But the view of this gospel in the Old Testament, seen through the Old Covenant with its types and shadows, is less clear and defined as it is in the New. It is like going out at night, before the dawn, and seeing a beautiful landscape under the starlight. The trees and mountains and lake\u2014the scene is all in place, but largely, it can only be seen in outline and silhouette. There is much left in shadow; the details and color are still hidden. It lies before you, but your view is sketchy.<\/p>\n
But as the dawn arrives, and the rays of the sun begin to break over the horizon, then your view begins to open. You can see more and more. As the sun climbs higher and higher, those details and colors that were hidden are revealed and illumined by the light.<\/p>\n The gospel as we see it in the Old Covenant is the dawn breaking\u2014those first rays announcing the coming light. The gospel as we see it in the New Covenant is the full glory of the sun at noon day.<\/p>\n It is in the brilliance of the sun\u2014God\u2019s full revelation of His Son and the cross\u2014 that we now see and understand the gospel in its fullness and completeness. \u00a0The Old is \u201coutshined with Christ in view\u201d!<\/p>\n \u201cBut now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established with better promises\u201d (Hebrews 8:6).<\/p>\n The following hymn was composed for the 2001 General Assembly of the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America (ARBCA), that met March 6-8, 2001 at Heritage Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas. It celebrates the greater blessings and promises we now possess within the better covenant in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n Within A Better Covenant<\/strong><\/p>\n Within a better covenant All those within this covenant For unto Moses, Jesus gave The Spirit seals the covenant The covenants that came before In ceaseless service priests of old God made provision in the Old, Behold, the temple of the New, Words \u00a92001 Ken Puls<\/p>\n Tom Wells (Heritage Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas) composed the tune for this hymn. Download the lyrics and free sheet music<\/a> (PDF), including an arrangement of the tune GRAPE CREEK for classical guitar.<\/p>\n![\"Shadows](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kenpulsmusic.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Unsplash-firstlight47.jpg?ssl=1\")
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\nGod’s people now abide,
\nBuilt on the finished work of Christ,
\nAccomplished and applied.
\nFrom ev’ry nation, tribe, and tongue,
\nThe Spirit calls the bride,
\nUniting in this covenant
\nEach one for whom Christ died.<\/p>\n
\nAre quickened and made new;
\nFrom least to great, they know the Lord
\nAnd trust His Word as true.
\nThe Spirit works and writes God’s Law
\nUpon each heart and mind,
\nThat each will turn and flee to Christ,
\nHis grace and mercy find.<\/p>\n
\nHis Law on Sinai’s hill;
\nThe Law that one day He would come
\nTo perfectly fulfill.
\nGod’s Law fulfilled in Jesus Christ
\nIs holy, good, and right;
\nWhat once condemned us for our sin
\nIs now made our delight.<\/p>\n
\nWith each He sets apart;
\nA circumcision not of flesh,
\nBut of the conquer’d heart.
\nFor it is not by flesh and blood,
\nNor by the will of man,
\nThat Christ now builds and keeps His church
\nAnd causes it to stand.<\/p>\n
\nDid then prepare the way,
\nAs God progressively revealed
\nThe glories of Christ’s day.
\nThe types and shadows of the old
\nA foretaste did provide,
\nBut old has vanished now away
\nAs Christ is magnified!<\/p>\n
\nBrought off’rings day by day,
\nBut blood of bulls and goats could not
\nTake sin’s dark guilt away.
\nBehold, a better sacrifice,
\nThe spotless Lamb who died!
\nChrist shed His blood once for all time
\nTo cleanse and save His bride.<\/p>\n
\nIts Temple, priests, and land;
\nAn earthly nation He raised up
\nAnd strengthened by His hand.
\nBut earthly shadows now have past,
\nOutshined with Christ in view,
\nProclaiming now unto the church:
\nGod’s Kingdom is in you!<\/p>\n
\nNot made with bricks or stone,
\nIs now the gathered hearts of all
\nWhom Christ has called His own.
\nThe sacrifices of our lips
\nWe to this temple bring
\nThat Christ be praised as all in all,
\nOur Prophet, Priest, and King.<\/p>\n