It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Better Covenant

How can we keep the commandments of God, if we do not know, or understand, what they are? No doubt, most of us would say that we know the commandments of God that we are to obey. Yet, there are many different doctrines today; so, it is probable that many are misunderstanding His commandments. This is one reason we ask for your letters and comments regarding these weekly articles. It is an undeniable fact that some believe and teach that we are still subject to the law of Moses. Also, men stand in the pulpits before you, saying God has spoken to them, or He has laid it on their heart to tell you a certain thing. It is not our desire to be unkind, but if your preacher says this, or if a televangelist broadcasts this, that person is not speaking the truth.

God's law for us today has been revealed in the New Testament. The people under Moses' law were unified as they observed the same feast days and offered the same sacrifices. Today, the commandments in God's New Testament law require each of us to obey and to teach the same things. We've already learned from Colossians 2:14, that Jesus took the law out of the way, nailing it to His cross: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." Was the law good? Yes. Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:12: "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."

Sometimes conflicts arise with others. A child says, "My sandwich is better than yours"; or, "My bicycle (or other toy) is better than yours." An adult might want a better house or better clothes or car than a neighbor. We living today do have something better than those who lived under the law of Moses. What is it? Read what is said in Hebrews 7:18,19: For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw nigh to God." Hebrews 7:22: "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament." Hebrews 8:6: "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (All emphases mine - HL) Why do we have a better hope, a better testament, and a better covenant, with better promises? The answer is in Hebrews 9:22,23: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 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." Hebrews 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." (All emphases mine - HL) We have a better hope, a better testament, a better covenant, and better promises because there was a better sacrifice than bulls and goats - Jesus Christ Himself, our sacrifice, Who wants to be our Savior. He can, and will be our Savior, if we accept His testament!