The question is often asked: What is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? What changed when Jesus died on the cross?<\/span><\/p>\n

First, we must understand that there is an Eternal Covenant that is foundational to all others. Simply stated it is this: God says, \u201cI will fulfill my promises to you if you do my will.\u201d All of His people from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Jacob knew what God’s will was. They followed it and He blessed them. Then came the Israelite nation recently delivered from slavery. They had lost the knowledge of His will and needed reminders and careful discipline to help them live in His will. So God instituted the written Code of Conduct\u2014the Torah\u2014with everything spelled out carefully to reduce misunderstandings. Included in the Torah was the Ten Commandments as the basic standard of morality (Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5); the Statutes and Judgments, to explain and illustrate the Ten Commandments (given mostly in Exodus 21-23 and Deuteronomy, and interspersed throughout Leviticus and Numbers); and the Ceremonial \/ Sacrificial system as a remedy for the breaking of the Law\u2014the symbols of the Gospel for that time (given primarily in Leviticus).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Covenant with the Jews was originally something like this:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

the Parties involved\u2014God and Israel<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

the Promise\u2014Jehovah would be their God; they would be His special people; they would receive an inheritance<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

the Terms or Conditions of the Covenant\u2014obedience to God’s Laws<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But there was a problem.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For finding fault with them <\/i>(the people),<\/i> he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:<\/i> Hebrews 8:8. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There was a fault, but it was not with the Terms of the Covenant. God’s Laws are perfect; His Statutes are right; His Commandments are pure; His Judgments are true and righteous altogether (Psalm 19:7-9). The fault was not with God. The fault was with the people involved. They kept breaking the Terms of the Covenant. They were not obedient. Their hearts were not in harmony with God. They continued to bring their sacrifices but God wanted something beyond that. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice<\/b><\/u>, and to hearken than the fat of rams. <\/i>1 Samuel 15:22<\/span><\/p>\n

What changed when the Messiah came?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week <\/i>he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease<\/u><\/i>, <\/i>and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.<\/i> Daniel 9:27 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This prophecy predicts the Messiah’s coming, His ministry, and His death. It tells us that the sacrifices and oblations ceased. That was the change that occurred at the cross. The book of Hebrews explains more about the change as Paul describes several things that are better\u2014better sacrifices, a better Priest, a better Sanctuary, better promises.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing then that we have <\/i>a great high priest<\/b><\/u><\/i>, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession<\/i>. Hebrews 4:14<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises<\/b><\/u>.<\/i> Hebrews 8:6<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a <\/i>greater and more perfect tabernacle<\/b><\/u><\/i>, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;<\/i> Hebrews 9:11<\/span><\/p>\n

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: <\/i><\/span><\/span>How much more shall <\/i><\/span>the blood of Christ<\/b><\/u><\/i><\/span>, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the <\/i><\/span>living God?<\/i><\/span> Hebrews 9:13, 14<\/span><\/p>\n

