NEW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

One of the greatest errors made by Bible teachers is the mistake of seeing the Church as a replacement for Israel in God's plan.  While it is true that God has temporarily set aside Israel during the Church Age, that is, from Pentecost (Acts 2) until the Rapture (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:13-18), God clearly explains that He is not finished with Israel (Rom. 9 - 11).  Following the Rapture, Daniel's Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:24-27), also known as the Time of Jacob's Trouble (Jer. 30:7) or the Tribulation (Mt. 24; Rev. 6 - 18), will focus upon Israel.  There are several passages in the New Testament which "hint" at the need to keep the two separate.

*  You do not add new cloth to an old garment (Mt. 9:16).
*  You do not put new wine in an old wineskin (Mt. 9:17).
*  A faithful teacher recognizes the difference between the "old" and the "new" (Mt. 13:52).
*  The Jews sacrificed animals, but Christ is our Sacrifice (Mt. 26:28).
*  "Tongues" were not necessary for the Jew because they did not evangelize; "tongues" were for the Church Age (Mk. 16:17; 1 Cor. 12 - 14).
*  The New Testament sums up all of the Law in a single commandment (Mt. 5:43-48; 7:12; 22:40; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 Thes. 3:11-13; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Jn. 3:23).
*  The New Testament believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:17).
*  The fact that there is a New Testament (Heb. 9:15).
*  Jesus has provided the Church with a "new and living way" (Heb. 10:12-20).
*  In Christ, the members of His Body, the Church, are themselves new (2 Cor. 5:17).

Notice that in Christ, both Jew and Gentile cease to be identified with their "race," and become a new "race":  Christians (Gal. 3:28).  Today, we have three categories of people:  Jews, Gentiles, and Christians.  Prior to Acts 2, there were only two:  Jews and Gentiles.  When the Church is "caught up to meet the Lord in the air," there will, once again, be only Jews and Gentiles remaining.

The Law is the Old Covenant; the New Covenant of Grace came by Jesus Christ!