This book has a two-fold purpose. First, it is a response to a series of challenges to New Covenant Theology that Dr. Richard Barcellos offered in his book titled In Defense of the Decalogue. The challenges were made to anyone holding to New Covenant Theology in general and to the author personally. Dr. Barcellos's book is written in an irenic spirit and will prove to be very helpful in the present discussion in Reformed circles on the relationship of the Old and New Covenants.
The second purpose of this book is to set forth what New Covenant Theology actually does believe in the eight areas where Barcellos states his objections. The titles of both books tell the whole story. Barcellos is defending the view that the Decalogue, or words of the covenant, written on the stone tablets of the covenant (Exodus 34:27, 28) are the highest expression of the Law of God ever given. We believe the New Covenant revelation given to us by Christ and His apostles is a higher and more demanding law than anything given through Moses. Simply stated, this book asserts that Jesus is a new and higher Lawgiver who replaces Moses in exactly the same way he replaces Aaron as high priest. Barcellos insists that Christ is the greatest exegete of the Law of God given to Moses but in no sense gives any higher or more demanding law than Moses. We believe Christ is not only a Lawgiver but he is the full and final Lawgiver who supersedes and replaces all others.
