Rexpi;5715103:
Thank you for answering my question. I do understand the SDA position on that now. But
weren’t the 10 commandments part of the old covenant? Didn’t Jesus give us new
commandments and a new everlasting covenant to replace the old? If so, then why does
the SDA Church still follow the old law?
PAX DOMINI
Shalom Aleichem
I would like to take a crack at answering this if I could.
First the word covenant means an agreement or contract between two parties. This from the dictionary
cov·e·nant (kŭv’ə-nənt)
n.
A binding agreement; a compact. See Synonyms at bargain.
Law
A formal sealed agreement or contract.
A suit to recover damages for violation of such a contract.
In the Bible, God’s promise to the human race.
v. cov·e·nant·ed, cov·e·nant·ing, cov·e·nants
v. tr.
To promise by or as if by a covenant.
v. intr.
To enter into a covenant.
There is no difference in the wording of the old and the new covenant. The difference comes in how it is recieved.
Jeramiah 31:31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
What was the covenant that was made with the house of Israel that they broke v.32? Verse 33 tells us that it is still the law, but now it is written on the heart and no man has to teach his brother to know the Lord. Do you see what this is saying? Knowing the Lord is accomplished by keeping God’s law. 1Jn.2:3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
So, the old covenant was between God and the children of Israel, which covenant they brake v.32. We can see this played out in Ex.19:8And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. Sounds pretty good right? The people say that they will do what God says. Well we know the rest of the story don’t we? Whithin 40 days after they made this statement, they were worshiping a golden calf. They did this because they had made no provision for God’s help. They were going to do it their selves. The law was not written on their minds and in their hearts.
Now, let’s look at the newcovenant.
Hebrews 8
1Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
6But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Notice v.7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. Now remember our definition of covenant. It’s an agreement between two parties. In this case between God and man. This says there was something wrong with that first covenant. What was it? Verse 8 tells us
8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: The fault was not in the wording of the covenant (laws), but in who the covenant was with.
So, Jesus enters the scene. The one the prophets talked about, the one John the Baptist said would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." And this is how we come to have the law written on our minds and in our hearts. Through the baptizm (anointing) of the Holy Spirit.
1Jn. 2:27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
It is through Jesus and His sacrafice for our sins. Remember 1Jn.3:4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. That we receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and now the provision is made that through the baptizm of His Spirit we have His laws written on our minds and in our hearts. Not throughour power, but through His.