Christ as Fulfillment of Old Testament Covenant

Today's reading was an excellent explanation of the way that the New Covenant (salvation through the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross) fulfills the Old (sanctification by way of substitutionary animal sacrifice). Without the foreshadowing of the sacrificial system for restoring fellowship with God broken due to sin, Jesus' death on the cross makes no sense. But the Hebrews were primed to make the connection between death and atonement and to appreciate the "once for all" sacrifice of Christ that eliminated the need for constant atonement.

Jesus also eliminated the need for a High Priest, who was the mediator between God and the people. Only he could enter the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifices on the day of atonement. The people had no direct access to God until the day of Christ's death on the cross when the Temple veil separating the Holy of Holies was torn in two. This symbolized the new access that believers would have to God since they would be considered forever righteous before Him because of Christ's atoning sacrifice. Believers are no longer "unclean" or unworthy to approach the throne of God. Jesus is our High Priest in Heaven and He intercedes on our behalf, but we take our needs straight to the throne of God rather than through an earthly priest. Jesus is known as a priest in the order of Melchizedek because Melchizedek was not a true Hebrew priest according to the Law, for he was not of the tribe of Levi. But the Bible makes clear the fact that he was a priest of the one, true God and Abraham offered sacrifices to him. Like Melchizedek, Jesus was not a Levite but was of the tribe of Judah.

Tomorrow's reading: Heb. 11:1-12:29