A BETTER COVENANT

Heb. 8:6-13

Hebrews 8:6 NASB95

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

Why do we need a new covenant?

people did not continue in my covenant (ignored and neglected)

people could not keep it

sacrifices were not adequate

priesthood was weak and flawed

so that we can have a better mediator.

so that we can have a covenant based on better promises

the covenant was not faultless Hebrews 7:11 “Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?” Hebrews 7:18–19 “For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”

we were at fault (God found fault in humanity) and because of us he found fault in the covenant. People could not keep it, the sacrifices were not adequate, and the priesthood was weak and flawed.

v.9 they did not continue in my covenant (so we needed a covenant that did not depend on our own ability to keep it)

THE NEW COVENANT IS A PERSONAL INTERNAL COVENANT

The old covenant was a national covenant between God and a chosen nation

the old covenant stipulations were given and accepted at Mt. Sinia Ex. 19-24 and finalized 24:7-8

this new covenant would be completed thru the sinless life of Christ, his obedient death, his resurrection, enthronement as king overall, and his ordination as eternal high priest

This covenant will change us from the inside while the old was based on the outside. Ezekiel 36:26–27 ““Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

the law will be in your heart not on a tablet of stone

it will change us from the inside 2 Corinthians 3:18“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

the law will be embodied in our hearts 2 Corinthians 3:3 “being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

WILL YOU ALLOW GOD TO WRITE HIS WORD ON YOUR HEART? if not then you have no covenant. Luke 8:11–15 ““Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. “Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”

What soil are we?

James 1:21 “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

1 Peter 1:23 “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

God wants a personal proprietary (owner) relationship - I will be their God

happens when we get to know god thru His Word and allow it to transform our minds thru active obedience

THE NEW COVENANT BRINGS ETERNAL BLESSINGS

THE NEW COVENANT BRINGS FORGIVENESS

Romans 3:20 “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

you see with the old law there was remembrance of sins Hebrews 10:1–3 “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.” , Hebrews 10:18 “Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

remember no more - hold against us no more - why because treated his son as if he had done it

THE NEW COVENANT BRINGS MERCIFULNESS TO THE UNRIGHTEOUS

THE NEW COVENANT BRINGS ETERNAL SALVATION Hebrews 5:9 “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,”

THE NEW COVENANT BRINGS ETERNAL REDEMPTION

Do you want eternal forgivness and mercy? do you want eternal salvation and redemption? God saw to it that you can have a better covenant based on better promises thru the Jesus our Great High Priest. But you have to let God write his law on your heart. How is your heart this morning? What kind of soil does God have to work with in your heart? Do you have compacted soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, or good soil? How do you know? Have y9ou recieved the implanted word which is able to save your soul, have you believed, repented of your sins, confessed him as Lord and been baptized into Christ so that you can be raised in newness of life. Its thru our burail and resurrection in the watery grqve that the the new covenat is enacted in our own life and we recieve the eternal blessings of that covenant. If we can help you do that this mornign please come while we stand and sing.