The Old and the New

I am currently reading the book of Hebrews, and I am fascinated by it. For some reason I have not wanted to read this book in an in depth way prior to now. However, now that I'm in it, I find it incredibly rich. It is amazing to read the stark contrasts between the old and the new covenants. With the old covenant, heavenly matters were a shadow; now they are a reality. The old covenant gave limited promises; now we have limitless ones. The old covenant was a failed agreement by the people; in the new we have a faithful agreement by Christ. The old covenant was one of external standards and rules; the new is one of internal standards from a new heart. Before was limited access to God; now is unlimited. Legal cleansing versus personal cleansing. The old covenant practiced continual sacrifice but now we have conclusive sacrifice *praise God*. The old was forgiveness earned, but now it is forgiveness freely given. The old was available to only some. Now, it is available to all. Isn't this amazing?! I wonder what kind of incredibly huge paradigm shift this must have caused for the Hebrews after Christ. If it blows my mind now, what must it have been like 2000 years ago to a people who couldn't fully grasp the weight of Christ's position as a perfect priest?

posted by *g* @ 10:07 AM