OCT 7

Hebrews 12:1-2

Memorise Hebrews 12:1

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”

HOW ARE OT AND NT SAINTS DIFFERENT?

We have learned over the past few days that in certain respects (the most important respects!), OT and NT saints are “in the same boat”! We’re all in the covenant of grace!

Our verse today describes Jesus as “the author/founder/originator and finisher/perfector of our faith” – so he’s alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, our everything! – whether it’s for OT or NT saints!

But today we are asked this question: “how are OT and NT saints different?”

Firstly, OT saints LOOK forward to what Jesus did on the Cross, and we NT saints look backward to this. Whilst it is the same Jesus, the chronology is different. For us we benefit from the wisdom of hindsight, where everything is spelt out very clearly and plainly for us. For the OT Saints, they had to look forward to Jesus by faith, and believe that this coming Savior would be the one who can save them from their sins.

Secondly, life is “simpler” for us – in many ways! In the Book of Leviticus, and learn about priestly duties, the various offerings, clean and unclean food, the elaborate regulations for the feasts etc. All these apply to the time of the Old Testament. But now

1. 1. Every one of us is a priest! We can communicate with God directly!
2. 2. We offer our bodies as “living sacrifices” (Rom 12:1) – no more cattle and sheep, goats and birds!
3. 3. We can eat anything we like (except for blood), but of course we want to eat healthily so we can remain healthy to serve Him!

This is all made possible because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, when he made our salvation full and free! We no longer have to look forward to Christ through the keeping of the offerings and the keeping of the ceremonial law, but we simply look back at Christ who is The Offering sacrificed once and for all for us!

Thought: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)
Prayer: Lord, pray that I will always be filled with the joy of the Lord, daily!