Covenant
“And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.” Hebrews 9:15-17
About a month ago now I bought a new computer to install in my office. The fact is my old computer has become obsolete. According to definition the word obsolete means “no longer produced or used, out of date.” I still have the old XP operating system on the old computer and have been receiving repeated messages that this system is no longer supported and that I need to update my system. I experience crashes quite often and things run very slowly. I cannot update my browsers because my operating system is obsolete. I hope to complete a transition to the new computer soon.
The writer of Hebrews refers to the Old Testament, or Old Covenant, as being obsolete, “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Heb. 8:13). The entire book of Hebrews is a contrast between the Old Covenant given to Israel through Moses and the New Covenant given to spiritual Israel (the church) through Jesus Christ. Jesus is set forth as superior to Moses, “For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house” (Heb. 3:3).
Jesus comes as the mediator of the new and better covenant, “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man” (Heb. 8:1-2). The Hebrew writer explains to us that the earthly tabernacle was just a copy of the true tabernacle in heaven, “For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Heb. 8:4-6).
There was a progression of covenants in the Old Testament that culminated in the Mosaic Covenant (Gen. 19) and the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7). However, both of these covenants were only copies or shadows. They prefigured and pointed to the new and better covenant which God would establish through his son Jesus Christ. Jesus ministers in the tabernacle not made with hands, “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation” (Heb.9:11). Jesus has entered into heaven itself where he appears in the presence of God, “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24).
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God…” Heb.10:12
-Scott Gag