The transition from the old covenant to the new was necessary because the rituals, sacrifices, and laws of the Old Testament were only shadows pointing to the reality found in Christ. The apostles, especially in their writings, emphasized that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross marked the end of the old system and the beginning of a new era where righteousness comes by faith in Him. Understanding this shift is crucial, as it prevents confusion and helps believers stand firm in the finished work of Christ, rather than clinging to outdated practices or mixing old rituals with new covenant realities. [12:05]
Hebrews 8:13 (ESV)
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Reflection: Are there any old habits, traditions, or beliefs you still hold onto that keep you from fully embracing the freedom and newness found in Christ? What would it look like to let them go today?
Many early believers struggled with their identity, torn between their Jewish heritage and their new faith in Christ. The apostles addressed this by teaching that true righteousness and belonging come not from outward rituals or ancestry, but from faith in Jesus, who is the end of the law for righteousness. This truth calls us to root our identity in Christ alone, freeing us from the pressure to perform or to find worth in external things. [21:40]
Romans 10:4 (ESV)
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself seeking approval or identity in things other than Christ? How can you remind yourself today that your worth is found in Him alone?
The apostles revealed that God’s true temple is not a physical building, but the community of believers in whom His Spirit dwells. This was a radical shift from the old mindset that associated God’s presence with stone temples. Now, every believer is a living temple, and the church is being built together as God’s dwelling place. This truth invites us to experience God’s presence in our daily lives and to honor our bodies and our community as sacred. [40:18]
1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Reflection: How does knowing that you are God’s temple change the way you approach your daily life, your relationships, and your sense of purpose today?
As the early church navigated the transition, the apostles continually encouraged believers to persevere, grow in grace, and stand firm in the hope of Christ. They warned against returning to old patterns and urged the church to gather, encourage one another, and mature in faith. This call remains for us: to hold fast to our confession, to support each other, and to grow deeper in the knowledge and grace of Jesus. [01:04:26]
Galatians 5:1 (ESV)
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can encourage another believer today to stand firm in the freedom and maturity Christ has given?
We are not living in a time of transition, but in the fullness of the new covenant. The apostles’ struggles and teachings help us avoid mixing old shadows with the reality of Christ’s finished work. Now, we are called to rejoice and rest in what Jesus has accomplished, refusing to let anyone judge us by old rituals or festivals, but instead living in the substance that is Christ. [01:19:43]
Colossians 2:16-17 (ESV)
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
Reflection: What is one way you can celebrate and rest in the finished work of Christ today, letting go of any pressure to earn God’s favor through rituals or performance?
Today’s gathering focused on understanding the pivotal role of the apostles in God’s eternal plan, particularly as they navigated the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. This period, spanning roughly 40 years between the cross (Passover) and the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, was marked by significant overlap: the old rituals, temple sacrifices, and Levitical priesthood were still physically present, even as the new reality in Christ was being established. The apostles were entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the early church through this overlap, ensuring that believers did not remain entangled in the shadows of the old but embraced the substance found in Christ.
The writings of the apostles—what we now call the New Testament—were not arbitrary; they were crafted in the context of this transition. Their exhortations, warnings, and encouragements were deeply relevant to their generation, who were wrestling with issues of identity, syncretism, and the temptation to revert to old patterns. The apostles continually redirected faith from rituals and physical temples to the person of Christ and the indwelling of God’s Spirit. They revealed that the true temple is not a building but the people of God, and that Christ is the fulfillment of all the law and the prophets.
A key aspect of their ministry was warning of the impending judgment—the end of the old covenant age, not the end of the world. Jesus himself prophesied that within that generation, the temple would be destroyed, and the old would vanish away. The apostles prepared the church for this crisis, urging perseverance, maturity, and unity in the faith. Their struggles and teachings help us today to read Scripture with context, avoiding the confusion of mixing shadows with reality, and to rejoice in the finished work of Christ.
Now, we do not live in a time of transition. The foundation has been laid, the kingdom has come, and we are called to live in the fullness of the new covenant reality. The apostles’ work is complete; our task is to understand, celebrate, and walk in what Christ has accomplished, knowing that heaven is in our hearts and God dwells within us.
Hebrews 8:13 (ESV) — > In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
2. Acts 21:20-24 (ESV)
> And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.”
3. Matthew 24:1-2, 34 (ESV)
> Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” ... “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
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