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with <\/i>better sacrifices<\/b><\/u><\/i> than these.<\/i> Hebrews 9:23<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Here we can see that Jesus brought in what was \u201cbetter\u201d:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He is a better High Priest for many reasons, including the fact that He was sinless, ever-living, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The better promises involve, on God’s part, a better inheritance (heavenly rather than earthly) and, on Jesus’ part, His commitment to fulfill God’s will perfectly (John 8:29; Hebrews 10:7, 9) contrasted with man’s disobedience.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He ministers in a greater Tabernacle in Heaven, made by God Himself.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His blood is far superior to any animal blood, able to purify more than the flesh, actually cleansing the conscience, the deepest source of sin by revealing to us the terrible effect sin has had on God (we killed Him) and His continued encompassing love for us.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His sacrifice is far superior because He is the Son of God (nothing could be greater or better) so He only needed to do it once for all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul was writing to Jewish Christians explaining the changes that the cross introduced. What did he mean when he spoke of a \u201cnew covenant\u201d or \u201cnew testament?\u201d Why was a new one needed? Because the old established only a temporary remedy for sin and pointed forward to the true, complete remedy\u2014Jesus Christ. The Jews viewed the remedy that they had been given as all that was needed, rather then looking, by faith, through the sacrifices to the One they foreshadowed\u2014Jesus, the Messiah. So they went on breaking God’s Laws and bringing sacrifices perpetually, not stopping to realize that they needed a change of heart to truly follow God’s will in spirit rather than merely in letter.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus came to take humanity’s place in the Covenant as our Substitute. The New Covenant is between God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son, who completely fulfills all the Conditions of the Covenant for us and will receive all the Kingdom Promises. He became our surety, our guarantee, that all the Terms would be fulfilled. When we have Jesus living in our hearts, we become heirs to the Kingdom with Him. He also brings about a change in our character by instilling God’s Laws in our hearts and minds through the power of His Spirit so that we will be in harmony with God and can also fulfill the Terms of the Covenant.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The terms of the “old covenant” were, Obey and live: “If a man do, he shall even live in them” (Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5); but “cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them.” Deuteronomy 27:26. The “new covenant” was established upon “better promises”–the promise of forgiveness of sins and of the grace of God to renew the heart and bring it into harmony with the principles of God’s law. “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. . . . I will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33, 34.<\/i> (Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets<\/u>, p. 372)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So the change at the Cross was to replace erring humans with the perfect One\u2014Jesus\u2014and to replace the Sacrifices, Priests, and earthly Tabernacle system with Jesus, the BETTER Sacrifice and High Priest in the Heavenly Temple. He is the One who was always the true fulfillment of that system. The Hebrews had come to regard the Sacrifices as an end in themselves, but it was only by faith that true forgiveness and atonement were received. Salvation has always been by faith, as we know from Hebrews 11. It was by faith<\/b><\/u> that Abel<\/b><\/u> offered a better sacrifice than Cain. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him<\/i>. Hebrews 11:6<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What changed at the cross was the remedy for breaking the Law, not the Law itself<\/b><\/u>. All the Laws are still intact\u2014the Ten Commandments and the other Laws given through Moses. Nothing was changed except what we are specifically told was changed. The prophecy of Daniel 9 and the book of Hebrews tell us what was changed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

To put it simply: The difference between the Old and New Covenants is Jesus, the True Remedy for the sins of man.<\/b><\/u> What was foreshadowed in the Tabernacle system became a reality. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Did the Terms of the Covenant change? No! There was never a problem with the Terms. They are still obedience and cooperation with God. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Under the new covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old. The conditions are, and ever have been, based on perfect obedience.<\/i> (Ellen White, Letter 216, 1906)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: <\/i> Romans 1:5<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?<\/i> Romans 6:16 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;<\/i> 2 Corinthians 10:5<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.<\/i> 1 Peter 1:2<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. <\/i> Revelation 22:14<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are those who say that the Terms of the Covenant have changed, that God’s Laws are not part of it anymore, that everything is by Grace, meaning that God is more lenient now, not as strict as He was before. But where does the Bible say that? Jesus said He didn’t come to change any of God’s Laws (Matthew 5:17-19) and we are not given permission to change anything.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a principle we must follow: God does not change. (Malachi 3:6) What He establishes does not change unless He Himself changes it. If the Bible doesn’t tell us that He changed something, then it remains.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.<\/i> Deuteronomy 12:32<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book<\/i>. Revelation 22:18, 19<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Laws of God have not been changed. Not the Ten Commandments nor the specifications given in the Statutes and Judgments. The only thing that changed was the remedy for sin. The shadows were replaced by Jesus, the fulfillment and true Remedy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. <\/i>Hebrews 8:10, 11<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The question is often asked: What is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? What changed when Jesus died on the cross? First, we must understand that there is an Eternal Covenant that is foundational to all others. Simply stated it is this: God says, \u201cI will fulfill my promises to you … <\/p>\n

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