Those Who Are Under the New Covenant

2003-10-06 16:06

As we all know well, God gave the two covenants to all people in the world. The first covenant was given through Moses, the second covenant through Jesus Christ. In the Bible, the first covenant refers to the old covenant, the second covenant the new covenant.

When God made these two covenants, the first covenant was made with the blood of animals, the second covenant with the blood of man. These two kinds of blood mean not only confirming a covenant with an oath, but also redemption. For redemption, there must be the sprinkling of the blood on the atonement cover and in front of it inside the veil seven times.

It is written about the order of Aaron, Leviticus 16:14-15, "He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 'Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.'" This is "the order".

There was difference in the sin offerings for the sins committed under the first covenant. The high priest was to enter the inner sanctuary behind the veil twice--once with the bull's blood for himself, and once with the goat's blood for the people. These sacrifices were offered in a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true tabernacle, and they were needed only until the arrival of the eternal sin offering in the true tabernacle under the second covenant.

It must be a man who enters the inner sanctuary behind the veil with either the blood of animals under the first covenant or the blood of man under the second covenant. This is because the entering is for the redemption of the sins of man.

The high priest, who is selected from among men and is anointed, is the man who enters the inner sanctuary behind the veil with this blood of redemption. The high priest of the first covenant with the blood of animals was selected from the tribe of Levi, the high priest of the second covenant with the blood of man was selected from the tribe of Judah. This is another priest from a different tribe having nothing to do with the Levitical priesthood.

It is written in Hebrews 7:11-15, " If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears."

It is written about the priesthood of the new covenant in Isaiah 42:1, "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations." And also, in 1 Peter 2:6, "For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'"

In the order of Aaron, the sacrifices are just a reminder of sins, not taking away sins. This is because the blood of animals cannot take away sins. It is written in Hebrews 10:4, "because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

However, the true sacrifice of eternal redemption with the blood of man everlastingly atones for wickedness, as it is written in the words of prophecy. Hebrews 9:13-14 says, "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" And again, Hebrews 10:18 says, "And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." Thank you, Lord.

Christ, who is high priest in the order of Melchizedek, has a permanent priesthood because he cannot die again and will never die. It is written in Romans 6:9, "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him."

The Truth also testifies, Hebrews 7:24-26, "but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens."

Therefore, for those who are under the new covenant and are not under the old covenant, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. All those people, who are a royal priesthood, are crucified with Christ and enter the inner sanctuary behind the torn curtain, with no more need of covering curtain. It is written in Hebrews 10:20, "by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body."

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Thank you, Lord.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu