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.
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.
Circumcision, whereby the flesh of the foreskin was removed from male babies, was required as an act of the obedience. The circumcision spoken about by Jesus Christ was of a different kind. Through acceptance of His death by faith, a spiritual circumcision takes place, removing the body of flesh.
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 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 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.
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.
Circumcision, whereby the flesh of the foreskin was removed from male babies, was required as an act of the obedience. The circumcision spoken about by Jesus Christ was of a different kind. Through acceptance of His death by faith, a spiritual circumcision takes place, removing the body of flesh.
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 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 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.
