A Systematic Expository Study on the book of Hebrews
STUDY 22: LIMITATION OF THE FIRST COVENANT
Hebrews 9: 1 - 14
The former chapter ends by pointing out that God has made the First covenant old by bringing in the New covenant. The chapter concludes, saying, Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8: 13). The New Covenant is better. God never ask anybody to give up anything without proffering something far better in return; and they who despise His offer are the losers. The former dispensation was mere shadow, the latter is the real substance. The shadows are no longer needed when the substance is manifested. The scaffolding is dispensed with, taken way, as soon as the finished building appears. The toys of the nursery become obsolete when manhood is reached. Everything is beautiful in its proper season. The Old Covenant needed to pass away because the New had arrived.
SERVICE IN THE SANCTUARY OF THE OLD COVENANT
Hebrews 9: 1-5; Luke 1: 6; Exodus 25: 1, 28; 26: 1, 30, 33-35; Numbers 17: 5-10; 1 Kings 8: 6, 7; Psalm 80: 1; Leviticus 16: 2; Hebrews 4: 16.
Was the old covenant purposeless, valueless and of no worth? No, it had its purpose and it was good in its own period. Then verily the First Covenant had also ordinances of divine service (Hebrews 9: 1). In its day it was the best thing they had, but now it is a new day. The Old Covenant had divine service instituted by God. But they were only temporary because they were designed for an earthly sanctuary. The First Covenant had rites and ceremonies instituted by God, to typify, symbolise or show us the Saviour. Though they were divine, they were also temporary services performed in a temporary, earthly sanctuary.
At the centre of the Old Covenants ceremonies and rituals in Israel, was the tabernacle. Do you know that there are only two chapters devoted to the account of the Creation while there are fifty chapters talking about the Tabernacle? The Tabernacle is important and demands attention from us in our study because it is a great picture of Christ in every detail.
As there was only one door to the Tabernacle, there is only one door to God - through Jesus Christ. The pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle are also pictures of Jesus Christ. Everything is connected with our full salvation, cleansing, sanctification, baptism in the Holy Spirit, total redemption. The Ark of Covenant was representative of Jesus Christ, who is the True Mercy Seat. It was between the wings of those angels on the Mercy Seat that God met men. Christ is the Mercy Seat, the meeting place of God and men.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LIMITATIONS IN THE OLD COVENANT
Hebrews 9: 6-10; Numbers 28: 3; Exodus 30: 10; Hebrews 10: 11-17; 1 Peter 1: 10-12; Galatians 3: 23-26; 4: 4-7; John 14: 6; Ephesians 2: 18.
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing (Hebrews 9: 8). The Holy Spirit teaches us clearly that (i) there was no full access to God, (ii) Cleansing was imperfect, (iii) worship was limited, (iv) its duration was temporary, (v) the Holy Ghost was not yet given (John 7: 39). The New covenant had to come to replace the Old Covenant.
SALVATION THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
Hebrews 9: 11-14; 10: 1-4, 19-22; 1: 3; Acts 20: 28; Ephesians 1: 7; Colossians 1: 14; 1 Peter 1: 18, 19; Titus 2: 14; Hebrews 13: 20, 21.
Christ gave Himself for us as the perfect, final Sacrifice. His Blood was shed to make atonement for our sins, giving us complete and internal cleansing. He has obtained eternal redemption for us. Through the Blood of Jesus Christ, shed for us on the Cross, we can now be forgiven, cleansed from all our filthiness, cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, conscience purge from dead works to serve the living God. The Blood of the New Covenant means so much to the new creature today.
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