The Testaments

Q: I wanted to ask you a question about the testaments. Is the
Old testament in particular the sacrifice of the animals, and the
new testament is the shed blood of Jesus for forgiveness? Am I correct?

A: A testament is a covenant that is based on something received as the
result of someone or something dying (Hebrews 9:16-17). We still use the
word today in the idea of a last will and testament--a document which
determines who gets what after the author of the will and testament dies.

The "old testament" technically refers to the covenant of the law made
with the children of Israel. In 2Corinthians 3:14, the "old testament"
refers specifically to the written law of Moses--"But their minds were
blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the
reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ." The
"old testament" was read and therefore refers to the writing here.

However, the old testament is also called the "first testament." Hebrews
9:15 speaks of "the redemption of the transgressions that were under the
first testament." This indicates that the first, or old, testament did
not completely do away with sins but simply held them in check until the
perfect sacrifice of Christ. But the first testament did require the
shedding of blood. Consider this passage:

Hebrews 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without
blood.
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,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined
unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the
vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without
shedding of blood is no remission.

This passage refers specifically back to an incident when Moses sprinkled
the blood of the covenant in Exodus after the people agreed to keep the
commandments of the law.

Exodus 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the
audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will
we do, and be obedient.
8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said,
Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you
concerning all these words.

As the old testament was based on the sacrifice of animals (Hebrews
9:18), so the new testament is based on the sacrificial death of Jesus
Christ. Jesus is called "the mediator of the new testament" (Hebrews
9:15). That is why He called His shed blood (as pictured in the fruit of
the vine) "my blood of the new testament" (Matthew 26:28). The new
testament is the source of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus
Christ. In contrast to the old testament, the new testament provides full
forgiveness for sins and eternal salvation.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes
the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God;

In time, the inspired books that were written before the coming of Christ
came to be known as the Old Testament, while the inspired books that were
written after Christ came and died on the cross were known as the New
Testament. However, the phrases originally referred to two foundations
for forgiveness--the sacrifice of animals and the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ.

Thanks for the question. God bless.

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan

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