There are some who argue that what Jesus did in establishing His New Covenant merely renewed or made better the Old Covenant.
Ever traded in an old car for a new one? The number one reason for trading in an old car for a new one is that the old car has become obsolete. Therefore a new one is needed.
Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Jesus is the Mediator of a New Covenant. But not just a New Covenant, a new and better Covenant. It is better because it has no expiration date on it. It is everlasting and it comes with an even greater glory than the first that isn’t fading!
2Corinthians 3:8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!
This is good news folks! What Christ accomplished replaces anything and everything that existed before. But it doesn’t replace it with a mere equivalent to what was before, it offers something far superior! Because it is so superior we can have great confidence and boldness.
2 Corinthians 3:12 ¶ Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away.
This New Covenant glory is not a fading glory because it will never be replaced or improved upon. It is also not a glory that requires we hide it by veiling our faces because it is not a ministry of death like the covenant of Moses was. The Old Covenant Moses brought was a covenant of condemnation and death. The Scripture makes this plain. We already read in VS 6 “The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.” Jesus brought us glorious life.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
