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 law was difficult to fulfill and the nation of Israel were constantly falling short and having to repent. Every year the High Priest had to sacrifice animals so that they could be forgiven for their sins. In the New Testament it states that Christ made a once and for all sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Continual sacrifices for sin were no longer required.
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.
In the old testament priests and prophets had to relate to God on behalf of the people. The priests made sacrifices and the prophets acted as mouthpieces for God. This changed with the second agreement. Christ was the high priest who went into the Holy of Holies. On His death the veil was rent and man was no longer separated from God. This meant that everyone now had free access to God. He could be approached directly without need of an intermediary.
The nation of Israel kept the Sabbath day holy. If they broke the Sabbath they were punished and if they kept it they were blessed. The Sabbath as one day out of seven to be dedicated to the Lord is no longer valid, because as part of the new agreement all days belong to the Lord. Worshiping God is a way of life.
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 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 law was difficult to fulfill and the nation of Israel were constantly falling short and having to repent. Every year the High Priest had to sacrifice animals so that they could be forgiven for their sins. In the New Testament it states that Christ made a once and for all sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Continual sacrifices for sin were no longer required.
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.
In the old testament priests and prophets had to relate to God on behalf of the people. The priests made sacrifices and the prophets acted as mouthpieces for God. This changed with the second agreement. Christ was the high priest who went into the Holy of Holies. On His death the veil was rent and man was no longer separated from God. This meant that everyone now had free access to God. He could be approached directly without need of an intermediary.
The nation of Israel kept the Sabbath day holy. If they broke the Sabbath they were punished and if they kept it they were blessed. The Sabbath as one day out of seven to be dedicated to the Lord is no longer valid, because as part of the new agreement all days belong to the Lord. Worshiping God is a way of life.
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 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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