The First Covenant

I. EXORDIUM:

Do we belong to this world?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we belong to the second covenant and we belong to GOD, not to this world.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 9:1 (Amplified Bible)

9:1 NOW EVEN the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary [but one] of this world.

V. THESIS:

Thank You very much LORD JESUS, for You have prayed for us, we are not of this world and we belong to You.

VI. TITLE:

The First Covenant

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

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Rules and regulations for divine worship of the First Covenant

"NOW EVEN the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship,"

Hebrews 8:7 (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.

Hebrews 8:13 (Amplified Bible)

8:13 When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.

Here are the rules and regulations for the divine worship in the First Covenant as highlighted from:

Exodus 25:10-40 (Amplified Bible)

25:10 They shall make an ark of acacia wood: two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

25:11 You shall overlay the ark with pure gold, inside and out, and make a gold crown, a rim or border, around its top.

25:12 You shall cast four gold rings and attach them to the four lower corners of it, two rings on either side.

25:13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold,

25:14 And put the poles through the rings on the ark’s sides, by which to carry it.

25:15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it [that the ark be not touched].

25:16 And you shall put inside the ark the Testimony [the Ten Commandments] which I will give you.

25:17 And you shall make a mercy seat (a covering) of pure gold, two cubits and a half long and a cubit and a half wide.

25:18 And you shall make two cherubim (winged angelic figures) of [solid] hammered gold on the two ends of the mercy seat.

25:19 Make one cherub on each end, making the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat, on the two ends of it.

25:20 And the cherubim shall spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, facing each other and looking down toward the mercy seat.

25:21 You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony [the Ten Commandments] that I will give you.

25:22 There I will meet with you and, from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the Testimony, I will speak intimately with you of all which I will give you in commandment to the Israelites.

25:23 Also, make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high [for the showbread].

25:24 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a crown, a rim or molding, of gold around the top of it;

25:25 And make a frame of a handbreadth around and below the top of it and put around it a gold molding as a border.

25:26 You shall make for it four rings of gold and fasten them at the four corners that are on the table’s four legs.

25:27 Close against the frame shall the rings be as places for the poles to pass to carry the table [of showbread].

25:28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.

25:29 And you shall make its plates [for showbread] and cups [for incense], and its flagons and bowls [for liquids in sacrifice]; make them of pure gold.

25:30 And you shall set the showbread (the bread of the Presence) on the table before Me always.