The Old Testament (O.T.) was our School-Master. Galatians 3:24 gives us an understanding of why we needed the New Testament. Jesus fulfilled the O.T. and gave His life to bring in the New where everything is different. Jesus cried out when He died, “IT IS FINISHED” (THE O.T. Law) and the New had begun.
Hebrews 8:7 — “If the Old Testament had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for the second.”
The first Covenant was given to Abraham in Genesis 15:7-18 and it was wonderful, but later under the leadership of Moses the law was added. Galatians 3:11-29 speaks of this in detail, and verse 19 says, “the Law was added because of transgression (sin).
The Old Testament is precious and gives us a picture of God dealing with a stiff-necked people who kept back-sliding even though He was merciful and delivered them out of many things they brought on themselves. God told them in the Law (of which the 10 commandments sum it up in a nutshell), what sin was and what He did and did not want them to do! The law told them of their sins and worked wrath according to Romans 4:15. The O.T. Law, Paul said, showed them what sin was.
In Hebrews 7:11-22 it says in verse 19 “The law made nothing perfect.” Paul also said in Romans 3:28 that a man is justified by FAITH, not the deeds of the law or its works like keeping the Sabbath. SABBATH means rest, and Hebrews 4:1-11, states we need to enter into God’s REST, which is ceasing from our own labors, (our works), verse 10, and enter into that rest, lest we fail through unbelief as the Israelites did. That rest comes from the liberty of the Spirit, not the law! Verse 8, If Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day.
This is not to say it is bad to observe the law with the 10 commandments, but James 2:10 tells us, “Whosoever shall keep the law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of ALL.”
No one has been able to observe the law and its commandments except Jesus. He was the only sinless person!!
Galatians 5:14 — “For ALL the law is fulfilled in one word, even this. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Most of these books: Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Corinthians and Hebrews are devoted to that very thing. God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 3:8.
After the cross, everything changed from the sacrifices. (Jesus is our sacrifice). Circumcision, we now circumcise our hearts in the Spirit. Romans 2:29. Days, and places of worship, food, even moral laws were changed and strengthened! In the O.T. if you actually murdered someone, you were guilty and punished, but in the N.T. to hate your brother in your heart means you are guilty of murder, (not even the actual committing of it), but, to just think it in your heart you are guilty.
The O.T. was our school-master to bring us to Christ and taught us our need of a Savior as we cannot save ourselves! Jesus gave His life and fulfilled the O.T. (or Covenant) to bring us to the New Testament (or Covenant) and the Apostles gave their lives as well, not to save us like Christ did, but to get the Word out concerning the Truth of the New Covenant, and not doing the Law. He has given us a new Commandment with laws of the Spirit- John 13:34…that we love one another.
Obeying the 10 commandments (which are good) will not save us! We need what Jesus died to give us by FAITH in what he did….We cannot help to save ourselves with our works OR JESUS DIED IN VAIN! We have to believe and accept His sacrifice, or we make ourselves God…BY OUR WORKS. BUT OUR WORKS ARE AS FILTHY RAGS AND WILL NOT SAVE US!!
The truth that sets us free is the “truth of Calvary and the work of the NEW Covenant!” The O.T. is God’s Word concealed (hidden away from satan) but the N.T. is God’s Word revealed (opened up by God’s Love and Grace.) God sent them many prophets to preach to them but very few listened.
In the fullness of time, God sent His Son to fix what man could not do for themselves in His plan of Redemption, with a New Covenant! Praise God! Man could not save himself by the Old Covenant, (the law and its deeds), and still cannot, but God had a plan from the foundation of the world, hidden away all the time to fix what man could not do!
Hebrews 8:5-13 calls it a more excellent way, established on better promises, a new and better Covenant! That is why the New Testament Christians met on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7…not breaking the 10 commandments of the O.T. but starting the New Covenant where everything had changed with Christ’s death on the Cross. No more animal sacrifices and laws, but LOVE and FAITH in Christ’s work on Calvary which makes everything New!
Jesus Himself broke the Sabbath oft-times by eating corn on the Sabbath and healing which highly offended the teachers of that day. He was showing how their laws were not the way. He said, the Sabbath was made for man, not the man made for the Sabbath, showing them that their priorities were wrong. Mark 2:27.
When Jesus gave His life for us on the Cross, the price for our salvation was paid and the work of redemption was finished! Christ came to fulfill the Law! It is in Him we live and move and have our being. He is in us and we are in Him. He is our only Hope of Righteousness.
Jesus completed all the requirements of the law by living a perfect and pure life in our stead. We are saved and kept by His Grace! Thank God for the New Covenant!
IT IS FINISHED!
