Podcasts about first covenant

A new MP3 sermon from Christ Church Presbyterian is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: What Was Required of Adam in the First Covenant? | March 9 Subtitle: Strength for Today Speaker: John Blevins III Broadcaster: Christ Church Presbyterian Event: Devotional Date: 3/9/2025 Bible: Genesis 2:15-17 Length: 8 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Christ Church Presbyterian is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: What Was God’s First Covenant with Man? | March 8 Subtitle: Strength for Today Speaker: John Blevins III Broadcaster: Christ Church Presbyterian Event: Devotional Date: 3/8/2025 Bible: Genesis 2:7-9 Length: 8 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Christ Church Presbyterian is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: What Was God’s First Covenant with Man? | March 8 Subtitle: Strength for Today Speaker: John Blevins III Broadcaster: Christ Church Presbyterian Event: Devotional Date: 3/8/2025 Bible: Genesis 2:7-9 Length: 8 min.

The covenant that the Lord God made with Adam in the Garden of Eden is called the Covenant of Works, but in that covenant much grace is to be found.

We're continuing with Pastor Chamron Phal's story of his survival through the “Killing Fields” in Cambodia during the mid-1970's. Chamron tells of his escape to freedom in Thailand, & finally to the U.S.; & how he had made a vow to God when he was in the depths of terror and almost lost his life!

Jesus has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, v6. What are these covenants? How do they relate to the covenant of works and covenant of grace? What are the continuities and discontinuities between the old covenant and the new covenant?

Salt & Light Catholic Radio presents “Keeping the Lord's Day Holy.” Based on the 1998 Encyclical from Pope Saint John Paul II, Sister Beverly from Marymount Hermitage shares more about WHY the 7th day is holy and HOW we can keep it that way! Today's episode focuses on the Exodus and the First Covenant. To learn more about the ministry work of Sister Beverly, please visit the website: www.Marymount-Hermitage.org   

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Hebrews 9 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. ...

This message was preached at the First Covenant service of 1992 5th January 1992 by Pastor W.F Kumuyi at the old Gbagada Headquarters of Deeper Life Bible Church

Aba Al-Sadiq illuminates his 12 planets and a room full of his closest disciples on the topics of the first door of his new book, 'The Goal of The Wise.' Join us and learn the truth of what really happened in the Garden of Eden, how Adam was appointed a Vicegerent of God, what really made him fall, and what it means for Satan to share with Adam in his wealth and children. Watch as Aba Al-Sadiq reveals to us the origin of evil on earth and the reality of the spiritual battle between the bloodlines that has been playing out over the millennia. Through a careful analysis of the biblical text and other historical sources, this video will provide a fresh look at some of the most fundamental questions about humanity. Whether you are a religious scholar or simply curious about the origins of humanity, this video is sure to provide new insights and perspectives on one of the most iconic stories in human history.

Alex Goff, Simone Halpin, Kelly Brady, & Matt Marron respond to questions from Alex and Kelly's sermons on Sunday Oct. 22, 2023.

Earlier this year at the Evangelical Covenant Church's annual conference, Alyssa Paulson stood in front of delegates denomination-wide. She was there to defend her church. “You think that if you can just get them to see, like, ‘Hey, here I am just another human bopping around in this world … then the rest won't matter,” Paulson said later. Awaken West 7th in St. Paul, where she is an elder, was removed from the Evangelical Covenant Church, or ECC, in late June. The removal was due to being “out of harmony” with the denomination's policies and teachings on homosexuality and gay marriage. “It's not OK that my pastor could perform my funeral, but he can't perform my wedding,” Paulson said, adding that she was seeking acknowledgment that queer Christians who want to marry exist. “You can speak on my love in death, but not in life.”  Reevaluating the conversationAwaken West 7th's removal from the ECC is just the latest episode in a wider conversation for churches about the place LBGTQ+ people have in their congregations.At the conference, Paulson says that it seemed most people had already made up their minds, even before she gave her defense statement. “I'm talking to everybody making friends, and everyone was kind and loving and accepting,” Paulson recounts. “The second people found out that I was from Awaken, and who I was — literally eyes shot the other direction.”  For Awaken West 7th, run-ins with church leadership have a more extended history. In 2017, Lead Pastor Micah Witham was suspended for giving a blessing over a same-sex couple in his congregation. His decision to officiate a same-sex wedding in 2020 ultimately led to the church's removal. Witham said he met “with the Board of Ordered Ministry, like five different times.”Witham believes everyone should be able to participate fully in church life at Awaken. He decided to officiate the same-sex marriage ceremony partly to make the ECC reevaluate its rules for pastors and churches. “The last time this happened was 1996. That's almost 30 years ago, right?” Witham is referring to a resolution on human sexuality. It was adopted as the basis for Church policies in the 2000s.  “Gay marriage wasn't legal in the United States of America at that time. To say we've already had this conversation is just so ... inadequate.”   A grieving fellowshipThe ECC's official stance currently is “faithfulness in heterosexual marriage, celibacy in singleness — these constitute the Christian standard. When we fall short, we are invited to repent, receive the forgiveness of God and amend our lives.” Updated guidelines from the 2010s state that pastors can attend as a congregant but can't bless, pray, officiate or participate in same-sex weddings. ECC member churches are also prohibited from hosting same-sex weddings. According to Witham, these new guidelines were not voted on or discussed by the majority of pastors in the denomination. This discussion and voting process is typically required before adopting such measures. When the church updated these guidelines, Witham said that there were “no pastor[s] who dissent[ed] on this theologically in the room.” Like Paulson, Witham spoke at the annual national conference to argue against removal. He made his case for LGBTQ+ acceptance but didn't seek to change the ECC's overall stance. Instead, he wanted more dialogue and for individual churches in the denomination to make their own decisions. In the end, 75 percent of delegates voted to remove Awaken from the Evangelical Covenant Church.Awaken also isn't the first church involuntarily removed. In 2019, First Covenant Church in Minneapolis was also removed for adopting similar policies accepting LGBTQ+ congregants to participate fully in church life, including marriage.   In an announcement to media, Evangelical Covenant Church Executive Board Chair Tim Rodgers said, “We are always grieved when fellowship is broken ... we pray for God's blessing on Awaken and the Covenant Church as we each continue to join God in mission.” The Evangelical Covenant Church did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.  The situation isn't unique to the Twin Cities. Quest Church in Seattle, Wash., voluntarily left the denomination over similar issues this year.“The Evangelical Covenant Church leadership at that time was very dogmatic in opposition to that,” said Brent Carlson, leadership chair at First Covenant. “Unfortunately, that is not the tradition of the [ECC].” The financial factorCarlson and Witham have repeatedly said that, in their view, the ECC has historically valued having various opinions on religious beliefs and interpretations.  “The Covenant Church was about dialogue, community, love within the community ... it seems to have changed, and that's unfortunate,” Carlson said.“For a lot of people, this topic brings up a lot of fear about what's next. Kind of the classic slippery slope argument,” Witham said.He also believes money plays a big part. “There are a lot of churches who have said, if the covenant moves on this, we will leave.” The end of polite disagreementThe politicization of evangelical Christianity means churches risk losing their base if they move towards LGBTQ+ inclusion, said Anthea Butler, chair of the religious studies department at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert on evangelicalism.“Sexuality has always been a part for evangelicals to be, not just a moral issue, but a political issue as well,” Butler explained. In her opinion, the time for polite disagreement within churches, especially evangelical ones, is over, and she doubts it ever truly happened.“This is a theological issue. And so, [for the ECC] the theology says, ‘We don't do same-sex marriage.'” Since First Covenant in Minneapolis was removed from the ECC, they have concentrated on social justice issues, mainly housing and homelessness. They are considering how churches must adapt, down to the language they use. “We don't call them services anymore. We call them gatherings because we want to get away from the traditional preaching down from on high,” Carlson said. Awaken is not currently seeking to join a new denomination. A recent annual budget increased by 20 percent. Witham questions if being removed might hurt the ECC more than it hurts Awaken. “If a Christian church is in the sweet spot of God's heart, where the Spirit is leading, it will produce good fruit,” Witham said, borrowing from a passage from Galatians. “[If you] look around at Awaken, there's fruit everywhere. So, [in] some ways, I'm sad for the Covenant.” 

