We are familiar with this principle in history. In the past, many developing countries were ruled as colonies. Back then, the constitution in effect was that of the colonial power such as Great Britain, Portugal, Germany or France. Then independence came to the developing nation. A new constitution was drawn up. When this new constitution and new laws came into effect, the colonial constitution and laws fell away. Two different constitutions cannot govern a country at the same time. The arrival of the new means the end of the old. The old has become “obsolete.” It no longer rules over the people.
Two constitutions cannot rule at the same time.
The illustration of a nation’s old and new constitutions also points out the importance of knowing which system we are under. Suppose, in a particular nation, that some citizens obey colonial laws, while others obey their independent nation’s new laws. The result for that society would be total confusion. Some would follow the old ways and others the new. A person would not know where he stood with the laws, the taxes, the social benefits, the civic responsibilities and the military duties. Under one set of laws he might be guilty, but under the other innocent. No one could be sure which rules applied to whom.
We see such confusion in the religious world today. Some think they are under the covenant of Moses. Others think they are under the covenant of Christ. And some are taking a little out of each system, just as they wish.
Hebrews 8:13 opens up a new thought for some people, namely that the covenant that includes the Ten Commandments is no longer in effect. As Hebrews 10:9 says, “He does away with the first in order to establish the second.” We must know to which covenant we belong. It is well worth our while to examine other Scriptures on the subject.