The concept of the temporary nature of the Old System, often referred to as the Old Covenant or Mosaic Law, is a significant theme in Christian theology. This system, established through Moses, was designed to guide the Israelites in their relationship with God and to set them apart as His chosen people. However, the New Testament reveals that this system was not intended to be permanent but was a precursor to the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ.

Biblical Foundation

The Old System, encapsulated in the laws given at Mount Sinai, served as a guardian until the coming of Christ. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Galatians 3:24-25 : "So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian." This passage highlights the temporary role of the law as a guide leading to the ultimate revelation in Christ.

The Role of the Law

The law was given to reveal sin and the need for a savior. Romans 3:20 states, "Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin." The law's purpose was to make humanity conscious of sin and its consequences, thus preparing the way for the redemptive work of Jesus.

The Fulfillment in Christ

Jesus Christ is seen as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. In Matthew 5:17 , Jesus declares, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them." His life, death, and resurrection completed the requirements of the law, rendering the Old System obsolete for those who are in Christ.

The New Covenant

The New Covenant, prophesied in the Old Testament and inaugurated by Christ, supersedes the Old System. Jeremiah 31:31-33 foretells this transition: "The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts." This new covenant is characterized by an internal transformation rather than external adherence to the law.

The Book of Hebrews

The Epistle to the Hebrews extensively discusses the temporary nature of the Old System. Hebrews 8:13 states, "By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear." The author emphasizes that the Old Covenant was a shadow of the good things to come, with Christ as the high priest of a better covenant.

The Role of Sacrifices

Under the Old System, sacrifices were central to atonement and worship. However, these sacrifices were insufficient for the complete removal of sin. Hebrews 10:1-4 explains, "The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves... For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." The sacrificial system pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood provides true atonement.

The Transition from Law to Grace

The transition from the Old System to the New Covenant marks a shift from law to grace. John 1:17 states, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." This transition underscores the temporary nature of the Old System, as believers are now justified by faith and live under the grace of God through Christ.

Implications for Believers

For believers, the temporary nature of the Old System means freedom from the ceremonial and civil laws of the Mosaic Covenant. Romans 7:6 affirms, "But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." This freedom allows Christians to live by the Spirit, guided by the principles of love and grace rather than the letter of the law.