Message by Daniel Broyles.

We're continuing with Pastor Chamron Phal's story of his survival through the “Killing Fields” in Cambodia during the mid-1970's. Chamron tells of his escape to freedom in Thailand, and finally to the U.S.; and how he had made a vow to God when he was in the depths of terror and almost lost his life!

In this sermon, pastor Dylan Dodson preaches from Genesis 8:20-9:17 as we look at God's covenant with Noah.

Genesis 8:18-9:1

Genesis 8:18-9:17

Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. Taught at Agape Bible Church on February 26, 2023. [43 minutes]

Dr. Corey Abney, lead pastor of Bell Shoals Church, brings a message from Genesis 9 about the first covenant with Noah. We learn that a covenant is a chosen relationship in which two parties make binding promises. The old covenant was sealed with the giving of the law; but the new covenant is sealed with the giving of the spirit. The covenant remains in force because of God's faithfulness in the midst of our failures. You enter the new covenant by dying to self so that you can live in Christ.

The Evangelical Covenant Church is a denomination with roots in the pietist movement with Lutheran roots with about 200,000 members in the United States and Canada.  While it was founded by Swedish immigrants, it is a very diverse denomination.  At the 2019 Annual Meeting in Omaha, the church did something that had never been in done before: it expelled one of the oldest churches in the church, First Covenant Church in Minneapolis for its affirming stance on LGBTQ issues.  History might repeat itself later this year when two other churches could be expelled, one in the Twin Cities and another in Seattle. I chatted with historian Chris Gehrz on this important issue.  Gehrz is a professor of history at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Chris has written three books on pietism including the Pietist Option: Hope for the Renewal of Christianity, which he co-wrote with Mark Pattie.  We talk about the history of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the 2019 decision to expel First Covenant in Minneapolis, why the LGBTQ issue is so intractable and what might happen in 2023.Show Notes:Freedom in Christ- An Article written by Gehrz on the LGBTQ issueWhat is Pietism- Previous Episode with GehrzAmy Grant conquered Christian music. That was just her first act.Follow Church and Main:FacebookInstagramTwitterChurch and Main is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

From Eden to Eternity, the Bible tells one big story of redemption. And this year we're walking through God's divine story chronologically. Today we are journeying through Gen 8-11 and exploring God's sovereign plan as the events of Scripture unfold and point to Jesus. Today, you can follow along with us in Eden to Eternity: The Chronological Story of Scripture Study Vol. 1, on page 16. Visit The Daily Grace Co. for the Eden to Eternity bundle and for more beautiful products that will equip you on your journey to knowing and loving God more.  Follow @dailygracepodcast on Instagram for exclusive podcast content and @thedailygraceco for all things The Daily Grace Co. Subscribe to the Daily Grace Podcast on iTunes or Spotify. And, read the Bible in a year with us in the Bible App. Follow @dailygracepodcast on Instagram for exclusive podcast content and @thedailygraceco for all things The Daily Grace Co. Subscribe to the Daily Grace Podcast on iTunes or Spotify. Read the Bible in a year with us in the Bible App.  

The Tabernacle (and later the Temple) was constructed under the direction of Moses, according to the detailed instructions he received from God on Mount Sinia (or Mount Horeb). The “First Section” of the Tabernacle (the Holy Place), stands in distinction from the “Second Section” (the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies). This is not meant to signify two tabernacles, but two “sections” of one Tabernacle. Therefore, under the “First Covenant” there was only ONE PLACE where the special presence of God could be found, there was only ONE PERSON who could enter that place (the High Priest), and this person could only enter that place ONE TIME each year (the “Day of Atonement,” or Yom Kippur). In contrast, under the “New Covenant,” Jesus eternally serves as our High Priest. Christ not only atoned for our sin once and for all, but he made a way for us to “come boldly before the Throne of Grace (the Mercy Seat).” In other words, the ministry of Christ does not merely achieve forgiveness for our sins, but the ability to commune with God. Justification, although the “heart” of the Gospel, is not the “end” of the Gospel. The end of the Gospel is communion with the God forever.

The Tabernacle (and later the Temple) was constructed under the direction of Moses, according to the detailed instructions he received from God on Mount Sinia (or Mount Horeb). The “First Section” of the Tabernacle (the Holy Place), stands in distinction from the “Second Section” (the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies). This is not meant to signify two tabernacles, but two “sections” of one Tabernacle. Therefore, under the “First Covenant” there was only ONE PLACE where the special presence of God could be found, there was only ONE PERSON who could enter that place (the High Priest), and this person could only enter that place ONE TIME each year (the “Day of Atonement,” or Yom Kippur). In contrast, under the “New Covenant,” Jesus eternally serves as our High Priest. Christ not only atoned for our sin once and for all, but he made a way for us to “come boldly before the Throne of Grace (the Mercy Seat).” In other words, the ministry of Christ does not merely achieve forgiveness for our sins, but the ability to commune with God. Justification, although the “heart” of the Gospel, is not the “end” of the Gospel. The end of the Gospel is communion with the God forever.

I also would like to have a smoking furnace and a burning lamp.

