[stmatthew]

Daniel,

Though I gave some rough thoughts, I do not believe I can say that I clearly dealt with this subject and gave an answer as to what I believe.

I think the 1st thing we should do if we are going to identify when the New Covenant took effect is to identify what the New Covenant is. This "New Covenant" is first mentioned by name in Jeremiah Chapter 31.



Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jer 31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.


Several points to make in this is:

• This "new" covenant was originally to be made with the House of Israel and Judah
• It would be different than the old covenant that Moses presented
• Gods Law would no longer be on the hard tables of stone, but the soft tables of mans heart

Hebrews 8 brings this same text forward and gives greater clarity as to the mediator of this "new" covenant.


Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Heb 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
Heb 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Heb 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.
Heb 8:7 For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 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: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.


There are many things to consider in Hebrews 8. Again, a few points to highlite are:

• Our high priest, Jesus Christ, is sitting in a place of authority (right hand) in the heavens
• The high priest of necessity had to be IN the holiest of all in order for the sacrifice to be offered upon the mercy seat. Thus our high priest, who offered the sacrifice in the heavens, had to be in the holiest of all in the heavens to offer His blood sacrifice upon the mercy seat in the heavens.
• the first covenant had fault, the new covenant was better, and had better promises

maybe more later...