Totally different procedures. Under the Law of Moses the worshiper was to make every attempt to obey the commandments. He always was aware of his sin, but the blood of animals helped him gain a clear conscience. There were (and yet are!) fervent Jews who spent their lives studying the Law of Moses and the Talmud and who strove diligently to obey all the statutes written therein. There were numerous others who acknowledged the holiness of the Law but were not nearly as diligent in observing the various ordinances.

The new covenant follows a much more comprehensive procedure. The new covenant is the Law, the Torah, written in the mind and heart.

God was not pleased with the response of the people to the Law of Moses and so He has given Himself to be our salvation.

The procedure of the new covenant is as follows:

We enter union with the death and resurrection of Christ, thus completely coming out from under the authority of the Law of Moses.

We abide under the continuing righteousness of the blood of the cross.

We do what the New Testament Apostles command.

Christ is formed in us with the result that we begin to behave righteously because of our new nature.

Eternal life results from our righteous behavior, leading to more righteous behavior and more eternal life.

We have already discussed the fact that no part of the new covenant is available to us apart from our union with the death of Christ and union with His resurrection.

We abide under the continuing righteousness of the blood of the cross. Because we are associated with the death of Christ, the guilt of our sins is removed totally. We now are without condemnation as we walk in the law of the Spirit of life. As long as we are walking in the light of God's perfect will, we have fellowship with God and the blood of Christ is cleansing us from all sin.

It is being taught today that salvation is unconditional, being a sovereign work of God removed from our personality and behavior. In actuality the continual covering of the blood of atonement is conditional, being based on our walking in the light of God's will, on our abiding in the death and resurrection of Christ. When we return to our fleshly behavior, life lived in the appetites of the flesh, we come under the Law and the judgment of God.

We are free from the authority of the Law of Moses only as we are an integral part of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and are seeking to obey the commandments of the Apostles.

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (I Corinthians 11:32)

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Hebrews 6:8)

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (II Peter 2:20)

As long as we are obeying the Lord, serving Him with all of our strength, we are without condemnation. The blood atonement is covering us and we are perfectly righteous in the sight of God.

We then are to do what the New Testament Apostles command.

To be continued.