The Old and New Covenant

The first parts of the Book of Hebrews focused on the discussion of the Old Testament agreement with God and the revised covenant through Christ Jesus. Chapter 8 clearly defines the amendment of the covenant of God that is it’s ineffectiveness and weakness and uselessness that many still went unfaithful to Him. Now He made another so that all may know that He is the God and this will be spread throughout the nations.

The term covenant refers to a binding agreement. In Hebrew this translates to “to cut”. This is the reason why during the Old Testament animals were being killed and sometimes cut into two shedding their blood in preparation of and showing agreement with making the covenant. This is very true in many of the stories in Old Testament like in Exodus where people has to offer sacrifices and the High Priest has to offer this inside the Most Holy for his sin and the people. The covenant during that time was when God put the Israelites out of Egypt and helped them through. But many falls short and immediately forgot their pledge to God so God has to be doing new ways and new covenant.

This was when God made the covenant in the minds and hearts of His people and whoever abides and accepts and perseveres would be forgiven of sins and inherits the promised salvation. God sent forth His only Son not as human to sacrifice for sins once and for all when He has to offer himself as atonement for the sin of all the earth.

It all along happened with an oath to make Jesus a priest forever that guaranteed us of better covenant because He lives forever. This makes Him save anyone completely because whoever comes to God through Him He always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. The oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Old agreement was made less intricate when Jesus has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Holy is the Lamb!