Lesson 8

The old covenant was flawed from the start. God knew mankind would not live up to its demands. The old covenant proved humans are incapable of following his ten basic commandments, even when living in a society permeated with God’s rules designed to help them stay on his path. Demonstrating mankind needed saving, God sent his son to accomplish what humans were incapable of doing for themselves. After living the sinless life required and enduring the death penalty in our place, Jesus became the savior of mankind. Fulfilling the old covenant, a new covenant was established through Jesus’ sacrifice which brought redemption, love, and grace. Is the new covenant based on faith, or law? What are Christians free to do? How does God’s spirit manifest itself in human lives? How do you demonstrate spiritual gifts in your life? Which is the greatest gift we can demonstrate?

Hebrews 9:9-15 International Children’s Bible
9 This is an example for the present time. It shows that the gifts and sacrifices offered cannot make the worshiper perfect in his heart. 10 These gifts and sacrifices were only about food and drink and special washings. They were rules for the body, to be followed until the time of God’s new way. 11 But Christ has come as the high priest of the good things we now have. The tent he entered is greater and more perfect. It is not made by men. It does not belong to this world. 12 Christ entered the Most Holy Place only once—and for all time. He did not take with him the blood of goats and calves. His sacrifice was his own blood. He entered the Most Holy Place and set us free from sin forever. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a cow are sprinkled on the people who are unclean and this makes their bodies clean again. 14 How much more is done by the blood of Christ. He offered himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make our hearts clean from useless acts. We are made pure so that we may serve the living God. 15 So Christ brings a new agreement from God to his people. Those who are called by God can now receive the blessings that God has promised. These blessings will last forever. They can have those things because Christ died so that the people who lived under the first agreement could be set free from sin.

2 Corinthians 3:6 English Standard Version
6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Romans 7:6 Contemporary English Version
6 But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his 

Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law.