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The Old and New Covenants

1. Primary laws
   These include all Yahweh's moral commandments which will abide for all time. (For example Deut.6:5, Exodus 20:1-17)
2. Secondary laws
   These laws only come into effect when Yahweh's moral commandments are violated. They include for example:
   • The sacrificial system - if pardon was requested
   • The penal system - if pardon is not requested.

• Marriage
• Property
• Agriculture
• Food etc.

In this lesson we will mostly concentrate on the secondary laws which involved animal sacrifices. To do this we will first look at what is referred to in Scripture as the old and new covenants. In the old covenant Yahweh's secondary laws, the ones which called for animal sacrifices and diverse purification rites, may be compared to an engineer's blueprint, an architect's model or a teacher's visual aid. They contained B>symbolic rituals which the Almighty designed to teach His people the real lessons He had in mind. The old covenant, however, had certain weaknesses. For example, the people promised to obey God, but their promises were soon broken and they repeatedly lapsed into sin. In the old covenant, God's law was written on tablets of stone: but few Israelites really wanted to obey it. In the new covenant the Almighty makes a formal agreement - again with the people of ISRAEL; but there is a difference:

Hebrews 8:

6: ... he (Christ) is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises... 10: 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...

In other words in the new covenant Yahweh's law will not be obeyed reluctantly, but by choice, from a willing heart. For God promises to write His law on the willing believer's mind and soul, thereby ensuring spontaneous obedience and willing obedience. In the new covenant, Gentile believers (because of their faith in Christ) are also reckoned as descendants of Abraham. They are spiritual Israelites!

Galatians 3:	29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 2:	29: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart...

For more information about this, see Who/What is a Jew?

The main difference between the two covenants as regards forgiveness and cleansing is concerned is this:

• Under the old covenant the repentant sinner brought an innocent animal victim to the door of the Tabernacle or Temple where an Aaronic priest officiated. The sinner confessed his/her sin over the animal, which was then slain and the animal's blood was sprinkled on the repentant sinner. He/she was then forgiven.
• Under the new covenant the repentant sinner has no need to bring an animal to gain forgiveness or cleansing. All he needs now is to approach God with faith in Jesus Christ: who as High Priest of the new covenant pleads his own blood in the Temple in heaven.

Remember that both covenants are made with Israel: and that Yahweh's moral laws remain unchanged in the new covenant. Few believers realize these facts.

A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada   Animal Sacrific Index