THE GOD OF THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CONTRASTED 1

17 AND MOSES BROUGHT THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE CAMP TO MEET WITH GOD, AND THEY STOOD AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN.
18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.
20 THEN THE LORD CAME DOWN UPON MOUNT SINAI, ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. AND THE LORD CALLED MOSES TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, AND MOSES WENT UP.
21 AND THE LORD SAID TO MOSES, “GO DOWN AND WARN THE PEOPLE, LEST THEY BREAK THROUGH TO GAZE AT THE LORD, AND MANY OF THEM PERISH.
22 ALSO LET THE PRIESTS WHO COME NEAR THE LORD CONSECRATE THEMSELVES, LEST THE LORD BREAK OUT AGAINST THEM.”
Exodus 19:17-22 (NKJV)

18 FOR YOU HAVE NOT COME TO THE MOUNTAIN THAT MAY BE TOUCHED AND THAT BURNED WITH FIRE, AND TO BLACKNESS AND DARKNESS AND TEMPEST,
19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.
20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.”
21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
22 BUT YOU HAVE COME TO MOUNT ZION AND TO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, TO AN INNUMERABLE COMPANY OF ANGELS,
23 TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN WHO ARE REGISTERED IN HEAVEN, TO GOD THE JUDGE OF ALL, TO THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT,
24 TO JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, AND TO THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING THAT SPEAKS BETTER THINGS THAN THAT OF ABEL."
Hebrews 12:18-24 (NKJV)

We could see a contrast between the God of the old testament and that of the new testament in the above passages of the Bible.
The Book of Hebrews is a new testament Book where the writer compares the old testament pattern of worship and that of the new testament. How God revealed or manifested Himself to the people of the old testament and that of the new testament.
The writer was saying the Jewish believers in Christ Jesus should hold on to their faith in Christ Jesus without going back to Judaism which they had forsaken. He said that because they were considering or contemplating of going back to the old testament pattern of worship, Judaism, which they had renounced and forsook, because of severe persecutions they were facing or going through. They were admonished to consider it and stay put in their new faith—being the disciples of Christ Jesus.

The writer was saying; we, the new testament believers, have not come to the mountain that could not be touched which burned with fire (Hebrews 12:18). That those who heard the sound of the trumpet that was blasted and the voice they heard made them fear and tremble and would not want to hear such again (Hebrews 12:19). Because they could not endure what they were told, that It was terrifying (Hebrews 12:20,21).

The point is, God did reveal Himself to the Israelites, the old testament people, as a God full of awe and dread. They were afraid to come closer to Him or listen to Him (Exodus 20:18,19).
But the author of the Book of Hebrews was trying to say the God being presented in the new testament is not like the God presented in the old testament; they have come to Mount Zion, the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels (Hebrews 12:22).
They have come to the general assembly and church of the firstborn registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23),
They have also come to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:24).
In all, the point he was making is, the God Whom we, the believers, have come is unlike the God of the old testament Who cannot be accessed or come closer to by an average worshipper, except through a priest or a prophet.

The God being presented in the new testament is a God Who wants relationship and fellowship or communion. He wants to be worshipped in spirit and truth:
23 BUT THE HOUR IS COMING, AND NOW IS, WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH; FOR THE FATHER IS SEEKING SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM. 24 GOD IS SPIRIT, AND THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH” (John 4:23,24 NKJV).

You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Whatever is not planted in your body by God that is working against your life and health is cursed and uprooted completely in Jesus' mighty name.
Peace.
TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!