Conditional Promises of the Old Covenant
Throughout the Old Testament, you will read promises of God that are attached to a condition of behavior. If the people didn’t perform actions in a specific way, they would be disqualified from the promise.
For example: Deuteronomy 28:1-15 lists the many blessings the Hebrews would receive, “…If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today…”
Conversely, Deuteronomy 28:16-68 goes on to list the even more numerous curses that would come upon them if they did not diligently obey His commands.
Because of this, many modern believers disqualify themselves from receiving these promises. They can clearly see that they have not diligently obeyed God, nor carefully observed all of His commandments. Seeing the imperfection in their flesh, the don’t think they’ve earned the promises, and likely deserve the curses, too!
The Law Was Incomplete
The truth is, the Law—God’s perfect standards of behavior—couldn’t provide salvation or the blessing and favor of God. Even after the Law was given, the Israelites couldn’t keep the Law perfectly. (This is why blood sacrifices were necessary.) Because of this, there is evidence of the curses of Deuteronomy 28:16-68 coming upon them repeatedly throughout the Old Testament. Ultimately, humanity needed something greater than a set of rules to follow; we needed a Savior!
Romans 8:3-34 – 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
What does it mean that the Law was weak through the flesh? Well, the Law itself was holy, righteous and good (Romans 7:12). However, it was impossible to obey completely because the flesh of humanity is too weak to attain God’s standards of perfection.
Galatians 3:10-11 (NLT) – 10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law…
Even the Israelites, when God gave them the commandments, said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8). Yet, they broke the very first commandment and created an idol to worship!
Humanity simply couldn’t perfectly follow the Law and qualify for its conditional promises (Galatians 3:21).
Jesus Did What the Law Could Not
Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).
We can see here in Galatians 3:13 that Jesus redeemed us from the curses set forth in the Law! Jesus took every curse on the cross so that we could escape them all. This escape is not based on our own behavior, but on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17, NIV).
Jesus perfectly fulfilled all of the requirements of the Law for us so that we would no longer be in bondage to that impossible standard of perfection! He lived a perfectly sinless life and then gave up His life so that we could receive the benefits of His righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (brackets added for clarity) – For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus was perfect and never sinned, yet He became sin on the cross for us!
Since you are a born-again believer, you have been made righteous. Therefore, you qualify for every single promise in the Old Testament, even the conditional ones. Jesus fulfilled all of those conditions for you! You just have to receive them through faith in Him.
A Better Covenant
Hebrews 8:6 (brackets added for clarity) – But now He [Jesus] has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
This verse tells us that no matter how good of a promise you find in the Old Covenant, the covenant we have with God through faith in Jesus is even better! Jesus signed the New Covenant with God with His own blood. He was the perfect, final sacrifice for the sin of all mankind (Hebrews 9:12; 10:12, 14). We no longer have to strain for perfection because He was perfect for us.
Dig in to the Word of God and discover not only the blessings He has provided to you, but also the curses He has redeemed you from! For more revelation regarding the curses that Jesus has redeemed you from, we encourage you to read Deuteronomy 28:16-68. You will be inspired when you confirm all of the curses that you are free from, including tumors, pests, defeat, lack, long-term illnesses, and so much more. Read that passage, and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you how complete your redemption is!
You have access to receive through faith the promises of God in the Old Covenant, as well as the better promises in the New! So, reach out by faith and receive what God has promised you in His Word.
Related Resources
Possessing the Promises
2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen…” God’s promises for healing, financial provision, and abundant life are ours, but they don’t happen by accident.
This series will show you how to possess them by agreeing with Him-coupling your “Amen” with His “Yes!” Now is the time to take possession of the powerful promises of God for your life!