Its been awhile but Im finally get around to finishing Scott's lesson on the Division of The Covenants.
Forgive me. I dont remember where I left off. Under the old law, there was no forgiveness without the shedding of an animal sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:22-27 (King James Version)
22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Characteristics of the new covenant:
1. Everyone can partake of the promises from GOD unlike the new covenant.
1 Tim 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
2. This is the final covenant. Nothing will ever replace it.
3. This is the covenant bound by spitual things, not fleshly things like in the old covenant.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
4. Under the new covenant, we have a new and better high priest than the old testament. Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. NOW we pray to GOD through Christ.
5. We have the opprotunity to become new and clean. 2 Corninthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. * This is the complete opposite of the old covenant, where wrongs were carried over.
6. We were crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
7. The New Covenant is superior to the old covenant in so many ways.
Colossians 2:14-17 (King James Version)
14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
* Christ freed us from a law that was impossible to live up to. Much of the New Testament was written to discourage Jews from resorting to the old law or from teaching Gentiles that they must obey the old law as well.
We are not to disregard the Old Testament. It is there for our learning. In fact 9 out of the 10 commandments are given in the New Testament but intensified.
1. John 15:12 (King James Version)
12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
2. Matthew 5:27 (King James Version)
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Are the Ten Commandments still in effect? In principle they are. Jesus is now mediator.
Because the New Testament is written in our hearts, doesnt mean we are free to do whatever we want in our like and our worship. If that were the case then we could stil cling to the old law. The New Testament gives us very specific expectations for the way we worship and the way we live our lives. We CAN NOT just do whatever feels right in our hearts. We still live by GOD's standards. The Covenant is conditional upon the obedience of men to the Gospel of the Lord.
Matthew 7:21 (King James Version)
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The covenant obliges God to forgive the sins of the baptized, repentant believer, to have fellowship with all such Christians, and to provide eternal life to all Christians after the resurrection.
Romans 10:9-10 (King James Version)
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (King James Version)
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The New Covenant obliges Christians to follow their Lord and obey him, repenting and petitioning their Lord for forgiveness whey they stumble.
1 Corinthians 11:1-2 (King James Version)
1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
If we were free to live our lives the way we want or worship however we want, why would we have to ask for forgiveness? Christ came to fulfill the old law. After his resurrection, Jesus says the following to HIS disciples in Luke 24:44
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Jesus did fulfill the law, leaving a better law for us. Jesus Christ through fulfilling the law was able to replace the covenant between God and Israel with a better covenant based on better promises, forgiveness, love, an everlasting spiritual kingdom open to all who obey: this was the eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus. No more slaves to this law, but adopted sons and daughters.
Galatians 4:5-6 (King James Version)
5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Hebrews 8:7-12 (King James Version)
7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