After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants. [1 hour 38 minutes]

Key Bible Verse: "I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth." Genesis 9:13

We're continuing our visit with Pastor Chamron Phal, who's been sharing his incredible story of life and survival in Cambodia during the mid-1970s. He tells of the sudden change from a Christian home in a peaceful village, to his hard life in the jungle with Khmer Rouge soldiers and how his prayers saved him time and time again!

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://safetypinlove.com/2022/03/03/hebrews-87-for-if-there-had-been-nothing-wrong-with-that-first-covenant-no-place-would-have-been-sought-for-another/

This is the first step, into the straight and narrow, to return to our home above --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

On today's episode, Colin chats with David Greene from First Covenant Trust Company. Johnson City Living is hosted by Colin Johnson with Keller Williams Realty in Johnson City, TN.

FRIENDS DO NOT MISS THIS EPISODE! we have spent much time in the FIRST Covenant especially in Genesis to provide for you an understanding of the COVENANTS God has made with the people he's created (that's you and me, us) and with the Jewish People and Followers of Jesus His Son. All of that is there for you because what we do in THIS episode. In this episode, we explore Israel in the PRESENT day but we do so in the LIGHT of all those previous programs. SHARE WITH YOUR Christian friends ESPECIALLY if they think that ISRAEL is no big deal anymore.

With the "Falling into the Bible" series, we will go through the entire Bible within two years. This will be a chronological Bible study.  Dig deep and let God's word transform your life. Chapter(s) of the Day: Genesis 8-9 Focus of the Chapter: God's First Covenant If you fall behind in your daily study, you can catch up easily within the two year plan. Way to support this podcast: www.venmo.com/u/DeneiceinWonderland

Jesus comes to fulfill the promises God made to the People of God, not to wipe out all that pointed to this fulfillment. To appreciate what his message of reception really means to us requires that we seethe continuities between what was promised under the First Covenant and what is now offered by Jesus.About the Speaker: Father Michael Kelly is a Jesuit priest and English language publisher of the respected Jesuit periodical, La Civilta Cattolica.For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.com

June 4, 2021 Is. 27:1-28:13; Ps. 62:1-8; Prov. 16:19-20; Gal. 3:15-22

In the Beginning - Part 15, Genesis 8:15-9:17

Brother Swaggart and the panel discuss the First Covenant that Israel forfeited...

Brother Swaggart and the panel discuss the First Covenant that Israel forfeited...

Will continues his sermon series on Genesis and focuses on the end of the flood and God's first Covenant with man.

God Promised the Israelites the promised land, by FAITH they had to claim it! It wasn't easy. It came with challenges and tribulations. They had to WORK to claim it! Rahab aided Joshua's Spies in FAITH. She believed that the Israelites were God's people, but not only did she believe it she acted on it. She did the WORK. Have FAITH that God will go before you, and do the WORK that He gives you!BibleProject is the author and owner of the "Overview of Joshua" video.To see their full library of free content, please visit https://www.BibleProject.com

God Promised the Israelites the promised land, by FAITH they had to claim it! It wasn't easy. It came with challenges and tribulations. They had to WORK to claim it! Rahab aided Joshua's Spies in FAITH. She believed that the Israelites were God's people, but not only did she believe it she acted on it. She did the WORK. Have FAITH that God will go before you, and do the WORK that He gives you! BibleProject is the author and owner of the "Overview of Joshua" video. To see their full library of free content, please visit https://www.BibleProject.com

Join Pastor Doug and Pastor Scott as they continue our study in Genesis studying the the First Covenant in Genesis Chapter 9!

A special message by Pastor Jessica

KEY TAKEAWAYS:The inheritance (that is, justification by faith) was given by God as an unconditional gift to those who believe. Contrary to the claim of the Judaizers, obedience to the Law was not necessary to gain the inheritanceAbraham was saved by faith 430 years before the law was given to Moses. Therefore, grace is superior to the law.The stress on seed (cf. Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7), not seeds, was made simply to remind the readers that the faithful in Israel had always recognized that blessing would ultimately come through a single individual, the Messiah (cf. Gal. 3:19). And Matthew declared Christ to be the Son of Abraham and the true Heir to the First Covenant’s promises (Matt. 1:1).For more information about this show, includes additional notes and details, please visit the show page here or visit our home page at SeekingourGod.comMusicLife of Riley by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3976-life-of-rileyLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Privilege means a special right, an advantage granted or available only to a particular person or group.How do you view prayer? Listen to why We view prayer as a privilege as we compare prayer under the First Covenant to prayer under the New Covenant.

Most Christians think there is an Old Testament and a New Testament which is true however a more accurate description could be “First Covenant” and “Second Covenant.”It is almost impossible to thoroughly understand our second covenant without understanding the principles of the first. Join us today as Professor Greg Stephens and I look at the connections between our covenants and how they function together in our lives!To watch this teaching, check it out on our YouTube channel To share prayer requests, praise reports or for more information on becoming a partner with our ministry, go to our website www.DavidWeeter.org

HALLELUYAH! TUDAH ABBA YAH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR YAHSHAR'EL in sending us YOUR First Begotten SON WHO died so freely to Redeem us from the death penalty of transgressions under the First Covenant....And have given us the Gift of LIFE in HIS BLOOD of the New Covenant. HALLELUYAH!

Exodus 20:1–24:11

Our God is a Covenant Keeping God: the First Covenant_Genesis 1-2_Beth Schmidt_September 08, 2019 by Millarville Community Church

