Old and New Testament: Blood Covenant

© 2013 REV. J. A. JEFFERSON. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, except for brief quotations in reviews, without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/02/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9805-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-9806-7 (e)

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This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Quotations are from the Authorized or the King James Version of the Bible.

Reverend J. A. Jefferson

E-mail: JJ2558@bellsouth.net

1-864-338-8552

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About The Author

Preface

Foreword

BLOOD COVENANTS OF THE BIBLE

1. The Blood Covenant

2. The Passover Feast

3. The Body Of Christ

4. New Testament Blood Covenant

5. Atonement

6. Principles Of Sacrifice

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

7. The Book Of Genesis

8. John The Baptist

9. The Life And Ministry Of Jesus

10. The Kingdom Of God

11. Jesus Taught A New Way Of Life

12. Titles Describing Christ

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author has studied the Bible from the time he was solemnly and publicly set apart in 1985 and ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by the authority and order of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church under the Reverend Curtis Kyle. He was publicly ordained in 1990 to the work of the Gospel Ministry to the views of the Holy Bible Doctrine in the Christian Faith of the Pentecostal Church.

The author received instruction in Part I and II of the Old and New Testament at Howard University in 1977. He was a member of the 1988 Ministry Class at the Jericho Christian Training Center, Washington, DC; attended Chaplain Moral Leadership Staff College at Dover College, Dover, Delaware in 1988; then completed further studies in Moral Leadership at the Middle East Region Chaplain’s Staff College at Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Maryland in 2000. That same year he received the Chaplain of the Year Award.

After serving as chaplain for the District of Columbia Jail, author became chaplain for the District of Columbia Department of Corrections under the federal government from 1997 until 2004. He joined the Chaplain Department at the District of Columbia General Hospital in 1985 and served diligently until his retirement in 2004. He also served as police Clergy with the Philadelphia Police Department and for 9 years volunteered as a Big Brother in the District of Columbia.

Chaplain John A. Jefferson

E-MAIL: jj2558@bellsouth.net

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PREFACE

This Bible Study Guide is intended to assist those who are seeking a clearer understanding of the teachings of the Bible—God’s Holy Written Word. It is a great joy to know you have chosen to use this guide to direct your study concerning the Old Testament covenant law and the New Testament promises. It has been developed to provide conservative Christians with a reliable study of the coming of Christ through the Old Testament blood covenant into the new.

The study of the Bible has been a labor of love for me. It is dedicated spiritual work of the Holy Spirit. This Bible related material combines teachable scholarship and practical Christian character and qualities. The result is an excellent study tool to enrich your spiritual development. As you turn the pages you will find resources for your personal Bible study. The supporting scriptural references will provide an overview of the Old and New Testament covenant law and its promise of Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant.

In the Old Testament, God’s chosen people confirmed their covenant with God through their oaths and promises to keep and uphold their agreement with God. The New Testament makes a clear distinction between covenants of law and covenants of promise.

It is by the blood of Christ that we are redeemed, that we may be joined to the church of the firstborn.

I said a prayer for you today, and I know God must have heard.

I felt the answer in my heart, although He spoke no words.

I didn’t ask for wealth or fame; I knew you wouldn’t mind.

I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.

I asked that He’d be near you in all things great and small.

But it was for His loving care I prayed for most of all.

May the blessing of God’s Holy Word be revealed in all His promises and marvelous works. May God bless and keep you. AMEN.

FOREWORD

When they saw all the firstlings being devoted, they would ask the meaning of it, and their parents and teachers must tell them that God’s special preservation of them from the sword of the destroying angel delivered them and they must serve Him.

Our children should be directed and encouraged to ask their parents questions concerning the things of God. It should be a practice above all others. The most profitable way of catechizing is for parents to first prepare themselves with knowledge, that they may be ready always to give an answer.

If even the knowledge of God covers the earth, as the water does the sea, the fountains of family instruction must not be broken up. We must be able to show cause for what we do in our religious life. God’s service is reasonable, and it is then acceptable when we perform it intelligently, knowing what we do and the way we do it.

The more opposition is given to the accomplishment of God’s purposes the more of His power is magnified therein. It is a strong hand that conquers hard hearts. Sometimes God is said to work deliverance not by might nor by power, but by wisdom and understanding. Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place (Exodus 13:3).

When we see where God has brought us from and what he has done in our lives, we should not only BE THANKFUL but GIVE THANKS. When you study the word of God you begin to develop and read with a spiritual mind and not just read with face value which is different from the meanings of the word. I am hoping this guide is useful and will help each of you grow in wisdom and knowledge of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

UNIT I:

Blood Covenants Of The Bible

1. THE BLOOD COVENANT

INTRODUCTION

1. Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice—as an offering—for sin. In Old Testament times animal sacrifices were continually offered at the temple. The sacrifices showed the Israelites the seriousness of sin: blood had to be shed before sin could be pardoned. Animal blood could not really remove sin. Only the blood sacrifice which pointed to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, which paid the penalty for sin. Animal sacrifice could not take away sin. It only provided a temporary way to deal with sin until Christ came to deal with it permanently.

2. Old Testament believers followed God’s command of offering sacrifices. He graciously forgave them when, by faith, they made their sacrifice. That practice looked forward to the coming of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. Christ’s way was superior to the Old Testament way because the old way only pointed to what Christ would do to take away the sin of the world.

