The gospel of Jesus Christ introduced a new way of life, not merely a new, nor even improved, Jewish religion!
One issue that arose in the first century which is addressed several times in the NT is the tendency to revert to the way of Moses. See the meeting of apostles and other leaders in Acts 15 and the letter to the Galatians.
The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Church in Corinth, highlights a wonderful aspect of our new faith, that of access to God. He also addresses influences in the Church that had begun to undermine that truth. Indeed, some had come into the Church to try to re-impose the law of Moses.
In chapter 3, Paul provides a series of contrasts between the Old Covenant under Moses, and the New Covenant in Christ:
- The letter kills v the Spirit gives life (v6)
- Condemnation v righteousness (v9)
- Fading/transitory v permanent (v11)
- The face of Moses (v13) v the face of Jesus Christ (4.6)
- A veil v a mirror (v16-18)
- Hard hearts & dull minds v ever-increasing glory (v13, 18)
Two points to mention:
- Paul picked an incident from the OT where the glory of God shone in Moses face. Moses had returned from receiving the two tablets of Ten Commandments- his face was shining – people were afraid to come near – Moses had to put a veil on. Surely this incident would demonstrate the enduring value of the OT law! Yet Paul points out that the problem is not that his face shone, but that the radiance of his shining face was fading away, (v7, v13). Even at its best, the law is a fading thing.
- The Old Covenant was full of barriers – in the tabernacle, constructed shortly after the giving of the Law. There was a curtain (Ex 27.16) at the entrance to the courtyard; another curtain (Ex 26.36) at the entrance to the tabernacle; and then the veil (Ex 26.31) to separate the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. All three barriers declared; ‘you can’t come in!’
All man-made religion brings barriers. As Paul describes, there is a veil of unbelief. The OT law of Moses is obsolete, no longer the basis of our access to the Father.
Through Christ everything changed. When He died the veil, the final barrier, was torn from top to bottom. God Himself announced; the veil is removed, all barriers are torn down.
Christ Himself, dying with arms out-stretched on a cross; as if to welcome any who will trust in Him and come in.
The OT declared ‘you cannot come in.’ The message of Christ in the NT announces; ‘welcome.’ And Paul goes further; we can approach boldly and with confidence.