Seeking Jesus First - Sept. 18, 2023

What are some of the differences that you see between the Old and New Testament? More specifically, what is different about The New Covenant which was made in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins?

Hebrews 8 calls it a “better covenant with better promises” which makes the old covenant obsolete.

“For we are not coming, as Moses did, to a physical mountain with its burning fire, thick clouds of darkness and gloom, and with a raging whirlwind. We are not those who are being warned by the jarring blast of a trumpet and the thundering voice; the fearful voice that they begged to be silenced. They couldn’t handle God’s command that said, “If so much as an animal approaches the mountain it is to be stoned to death!” The astounding phenomena Moses witnessed caused him to shudder with fear and he could only say, “I am trembling in terror!”

By contrast, we have already come near to God in a totally different realm, the Zion-realm, for we have entered the city of the Living God, which is the New Jerusalem in heaven! We have joined the festal gathering of myriads of angels in their joyous celebration! And as members of the church of the Firstborn all our names have been legally registered as citizens of heaven! And we have come before God who judges all, and who lives among the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect in his eyes! And we have come to Jesus who established a new covenant with his blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat; blood that continues to speak from heaven, “forgiveness,” a better message than Abel’s blood that cries from the earth, “justice.” Make very sure that you never refuse to listen to God when he speaks! For the God who spoke on earth from Sinai is the same God who now speaks from heaven. Those who heard him speak his living Word on earth found nowhere to hide, so what chance is there for us to escape if we turn our backs on God and refuse to hear his warnings as he speaks from heaven? The earth was rocked at the sound of his voice from the mountain, but now he has promised, “Once and for all I will not only shake the systems of the world, but also the unseen powers in the heavenly realm!” Now this phrase “once and for all” clearly indicates the final removal of things that are shaking, that is, the old order, so only what is unshakeable will remain. Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe. For our God is a holy, devouring fire!” (Hebrews 12:18–29, TPT)

• We have already come to a totally different realm. - Ephesians 2:6 states that we have been raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. Receiving His Holy Spirit inside of us, we have been made one spirit with The LORD.
• We have entered the city of God as legally registered citizens.
• We are surrounded by the angels of God who worship Him day and night.
• We are joined to the ‘ekklesia’ of The Firstborn along with many brethren.
• We have come before the judge of all who has accepted the blood of Christ for the remission of our sins.
• We have come to Jesus Christ as The Mediator of this better covenant with better promises.
• We have come to the blood Jesus sprinkled on The Seat of Mercy which speaks of forgiveness and not merely justice in the form of revenge like the blood of Abel.

Because of this new position and condition where we stand justified by grace through faith in Jesus and His Word, we are able to stand and listen without terror to the voice of God through His Spirit residing in us. While those who are not standing in this grace and all things that are not permanently founded in God’s kingdom will shake until they are completely destroyed, we shall not be moved. We shall stand firmly in faith in this unshakeable kingdom of God. We shall continue in pure worship and awe of Our Heavenly Father, The Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.

The fact that God is all-consuming fire becomes our defense rather than a source of terror. The new covenant temple, which we are, is filled with the glory of The LORD and surrounded by fire. God’s holy consuming fire purifies and protects us. Our position in Christ Jesus puts us in right-standing with The Father. We are entitled to the same loving relationship that Jesus has with The Father. This is reiterated in John 14-17.

The love I have for my wife keeps me pure in my heart toward her. Romans 5 tells us that the love of God cascades into our heart by The Holy Spirit which is given to us by God. This love empowers me to love God and to keep my heart pure toward Him.

While The Law showed us that we were slaves to sin, The New Covenant shows us that we are slaves to righteousness. Righteousness is in charge of how we live. Sin is not ruling over us anymore.

Righteousness is the result of faith so whatever is not of faith is not righteousness. Hold fast to your faith, even if you offend your conscience sometimes. We are seated with Christ by faith in Christ Jesus. We walk in Christ by faith in His Holy Spirit. We stand in Christ by faith in His promises/words.

The biggest difference between the new and old covenants is the fact that God now dwells with us and in us by His Spirit and He writes His words on our hearts and gives us faith to carry them out.