Bulletins - Fellowship Baptist Church (Madison, FL) - Faithlife

Repentance and Faith in God

The Old Covenant taught repentance from dead works and faith in God, but the New Covenant proved that one could only truly come to God through faith in Jesus. The Jewish apostles of Jesus didn’t tell their Hebrew audiences they were good with God because they had repented of their sins and trusted Yahweh. Instead, they ALWAYS pointed their Hebrew audience to Jesus.

Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn 14:6) True repentance of sin and faith in God was only found in Jesus.

Jews who turned from sin and put faith in God without following Jesus had an incomplete faith.

Ritual Washings

The Hebrew audience had grown up with ritual washings, rituals that symbolized being cleansed from sin. As Christians, these people now understood that Jesus, not water, is who could completely cleanse.

As a true Jew, Paul no doubt had participated in the religious ritual washings. Yet, when Paul came to understand who Jesus really was, he obeyed the command to “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins calling on His Name.” (Acts 22:16 CSB) Physical baptism didn’t save Paul. Calling on His Name did! Baptism symbolizes the spiritual reality that Paul died to sin and was made alive in Jesus - hence, washing away his sins.

Laying on Hands

Under the Old Covenant a person who brought their animal sacrifice had to lay their hands on their substitute and then slaughter it at the tent of meeting (aka Tabernacle - Lev. 1:4; 3:8, 13).

Leviticus 3:8 He must lay his hand on the head of his offering, then slaughter it before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons will splatter its blood on all sides of the altar.

This demonstrated that sin deserved death, as the punishment was transferred to another. In context, this likely points to the incredible fact and hope that OUR SINS have been transferred onto our SUBSTITUTE - our SAVIOR, just as Isaiah foretold 700 years before

Isaiah 53:6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD [Yahweh] has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.

Resurrection and Eternal Judgment

What about resurrection and eternal judgment? Old Covenant teachings mention this great hope, but there is very little focus on it. Here is one Old Covenant passage where there is clarity about what is to come.

Daniel 12:2 Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.

While the Old Covenant has little to say about this future event, the New Covenant is FULL of language looking toward future resurrection along with just judgment of Jesus that is to come. The New Covenant teachings make it clear that Jesus will resurrect the dead and judge all people.

John 5:28–29 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.

These Hebrew people, facing persecution were tempted to leave the New Covenant truths and go back to the comfort of what they knew best, what wouldn’t cost them as much - the Old Covenant shadows and symbols.