Behold He Cometh with Clouds V – The Destruction of Jerusalem  When Jesus was born and began to Minister in Judah and the surrounding countryside what Covenant was in force?  It is imperative that we understand this.  The law was in force.  Jesus himself had to submit to its ordinances.  After Mary’s purification according to the law Jesus was brought to the Temple that an offering to the Lord might be made. Luke 2:22-24  “And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. 23  (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), 24  and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”    My point in showing this in this study is to bring our attention to the fact that the Jewish people were still under the First Covenant when Jesus spoke.  So, when Jesus spoke of the coming destruction as recorded in Luke 21 and Matthew 24, he was speaking in relationship to the what had been declared under the first Covenant.  In Deuteronomy God spoke sharply to Israel in regard to not keeping his law, and having other God’s before Him.  He set before them blessing and cursing and told them they would be blessed to the uttermost, but if they did not keep his law they would be under the curse.  I challenge us all to read Deuteronomy 28 and to grasp that this Covenant was in force when Jesus came on the scene and when he declared the destruction of the Temple in Luke 21 and Matthew 24.   In Deuteronomy 28 we can see absolute parallels to what Jesus says in Luke 21 and Matthew 24, as well as what John writes in the Book of Revelation.  For example, in verses 49 and 50 of Deuteronomy 28, it is declared that the Israelites will be destroyed by a fierce nation.  When Jesus is born in Bethlehem, the fiercest of nations is in power in Jerusalem, with Rome having rule over them.  Verse 52 is one of the most powerful parallels to Jesus saying, “But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand,” you will find in your Bible.  This verse declares that a siege will be laid to the walls of Israel, and that they will come down.  According to history Rome did this to Jerusalem.    The scriptures are so powerful when we see them line up in accordance with one another.  Deuteronomy 28, also says that Israel will be destroyed with the sword, with famine, and pestilence.  This sounds very familiar if I compare it with the four horses of Revelation, which John sees riding through the land.  Deuteronomy 28 declares plagues upon Israel.  The Book of Revelation is full of plagues.  Deuteronomy 28 declares that their carcasses will be fed to the fowls of the air.  Jesus speaks that where the carcass is there the fowls will be gathered together.  There are so many similarities to what Jesus declares in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, what they Book of Revelation says, and what Deuteronomy says that it would be hard pressed to simply call them a coincidence.  In fact, I believe we should rather take a closer look at what is said.   Now how does this relate to Coming in Clouds.  In the Old Testament Cloud Comings speaks of the Glory Cloud filling the Temple as we have also seen, but also speaks of judgement to destruction.  The Book of Joel makes this clear.   Joel 2:1-6  Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.    “A day of clouds and thick darkness, a people great and strong.”   This is speaking of the looming destruction of Jerusalem.  Blow the trumpet and tremble for what is coming upon the land.  So, when Revelation speaks of great judgements, and plagues, and destruction, could it be that it goes along with the rest of the Bible and the First Covenant?  Could it be that God does what He says He will do?    Israel as a nation rejected Him.  They were not keeping Covenant.  When Messiah came, they did not receive Him as a nation.  As many as did became sons of God, but as a nation they turned from him and rather declared “Let His blood be upon us.”  In other words, they were responsible for His death, and they did not receive it as the sacrifice.  They did it from a vengeful heart.  Had they known they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory, for their power and place in the land was taken.  Jesus was glorified and raised from the dead with all power and glory.  He was then and now is the King of Israel and the King of the whole earth.   Let all the earth declare His Glory!

The show in part deals with religious pushback at religious intolerance; I start out by talking about how the Jesuits running Brefeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indiana refused an archdiocese order to fire a long-time teacher who happens to be gay. The Big Interview is with Minneapolis pastor Dan Collison, who has been defrocked by…

SERIES: Back to the Beginning Genesis 9:5-17 In this message, Pastor Bernie Diaz talks about the “First Law and First Covenant,” from Genesis 6-9, as he gives you the true story behind ‘Noah’s flood’ and the first law given to mankind- capital punishment. Is capital punishment Biblical? Can such a law undermine our pro-life position?

Under the First Covenant, Israelites were obligated to support the religious system. Is that still in effect? Are Christians obligated to give money to the church? And if so, how much? (Technical note: The original audio recording of this message could not be used, so another recording of the message was substituted.) Pastor Luke preaches from 2 Corinthians 8:8-15 in "Earnest Money - Profit Participation, Part 2," part 2 of his 5-part series, "Profit Participation."

Welcome to the Calvary Assembly of God Podcast by Pastor Adrian Van Aswegen in Brookings, Oregon. This sermon is called "The First Covenant".

Zach and Ben run down the latest previews and assess the first Covenant Masters event - a Destiny Draft last weekend! Zach makes more time for Westworld. Ben finds a way to mention JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.  If you have any questions for us, leave us a comment with #askcovenant on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Youtube. You can find video versions of these podcasts on the latter. You can find us at teamcovenant.com and learn more about our business at: teamcovenant.com/about  

Jesus is the better mediator of a better covenant than Moses. I. Continuities. II. Discontinuities.

Pastor Lisa Straus gives a sermon about Noah and the First Covenant on June 5, 2016 at Westlake United Methodist Church in Austin, TX.

Tiff Shuttlesworth preaches a message out of Matthew 6:25 entitled, "First Things First Covenant."

Tiff Shuttlesworth preaches a message out of Matthew 6:25 entitled, "First Things First Covenant."

In which Adam explains the connection between death and the covenants

The things of the first covenant.

The things of the first covenant.

The new covenant is different than the Old Covenant in that it is written on our minds and hearts.

The new covenant is different than the Old Covenant in that it is written on our minds and hearts.

