In the New Testament, Jesus opens the book to read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised ..." (Luke 4:18)
Jesus did not come to this earth as a happenstance. Rather, the Lord God spoke of an appointed time in the future when He Himself would bring salvation to those who are lost, shedding His precious, holy blood so that you and I might have life. (Acts 20:28) This mystery of the salvation (as the scriptures state) hid in the bosom of the Father from the very beginning.
Indeed, throughout the Old Testament, in prophecy after prophecy, the Lord spoke of an appointed time when the dayspring from on high would visit His people. A time when the prophesied Messiah would stand in the midst of His people. A time when He who made the world would be in the world. (John 1:10-11) In fact, the same Christ (the Rock) which followed the Israelites through the Red Sea would willingly bring to you and I salvation, so that we could have abundant life in Him. (Titus 3:4-7; John 3:1-36)
"Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23; I Corinthians 10:1-4)
Thus, as we know from the Old Testament, the Lord was about to do a new thing. (Hebrews 9:15-18)
"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [Him] no more. Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, he [is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation." (II Corinthians 5:14-19)
The Word made flesh and dwelt among us, so that we could behold His glory. (John 1:14)
All this to say that there is a significant difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament, which is highly misunderstood in modern day religious circles. Just remember, as we review the scriptures for clarity and understanding, that when we put the new wine into old wineskins they break/marred.
Continuing, we witness a changing of the guard (between the old and the new) when "... 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." (Hebrews 9:8)
In order for the new to take hold, the first had to go. There also had to be the death of a testator, wherein there was shedding of blood for the remission of sins. From Hebrews and II Corinthians:
God robed Himself in sin-prone flesh as a Son, yet without sin. This is why the law is a schoolmaster, intended to bring us to the personal saving knowledge of the risen Christ. "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:24-26)
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death ..." (Philippians 3:8-13)
"Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]. To Him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (I Peter 5:9-11)
The Old Testament continually points forward to Jesus -- the greatest love story ever told -- Behold, the Lamb of God! Indeed, Jesus ushered in the new testament. A different High Priest than the priests under the law in the Old Testament. The promised Christ that taketh away the sins of the world. As Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17)
This is why apostle Paul confirms that we are to "beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power ..." (Colossians 2:8-10)
"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, [I say], at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26)
“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14)
" ... 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 liveth. Whereupon neither the first [testament] was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:14-18)
" ... how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation [be] glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains [is] glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart." (II Corinthians 3:8-15)
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, [which] put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart." (II Corinthians 3:8-15)
Note that the reference to "ministration of condemnation" refers to the Old Testament, wherein the same vail that blinded the minds of the Israelites back then still remains to this day in the reading of the Old Testament. In contrast, the "ministration of the Spirit" is glorious, referring to the current New Testament dispensation of grace when the Spirit of the Lord Jesus was poured out on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-47; Acts 2:36-41; Acts 2:38; John 14:26; John 15:26)
Yes, for a period of time such as this -- when the Lord Jesus said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)
"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)
The New Testament is a more excellent ministry. The New Testament a better covenant wherein we can witness God's glory that excels, ushering in a time when the ministration of righteousness will exceed in glory. As we know from the Old Testament, the law could not do what God becoming our Saviour did ... for the law was weak through the flesh and unprofitable to our souls. (Titus 3:4; I Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 7:18) Moreover, the law with its 600 plus dictates could not clothe us in His righteousness.
As the scripture declares, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:3)
In the New Testament we see His righteousness revealed; His handiwork manifest throughout the earth so that we are without excuse for not desiring the Lord of glory to dwell in our hearts. And similarly, when we come to understand the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, we no longer have our own righteousness, which is of the law, but through faith in Jesus the Christ, we know Him and the power of His resurrection.
So then, as some of you might be asking, what was the significance of the Old Testament? To bring us to Christ. Apostle Paul writes, "Wherefore then [serve] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it] was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." (Galatians 3:19)
Till the Seed should come!
"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." (Hebrews 9:10-15)
But Christ!
The Old Testament continually points forward to Jesus -- the greatest love story ever told -- Behold, the Lamb of God! Indeed, Jesus ushered in the new testament. A different High Priest than the priests under the law in the Old Testament. The promised Christ that taketh away the sins of the world. As Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17)
“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood [for under it the people received the law] what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” (Hebrews 7:11-12)
And in Him -- Christ Jesus have we become complete. Our conscience cleansed and our minds renewed. Therefore, what the Old Testament could not do, Jesus in the new did -- accomplished by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 2:3-6) That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
Paul continues in Romans -- “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)
Because of Adam's transgression, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Under the law -- “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins ... [wherein] every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins”. (Hebrews 10:4,11)
But don't despair for the Lord God Almighty made a plan for our salvation -- a bridge wherein we who believe in Him by faith, and are water baptized in His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus -- can be saved. (Acts 2:36-41)
"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, [I say], at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26)
And again for clarity, what the Old Testament and the law could not do, Jesus did by paying the ultimate price -- with His precious holy blood shed on a cross -- so that you and I can have abundant life in Him. We can have forgiveness in Him; a personal relationship with our Creator where we can proclaim -- "The Lord is my Shepherd." We can know who supplies our needs, and the One and Only Lord God who gives us rest, restoring our soul, and guiding us in the paths of righteousness -- for His Name's sake. (Psalm 23:1-6)
In this dispensation of grace, His Name is JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. ” (I John 2:28)
“Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14)
Much more to come. In the interim, stand in the offering plate.
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