Old Covenant Replaced And Fulfilled By the New

QUESTION RECEIVED:

What does the below statement mean, please? Hebrews 8:13 When God speaks of a "new" covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13

MY ANSWER:

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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 book of Hebrews is awesome in that it shows the flow of the story of salvation in Old Testament from creation through the law and prophets to the finished work of Christ and the message of the Apostles as recorded in the New Testament. The New Testament finally completes  the “household“ of God which is the church.

Ephesians 2:19-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

“19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,”

The household of God was not complete until the atoning work of Christ on the cross and His resurrection.  Christ died for the sins of all who have and will repent of their sins.  Christ took and became sin on the cross.  Just like the old hymn says “Jesus Paid It All”.

Those who have repented and turn to Christ for salvation receive pardon for sin, peace with God and eternal life in Heaven.

Jesus Christ was resurrected, ascended to Heave after forty days.  Then the birth of the church occurred at Pentecost.  Now all are welcome into this house.

And now to further explain the new covenant.   

What about the Old Covenant.  The old is simply summed up in this verse.

Jeremiah 31:33 (NASB)

“33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “ I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

The Lord revealed salvation by covenantal response through Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and set the Law with Moses.  The Old Covenenat obedience was to follow the Lord and His commands.  This was done with a sacrificial system of slaughtered animals at the alter for temporary forgiveness that foreshadows the full forgiveness and redemption by Christ on the Christ.

The Old Covenant was really a simple command that was impossible to fully keep - follow the law.

The old Covenant screamed for satisfaction only the New Covenant of Jesus Christ can give.

A New Covenant As Stated In Hebrews 8

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says,

“ Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,

When I will effect a new covenant

With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

9  Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers

On the day when I took them by the hand

To lead them out of the land of Egypt;

For they did not continue in My covenant,

And I did not care for them, says the Lord.

10 “ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

After those days, says the Lord:

I will put My laws into their minds,

And I will write them on their hearts.

And I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.

11 “ And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,

And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

For all will know Me,

From the least to the greatest of them.

12 “ For I will be merciful to their iniquities,

And I will remember their sins no more.”

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 Old Covenant was not “faultless” as verse 8:7 says.

The new has come.

The New Covenant was sealed by the blood atonement of Jesus Christ.

Trust and believe in the perfect and final Covenant who is Jesus Christ.