The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pivotal point of human history. What we believe about the
resurrection will determine our eternal future. The events that led up to the death , burial, and the
resurrection of Christ were prophesied thousand of years ago. It was foretold by the prophets that God would make a new covenant with all mankind that would endure throughout eternity.
The Lord gave several interim covenants which led up to the New Covenant .
The first covenant was between God and Adam and Eve. The promise was that if they were obedient they would have dominion over the earth.
Gen 2:8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” NKJV
The second covenant was with Abraham who was probably an idol worshiper. The Lord commanded an act of obedience which was to leave his country and his father’s house and go to a land that would be reveal to him. If Abraham was faithful he would receive four divine promises.
* He would be increased into a multitude like the stars of heaven.
* Material and spiritual prosperity
* His name would be made great
* Through Abraham all nations would be blessed.
About 14 years later the covenant was renewed and his name was changed and circumcision became the sign of the covenant. Gen 15.
After those days , some 430 years later, God brought out the children of Israel from Egypt. The Law of Moses became a constitution for the new nation. If they closely followed God’s covenant they were promised:
* God’s care, and protection
* Material prosperity
* Victory over their enemies
* Divine guidance
* The sign of the covenant was circumcision.
The third covenant was between the Lord and David. This covenant promised that the Messiah would come through David’s family line of Judah. That the Messiah would sit on the throne of David forever .
Covenant ceremonies
The ceremonies were observed by both parties. There was the exchange of vows to up hold the conditions of the covenant. Generally a sacrificial offering was made with the shedding of blood.
In accordance with the covenant there were benefits for obedience and curses for breaking covenant.
New Covenant began the night of the Last Supper. All of human history would hang in the balance. The prophecies uttered from Genesis to Revelation were ready to be fullfiled.
Matt 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. NKJV
The sign of the New Covenant is a circumcised heart.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. KJV
The Old Covenant was: keep the commandment and offer the blood sacrifice, which gave them
temporary standing with God only until the next sacrifice was needed. However, their conscience
was always guilty.
Heb 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. NKJV
The New Covenant removes the guilt.
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? KJV
The Law of Moses was a law of works. And when a person failed to keep it he fell under it’s curse.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. NKJV
Through Christ’s death, burial and resurrection we are now made right with God and we can live daily with a conscience free of guilt.
Rom 4: 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. NLT