A Testament is a legal document that designates a will. In Heb 9: [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
[18] Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
We see that Christ’s testament was dedicated by sacrifice. When the atheist points to the cross and leers “pwned,” at the Christian, he is overlooking the fact that Christ had the courage of his convictions and that Jesus Christ required no more of you and me than he was willing to do himself.
Heb 9: [19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
[20] Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
[21] Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
[22] And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission[of sins].
[23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
[24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
[25] Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
[26] For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
The Lord’s supper (called the sacrament by many) is a remembrance of Christ’s commitment.
Mk 14: [24] And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
When we commemorate it, it is not only for us to remember, but for the observation of others if necessary.
1 Cor 11: [26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
There is a common misconception that forgiveness of sins occurs at the commemoration of Christ’s sacrifice.
Mt 26: [28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
In Mt 26, Christ mentioned the purpose of his upcoming sacrifice when he gave the rite. In fact, the reason Christ had to shed his blood was for the remission of sins.
Eph 1:[7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
You can see from context of two more passages that the ritual of remembrance is not what is under discussion.
Heb 10: [16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
[17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
[18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
The Hebrews 10 passage should make it clear that the sacrament is not an offering for sin. More here on remission of sins;
The Old Testament was a marvelous agreement between God and Man, as seen in
2 Cor 3: [7] But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of
[8] How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
And
Ps 19: [7] The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
[8] The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
[9] The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
The patriarch David was a king, and in a position to make laws of his own. Presumably he saw how laws could be twisted out of context, and was intellectually impressed with God’s law. More on his views of God’s old Testament with
Ac 17: [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (“winked at” is archaic language for “overlooked.”)
When the Jews of the Old Testament learned that they had crucified the Christ, they were horrified:
Ac 2: [36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
[37] Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This was a pattern repeated even by those who had been baptized by John the Baptist: Ac 19: [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
[4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
More on baptism here and here;
In the New Testament we are baptized into Christ’s death so that we can walk in newness of life: Ro 6: [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
I wrote before on “Why did Jesus have to die.” This may be a better answer.
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