It is important to understand the old covenant vs new covenant as the binding agreement between two parties spelling out the nature of their relationship. The first one in the Bible is found in the book of Exodus and was made by God with the nation of Israel. The second one was established when the blood of Christ was shed for forgiveness of sin and it is between God and all mankind.
Moses was given the ten commandments and these were written in stone. They had to be obeyed and disobedience was punishable. In the New Testament we read in the book of Hebrews that Christ came to establish a new agreement. This one was written on the heart instead of in stone. Obedience was to come from the heart instead of through keeping of laws.
The laws gave people a general idea of what standards God required and set out boundaries for their behavior. Keeping these laws was difficult and the people always fell short. Once a year the high priest would have to enter the holy of holies to make atonement for their sins. Animal blood was required for forgiveness and it was temporary. When Jesus Christ shed His own blood for the eternal forgiveness of mankind, the relationship between God and man changed completely as sin no longer separated them.
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.
The nation of Israel needed intermediaries like priests and prophets to relate to God for them. After Christ died for the sins of mankind, the relationship between God and man was restored. Believers are forgiven and they and are able to approach God directly with Jesus Christ as their great high priest.
The Israelites were required to keep a weekly seventh day Sabbath rest. They were punished for breaking the Sabbath and promised blessing for keeping it. However, the new agreement specifies neither day nor frequency nor length of time. Believers enter the rest of God, the true Sabbath, by faith in Jesus Christ.
The temple of the Old Testament was built by human hands as a holy place where God could be worshiped. A physical high priest served in this earthly tabernacle. The New Testament states that the believers themselves are the temple of God. A spiritual high priest, Jesus Christ, serves in his heavenly tabernacle. His Holy Spirit dwells in His believers.
When considering the Old Covenant vs New Covenant, it becomes evident that the second agreement fulfills the first. The physical requirements of the first helped keep the people aware of God, constantly reminding them of their need for reconciliation and fellowship with him. The second agreement is based on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and it presents a new basis of relationship between God and humans. This is a relationship based on faith and grace rather than on works of the law.
Moses was given the ten commandments and these were written in stone. They had to be obeyed and disobedience was punishable. In the New Testament we read in the book of Hebrews that Christ came to establish a new agreement. This one was written on the heart instead of in stone. Obedience was to come from the heart instead of through keeping of laws.
The laws gave people a general idea of what standards God required and set out boundaries for their behavior. Keeping these laws was difficult and the people always fell short. Once a year the high priest would have to enter the holy of holies to make atonement for their sins. Animal blood was required for forgiveness and it was temporary. When Jesus Christ shed His own blood for the eternal forgiveness of mankind, the relationship between God and man changed completely as sin no longer separated them.
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.
The nation of Israel needed intermediaries like priests and prophets to relate to God for them. After Christ died for the sins of mankind, the relationship between God and man was restored. Believers are forgiven and they and are able to approach God directly with Jesus Christ as their great high priest.
The Israelites were required to keep a weekly seventh day Sabbath rest. They were punished for breaking the Sabbath and promised blessing for keeping it. However, the new agreement specifies neither day nor frequency nor length of time. Believers enter the rest of God, the true Sabbath, by faith in Jesus Christ.
The temple of the Old Testament was built by human hands as a holy place where God could be worshiped. A physical high priest served in this earthly tabernacle. The New Testament states that the believers themselves are the temple of God. A spiritual high priest, Jesus Christ, serves in his heavenly tabernacle. His Holy Spirit dwells in His believers.
When considering the Old Covenant vs New Covenant, it becomes evident that the second agreement fulfills the first. The physical requirements of the first helped keep the people aware of God, constantly reminding them of their need for reconciliation and fellowship with him. The second agreement is based on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and it presents a new basis of relationship between God and humans. This is a relationship based on faith and grace rather than on works of the law.
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