~~ The First Covenant ~~

Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

All of the above is that first covenant. It was only a ‘figure�?for them, then, which could never make them perfect. This Covenant had a worldly sanctuary, made with hands. That sanctuary was the tabernacle which those children of Israel made, under the direction of Moses. It had a second tabernacle into which the high priest alone, could go only once a year. This was behind the veil. He had to take the blood of animals in there to offer for his own sins and the sins of the people. Everything under the LAW was (v22), purged by this blood. It could never make them perfect. But it was the blood which sanctified this first covenant.

Verse 8. As long as this first tabernacle yet stand, the way into the holiest of all is not made manifest. So, as long as people place themselves back under this law, or first covenant, they will never see the way into the holiest of all. They will forever wander around in darkness of this DEATH covenant. Notice also, that this first covenant, with its worldly sanctuary and carnal washings, was IMPOSED on those people, UNTIL the time of reformation. Since that time, they were no longer to be under this first covenant of worldly doings.

There are two definite and different LAWS in Scripture. Until you learn this difference, you will always be confused and walk in darkness. Romans three teaches this difference very clearly.

Ro 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Ro 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Ro 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Now for one more witness of these two different laws: Ro 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Now that clearly shows two different laws; one law of WORKS, (this is that first covenant)�?and a law of FAITH. Paul clearly said the law is not of faith.

Ro 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Ro 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Ro 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Verse 19--the law is to them who are under the law, and under this law everyone is GUILTY before God. See, also, that it states that this law was given to stop all mouths and all to become guilty before God. He gave them this law so he could judge them as sinners and destroy them.

It clearly states here in verse 20 that by the law is the knowledge of sin. This certainly identifies this law as that tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil. How could anyone deny this? This is the tree of which God forbid Adam to partake of, LAW. And it brought death, as God told them it would. So, it is death to be under this law of works.

Look at verse 21-- the righteousness of God, without the law is manifested, and this was witnessed by the law and the prophets. So, even old Scripture told us that righteousness would be without law. This righteousness is by FAITH of Jesus Christ, to everyone that believes, for there is NO DIFFERENCE in anyone. Jews and Gentiles all have to come to righteousness without that law, by Faith in Jesus Christ. That law is NOT OF FAITH. What could be clearer?

Ro 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Ro 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Ro 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

See verse 13 above. It states clearly that the promise to be heir of the world, was not given to Abraham through the law, but through the righteousness of FAITH. If those of the law be heirs, FAITH is made VOID. So those under law are not HEIRS of the promise. Why? That law works WRATH. The only way to have no transgression, and not to incur the wrath of God, is to be WITHOUT LAW. Where no law is, there is no transgression. So God put those Israelites under that law so He could bring them to judgment and bring his wrath upon them. He was tired of their rebellion and sins. He had to put them under that law, in order to bring his wrath upon them. That is what the law is for�?.to stop all mouths and bring them all before God as GUILTY.

And to further prove this: Ro 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Ro 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

What did Adam do which brought sin and death upon everyone? He ‘ate�?of that ‘tree�?of the KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. For until the LAW, sin was in the world, but sin is NOT IMPUTED when there is no law. So this proves that by the law, God calls them sinners and brings his wrath upon them. Blessed is the man to whom God will not impute sin. Why? That is the only hope of salvation. How can one be in that number to whom God will not impute sin? It just told you…be not under that law. Only in Christ Jesus are we free from that Law of death. But if you put yourself back under that law, you are transgressing Jesus and grace, so God will bring his wrath upon you.

Ro 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

You can only be saved from wrath if you abide in Christ, by not returning or falling away from Grace, back to law. If you return to law, there remains no more sacrifice for your sins, and certain eternal death awaits you. This is the most serious thing in all the world.

Ro 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Ro 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now the above verse 20 proves that the law was given so that the offence might abound.

Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Ro 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Now you can ignore this message and not read it if you wish, but only death awaits those who refuse to even try to learn the truth. If your false teachings mean so much to you, that you refuse to try to learn truth, then the wrath of God will destroy you, eternally. Verse 14 plainly says that ye are not under the law. Do we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. It does not take a law to keep righteous people from sinning. We love righteousness and hate iniquity.

Ro 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Ro 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

When we come to Christ, we become DEAD TO THE LAW. Sin was by the law. It brought forth fruit unto DEATH. It is death to be under that law of Moses. There is enough Scripture here to prove this truth to any and every person in this whole world. If you refuse this much clearly written Scripture, you simply do not want life or truth.

Ro 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Ro 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Ro 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. Ro 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Ro 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

The above proves that man was alive without the law. But the commandment came and sin revived and man died. So we see that the commandment was UNTO DEATH. It was given to bring death or wrath upon sinners. Ro 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

So see that the commandment made sin become exceeding sinful. Why? By willfully breaking the law of God. It was given as a commandment, with the penalty of death attached to it. The only way out of this situation, is through the faith of Jesus Christ, which delivers us from that LAW. If your ‘coming to Christ, did not deliver you from that law�?it is in vain.

Ro 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

That is your only way out of this death law.

Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Jesus is a total different priesthood from that under Moses. Since this priesthood was changed, the law had to change also. If this law changed, why are so many still under the delusion that they must keep ten commandments, written on stone, and abolished by God?

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Heb 9:13 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:

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Christ became the high priest for the new testament. He sanctifies this covenant with his own blood. It is impossible for anyone to be under BOTH of these covenants. Either you are under the blood of those animals, (law), or you are under the blood of Jesus, (grace). Under that first covenant of law, is no mercy. They died under this covenant, WITHOUT MERCY. Why would anyone want to go there?

Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Heb 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Heb 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (See that those things were only patterns of the heavens.)

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

What happens to those who defile that law of Moses: Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Under Jesus, we are not guilty. Under the law, all are guilty. So if we are in Christ, we are not under the law. Mt 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. Mt 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Mt 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

See, those disciples were not trying to keep any 4^th commandment, because they knew they now had their LORD with them, and needed not to keep the works of the law, any longer.

Ga 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. Ga 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Ga 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Notice, this says that Abraham received the promise, which was a COVENANT, confirmed before of God in Christ, and the law was four hundred and thirty years AFTER, this covenant, and cannot disannul that covenant which was confirmed 430 YEARS BEFORE THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO MOSES.

If the inerritance be of the law, it is not of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise, not by law. Why the law, then?

It was ADDED because of transgressions, (how long?)-- until the SEED should come to whom the promise was made. This SEED is Christ Jesus. So that law was only added to the sinners UNTIL THIS SEED SHOULD COME.

So to hold to that law AFTER the Seed has come, is to deny the SEED OF PROMISE. It is that deadly and serious.

It was ADDED because of their transgressions.

It was imposed upon them UNTIL the times of REFORMATION.

It was given to make them all guilty and therefore, subject to the wrath of God.

The law was NOT given to righteous people, but to the rebellious:

Are any of you keeping it ALL? If not, you better run to the Rock of Grace and cry out for mercy. There is no mercy under that Law of Moses.

By: Jo Smith ~~ July 12, 2008