There are many differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant that God made with His people. One that stood out to me as I was reading Leviticus was how detailed God’s instructions were. When God laid out the foundation of what would become the Jewish religion, He gave very specific instructions on how things were to be done. The tabernacle was built to exact dimensions. Sacrifices had to be done in a very precise fashion. Laws and punishments were explained in great detail.
By comparison, the New Testament writers were vague. Christians are told to be holy, treat people lovingly, and live sacrificially. Some topics are covered in a bit more detail, but really, we are given a lot of leeway in how to live out the Christian life.
The difference is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Old Testament saints did not have this blessing and, therefore, needed very clear instructions on how to obey God. Christians do have the wonderful privilege of having God living in us. The incredible benefits of this reality include us having access to God’s power and direction to live a holy life. We do not require such detailed instructions because God Himself can, and does, direct us.
Following God’s guidance is the key. We are not given carte blanche to act as we feel best. We are expected to seek God’s will and follow it. When we do so God releases the power/strength needed to accomplish what He leads us to do.
That is why proper teaching on the Holy Spirit is necessary. Christians need to know how to hear His still, small voice. Some churches emphasize studying the Bible almost exclusively to the point that their defacto Holy Trinity is God the Father, Son, and Holy Scriptures.
Studying the Bible is absolutely essential. It is God’s Word written for us. What gives the Bible its life, though is the Holy Spirit who illuminates it as we read and meditate on it. He makes it a life-changing book. Without the Holy Spirit the Bible is just a collection of ancient texts, completely true and full of wisdom but with no power of its own. The Bible is not a book of magic incantations. It is the Living God that brings the Bible alive.
Some might balk at what I just said. Yet the evidence is that there are scholars that study the Bible for decades yet do not believe some of its fundamental truths. Also, there are those who preach and teach using the Bible as their text but expound false narratives and half-truths. The Bible is a valuable resource, but when the Holy Spirit is absent the Bible itself has no power to change lives.
When the Holy Spirit is present, great things happen. Because of Him, lives change, fears are conquered, “giants” are slain, and miracles happen. Christians tend to take His presence for granted. We rarely stop and think about how impossible the Christian life would be without Him.
Following the Old Covenant proved to be impossible for people trying to do it by their own strength. God sets the standard even higher in the New Covenant. Under the Law, adultery and murder were physical acts but under grace we are held accountable for even thinking about such things (Matthew 5:21-30). It is only by the by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit can we successfully live obedient lives!
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the awesome blessing of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. Grant that I will never grieve Him or allow anything in my life that hinders His work.