The Life of Faith Hebrews 11, one of the great and glorious chapters of the Bible. We haven't gotten to it yet, but God willing, we'll get there in time. But it celebrates a life of faith, and that is very, very much what we must do in the new covenant religion, we are called on to walk by faith and not by sight. These things that we are dealing with are invisible things. We cannot see them, we can't handle them, we have to accept them by faith based on the word of God. But in that glorious chapter, in Hebrews chapter 11, it talks about the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and how they live by faith in the promised land. Not having received any of those things that were promised, but seeing them and welcoming them only at a distance, they lived their lives that way. And one of the evidences that the author to Hebrews gives of that life of faith, is that they lived in tents in the promised land. Now, a tent is a temporary dwelling. It's something that you can move easily, it's light weight. And you can pull up the stakes and you can move that very day, and be in another place later that day or tomorrow. And what's fascinating to me, as we come to Hebrews 9:1-5, a contemplation of the Tabernacle, it's amazing me that God chose for a time to dwell in one sense spiritually, in a tent, with the people of Israel. Why did He do it, what was He choosing to communicate to us by dwelling in a tent, and that is that the permanent dwelling place of Almighty God with His people has not yet come. That God is moving from place to place, and that only in the final salvation, that Christ brings will set up with His people and permanent face-to-face fellowship. And so for a time, God chose to dwell in a tent. And our purpose today as we come to Hebrews 9:1-5, is to understand that tent that holy place, that sanctuary, that tabernacle, to try to understand why God established it as He did, what were His reasons, to give honor to those reasons. And to understand based on Hebrews 8:13, I'll mention that again in just a moment, but that it's obsolete, it's time has passed the time for the tent, the Tabernacle is over, it has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, all of the truth that's wrapped up in the symbolic elements of that tabernacle, have come to pass, in Jesus they are fulfilled. The Context of Hebrews: The Supremacy of Christ Over All Things And so we're going to try to understand that. Now let's get a running start in terms of our context here, remember that the Book of Hebrews was written to some Jewish people in the first century, who had made an outward profession of faith in Christ, perhaps, I think, certainly I think had testified to it by water baptism, were in the process of worshipping with the people of God week-by-week. But they were under attack by the surrounding Jewish culture, by Jewish authorities perhaps, political authorities, by religious authorities. By their neighbors, they're unsaved family members, friends, co-workers, under intense pressure, to forsake Christ, to turn their backs on Jesus and go back to old covenant worship, and the animal sacrificial system, that was first established through the tabernacle. All of those things that would be at the center of what they were being tempted to go back to. And so the author's strategy in the Book of Hebrews is to give us Jesus, to give us the glories and the majesty and the greatness of the person of Jesus Christ. And I think we've seen no book does that in quite the way and with quite the glory that the book of Hebrews does. I mean, we could study this for years and never quite see all of the glory of Jesus that we need to see it. But he has been comparing Jesus across these eight chapters now into the ninth chapter, with elements of the Old Covenant. Trying to show that the Old Covenant has been fulfilled, has been superseded, in the new covenant that Jesus came to bring. So we see the superiority of Jesus Christ, the supremacy of Christ, superior to the Old Testament prophets, superior to the angels, who mediated the old covenant, to Moses. Superior to Moses who was a servant in God's house, but Jesus a Son over God's house. Superior to Joshua who brought them into the physical promised land, where they stayed temporarily until their sins evicted them under the stipulations of the old covenant, which they could not keep did not keep. Jesus is superior to Aaron and to the Levitical priesthood, the Aaronic priesthood, Jesus superior to all of this. We've been looking at that. And we've turned the corner a bit now in Chapter 8, and we've seen the new covenant that Jesus comes to bring. The marvelous elements of the New Covenant. How God said he will write His laws on our minds and on our hearts, and He will be our God and we will be His people. No longer will a man need anyone to teach him saying know the Lord. For we will all know the Lord from the least of us to the greatest, for He will forgive our wickedness, and He will remember our sins no more. Those are the beautiful elements of the old covenant that we studied last time. The First Covenant is Obsolete And then he makes a transition in verse 13 of chapter 8. He's saying, "By calling this covenant new, He has made the first one, obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear." And now we go immediately from that into chapter 9, verse 1-5, to talk about the tabernacle. So he's discussing something that is now in his mind, obsolete. It's aging, it must soon pass away. That's the transition. So I've given you some context now. But I want to just stop and just make a point. That's a point of lasting value and contact to us, and that is we need to remember what God was seeking to do with these first century professors of faith in Christ, these Jews, is one of the most difficult things that God has ever asked any generation. He's asking them by faith to turn away from the religion they have known since they were children, just about every aspect of it. To just turn really almost on a dime. The moment that Jesus said, "It is finished," the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Their religion was obsolete. And to just learn a whole new way of worship in spirit and in truth, very, very difficult. So he wants them to know that whenever God asks them to give something up, He gives them something infinitely better in return, and that is just a lasting principle, isn't it? Think about how Jesus began to assemble His disciples on how he walked by the Sea of Galilee, and there He sees two sets of brothers, four people, Peter, John, James, and Andrew and they're fishing by the side of the lake there, and He says to them very boldly and clearly, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." And immediately they left the boat and their nets and their father, and followed Jesus. And the same thing with Matthew, sitting at the tax collector's booth, and Jesus passes by, He's moving on, the kingdom of heaven is moving. And He says to Matthew "follow me," and immediately Matthew gets up and leaves that lucrative though somewhat shady and corrupt business of being a tax collector, and he follows Jesus, leaves it all behind. Whenever Jesus calls on you to leave something behind the thing that He's going to give you in its place is infinitely superior. We were talking, my kids and I, as were driving in about the word obsolete, so I asked one of them, I said, "Do you know what the word obsolete means?" "Kind of." I said, "Well let's take the type writer, for example. I mean, have you ever seen me on a typewriter?" "No, I've never seen you on it." "I used a typewriter in college." Alright, I did. I hate to admit that I know it dates me. Or the phone that you dial. You remember dialing those long numbers and things, etcetera, like that. Those days are over although we still have hold over terminology. You still hang up with your cell phone, I don't know where you hang your cell phone, maybe on your belt, I suppose, but we still use this old terminology but it's obsolete language. So I say, "What does it mean obsolete? It's when something is replaced by something better, and that's what's going on here. Whenever the Lord calls on us to give something up He replaces it with something infinitely better. But if you don't follow Him by faith, you're going to be the losers, spiritually. