit, the New Covenant era.

The New Work of the Spirit in the New Covenant era

• Produces a real people of God. Hebrews 8:7-13

• Produces a transformed people of God. Hebrews 8:7-13

• Makes every believer spiritually gifted. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

• Motivates believers to take the Gospel to the world. Acts 1:8

How the Old Testament Believer DIFFERED from the New Covenant Believer
#1 Incomplete and less clear knowledge of God
Psalm 6:5

• A clear knowledge of heaven was not available in the Old Testament. The Promised Land was a physical picture of heaven. Hebrews 3:12-4:11

• Truths such as justification and sanctification are not clearly found in the Old Testament era. Justification is pictured in the sacrificial system of the nation of Israel. Sanctification is pictured in the holiness laws of the nation of Israel. Leviticus 16, Leviticus 19

• The believer in the Old Testament would not have had the privilege of calling God his FATHER. Although God was his father he would not have had the knowledge of it. Romans 8:15-17

#2 Not motivated by the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel to the world
During the Old Covenant era you do not find any clear teaching on evangelism, or the taking of the gospel to the world. The reason for this is found in the purpose of the nation of Israel. Israel was a picture of the true people of God. Hebrews 8:7-8 Israel was, for the most part, an unbelieving nation. God chose Israel Deuteronomy 7:7-8 as his unbelieving people of God to be a picture of the true people of God that the Holy Spirit was to bring to faith in the New Covenant era. Acts 1:8 Since you already had the people of God (Israel) in picture form there was no need to bring in the true people of God until the appointed time (the New Covenant era - inaugurated at Pentecost).

#3 Not gifted by the Holy Spirit
Exodus 31:1-11, Exodus 35:30-35
The gift of hammering was a physical picture of the spiritual gifts of the new covenant era. Just as it took a spiritually gifted person to make the physical tabernacle, where God revealed himself, so also the Spirit gifts all believers in the New Covenant era to build up the body of Christ into a spiritual house.

Ephesians 4:7-8
The giving of spiritual gifts did not take place until after Pentecost.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
All believers in the New Covenant era are gifted by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:16
A body of believers in the New Covenant era is called the temple of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:16
Each individual believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:4-5
Each believer in the New Covenant era is equipped by the Holy Spirit to produce a transformed people of God.

#4 Was not a part of a true family of believers
Hebrews 8:7-8, 1 Peter 2:9-10
Israel was only a picture of the true people of God. A true believer who lived in the Old Covenant era loved the true God and his law but had to live out his life among the unbelieving people of God. Psalm 119