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New Covenant
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20)

“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?” (2 Cor. 3:6-8).

“But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor. 3:14-16).

“Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:21-29)

The Law of Moses. The Ten Commandments. That’s the old covenant. The new covenant is Jesus Christ. It’s interesting to note, though, that the new covenant… Jesus…was promised long before the old covenant was
ever established!

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Gen. 3:15).

“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:3).

“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.” (Gen. 18:18).

It’s also interesting to note what Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 3:14-16. If you didn’t catch it, please read it again. Did you see it?

“…for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.”

What veil? At some point, there will be a fascinating teaching on the tabernacle of the Old Testament. For the moment, though, do you remember the curtain that was hung to separate the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place?

“Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.” (Ex. 26:33).

“The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.” (Lev. 16:2).
Not just anyone could enter the Most Holy Place. Only the high priest…which at the time was Aaron. And even he could only enter once a year (Lev. 16:24). Why?

“…because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.”

God was present in the Most Holy Place. And no one was clean enough to enter His presence, which is why He was separated from the people by the heavy curtain. Before the high priest could enter, he had to cleanse himself by sacrifice…and if he wasn’t clean enough, he would never leave the Most Holy Place under his own power. His fellow priests would drag his lifeless body out by a rope tied around his ankle.

That’s the old covenant. Separation from God. Those who try to live by the Law of Moses will never enter God’s presence. They can’t get past the veil. No one will ever be clean enough to enter God’s presence through the old covenant.