During the covenant overlap, believing in Jesus was the necessary response for that generation to leave the old order. But in the ages to come, salvation is no longer framed as hinging on each person's act of belief; it rests on Christ's finished work and the new covenant reality already in force.
The Argument
- Jesus' call to believe belonged to the first-century overlap of covenants.
- The 'ages to come' language is read as moving beyond that transitional period.
- Once the old covenant order is gone, salvation is no longer tied to escaping that system by personal belief.
Key Scriptures
- John 3:16
- Matthew 24:34
- Ephesians 2:7-8
Over to You
If belief was the transitional requirement for the first century (leaving the old covenant), is it still the basis now — or was it always about something bigger?
From Dismantling Religion by Chris Drake — Chapter 12