Cancellation Of The Previous Command

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you live in faith or in fear of the Law?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we are now under a better covenant with much better management - the HOLY SPIRT.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 7:18 (Amplified Bible)

7:18 So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness—

V. THESIS:

I embrace what the HOLY SPIRIT is doing in me, because of the LORD JESUS CHRIST who perfected my faith. I receive the GIFT of GRACE for me that the LORD JESUS CHRIST has given me 2000 years ago.

VI. TITLE:

Cancellation of the Previous Command

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels—J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

G. Keyword: better

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Previous command was cancelled

"So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled"

Deuteronomy 31:9 (Amplified Bible)

31:9 And Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.

Hebrews 7:11-13 (Amplified Bible)

7:11 Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people were given the Law—why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?

7:12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity an alteration of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well.

7:13 For the One of Whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line but] to another tribe, no member of which has officiated at the altar.

The Law on Levitical priests were now cancelled. The word used is "disannulling" meaning cancellation or put away. It was replaced with a better command with an oath, the Priest are to come in the order of Melchizedek. We are not making the law void but we have both confirmed, established and upholded the Law because the LORD JESUS CHRIST our Great High Priest fulfilled the Law. Therefore, only GOD can cancel the Law, no human being can cancel the law. Only the One who have written the Law may cancel it anytime.

Romans 3:31 (Amplified Bible)

3:31 Do we then by [this] faith make the Law of no effect, overthrow it or make it a dead letter? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law.

Galatians 3:15-17 (Amplified Bible)

3:15 To speak in terms of human relations, brethren, [if] even a man makes a last will and testament (a merely human covenant), no one sets it aside or makes it void or adds to it when once it has been drawn up and signed (ratified, confirmed).

3:16 Now the promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heir). He [God] does not say, And to seeds (descendants, heirs), as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed (your Descendant, your Heir), obviously referring to one individual, Who is [none other than] Christ (the Messiah).

3:17 This is my argument: The Law, which began 430 years after the covenant [concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the promise and make it void.

B. Because of it's weakness, ineffectiveness and uselessness

"because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness"

1. The Law can't make anyone perfect

Hebrews 7:19 (Amplified Bible)

7:19 For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we [now] come close to God.

2. The Law can find faults or is a fault-finder

Hebrews 8:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

8:7 For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one.

8:8 However, He finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

3. The Law ceremonies are only shadows of things to come

Hebrews 9:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

9:9 Seeing that that first [outer portion of the] tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age). In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper.