Pastor Bola Bello
[biblegateway passage=”1 Peter 2:9″ display=”1 Peter 2:9″]
In the last teaching, we discussed about generations in the bible starting from Adam and Eve until Jesus Christ. The generation of Adam and Eve ended with them, as we could see that their offsprings were not born in the original image of God that their parents were created in, rather it was the image of man. As it were, the image of God ended its chapter with Adam and Eve.
Jesus of Nazareth was a man. He came for us to see that it was possible for us to live that life Adam could not fulfill.
The new generation mentioned in 1 Peter 2:9 commenced immediately Jesus Christ got raised from the dead and became a quickening spirit to men.
[biblegateway passage=”Exodus 28:1″ display=”Exodus 28:1″]; [biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 5:1″ display=”Hebrews 5:1″];
The Holy garment is a metaphor of what God demands from a priest. The holy garment is determined primarily by the wearer of the garment. We cannot have a correct interpretation of the new testament when you do not have a grasp of the old testament.
[biblegateway passage=”Hebrews 8:8″ display=”Hebrews 8:8″]; [biblegateway passage=”2 Corinthians 3:7″ display=”2 Corinthians 3:7″];
God did not find fault with the Old Testament, rather he found fault with the children of Israel. It was even called the ministration of death because of the hardness of the people’s heart. The writings originally was ordained to give life, but it became a snare unto them due to their rebelliousness.
The glory of the Lord is not in the manifestation of miracles. The glory of Moses was supposed to be discarded and not the Old testament. The New Testament simply showed us the reality God was trying to communicate in the Old. As sacrifices were being demanded in the Old Testament, so also, is it in the New. The blood of Jesus stands in the place of the blood of bulls and goats that were used in the Old.
Jesus came and clarified that he did not come to condemn the children of Israel, rather it was Moses that did that. The ministration of condemnation was not through the Old Testament, it was the ministration of Moses.
Right now in the New, plainness of speech is being used, not symbols anymore. However, the consecration of Aaron and his sons was not primarily done using oil. That was merely just a public affirmation. A priest must not be a novice, he must be equipped with understanding of what the ministration of the covenant is all about.
[biblegateway passage=”Leviticus 8:7-9″ display=”Leviticus 8:7-9″]; [biblegateway passage=”Ephesians 5:26″ display=”Ephesians 5:26″]; [biblegateway passage=”Leviticus 21:1-2″ display=”Leviticus 21:1-2″]; [biblegateway passage=”Matthew 9:16-17″ display=”Matthew 9:16-17″];
What transpired between Moses and Aaron alongside his sons was to equip them with the understanding of the testimony of Old Covenant.
A priest is one who does not have any blemish. Jesus explained that an old garment cannot be joined to a new garment, there would be a conflict and more rending done. A believer cannot be fed with new things except the old things be purged. Holy garments here entails our justification, sanctification, cleanliness as well as our walk in them.
The Old Testament Priest, first and foremost makes an atonement for himself before he does so for others. We have been called up as a chosen generation and this makes us likened to a levite and it qualifies us to become priests.
The Urim and Thurimm on the priest’s garment is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the believer that helps him to know the judgements of God.