The final sermon in our series looking at ”The Promise Keeping God”.
Today we come to the end of our series on the covenants contained within scripture. Once again. Once again our passage on the New Covenant whilst it is taken from the New Testament has to be understood through the lens of the Old Testament.
Paul points out several differences between the Mosaic or ‘Old’ Covenant and the ‘New’ Covenant instituted by Jesus during the last supper and accomplished through His death and resurrection.
Stone versus hearts
It seems obvious to say that the Old was written on stone, we know the story of Moses being given the 10 Commandments on the top of Mount Sinai, but where then is the New one written? Jeremiah prophesied of a time when God would permanently restore the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah and make a new covenant with His people. The writer to the Hebrews quotes that passage saying;
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” [Heb 10:16]
When we become Christians God gives us a heart that wants to obey Him.
Condemnation versus Righteousness
It is in the light of this passage that we can understand why Paul gets so excited when he writes to the church in Rome;
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [Rom 8:1]
Temporary versus Permanent
The Old Covenant was never meant to last forever. It had the sole purpose of exposing man’s sinful nature and pointing out the need for a saviour. The New covenant has no such limitation as Christ’s sacrifice needs no repeating as He died once for all.
Dullness and Veils
The writer is making a word play between the veil that Moses wore after his encounter with God on Mount Sinai and the veil of the Temple that was torn in two as Jesus died signifying that there was no longer any separation between people and God.
In the first case Moses had to wear a veil because just the reflected glory of God on his face was enough to make people uncomfortable around him. As Christians we have had the veil removed and are being transformed into His likeness, and it is perhaps to be expected that we will make some people uncomfortable as we reflect the glory of God.
We must pray for those who hear the message that they may have the veil lifted from their hearts so that they can understand the gospel and so be saved by faith in Jesus.
Service Details
Theme: The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
Reading: 2 Corinthians 3 v 7 – 18
Preacher: Robin Brenchley
Led by: Brian Dickson
