How is it true that the New Covenant makes the Old Covenant null and void?
Why do some Christians believe this?
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Asked July 08 2026
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Ed Richard
Supporter
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Danny Hickman
A covenant is an agreement. A new agreement supersedes an old agreement, making the old agreement unenforceable, or obsolete. If the old agreement was good enough, there would be no need for a new one.
That's what the old and new testaments of Scripture represent. We have both in writing. They testify to our history with God, but they mostly testify to who God is, what He has done, and is planning to do. Both agreements are very important to our history and future. Neither are dependent on anything from us. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He is the Word of God (John 1:1). Nothing will ever make Jesus null and void. Nothing will ever make Jesus obsolete. There will never be an old Son of God and a new Son of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and will never be replaced by another (John 3:16).
But the covenants, they are a different story.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second (Hebrews 8:7).
In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8:13).
Obsolete ~ no longer in general use; of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date. ~ Dictionary.com
Can any of this be hard to understand? Or is it that there's a resistance to believe the Church epistles? It's very plain and straightforward. There's nothing complicated about God giving the people He redeems a better covenant!
Ed Richard
Thanks very much for your comments around this subject Danny. Something you said really resonates with me - "There will never be an old Son of God and a new Son of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God"; very well stated!
Danny Hickman
I think I know why there is confusion about this. The Christian who "believes that the new covenant makes the old covenant null and void," has a correct view of the two covenants, and the one who thinks he's wrong, views the whole Bible as a set of rules and regulations; and the rules don't change.
If the rule is that you can't carry your bed on the Sabbath, you need to tell Jesus. Even if He heals you after you've been disabled for many years, if He says, "take up your bed and walk" (John 5:8) and it's the Sabbath, you should refuse to do it out of respect for the 4th commandment, I suppose.
The rule or commandment concerning the Sabbath Day should be observed and is not to be ignored for any reason, is the way the thinking goes. Also, Saturday is the Sabbath, not Sunday, so it needs to maintain its day of recognition.
I believe that's where this is coming from. Never mind that Hebrews 8 explains the new covenant and the reason it's needed.
The Law or Grace. The old covenant is based on mankind doing the law. The new covenant is based on Jesus doing the law. The old uses the office of the priesthood; Aaron and his sons. The new covenant uses the office of the priesthood; Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 4).
Our new life is based on the grace of God, not the law. Our new life is IN CHRIST, not the commandments.
You are estranged from Christ you who attempt to be justified by the law (Galatians 5:4).
My parents had their 3 sons circumcised for health reasons only.