Old vs. New Laws

The Letter to the Hebrews, authored by Paul, was written to explain the need to do away with the old law, the Mosaic Law.  This was a law that Jews had lived with for centuries. It was all that they had known and it had governed their lives. They were reluctant to leave it behind for a new law and they didn’t understand why they needed to. 

In Hebrews 10:1-4, Paul explains the purpose of this law: 

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

This law that required the sacrifice of blood of animals was a preparatory law. While it couldn’t grant a remission of sins, it foretold of the sacrifice of Christ and encouraged remembrance of past sins. Paul also explained that this law was done away with His death. 

Christ’s death marked the beginning of the new law. 

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” (Heb 9:15-17)

Just as the old law, the first testament, was dedicated with blood, from the sacrificial animals, so was the second law dedicated with blood, the blood of Christ. This was a necessity for, “without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb 9:22). Through his death, Christ made possible the remission of sins for all those that will ever live on the earth, something that the shedding of animal blood could not do. 

The difference in the laws is important and understanding the difference between the old law and the new law gives us a better understanding of the nature of the atonement. His death marked the turning point between living a law that was a constant reminder of our unworthiness to living a law that reminded us of the hope and salvation that is to be found in Christ. Paul says that the path to this salvation is not hid from us. He exhorts:

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb 10:22-25)

It is up to each of us to follow the path that Christ, through Paul, has set before us. We must make the covenants that are required, including baptism. We must be faithful in our actions and lives and hold to that faith with endurance. We must assemble and serve together and teach the words of Christ.