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Read Hebrews 8:6-13
You and I are living in a neos (new time), and enjoying the kainos (better quality of life). This new time and better quality of life is ours because we now live in the Christian age, and under the New Covenant. This New Covenant began with the Christian dispensation on the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2). This covenant will continue to last as long as the Lord allows the world to stand.
The Old Covenant, or “Law of Moses” as we sometimes call it, is quite a contrast to the New Covenant. Let’s see if we can briefly note some of those differences.
#1 The Old Covenant was National, but the New Covenant is Universal (8:8)
When Moses led the Israelites to Sinai, these descendants of Jacob received the Law of God. History tells us that these wanderers who later occupied the promised land of Canaan split into two kingdoms--north and south. The northern folks were called Israel, and the southern ones were Judah. In 721 BC, Israel was permanently destroyed. While exiled to Babylon. However, a remnant of the Southern Kingdom of Judah returned to Jerusalem in three stages to re-take the land. They remained a nation until the predicted fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 (Zech. 9:9).
While the Old Covenant was just given to Israel/Judah, the New Covenant is for all humanity. Years after Israel ceased to be a nation, Jeremiah prophesied that the New Covenant would come (Jer. 31:31). An interesting commentary are the words of Jesus himself when he said that the Gospel should be preached to “every creature” and not just the Jews (Mk. 16:15).
#2 The Old Covenant was Engraved in Stone, but the New Covenant is Engraved in Our Minds (8:10)
We’re quite familiar with the accounts in Exodus (20 & 34), how that the Old Covenant was etched in stone. However, God tells us that the New Covenant was put in our dianoia--our minds. This Greek word bears with it the ability to think things through. He gives us our minds so that we might reason and reach logical conclusions. This allows us to be able to know what we believe and why. It’s with our minds that we also have the ability to have our emotions stirred. Our religion is not just a logical one (though it must be logical), it is also an emotional one. Have you stood at the foot of the cross lately?
#3 The Old Covenant was Based on One’s Physical Birth, but the New Covenant is Based on One’s New Spiritual Birth (8:11)
In the Old Covenant, if you were born a descendant of Jacob, you were automatically ushered in as one of God’s chosen people. As that Jewish child grew, he would be taught the ways of Jehovah and etched into their intellect would have been God’s will (Dt. 6:1-6).
However, in the New Covenant, the rights and privileges of a child of God only come when one goes through a new spiritual birth (Jn. 3:1-7). Now, there are many views of how one does this. Some believe it’s through the “sinner’s prayer” or baptism by the mode of sprinkling or pouring. Here’s what the New Covenant teaches. You are born again when you hear God’s word (Rm. 10:17), believe it (Mk 16:15-16), repent of your sins (Lk. 13:3), confess your faith in Jesus as God’s son (Mt. 10:32-33), and when you’re immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) you are added to the church of Christ. It’s then that you receive the rights and privileges as a member of the Kingdom of God.
#4 The Old Covenant Meant Sins were Remembered, but the New Covenant Means that Sins are Forgiven (8:12)
Under the Old Covenant, the sins of the Jews were remembered each year when the priest offered sacrifices on behalf of the people of God. So each and every year there was that constant reminder of what they had done. However, in the New Covenant, God rubs our sins out when we repent, and never remembers them again (Isa. 43:25; Heb. 8:12). Even though our sins may bring a tear to the eye of God, He’s still willing to remember our sins no more if we’ll but respond to Him the way He commands. Thanks be to God for His grace.
You and I are living in a neos (new time), and enjoying the kainos (better quality of life). This new time and better quality of life is ours because we now live in the Christian age, and under the New Covenant. This New Covenant began with the Christian dispensation on the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2). This covenant will continue to last as long as the Lord allows the world to stand.
The Old Covenant, or “Law of Moses” as we sometimes call it, is quite a contrast to the New Covenant. Let’s see if we can briefly note some of those differences.
#1 The Old Covenant was National, but the New Covenant is Universal (8:8)
When Moses led the Israelites to Sinai, these descendants of Jacob received the Law of God. History tells us that these wanderers who later occupied the promised land of Canaan split into two kingdoms--north and south. The northern folks were called Israel, and the southern ones were Judah. In 721 BC, Israel was permanently destroyed. While exiled to Babylon. However, a remnant of the Southern Kingdom of Judah returned to Jerusalem in three stages to re-take the land. They remained a nation until the predicted fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 (Zech. 9:9).
While the Old Covenant was just given to Israel/Judah, the New Covenant is for all humanity. Years after Israel ceased to be a nation, Jeremiah prophesied that the New Covenant would come (Jer. 31:31). An interesting commentary are the words of Jesus himself when he said that the Gospel should be preached to “every creature” and not just the Jews (Mk. 16:15).
#2 The Old Covenant was Engraved in Stone, but the New Covenant is Engraved in Our Minds (8:10)
We’re quite familiar with the accounts in Exodus (20 & 34), how that the Old Covenant was etched in stone. However, God tells us that the New Covenant was put in our dianoia--our minds. This Greek word bears with it the ability to think things through. He gives us our minds so that we might reason and reach logical conclusions. This allows us to be able to know what we believe and why. It’s with our minds that we also have the ability to have our emotions stirred. Our religion is not just a logical one (though it must be logical), it is also an emotional one. Have you stood at the foot of the cross lately?
#3 The Old Covenant was Based on One’s Physical Birth, but the New Covenant is Based on One’s New Spiritual Birth (8:11)
In the Old Covenant, if you were born a descendant of Jacob, you were automatically ushered in as one of God’s chosen people. As that Jewish child grew, he would be taught the ways of Jehovah and etched into their intellect would have been God’s will (Dt. 6:1-6).
However, in the New Covenant, the rights and privileges of a child of God only come when one goes through a new spiritual birth (Jn. 3:1-7). Now, there are many views of how one does this. Some believe it’s through the “sinner’s prayer” or baptism by the mode of sprinkling or pouring. Here’s what the New Covenant teaches. You are born again when you hear God’s word (Rm. 10:17), believe it (Mk 16:15-16), repent of your sins (Lk. 13:3), confess your faith in Jesus as God’s son (Mt. 10:32-33), and when you’re immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) you are added to the church of Christ. It’s then that you receive the rights and privileges as a member of the Kingdom of God.
#4 The Old Covenant Meant Sins were Remembered, but the New Covenant Means that Sins are Forgiven (8:12)
Under the Old Covenant, the sins of the Jews were remembered each year when the priest offered sacrifices on behalf of the people of God. So each and every year there was that constant reminder of what they had done. However, in the New Covenant, God rubs our sins out when we repent, and never remembers them again (Isa. 43:25; Heb. 8:12). Even though our sins may bring a tear to the eye of God, He’s still willing to remember our sins no more if we’ll but respond to Him the way He commands. Thanks be to God for His grace.