What is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?

The distinction between the Old and New Covenants is fundamental to understanding Christian theology. The Old Covenant, established at Sinai, demanded adherence to a series of laws and rituals, which upheld a system of condemnation because it revealed humanity's inability to attain righteousness through works. The New Covenant, however, inaugurated by Christ, emphasizes grace, not law. As articulated in 2 Corinthians 3, it is the Spirit who gives life, highlighting the internal transformation believers experience rather than external compliance to the law. The New Covenant assures us that salvation is secured through Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by faith, liberating us to serve God from a heart of gratitude rather than obligation.