P
sorry for the delay...we were changing ISPs and got a new wifi router.
Jesus fulfilled the contract of the Mosaic Covenant for us,
and, as Hebrews explains, the priesthood changed from Aaron to Melchisidek.
Heb. 7:11-16
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 8 goes on to explain what all this means. (apologies for the length, everyone!)
verses 1-6 tell us that the tabernacle erected by Moses was a shadow of the TRUE Tabernacle, in which Jesus sits as our High Priest forever. He offered the perfect sacrifice.
Heb. 8:7
For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
see how God is already beginning to tell us that the Mosaic Covenant was replaced with something better?
Heb. 8:8-12 quote Jeremiah speaking of this New Covenant God promised His people.
Heb. 8:13
When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
that 'disappearance' happened when the temple was destroyed in AD 70.
the end of the Mosaic Covenant.
that's what i mean by 'fulfilled'.
no longer are we under a Covenant that says, 'do these things, and you will be blessed.'
all the blessings are ours (and none of the curses) based on Christ's obedience, not ours.
what we call the Old Testament still needs to be read by God's people!
there are good lessons for us there. we still need to obey the moral Law, which is found all over the New Testament.
we can see the Lord clearly in all aspects of God's Law, and in the Prophets, but we no longer have to worry about the minutiae.
our blessings certainly do not only consist of salvation, but we should be careful not to think
that if we obey God we will be 'happy', and all will be well in our lives.
Job's story alone is proof of that.
true love is not always happy. you have only to see broken marriages and Christians whose kids have gone off the deep end for proof of that.
and surely, i never meant to imply that we would be punished for disobedience.
but God is much more concerned with our growth than our comfort.
the New Testament speaks extensively of trials and tribulations, but lets us know we are not to think of these things in terms as relating to our obedience (other than being disciplined sometimes) or that we are being punished for disobedience in them.
God fully punished His Son for all our sins, and because He is Just, He cannot then punish us for those same sins.
the whole Bible tells one story, of One Person. the Lord Jesus!
He is the Hero of our faith. so we glory in Him and His deeds, not our own.
did that help at all?
Jesus fulfilled the contract of the Mosaic Covenant for us,
and, as Hebrews explains, the priesthood changed from Aaron to Melchisidek.
Heb. 7:11-16
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 8 goes on to explain what all this means. (apologies for the length, everyone!)
verses 1-6 tell us that the tabernacle erected by Moses was a shadow of the TRUE Tabernacle, in which Jesus sits as our High Priest forever. He offered the perfect sacrifice.
Heb. 8:7
For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
see how God is already beginning to tell us that the Mosaic Covenant was replaced with something better?
Heb. 8:8-12 quote Jeremiah speaking of this New Covenant God promised His people.
Heb. 8:13
When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
that 'disappearance' happened when the temple was destroyed in AD 70.
the end of the Mosaic Covenant.
that's what i mean by 'fulfilled'.
no longer are we under a Covenant that says, 'do these things, and you will be blessed.'
all the blessings are ours (and none of the curses) based on Christ's obedience, not ours.
what we call the Old Testament still needs to be read by God's people!
there are good lessons for us there. we still need to obey the moral Law, which is found all over the New Testament.
we can see the Lord clearly in all aspects of God's Law, and in the Prophets, but we no longer have to worry about the minutiae.
our blessings certainly do not only consist of salvation, but we should be careful not to think
that if we obey God we will be 'happy', and all will be well in our lives.
Job's story alone is proof of that.
true love is not always happy. you have only to see broken marriages and Christians whose kids have gone off the deep end for proof of that.
and surely, i never meant to imply that we would be punished for disobedience.
but God is much more concerned with our growth than our comfort.
the New Testament speaks extensively of trials and tribulations, but lets us know we are not to think of these things in terms as relating to our obedience (other than being disciplined sometimes) or that we are being punished for disobedience in them.
God fully punished His Son for all our sins, and because He is Just, He cannot then punish us for those same sins.
the whole Bible tells one story, of One Person. the Lord Jesus!
He is the Hero of our faith. so we glory in Him and His deeds, not our own.
did that help at all?