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me, for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." And so these first century Jews were called on to release their old conceptions of religion, to give it up and follow Jesus into the new covenant, and wholeheartedly by faith follow Him. "For What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul, and what would a man give in exchange for his soul." "For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory and all the angels with Him, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done." So when He calls on you to give up something, you're not really the loser, you are going to find your life, you're going to find Christ. Conversely with the rich young ruler, remember? Called on him to sell everything he had, give to the poor, he would have treasure in heaven and come follow me, but the man went away sad because he had great wealth. Really, these Hebrew Christians, these professors of faith in Christ. They were at the fork in the road and they had to decide to follow Jesus on into the promised land, and so do we. So we come down to this contemplation of the Tabernacle, and it's a symbolic thing. Look at verses one and two in Hebrews nine, now the first covenant. The one that's obsolete now, the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. And so we have this symbolic Tabernacle, this picture of Christ redeeming work. So he's referring to this tent. Would have been well familiar to them, they would have understood what it was. Now, we have to pause and say, that I don't think any of them had seen the tabernacle either, because it has long since been replaced by the temple in the time of David. David thought it was time to replace the movable tent. And so the focus from that point on was on the temple. But in a fascinating way here, the author to the book of Hebrews never mentioned the temple. Never once. Ten times, he talks about the Tabernacle, never once the temple. I think the reason is, he's looking specifically at the elements of that Old Covenant that were established on Mount Sinai through Moses. He's zeroing in on that, and he's talking specifically about this symbolic tabernacle, which is a picture of Christ's redeeming work. Now the author is saying, and he begins in chapters 9 and 10, having considered the greatness of Christ in His person, he's going to zero in here, in chapters 9 and 10 on the blood sacrifice, that Jesus gives. And say that the blood sacrifice of Jesus is superior to that of the Old Covenant. So he begins by talking about the tabernacle. He's going to say that the Ministry of blood that Jesus offers is superior because of the place in which He offers it, that place was earthly, Jesus offers in a heavenly tabernacle. Of which the earthly was just a pattern and a picture, a type and a shadow. He's going to say, secondly, in Hebrews 9 and 10. That the blood itself is superior, because it's the blood of the Son of the living God, that was just blood, the blood of bulls and lambs sheep and goats, animal blood. So the blood itself is superior. And thirdly, the blood sacrifice is superior because it was offered once for all, never again to be repeated, whereas the animal sacrifices repeated endlessly. So the place is superior heaven versus earth, the blood is superior, the Son of God versus the blood of animals, and the time is super once for all, verses endlessly repeated. That's where he's going. The Tabernacle: Established by God as Merely a Symbol But we begin by looking at the place, this sanctuary. Now look what He says, He gives us two descriptions here, the earthly sanctuary. An earthly sanctuary was set up in the first covenant. Now, the first thing we have to realize is, it was the covenant that God made with Moses that gave the stipulations for this tent. Now, I've been saying that God gives us something infinitely or vastly superior in every case, but notice with what respects and what dignity the author to Hebrews deals with these elements that have now been superseded. They were established by God, and so Jesus is superior to the prophets, but that doesn't mean the prophets were of no value, they were godly men who spoke the word of God in their time at various times and in various ways. But Jesus speaks a better and final word, that's all. And Jesus is superior to Moses, He is just a servant in God's house and Jesus is a Son over God's house, but Moses is still a man of honor. Called by God, a godly man, worthy of honor. So also Joshua, a godly man led them into the Promised Land, Jesus is superior but we're not denigrating any of these things, we're not denigrating the Aaronic priesthood. Aaron priestly ministry was established by God. And so it is with this tent that was set up, we're not denigrating it. It was set up by the covenant of God, God wanted it done. But we still need to understand its limitations and that it has been superseded by the New Covenant, that's all. And so he gives us these two terms; an earthly sanctuary. Alright, let's take the second word, the word sanctuary, the word sanctuary literally refers to a sacred place, a sacred place. So my mind immediately goes to that time when God first called Moses into his service. You remember how he's up there on the mountain of God, and how he saw the Bush, the burning bush, and he heard God calling him, Moses, Moses. And he came over to look at this bush and he heard Him say, "Do not come any closer, Take off your sandals, for the ground on what your standing is holy ground." So that's what a sanctuary is, it's a place here on earth that set apart unto God as sacred and holy. And specifically in the history, it's where God would in a marvelous way meet with His people. It was holy because God would be there. So it was a sanctuary place set apart, where God would meet with the people, but it's also called an earthly sanctuary, an earthly sanctuary. What do we mean by that? With the Greek word is cosmocone. It relates to the cosmos or the created physical universe, it has to do with the physical stuff of this world, of this life. This tabernacle is made up of earthly stuff. You could interact with it with your five senses. It was Earthy. We don't mean worldly in the sense of wicked, or evil, not at all, but it was made up of earthly stuff. Primarily, there were these linen curtains of blue and Scarlet and purple, and so they were just woven up out of linen. Now linen it grows up out of the ground. It's something that was living and it's harvested and made into yarn and then ultimately into these curtains, it's earthly. And so also the tabernacle itself was covered with ram skins, dyed red, and then over that, where the skins of sea cows or the dugong, anyone ever heard of dugong? Have you ever seen a picture of a dugong? Maybe you have, I don't know what it is, but some kind of an aquatic creature whose skin would presumably be water repellent. And I covered it over, but I'm telling you what, all of these formerly living things begin to decay as soon as they are made, and so, whether it's moisture or heat or ultraviolet light or something, they're just going to age, they're going to wear out. As Jesus said, "Where moth and rust destroy, and so moth and rust can come in and destroy these things, though they are made of the highest quality of materials. There's still earthly. Jesus serves in the heavenly sanctuary not built by human hands, not made by humanity. And so we're talking about an earthly sanctuary. Therefore it is man-made and it is temporary. That's what the author is giving us. Now, the structure of it, if you can imagine your mind, it's a long rectangle. 30 cubits by 10 cubits, now a cubits about 18 inches. So, half again, so it's about 45 feet long, and about 15 feet wide, and a long rectangle. But even that's divided up into two sections you've got a two-part kind of compartment. You've got an outer area called the Holy place, completely enshrouded with these curtains and then you have an inner area called the most holy place, or famously in the KJV, the Holy of Holies, don't you love that expression, the holy of holies, the most holy place. So we've got this two-part sanctuary. Now, the author describes symbols in each of them, three symbols in the holy place, and then seven physical symbols that he describes In the most holy place. Let's look first at the symbols in the holy place. The holy place was the place where the priests would carry on their daily ministry. Only the priest could go in there and they went on every single day, offering their sacrifices day after day without end. That's the Holy Place. The inner area, the most holy places, as we'll discuss in a moment, only the high priest could enter, and that only once a year and never without blood, the Book of Hebrews is telling us. So that's the two part distinction. Now again, the lesson of this is clear, we've spoken about it in the past. I don't think we can say it too often. It's just like God said to Moses, at the account of the burning bush, "Don't come any closer." That's it. It's just amazing what God does, He's got this burning bush burning, fascinating. Never seen anything like it. That's attraction. You want to be there to find out what's going on. God is there. But as soon as you start moving in that direction, you get a prohibition from the Holy God saying, "Don't come any closer." And that's what this Holy Place, Most Holy Place, is saying to the human race. You may not come any closer. You are on the outside and you are looking in. And so that's what we've got to deal with here. The Lampstand Now, these elements in the first room, the outer room where the priest went on constantly to carry on their ministry. We have a lamp stand, a table, and the consecrated bread. This is in the most holy place. Let's look at the each of them briefly. The lamp stand, had seven lamps made up of hammered gold, beautiful thing, and it was there simply practically to give light. You can imagine with these heavy curtains and the coverings and all that, it would have been pitch black, even on the brightest day, and so there is no light in there, except that given by the lamp stand. Now, this is a marvelous thing. I want you to know what we're doing is we're seeing symbolic significance to each of these things. Verse 9, which is not in our text today, but in Hebrews 9:9, it says that this whole tabernacle was a in the Greek, parabolē, a parable, a type or symbol or representation. It was somehow speaking symbolically about Jesus. And