When Former Adventists Philippines (FAP) was just beginning, one of the big questions we had to wrestle with was: Which theological framework best fits our journey out of Adventism and into a Christ-centered understanding of Scripture? Many former Adventists, after leaving the legalism of the old system, instinctively leaned toward Reformed theology. And naturally, that included exploring Covenant Theology (CT).
But as our team dug deeper into Scripture and compared both Covenant Theology (CT) and New Covenant Theology (NCT), we found that NCT was a better fit—biblically, pastorally, and theologically—for who we are and what God is doing through our ministry.
Let’s explain why.
1. The Shadow vs. Substance Principle
One of the biggest things that drew us to New Covenant Theology is its strong emphasis on Jesus as the fulfillment of all the shadows of the Old Covenant. In NCT, the Law (including the Ten Commandments) is not seen as eternally binding, but as something pointing forward to Christ.
Take Hebrews 8:13 — “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”
This verse alone creates a massive theological shift for former Adventists. In Covenant Theology, there’s often the idea that the Moral Law (Ten Commandments) is still binding, even under grace, just not for salvation. But NCT teaches that the whole Old Covenant—including the Ten Commandments—was a temporary covenant made with Israel, and it has now been fulfilled and set aside by Christ.
That means the Sabbath (a core issue for Adventists) is no longer a moral obligation because it was a shadow (Colossians 2:16-17), and the substance belongs to Christ.
2. Jesus Is the Final Lawgiver, Not Moses
In Adventism, Moses was central. But NCT re-centers us on Christ as the final and ultimate Lawgiver. This resonates deeply with ex-Adventists who are learning to look to Jesus, not the Law of Moses, for how to live.
Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”
Covenant Theology still keeps believers under the “Moral Law of Moses,” using the Ten Commandments as the guide. But NCT teaches that we’re under the “Law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)—which includes all that Jesus and the apostles taught for New Covenant living, not the old Sinai code.
3. Clarity in Biblical Interpretation
New Covenant Theology gave us clear biblical categories. We weren’t left trying to figure out which parts of the Law to keep and which to drop (as CT often does with civil, ceremonial, and moral divisions). NCT takes Scripture at its word: The Old Covenant is gone; the New has come.
2 Corinthians 3:6-11 makes this crystal clear. Paul contrasts the ministry of death (engraved in letters on stone—the Ten Commandments!) with the ministry of the Spirit. One is fading, the other is permanent and glorious.
This framework helped us make peace with verses like Romans 6:14:
“You are not under law but under grace.”
For those of us coming out of a rigid system, NCT gave us the freedom to read the Bible with Christ as the center, not a grid of legal categories.
4. Christ-Focused Discipleship, Not Law-Based Morality
Let’s be real: Former Adventists often go through an identity crisis. We ask: If I’m not under the Law, what keeps me holy?
NCT answers that beautifully: Grace trains us.
Titus 2:11-12 says,
“For the grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness…”
We don’t go back to Moses for morality—we go forward to Jesus and the apostles, who teach us how to live in the power of the Spirit. In contrast, Covenant Theology sometimes pulls us back to Sinai, using the Decalogue as a rulebook. But NCT helps us walk in joyful obedience through the Spirit, not duty-bound obligation under a stone tablet.
5. Gospel Simplicity and Evangelistic Power
Lastly, NCT simplifies the gospel message. There’s no confusion about whether we’re still under parts of the Old Covenant. The message is simple: Jesus has fulfilled the Law. We are free in Him. Come to Christ and live under the law of love.
This gives clarity and boldness in evangelism. We don’t have to qualify our message by explaining which covenant applies or which laws still count. The message is: Come to Jesus. He is the New Covenant.
Conclusion: Why NCT Matters for Former Adventists
New Covenant Theology isn’t just a theological preference for FAP. It’s a pastoral lifeline for those recovering from spiritual legalism. It honors Christ as the fulfillment of all things, liberates us from confusion about the Law, and gives us a clear path of gospel-centered discipleship.
In short, NCT gave us back the gospel—pure, simple, and centered on Jesus. And that’s why Former Adventists Philippines stands firmly on the New Covenant Theology position.
Sample Bible Passages that Support NCT:
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Hebrews 8:6-13 – The Old Covenant is obsolete.
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Colossians 2:16-17 – The Sabbath and other shadows are fulfilled in Christ.
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Galatians 3:24-25 – The Law was a guardian, but now that Christ has come, we are no longer under it.
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Romans 7:4-6 – We have died to the Law through the body of Christ.
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2 Corinthians 3:7-11 – The Law written on stone was a ministry of death that has now faded away.
Let’s keep our eyes on Christ, the Mediator of a Better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6).
For former Adventists, that’s not just theology—it’s healing.
For more inquiries, contact us:
Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com
Website: formeradventistph.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/formeradventistph
Phone: 09695143944
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