Herein, we have spoken of the two covenants before but I sense that there needs to be more clarity within the faith community. To that end, believers in Jesus by faith need to understand that there is a significant difference between the old testament and the new testament. There needs to be an understanding that the second -- this current dispensation of grace -- could not take place while the first tabernacle was yet standing.
Or, that the first tabernacle -- "it was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience, which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of the reformation." (Hebrews 9:9-10)
Why is this critical? Because it is important that believers in Jesus by faith understand that their is more than a white blank page between the old testament and the new testament. And that the "Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the as the first tabernacle was yet standing." (Hebrews 9:8)
The Lord of glory Himself coming forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13)
"And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force AFTER men are dead." (Hebrews 9:16-17)
Jesus' had to die on the cross (shedding His precious blood for you) in order for the testament to come of force. Just like a last will and testament, the person leaving the will has to die. But the difference here is that the Lord of Glory considered it necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these but that is not all. The Lord of Glory willingly understood that the heavenly things themselves were better sacrifices than these.
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Nor yet that He should offer Himself often -- as the high priest did when he entered into the holy place every year with blood of others, but rather Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
You see, the law was only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of those things can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect -- for then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins, but in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4)
This is why "a body hast Thou prepared Me" so that He could take away the first and establish the second, "by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:9-10)
Jesus paid the price once and for all. He offered the perfect sacrifice by a new and living way, "which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." (Hebrews 10:20)
Thus, where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin, having therefore brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. He endured such contradiction of sinner against Himself. And for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Look unto Jesus -- the author and finisher of your faith -- today. Pray without ceasing and rejoice evermore. And continually study His Word as doth a workman unto God, for therein ye shall find life everlasting. Stand in the offering plate.
Hebrews 9:
Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shew bread; which is called the sanctuary.
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.
Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you."
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry, and almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that He should offer himself often, as the high priest entered into the holy place every year with blood of others. For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
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