so it's not wrong for us to go through as over-somehow allegorizing or something, to find how each of these elements does speak about Jesus. Do you have to work very hard to wonder how the lamp stand speaks of Jesus? I think not. Jesus says, "I am the light of the world, whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Jesus is the light of God speaking truth to us, illuminating us, communicating to us. Without Him we are in total darkness. Now, what's so amazing about this and this thought hit me this very morning, I'd never had this thought before. But you go into this holy place, and it's pitch black, without that lamp, you go into the most holy place, it's pitch black, but the Bible says that God dwells in unapproachable light. How do you put those two together? Pitch black, God dwelling in unapproachable light? Well, the way I put them together is you know what it is that makes that be pitch black, are the curtains that God commanded be built. God is forbidding us to come any closer. And then is luring us in through Christ, and when Christ then comes in, the prohibitions are removed and we step into a world of unapproachable light. And so it says in 1 John 1, "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin." And so, what is it that made it black? It was the prohibitions of God saying, "You may not come any closer," and if we're not with God, what are we, but in total darkness. And so God sets up this lamp stand, it points to Christ, Christ shines. The oil is given every day by the Israelites. They were commanded to give pressed oil for the lamp to keep it burning, and it was to be burning constantly to give light. And so it represents Christ. The Table Secondly, we have the table. Now the table was golden, beautiful made, magnificent. What does it represent? Well, I think throughout scripture, table represents food. And we'll get to that in just a moment, but it also it's symbolic for fellowship. It's symbolic for relationship. So if you're sitting at someone's table, you have a relationship together, you have friendship together, to eat at someone's table. Think about what David said in Psalm 23, speaking to God, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." In other words, "God I can have good fellowship with you in the middle of my... I can be surrounded by enemies and I can have just a feast with God." Isn't that marvelous? So God prepares a table for us, and we have fellowship with Him. And to me, that's beautiful. Or again David, from the life of David, remember how he wanted to show kindness to the house of Jonathan, Jonathan was deceased at this point. Died at the same time as his father, but David had a covenant and a friendship and he wanted to express that love and that friendship he had for Jonathan. There's someone left, and yes there was this son Mephibosheth one of Andy's favorite people. Mephibosheth. It's hard to say. I practice that this morning. Mephibosheth. But Mephibosheth sat at table, at the King's table with the King every day, and that represents the fellowship that we have with God. God wants face-to-face fellowship with us. The Consecrated Bread And then on the table, we have this consecrated bread, the bread of the presence it's called. Literally in the Hebrew, the bread of faces. And so, face-to-face fellowship over the bread. Or the show bread in the KJV, you have this consecrated bread. 12 loaves, one for each tribe was baked freshly every Sabbath. And again, with the manna that we'll talk about in a moment, but it represents God's desire to feed us nourishment, to enable us to feed, and I'm going to cluster it together with the manna, and say Jesus is clearly the fulfillment of this. "It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it's my Father that gives you the true bread from heaven." "And the bread that he gives for the life of the world is His flesh." And so through this, through His death, we have fellowship with God, we have nourishment, sustenance. Jesus is the bread of life. Fulfillment. So that's the outer place where the priest were constantly working in the holy place. Seven Symbols in the Most Holy Place Then we have behind the second veil or second curtain, verses 3-5, a room called the most holy place, which had the golden altar of incense, the gold-covered Ark of the Covenant. And this Ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had butted and the stone tablets of the covenant, and above the ark where the cherubim of the glory overshadowing the atonement cover. So these are seven elements in the most holy place. Now again, the most holy place was a perfect cube. 10 x 10 x 10 cubit wise. 10 cubits, by 10 cubits by 10 cubits. Perfect cube. Just like the new Jerusalem by the way. Read about it and Book of Revelation. We won't go there we won't talk about it, but it's just a perfect cube. And it represented the place where Almighty God dwelt Himself. And the laws were very clear, that no one was allowed to go in there, ever except one day. And so every day, but one even the high priest knew he was forbidden from going in there. What kind of sense of the fear of the Lord would you have as you enter in there? And the fact that he had to offer sacrifice for his own sins, so that he would not die. A sense of the terror of the Lord, that's what the most holy place was all about. And on the day of atonement, he would enter in Leviticus 16 describes us very plainly, but there's all these rules about what must happen in order to enter the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place. The Golden Altar of Incense Now, the first element mentioned here is the golden altar of incense. Now we don't know exactly or literally whether this is an altar itself or a golden sensor. There's a translation issue, but in any case, incense filled the most holy place when the priest was in there. And if you read about it in Leviticus 16:12-13. I not going to quote it in detail, but basically, the incense, the cloud of incense, finely ground incense was burned and a cloud filled the most holy place to cover the Ark so that the priest would not die. That's literally what it says. I find this interesting. Now in the book of Revelation, and in other places, this cloud of incense represents prayer, intercessory prayer. And so what I get out of this is that this represents the intercessory ministry of Jesus, how He pleads the merit of His blood. And in some ways puts a barrier between the eyes of a holy God and our sinfulness, so that we will not die. And so Jesus is praying for you. Perhaps you've committed sin, this week as a believer in Christ, but you didn't die. And why is that? Because of the value, the merit of Christ's blood and the efficacy of Christ's prayer, have in some way hidden God's holy eyes from your sin, He is no less omniscient, He knows what you did. But the cloud gets between God, His holy eyes and your sinfulness. And you do not die. Golden altar of incense. The Ark of the Covenant, Covered with Gold Secondly, the Ark of the Covenant, the Ark of the Covenant was the most significant physical artifact, more time is spent in Exodus 25-40, which gives instructions about all of this on the ark than any other physical item. It was the focal point, their God would meet with His people. It was a little more than a chest a box made of acacia wood covered inside and out, with pure gold. It was just a box, but that box represented the dwelling of God with His people. And so when the Ark of the Covenant was captured in 1 Samuel, the wife of Phinehas cried out, "Ichabod the glory has departed from Israel," it represented the glory, the glorious dwelling of God with His people. And friends that can only happen in the heavenly realms through the ministry of Jesus Christ, our great high priest, God will not deal with us on account of any other thing. Based on Jesus' intercessory ministry, His blood shed on the cross, God can and will dwell with His people forever. The Ark of the Covenant is fulfilled in Christ. And there above the Ark, between the cherubim God said, "I will meet with you," and it's fascinating how Moses heard God speaking from between the cherubim. Amazing. And how God localized His voice there above the mercy seat between the cherubim, there in a cloud of Shekinah the dwelling glory of God, their God met with His people. That was the significance of the Ark of the Covenant. The Golden Jar of Manna We have also the golden jar of manna. It's unclear whether it's actually inside the ark, it seems like, in Hebrews, it is. Other verses said there was nothing in the ark but the tablets, it could be that the golden jar of manna, you remember the manna was the bread that God provided every day while they were sojourning in the wilderness, was in the actual ark in the days of Moses. And then by the time that the ark was brought into the temple in Solomon's day, there was nothing at that point in the ark but the tablets of the testimony. But anyway, the golden jar of manna, as I've already said, represents God feeding His people supernaturally through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven. Aaron’s Staff that Budded We have also Aaron staff that butted, what was that? Well, it turned out that the Jews were jealous of Moses' and Aaron. And a man named Korah led a rebellion in number 16, led a rebellion against Moses and against Aaron, specifically against Aaron and his right to be priest. What right does he