THE SERIOUSNESS OF BLOOD SACRIFICE

1. Christ’s Sacrifice. Animal sacrifices were continually offered at the temple. It showed the Israelites the seriousness of sin: blood had to be shed before sin could be pardoned. However, the animal blood could not remove sin. Only the blood sacrifice which pointed to Christ’s sacrifice, which would pay the penalty for all sin. The animal sacrifices could not take away sins. It only provided a temporary way to deal with sin until Jesus came to deal with it permanently.

2. Old Testament Sacrifices. Old Testament believers were following God’s command of offering sacrifices of animal blood. God graciously forgave them when, because of the mercy and love He had for them when they made their sacrifice. That practice looked to Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

3. Living Sacrifice. As people of God, the Israelites were to reflect the nature and characteristics in their attitudes and actions, just as we are to do today. Jesus emphasized the importance of telling the truth. People were breaking promises and using sacred language casually and carelessly. It is true that we live in a sinful society that breeds distrust, but because of being the people of God in the household of faith, we are to be a sacrifice to God through our Lord Jesus Christ as a living sacrifice. When we look at the reason why we are to be a living sacrifice, it is because Christ has redeemed us from the curse and become a curse so that we would have life through him, not having to fear death any more.

4. The New Covenant. The new covenant rests directly upon the sacrificial work of Christ, according to the Hebrew writer the new covenant accomplished what the old could not do: which was the removal of sin and cleansing of the conscience. In the animal sacrifice there is a remembrance again made of sin every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sin. It was said when Christ came into the world, he said, sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body have you prepared.

5. The Body of Christ. Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all and every priest stands daily ministering and offering often times the same sacrifice, which can never take away sin: but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sin forever, sat down on the right hand of God.

6. Redeemed From Slavery to Sin. So we are now redeemed from being slaves to sin. Christ’s death paid the price to release us from slavery to sin. Forgiveness was granted in Old Testament times on the basis of the shedding of animals’ blood. Now we are forgiven on the basis of the perfect and final sacrifice (Lev. 17:11). The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your soul: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.

UNDERSTANDING THE BLOOD COVENANT

1. The Bible’s View of Sin and Forgiveness. To understand this unusual covenant, we need to understand the Bible’s view of sin and forgiveness. God is the sovereign judge of the universe. He is absolutely holy. As the holy judge of all, He condemns sin and judges it worthy of death.

2. Blood Symbolized Both Death and Life. In the Old Testament God accepted the death of an animal as a substitute for the sinner. The animal’s shed blood was proof that one life had been given for another. So, on the one hand, blood symbolized the death of the animal, but it also symbolized the life that was spared as a result.

3. A Temporary Provision. The death of the animal that brought forgiveness in the Old Testament was only a temporary provision, which was looking forward to the death of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 24:6, Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

OLD TESTAMENT RECORDS

1. Old Testament Prophets of God. The scriptures of the Old Testament were given by God through inspiration to holy men of old who spoke and wrote as the Holy Ghost directed them. The Old Testament records are of great use and significance not only to those who first received them, even to Christians, who ought not to satisfy themselves with reading the institutes of the Leviticus law not only read it but learn also what the Holy Ghost signifies and suggests to them hereby.

2. The Holy Ghost. There are several things mentioned as things the Holy Ghost signified and certified to his people hereby. I say hereby. What I should say is people of today. Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience (Hebrews 9:9). That is, they could not take away the result, or defilement, or dominion of sin. They could not deliver conscience from a dread of the wrath of God. They could neither discharge the debts, nor resolve the doubts of him who did the service.

OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS

1. The Old Testament Promises. All the good things that were to come during the Old Testament have now come under the New. All the spiritual and eternal blessings the Old Testament saints had in their day and under their dispensation were owing to the Messiah to come, on whom they believed. The Old Testament set forth in shadows what was to come. The New Testament is the accomplishment of the Old. All the good things yet to come and to be enjoyed in a gospel state, when the promises and the prophecies were made to the gospel church in the latter days shall be accomplished; all these depend upon Christ and his priesthood, and shall be fulfilled.

2. The New Testament Fulfilled. Of all the good things to come in the heavenly state, which will perfect the state of grace, this state will be in a much higher sense the perfection of the New Testament than the New Testament was the perfection of the Old. Observe all things past, present, and to come, were and are founded upon, and flowing from the priestly office of Christ.

Hebrews 9:9-11, Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; [10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. [11] But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.

3. Our New Life in Christ. We have significant privileges associated with our new life in Christ.

Hebrews 10:22-25, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) [24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.

When we read these four verses, we see that we have significant privileges associated with our new life in Christ. These are the four things that come from loving and obeying God:

(1.) We also have personal access to God through Christ and can draw near to him without an elaborate system.

(2.) We can grow in faith, overcome doubts and questions, and deepen our relationship with God.

(3.) We can enjoy encouragement from one another.

(4.) We can worship together.

To neglect meeting in Christian fellowship is to give up the encouragement and help of other Christians. We gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in the Lord.

PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS

A LIVING SACRIFICE

1. Submitting to God’s Will. God’s will refers to His purpose for the life of the believer. What that implies is His guidance or direction in all of our decisions. Our dedication is an act of surrender