Steve,
I don't know why you are making a big issue about this. The word clearly says as I have posted before that the old covenant is obsolete and passing away.
Hebrews 8:6-7
6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
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."
The word tells us a lot of things clearly but we make it difficult on ourselves. The word says it is obsolete so you don't need to pray for the answer. It's there to read. So what's the problem? People and their pride and faulty thinking and immaturity with the Lord and so on..............that's the problem. We are so flawed in so many ways, we need to be on out guard even for our own thoughts which are so often wrong headed. And I don't direct that at you only, we are all in the same boat. So don't confuse the many prophesies and exhortations and promises in the Old Testament with the Old Covenant which consisted of sacrificing animals to shed their blood to cover the sins of the people for one year. Jesus became out New Covenant sacrifice and his blood washes us clean for eternity. That is why the old covenant (not old testament) is obsolete. The old testament is God's word and never passes away, but God has made a new, better, perfect covenant with us in His Son Jesus Christ, that made the old covenant based on shedding the blood of animals to cover sins obsolete. THAT CAN NEVER COME BACK OR BE RE-ESTABLISHED BY GOD. IT IS NO USE AT ALL!! Why would God do that, set aside His salvation which He perfected in His Son Jesus Christ and go back to covering sins for one year at a time with animal blood?? ALL OF THE OLD TESTEMENT PROPHECIES AND PROMISES ARE STILL VALID!! They did not become obsolete, they are God's own words and in full force. Do you see the difference now and what is being discussed between old and new covenant?? I think we often get into too narrow a view of what God has done. Looking at the whole plan of God from Adam to Jesus to the 2nd coming and Jesus's eternal kingdom we can see the whole time line laid out. The old covenant of shedding animal blood to cover sins served it's temporary purpose for a time until Jesus came to the world. There was a time before the old covenant when their was no covenant, which is demonstrated in Job. Then the promise to Abram who became Abraham. The promise came first, then God worked to fulfill the promise. Then came the law and the first (imperfect) covenant, then the New (perfect) Covenant. The New Covenant was the fulfillment of the promise, the first covenant was not. God worked to bring us back to Himself a step at a time. The Old Conenant was a step. It is of no use any longer and never will be again. Hope this helps.
In Jesus,
Bob |
