This is a reply to the comment posted by a certain Mr. Adventist777 regarding my article titled, “The Old Covenant Can not Sanctify Anymore.” His comment states —

Mr. Soriano, You said: The Old Covenant Can Not Sanctify Anymore?

Be careful with your mouth preacher! Do not speak great words against the most high. Do not even think to change the Laws of God. (Daniel 7:25)

Mr. Adventist777

Dear Mr. Adventist777,

I am glad you read my blog. I thank you for your time. But let me tell you something frankly! Your comments above, which I had printed in red, are disgusting. I do not blame you because it is somewhat common to Adventists under the guise of following the Ten Commandments to charge people falsely. Maybe, it is the spirit that flows in some members of your congregation like you and Mr. Scott.

When you said, “Be careful with your mouth, preacher! Do not speak great words against the most high,” you are in utter defiance of the 9th of the Ten Commandments that you are hopelessly defending. It is not my mouth which said that the Old Testament can not sanctify nor justify anybody anymore. It is the mouth of God!

(Hebrews 8:13) “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

It was God who said that He is making a new covenant, which made the previous old and destined to vanish away.

Can you not read the verse? Or are you blinded by your fanatical adherence to your church?

To prove that it was God’s mouth who pronounced and said that the former covenant was made old by the new, let us copy another verse from your Bible.

(Hebrews 8:6-10) “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their heart…” (Emphasis mine, in red)

Let us decipher these verses.

(6) “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

If you will notice, the verse speaks of a better covenant. The adjective "better" is used, grammatically to compare two different things. The Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator of a better covenant; meaning, that before he became such, there was a former covenant. What kind of a covenant was the former? Let us read Verse 7.

(7) “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.”

It was the mouth of the Apostle Paul, or the writer of the book to the Hebrews, who said this, not mine. The first covenant, in comparison to the second, was described by Paul as ‘faulty.’

Again, Mr. Adventist777, I want to reiterate that it is not my mouth that said this. Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor (Exodus 20:16). Remember, that is the ninth commandment!

Now, what happened to the ‘faulty’ first covenant?

He said on Verse 8 of Hebrews 8 —

(8) “For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:”

The verse said because God found fault in them, God said, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:”.

It must be understood that the first covenant, which became faulty, was also given to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. The same nation that received the first covenant will also be the recipient of the new covenant.

What was the first covenant that was given to the house of Israel and the house of Judah?

Let us read Verse 9 —

(9) “Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”

The verse said that the second covenant will not be according to the covenant He made with the fathers of the nation of Israel, that God gave them after they were liberated from Egypt.

What was that covenant that was given by God to the Israelites immediately after they left Egypt?

(Deuteronomy 4:13) “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.”

So, it is crystal clear that the covenant given to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, after they left Egypt, are the Ten Commandments written on two tables of stones.

To prove that this covenant is the Ten Commandments on two tables of stones that was given by God after they left Egypt, let us read Exodus 31:18 —

“And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”

Moses was the recipient of the first covenant to be given to the people of Israel. Jesus Christ will be the minister of the new or the better covenant.

Look closely at the following verses:

(Hebrews 8:5-6) “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

Now, we know that the term ‘better covenant’ was used to describe the comparison between the covenant received by Moses — which are the Ten Commandments — and the covenant wherein the Lord Jesus Christ is the mediator.

These facts tell us a great truth.

1st Covenant > Moses

Better Covenant > Jesus Christ

In the book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul speaks to the nation of Israel or the Hebrews about “a change”.

(Hebrews 7:12) “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”

Notice two important facts in the preceding verse: There was a change of priesthood and there was a change of the law.

May I remind you, Mr. Adventist, that I am not the one making the change. This verse was written in the Bible even before my great-great grandparents were born. Do not use Daniel 7:25 against me, which your leaders are using to accuse the Catholic Church who, according to them, changed Saturday to Sunday. Catholics will not answer you, but treat me not like them; for I will answer you with the Bible wherever you may be; wherever you may go.

It was the Apostle Paul who said that there was a change of the priesthood and the law. What was that priesthood that was changed? It was the priesthood of the Levites — the tribe where Moses came.

(Hebrew 7:5) “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:”

It was this priesthood that was commanded by God to collect tithes. I know that Seventh Day Adventists now vehemently insist that their members give tithes aside from other offerings; but mind you, these are for the Levitical priests under the priesthood that was ‘changed.’

The priesthood of Christ and the Church of God is the priesthood in the Christian dispensation. This is the replacement of the Levitical priesthood, that was changed.

(1 Peter 2:9) “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”

The Church of God was made priest with Christ as the chief.

(Revelation 1:6) “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

(Hebrews 3:1) “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

Christ, as the chief priest of Church of God, replaced Moses, and his priesthood, and his laws.

(Hebrews 3:2-3) “Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.”

Jesus Christ is the best replacement for Moses and his priesthood. Remember, when the priesthood was changed, there was also a need for the change of the law. The laws administered by Moses are the Ten Commandments written on two tables of stones: It is the first covenant; but the new is better. In fact, the Bible called it a better covenant. It is the covenant under the administration of the best priest ever — our Lord Jesus Christ. The first covenant, compared to the second, is declared faulty. It is not I, who said this, but the Bible.

How do we determine the difference between the two covenants? The latter is made better than the former.

(2 Corinthians 3:6) “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

The New Testament or the new covenant is of the spirit and gives life, but the old are letters and they kill. Which are these letters that kill representing the old covenant or testament?

(2 Corinthians 3:7-8) “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?”

It is clear, therefore, that the letters that killeth are the letters written and engraven in stones, which are the Ten Commandments — also called “The Old Testament”.

(Hebrews 10:28) “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:”

Anyone who transgresses the law of Sabbath will be stoned to death.

(Numbers 15:32-36) “And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.”

The new covenant is of the spirit and it gives life. The new covenant is the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ or His Gospel.

(John 6:63) “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

The new covenant is not written on stones, but in fleshly tables of the heart.

(2 Corinthians 3:3) “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

It is God the Father Himself that writes the New Covenant in the hearts of Christians.

(Hebrews 8:10) “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”

The new covenant is ably administered by the Spirit of God and the apostles. In contrast, the former covenant or testament was administered by angels.

(Acts 7:37-38) “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:”

(Acts 7:53) “Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”

Better still; let us discover the root of these two covenants or testaments.

(Galatians 4:22-26) “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engendereth to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

In this allegory, the two women who bore the two sons of Abraham are the two covenants. One, represented by Hagar, the bondmaid of Sarah: figurative of Mount Sinai, from where the first covenant or the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. The other covenant or mother represents Sarah, a free woman: figurative of Jerusalem above, from whence the New Testament or covenant came — which is the mother of us all: The Christians. So, it is very clear that the mother of ‘us all’ (Christians), according to Paul is not the Ten Commandments or Hagar (whose son was born after the flesh), but, Sarah, the free woman representing Jerusalem above who is the mother of us all — born by promise.

Are there sufficient evidences to prove that the new covenant or testament is far better than the covenant that contains the law on Sabbath?

(To be continued)

God bless,

EFS