Why are There Two Testaments in the Bible?
The Bible consists of two parts: The Old Testament, and the New Testament.
Why?
This is best explained in the book of Hebrews:
"In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made
it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes
effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant
was not put into effect without blood. When Moses had proclaimed every
commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together
with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and
all the people. He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has
commanded you to keep." In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the
tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that
nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness." (Heb 9:16-22 NIV)
While I was still quite young, my dad once matter-of-factly told me: "One day,
all this will be yours." I looked with fascination as he showed me all of his
belongings, everything he owned. Had he worked so hard just for me? The thought
nearly blew me away.
I didn't receive the fulfillment of this promise, however, until he passed away.
It wasn't much, really, especially after splitting the estate between the
siblings, and of course after giving the government their share, but it was
enough to make me realize that I mattered to my father. I guess that up until
the day his will came into effect, I had never fully grasped what all of this
meant.
I have had to experience the deaths of many family members over the years.
Grandmothers, grandfathers, uncles, aunts . . . And I was very close to some of
them. But none of them ever gave me the same promise my dad gave. I was special
to him!
The same is true with our Heavenly Father. On the same day we wandered away from
Him, He, too, gave us a promise. He said: "I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you
will strike his heel." (Gen 3:15 NIV) That promise gave birth to hope. Hope that
one day the enemy who deceives us, the enemy we accept as authority in our
lives, will be crushed. Deliverance would be forthcoming!
This is where the first testament or will comes into place, the one we call the
Old Testament. Just like any will, it can't come into effect unless someone
dies. The first will was put into effect with the blood of calves.
It's a testament based on rules and regulations. The only problem is, as humans,
we either take everything too literally, or we take it too liberally. We have to
learn from experience that we cannot save ourselves! The purpose of the law was
never to make us legalistic, in the way the Pharisees enforced it. No, instead,
all through the Old Testament there is a clear indication that the law had
everything to do with love:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your strength." (Deut 6:5 NIV)
"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Lev 19:18 NIV. See also Matt 22:37-40)
Even in the Old Testament God's desire was love:
"I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk
among you and be your God, and you will be my people." (Lev 26:11-13 NIV)
He wanted the return of the relationship that was lost with mankind in the
Garden of Eden! (See Gen 3)
Did the sacrifices of calves and lambs take away the sins of humanity?
"Those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for
the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (Heb 10:3-4 NIV)
Not at all! Why were these sacrifices necessary, then?
"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities
themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated
endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship." (Heb
10:1-2 NIV)
The law was a shadow of what was yet to come. It was not the fulfillment of the
promise, it was an encouragement that the promise would one day be fulfilled!
(See 1 Cor 13:12 NIV)
"So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by
faith." (Gal 3:24 NIV)
The law was never meant to be a way for us to show off! The law was never
written so that we could be justified by our own actions! This is completely
impossible! The Old Testament was pointing directly to the New Testament and its
realization in Jesus Himself!
"The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: '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.' Then he adds:
'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.' And where these have been
forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin." (Heb 10:15-18 NIV. See also
Jer 31:33-34)
Notice that in this text, all the actions are done by God Himself. It is "I
will". Not "you will" or "If you obey"!
Now here comes the crucial part: "Day after day every priest stands and performs
his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus the Christ) had offered for
all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since
that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one
sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Heb
10:11-14 NIV)
The New Testament is clearly the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Jesus Himself
died for us and put the New Testament into full effect. We are now "perfect
forever", not because of our efforts, but because Jesus paid the price of our
redemption once and for all! We may not feel like we are "perfect", but in God's
eyes we truly are! Jesus is a constant reminder of that very fact, and He is
right now, "at the right hand of God."
The New Testament message is clear: We are forgiven because Jesus willingly died
for us, so that we could taste eternity with Him (See John 3:16). He paid for
our freedom with his very own blood!
We always have the right to accept or reject any testament. If we so choose, we
can forfeit the promises written in a will. Or we can fully accept them and
taste the love that comes from Jesus Himself.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
(John 15:13 NIV)
How will you respond to the testament God has given to you?
Rob Chaffart