Power of Christ
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THE
OLD vs. NEW COVENANT
Hebrews
Chapter Nine
Lesson Summary
This lesson discusses the difference between the covenant made between God and Moses, known as the Mosaic law, and the new covenant under which we now live through the power and blood of Christ. The student objectives are to learn what the old Law is, what the new covenant is, why Jesus, who is God, sacrificed Himself on the cross, and how the doors to Heaven are now open to all who believe in the name of Jesus. Emphasis is on getting to heaven by believing in the blood of Jesus.
Lesson Outline
The Old Law
Temple
Outer Room – earthly sanctuary
Temple Inner Room – earthly sanctuary
Annual Sacrifices, Animal Blood
Temple Inner Room – earthly sanctuary
Annual Sacrifices, Animal Blood
Promise of New Covenant
Jeremiah
31:31-34
Isaiah 54:13-14
John 6:45
Isaiah 54:13-14
John 6:45
JESUS – The New Covenant
Our
Bodies – earthly sanctuary
Single Sacrifice
God's Blood
Lesson
Single Sacrifice
God's Blood
Lesson
PART I
The old Hebraic law is a long list of regulations on
how to worship God. Most of those regulations can be found in the Bible books of
Exodus and Leviticus. Ordinary Hebrew people would routinely and ritually give offerings
and perform sacrifices to God. But only the High Priest, on one day each year,
could perform a ritual inside the Tabernacle, or Temple, that would let the
sins of the people be forgiven.
Now the Temple was built in the following fashion.
In front, there was a large open courtyard where anyone could go to fellowship
and worship. Next, there was a closed-off area called the Holy Place which was
accessible only to priests and other high ranking Jewish leaders. The room
contained the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. The room was
entered regularly by the priests so they could perform their ministry. It was
in this room that Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, saw the angel Gabriel (see
Luke 1:5-11).
Behind that room, and separated by a large heavy
curtain, was the room called the Most Holy Place, or, the Holy Of Holies (HOH).
This room contained the gold altar, and the gold covered ark which contained
the stone tablets given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Only the High priest could
enter the HOH.
The Temple represents and earthly sanctuary. A place
on earth where Jews could worship God and be cleansed of their sins on a yearly
schedule. The HOH represented heaven but, in reality, it was only a building
built by men from earthly materials.
One day per year, called Yom Kippur, the High priest
would enter the HOH. He would always bring animal blood with him to offer as a
sacrifice to God for himself and the sins of the people. It is very important to
notice here that the ordinary sacrifices of the people, grain offerings, peace
offering, sin offerings, etc., were not enough to cleanse them of their sin.
Only blood sacrificed in the Holiest of places could clear the consciences of
the people and restore them to "good standing" with God.
PART II
PART II
But God did not intend for this method of
purification, to continue forever. For this covenant was difficult, temporary,
and often not even followed by the Jewish people who claimed to follow the Law
of God. God had a plan for a new covenant. And he described this new covenant
through His prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah.
The text (NIV) of Jeremiah 31:31-34 follows:
"The days
are coming," declares the LORD,"when I will make a new covenantwith the people of Israeland with the people of
Judah. It will not be like the covenantI made with
their ancestorswhen I took them by the handto lead them
out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant,though I was a
husband tothem,"declares the LORD."This is the
covenant I will make with the people of Israelafter that
time," declares the LORD."I will put my law in their mindsand write it
on their hearts.I will be their God,and they will
be my people.No longer will they teach their neighbor,or say to one
another, 'Know the LORD,'because they will all know me,from the least
of them to the greatest,"declares the LORD."For I will
forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more."
And (NIV) Isaiah 54:13-14:
All your
children will be taught by the LORD,and great will be their
peace.In righteousness you will be
established:Tyranny will be far from you;you will have nothing to
fear.Terror will be far removed;it will not come near you.
Remember
that Isaiah prophesized from approximately 740-681 BC and Jeremiah from approximately
627-586 BC. This period spans over 150 years and occurred roughly 600 years
before the birth of Jesus. Furthermore, Micah also speaks of the coming Messiah
sometime between 750 and 680 BC.
So, just
what was God trying to say? Examination of Jeremiah tells us quite plainly that
God is saying that a new covenant, which means God's promise or manner of
agreement, is coming. He is also saying that this new covenant will be very
different from the old covenant of laws given to Moses. Instead of making us
remember and perform ritualistic sacrifices, God will write His love on our
hearts and minds, and we will have nothing to fear because He will forgive us
and remember our sins no more.
This is
also why Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 that we must renew our minds, and again
in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that old things have passed away and all things have
become new.
PART III
PART III
Jesus
Christ is the new covenant. Our human bodies replace the Tabernacle of old as
the earthly sanctuary (see 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19).
Sure we have God's Spirit in us, but we are still built of earthly substances.
We are merely vessels of clay, no different from a pottery jar.
When Jesus was born, he was born to be king; the
priest of the highest order. He IS the new covenant. In Exodus 20.8 Moses
sprinkled animal blood and says," This is the blood of the covenant that the
LORD has made with you." But in Luke 22:20, Jesus overcomes the old covenant
when he says, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out
for you."
Under the
Law, the High priest would enter the Holy Of Holies, which represented Heaven,
and sprinkle animal blood to atone for the sins of the people. This was done every
year. Under the new covenant, Jesus entered Heaven itself, shedding His own
blood for our sins. Jesus needed to die only once, for everyone, for all time.
The doors
of heaven are now open to everyone.This
opening became manifest (apparent) when Christ died on the cross. The heavy
curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple was torn in
two upon Jesus' death. Now we ALL have instant access to God's heavenly home.
Just as man
dies only once, and remember, we are created in God's image, Jesus needed to
die only once that all may be forgiven.
Just
because the doors to Heaven are now open, God does not reach out and pull us
in. We must choose by free will to walk the path that leads us to God.
Questions
What is the old Mosaic Law?
How does the new covenant differ from the old one?
How are they similar?
Why did Jesus need to die only once, instead of every year?
What does Micah chapter five tell us about the coming Messiah?
PRAYER
Holy God, we are fortunate to live in the time of the new covenant. We thank You LORD for opening the gates of Heaven to us. Help us walk the path that leads to your door. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Questions
What is the old Mosaic Law?
How does the new covenant differ from the old one?
How are they similar?
Why did Jesus need to die only once, instead of every year?
What does Micah chapter five tell us about the coming Messiah?
PRAYER
Holy God, we are fortunate to live in the time of the new covenant. We thank You LORD for opening the gates of Heaven to us. Help us walk the path that leads to your door. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.