Learning about the old covenant vs new covenant helps in understanding how God relates to man. The first agreement was established between God and the nation of Israel and consisted of laws that required obedience. The second was established when Christ died on the cross, shedding His blood so that all humans would be forgiven and their relationship with God restored.
The ten commandments given to Moses were written on stone tablets. Obedience was required and those who disobeyed were punished. The book of Hebrews talks about the death of Christ establishing a different agreement. This new agreement referred to a different kind of relationship between God and man whereby His laws were written on hearts instead of on stone. Instead of simply obeying statutes, obedience was born out of love.
The laws given to the people were difficult to keep. They failed and repented time and time again. The High Priest had to go into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle once a year on the day of atonement. He offered up the blood of animals and this gave temporary forgiveness for sins. When Christ, as the high priest, went into the Holy of Holies and offered up His blood for atonement, mankind was redeemed and this was a not temporary state.
As a sign of the first binding agreement every Jewish boy had to have the flesh of their foreskin removed. This was called circumcision. The New Testament states that the circumcision believers undergo is one made without hands. It is a spiritual rather than a physical act where the body of flesh is removed by what Christ did on the cross.
Intermediaries were required under the old agreement. This function was fulfilled by prophets who were the mouthpieces of God and priests who served in the temple. After Christ died, this was no longer necessary. People now have direct access to God and can approach Him with confidence.
The nation of Israel had to keep the Sabbath. This was a holy day of rest. If they did not keep it they were punished. Keeping it brought them blessings. After the death of Christ for their sins, believers simply need to believe in what He did in order to enter His rest. Every minute of every day belongs to Him, not just one special day.
Holy places where God could be worshiped were built by man. The priests served in these temples. The new testament states that believers are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit dwells amongst them. It also says that where two or three are gathered, God is in their midst.
When comparing the old covenant vs new covenant we see how different they are. What the law foreshadowed in a physical way, God accomplishes through a new agreement. God gives believers new hearts on which He writes his law and He does not remember their sins any more. Jesus sealed this new agreement with His blood, and believers entered into it simply by repenting and believing in Him.
The ten commandments given to Moses were written on stone tablets. Obedience was required and those who disobeyed were punished. The book of Hebrews talks about the death of Christ establishing a different agreement. This new agreement referred to a different kind of relationship between God and man whereby His laws were written on hearts instead of on stone. Instead of simply obeying statutes, obedience was born out of love.
The laws given to the people were difficult to keep. They failed and repented time and time again. The High Priest had to go into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle once a year on the day of atonement. He offered up the blood of animals and this gave temporary forgiveness for sins. When Christ, as the high priest, went into the Holy of Holies and offered up His blood for atonement, mankind was redeemed and this was a not temporary state.
As a sign of the first binding agreement every Jewish boy had to have the flesh of their foreskin removed. This was called circumcision. The New Testament states that the circumcision believers undergo is one made without hands. It is a spiritual rather than a physical act where the body of flesh is removed by what Christ did on the cross.
Intermediaries were required under the old agreement. This function was fulfilled by prophets who were the mouthpieces of God and priests who served in the temple. After Christ died, this was no longer necessary. People now have direct access to God and can approach Him with confidence.
The nation of Israel had to keep the Sabbath. This was a holy day of rest. If they did not keep it they were punished. Keeping it brought them blessings. After the death of Christ for their sins, believers simply need to believe in what He did in order to enter His rest. Every minute of every day belongs to Him, not just one special day.
Holy places where God could be worshiped were built by man. The priests served in these temples. The new testament states that believers are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit dwells amongst them. It also says that where two or three are gathered, God is in their midst.
When comparing the old covenant vs new covenant we see how different they are. What the law foreshadowed in a physical way, God accomplishes through a new agreement. God gives believers new hearts on which He writes his law and He does not remember their sins any more. Jesus sealed this new agreement with His blood, and believers entered into it simply by repenting and believing in Him.
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