have? And so, Korah led this rebellion. Well, you remember what happened, how Moses said... I'll tell you what, Moses actually had a temper, from time to time. But you sense a sense a bit of heat here, as Korah is leading this rebellion. And he says, "I'll tell you what, if you die in an ordinary way, then you know that we've not been chosen by God for this role. But if the earth should open up and swallow you, then you'll know who God has chosen to be His priest." And as soon as he got done saying that, that's exactly what happened. The Earth opened up and swallowed Korah and all those that followed in his rebellion. But amazingly the next day the Israelites still murmured against Aaron. Isn't that incredible, the intractable nature of our sin. How deep is the stain and how difficult to remove? And so Moses commanded that each tribe bring forward a staff, just a stick cut from a tree. And laid it down. 12 of them, one of them represented Levi, the tribe of Levi, and on this stick representing Levi, Aaron's name was written, and the next day, miraculously this one staff, this dead thing, had in some amazing way come to life. As though it had some beautiful root system and it was a well watered tree, and it flowered it butted, and actually even produced almonds that could be eaten. And I wonder if anyone actually did eat the almonds? I don't have any idea, but it's just flourished and though it was dead. And to me, this represents the resurrection of Christ. Jesus is our high priest, he has been chosen and identified to Israel as our high priest, by His resurrection from the dead, the flowering that comes from Jesus' ministry. For 2000 years fruit has come from Jesus. And Jesus is in that way identified as our high priest, in a way far superior to Aaron staff that had butted. The Stone Tablets of the Covenant And then we have the stone tablets of the Covenant, these represent the law of God. On the basis of that law, God relates to us His sinful people. These two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments, you remember how God had carved out these two stone tablets and had written on them, in the finger of God, these Ten Commandments that he'd already proclaimed to the people. But the people were already disobeying by making a golden calf, and so, when Moses carried those two stone tablets down the mountain, he was enraged at their rebellion and threw them down and they were shattered. Symbolic of the fact that we can't keep this covenant. We are sinful. We cannot keep the stipulations of the Covenant. But two more tablets were made. The law of God can't disappear. And so the Ten Commandments were written again, with the finger of God and they were in the box, they were in the Ark of the Covenant. And this clearly represents Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the law of God, Jesus Christ said, "Do not suppose that I came to abolish the Law and the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them." As it says in Psalm 40, "Here I am, Oh Lord. It is written about me in your scroll, I have come to do Your will. Oh God, Your law is written in my heart." Who is that speaking about who Jesus? Doesn't say in Galatians Chapter 4, "In the fullness of time, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were cursed by the law by becoming a curse for us." And so Jesus died in obedience to the law. Just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many are made righteous, because Jesus obeyed the law even to death. We are counted righteous based on the testimony of God. The Cherubim of the Glory We have the cherub of glory, their actual angels. Did you ever wonder how the artist could do pictures of cherubim? I think they saw them. Moses saw it all up on the mountain. And so, maybe Moses did a sketch of what a cherub looks like. But at any rate, they were right there. Physical representations of these cherubs with wings extending and touching. And there between the cherub, these angels, which are surrounding the throne. Many psalms talk about this, Ezekiel 1, the cherub are there. You've got it in the Book of Revelation, chapter 4:6-8, you got these cherub, these angels around the throne. Their God meets with us. Such a beautiful, beautiful fulfillment of this IC in John chapter 20, when Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. Remember that, and Mary's outside crying, and she's thinking she's talking to the gardener. You remember that whole thing? But before that she's looking into the empty tomb, she looks into that empty tomb, and she sees the grave clothes wholly undisturbed in their original position like a, almost like a cocoon, that's how I picture them. Jesus just came right up out of that sticky, tarry, kind of thing, right up out of that and he's gone, but the grave clothes are right there. She's looking in and there were two holy angels there, one at the head and the other at the foot. And just sitting there, in testimony of the fact that this is the new mercy seat, this is the new place where God will meet with His people. It's been fulfilled, in the resurrection of Christ, the cherub of glory. The Atonement Cover And then finally, we have the atonement cover, which is to cover the ark and there the blood of the sacrifice was to be poured, the priest, the High Priest would get the blood out, out in the outer area and bring it in that one time a year and pour it out the blood right on the gold cover. And that's where it was to be offered, is called the atonement cover or the mercy seat, the place of propitiation, the place where God deals with our sin. And this clearly fulfilled in the cross of Christ, how it says, in Romans chapter 3:23, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, through Jesus shedding His blood. Our sins are atoned for the wrath of God is dealt with." Now, in verse 5, you may be wondering about verse 5, but we cannot discuss these things in detail. Now, you may be wondering "Well Pastor, why are you then discussing these things in detail now? You know what, I struggle with that. I remember saying to Eric, I think all we're supposed to do, is just read the verses and not preach on them. Well, let's just skip them. I feel bound by Verse 5, but I obviously got over that, didn't I? And I went ahead and preached on it, like we preached the rest. What the author is saying is, "Look, I could say a lot more about these details than I'm doing." There is one central point I want to make. All of these things pointed ahead to Christ. They didn't achieve anything in and of themselves, they were types and symbols and shadows. The reality, the fulfillment is only in Christ, as we'll talk about next time in Hebrews 9, 6-10. They had no power to remove sin, or cleanse the guilty conscience of the worshipper. They had no power for that. They had only symbolic power to point ahead to Christ. That's the point of what we're saying today. Applications Now, what application can we take from all of these? First, just marvel at the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. In verses 6-10, I'll talk about the Holy Spirit showing by these things. The Spirit has been instructing us today, as He did for hundreds and hundreds of years through the tabernacle, instructing us about Christ. Christ is a difficult lesson, it's not easy to understand Jesus and what He came to do. And so the Lord set up this tabernacle to teach us who Jesus is and what He came to do. So marvel at that. And secondly, just learn the various lessons of these symbols, study them. Isn't it amazing how God created heaven and earth in six days? And the account is just one chapter, Genesis Chapter 1. But the Tabernacle, the instructions were given for 40 days. It took 40 days to describe this thing. And then, however long it took to make it. And why is that? It's because God gets more glory from redemption than He got from creation. And how beautiful is it that since the days of the New Covenant being established, the Lord has been working on His final dwelling place, for two millennia now. For 2000 years, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." And we are the place where God will dwell, we are the temple of the living God, and He's been getting us ready now for 2000 years. How much glory will God get from that? Just meditate on these things, they will greatly encourage you. Celebrate the powerful fulfillment in Christ, just celebrate that Jesus Has done it all paid it all, lived it all His righteousness is yours. And if I can just urge you tenderly, I prayed for it but now I urge you, if you have never come to Christ, come now, come today. You don't know how long you have to live, there is no other salvation. There's no other propitiation, there's no other way that sin can be paid for. I plead with you to turn from your sin, to repent and have your guilty conscience completely cleansed through the blood of Jesus. And if you are a believer in Christ, you need to keep going to the cross and have your own guilty conscience cleansed through confession of sin and appropriating again through faith what Jesus has already done for you. And take this Gospel message out to a world that needs it, take this Gospel to people who need to hear it this week, share the Gospel of someone this week, invite them to church. Strike up a conversation and say that there is no other way that a guilty conscience can be dealt with than the blood of Jesus. Close with me in prayer.