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>> “Still, we are on much firmer ground than they were.” <<
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No, we are not!
And Yeshua never said their faith was not sufficient.
Paul made it plain in Hebrews 3 and 4 that the gospel he preached was the same gospel that Moses preached, and that it is of no effect without faith; that is the difference.
The Old Covenant depended upon obedience - the new on faithfulness.
The Old Covenant has been “fulfilled” in Jesus - completed, in other words - so it no long applies. More than just diet and sacrifice were changed - the entire relationship between man and God is new. We now stand before God perfected in Jesus, with our sins as far as the East from the West. Moses could never say that!
All the difference in the world.