When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear. (v.13)

The problem I have with the Covenant Theology (CT) is that the theory focuses on the Covenant of Works, not the Covenant of Grace. The CT focuses on the continuity of God’s covenant from Adam. Therefore, Christ becomes inferior to Adam. I have been trying to raise the issues that the CT has. The CT is supported by the Reformed (modified) idea of the Anselm’s Active Obedience of Christ (AOC). Anselm did not believe in the divine election and reprobation before creation. He thought people were not totally depraved. The consequence of the bad theories is salvation by works. Most Christians are going back to Egypt.

Chapter 8 tells us that the old covenant with Israel was only shadow. All covenants before the new covenant are shadow. All unconditional covenants are in line with the new covenant, the Covenant of Grace. Hence, the blessings promised by God remain in Christ. But all conditional covenants became obsolete under the new covenant. The conditional covenants taught us that there is nothing a man can do to achieve the status of a saint. They exist for the Covenant of Grace.

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.” (vv. 4-5)

It seems that many ministers and theologians think that the tabernacle of Moses still continues. Therefore, the law is emphasized as a way to gain the eternal life. They say that Christ kept the law for us. But then we are still obligated to keep the law for life if our life depends on the law. The AOC appeared because of anitnomiansism. Hence, the CT is called Federalism.

God had already planned what the kingdom would look like before creation. The tabernacle was only a shadow. The true tabernacle cannot be built by men.

Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. Our fathers in turn received it, and they also brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations that God drove out from our fathers, until the time of David. David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

‘Heaven is My throne,
And the earth is the footstool of My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My rest?
Was it not My hand that made all these things?’

(Acts 7:44-50)