Discovering the New Covenant by Greg Taylor - exAdventist Outreach

DISCOVERING THE NEW COVENANT
being superior to Moses; in chapters 5-7 He is superior to
all the priests, introducing a new order, the order of
Melchizedek. In chapters 8-10 He is a greater
sanctuary/temple, a greater sacrifice, and a greater
covenant. The entire book of Hebrews is about Jesus being
“superior to” and the “fulfillment of” the entire Old
Testament/Covenant system. To try to say in the middle of
this theme that Sabbath is a binding day for Christians, is to
miss not only the context of Hebrews 3-4, but the larger
context of the entire book. The logical point that the author
is making is that Jesus is a better Sabbath than the old
literal one-day-a-week rest. He is our rest today and every
day as we put our trust in him! He is the true temple, the
true Passover, the true Law, the true Sabbath! As I studied
this out, my heart just burned within me as I saw the
significance of Jesus in this book.
The next few passages in Hebrews underscore what the
study had taught me thus far, but they made even clearer
what the New Testament, or new will, teaches about what
carries over from the Old. Notice the following selected
verses from Hebrews 8-10. Please do not take my word.
Refer to your own Bible and study for yourself. Study the
context and the verses in between my selections to see if
these things are so. Start with Chapter 8, right after the
phrase in verse five that refers to the temple system as a
“shadow of heavenly things.” (There is an interesting
similarity to Colossians. 2:16-17). Starting with verse six
we read,
But now, He has obtained a more excellent ministry
inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant,
which was established on better promises. For if that
first covenant had been faultless, then no place would
have been sought for a second. Heb. 8:6-7
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