Emile,
I think we have to come back how a person was saved through the Old and New Testament. My contention is that it always been the same, faith in God's plan through his one and only Messiah! I think all scripture you cited lends credence to my beliefs.
The Old Covenant could never save. That's why we needed a new one. Hebrews tells us that. We needed a new one to replace a non-perfect old one. No one, and I mean know one was ever saved because of sacrafice of animals, circumcision or being perfect. You know that! That's where the Jews are so wrong, so very long. To think they had salvation handed to them, for some perfect execution of rituals. No one is perfect. So that can not be true.
They were only chosen to protect and pass the scriptures from generation to generation. To tell all others of his words and about Messiah. And to have the Messiah come through there blood line, oh what an honor! But they failed miserably! Not of course, having Messiah coming through their blood line. That of course happened. At to that end, the perfect prophecy in the OT that his own people would reject him. That happened accurately as well!
But God never handed them salvation. They always needed to believe him and believe in him. Anything else would have not been fair. So it must have been faith in Messiah! Abraham rejoiced in his coming!
Romans 2
28: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Gal.3
24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified byfaith.
25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The Old Covenant was only to show us the way to Christ, but never to be the substitute for Christ! You were always saved by faith in Messiah, pure and simple!
Hebrews 8:8-12 speaks to a people that were not saved by faith in Messiah, but those who thought they could substitute faith in God with the Old Covenant rules and laws. No one can! And if someone says they could, they are lying! No one is perfect and could abide by the Old Covenant perfectly. Hence, why we needed and need Messiah!
Hebrews 8:8-12 from Jeremiah 31:31-34 undoubtledly talks about future promises to the historical House of Judah/Israel, whether it be a spiritual or physical reference to them in the future. See my previous post about this topic...
Message 5329927
So who is Israel in Hebrews 8:8-12, Jeremiah 31:31-34?
God Bless,
Steve
PS- Some reinforcing verses to add to my position.......
Hebrews 7
11: If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
19: For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 8
7: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
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