God Had Something Better For Me

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Next Steps: December 21 after morning service

Love Feast- December 28 at 5pm

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Sis. Nealy

Dantrell

Brittany

Shterach

Introduction

There are many Christians who painfully live their life working for God, in bitterness and resentment towards God and everyone else, because they are convinced this is the sacrifice they must make to enter heaven.

Martin Luther, the German theologian who sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church endured what could be considered personal torment, because he assumed it was the means by which God is to be worshipped. He stated, “I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners.” Yet, he believed He must worship the God he hated.

If we are honest, many people feel they must worship a god that they hated, were afraid of, or had feelings of terror towards. There may have been reservations about expressing this, but if you were given a choice you probably would y have chosen the God you were worshipping.

Luther wrote, “I was a good monk, and I kept the rule of my order so strictly...I tormented myself with fasting, prayer, vigils, and freezing. If I had continued any longer I would have killed myself with vigils, prayers, reading, and other work. I confessed and confessed, but my conscience could never be at rest.” Martin Luther would sleep on the floor, face the cold without use of blankets, endure extreme fasting, and would even whip himself to subdue the sinful nature and please a supposed angry God.

Then, Luther read Romans 1:17 “17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”” From this Martin Luther relieved himself from the idea that God must be pleased by painful sacrifice and work. Rather, he discovered God is pleased when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.

The Pain of the Law

Obeying the law of Moses was a laborious and gruesome process. Under the Old Testament, a person would have to:

Select an acceptable animal (no blemishes, no defects).

Transport it to the tabernacle or temple—sometimes miles away.

Wait in long lines during feast days.

Present the animal for priestly inspection.

If the animal failed inspection, the entire process started again.

In order to offer a sacrifice, one must do the following:

Holding or tying the animal.

Slitting its throat (the worshiper, not the priest, did the killing—Lev. 1:4–5).

Catching the blood.

Skinning the animal.

Cutting it into pieces.

Washing entrails and legs.

Carrying the pieces to the altar.

Burning them entirely or partially as prescribed.

This was butchering, cooking, hauling, cleaning, and ritual handling—done with precision.

Now multiply that by:

Thousands of families

Daily offerings

Festival offerings

National offerings

Special occasions

It was estimated that over 200,000 lambs were slaughtered in one week.

The priests would work nonstop, and their day would be spent doing the following, without a chair:

Slaughtering animals

Burning carcasses

Carrying ashes

Washing blood

Changing garments

Inspecting sacrifices

Inspecting people with diseases

Maintaining the fire (Lev. 6:12–13)

The blood was everywhere:

Blood splattering clothing

Blood covering the floor

Buckets and bowls filled with blood

A drainage system in the temple for blood runoff

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would:

Multiple washings

Changing garments repeatedly

Exact order of sacrifices

Entering the Holy of Holies with fear and trembling

Perfect obedience to ritual detail—or death (Lev. 16:1–2)

One error would lead to the high priests’ death.

The ultimate responsibility was maintain cleanness. A person became unclean through:

Touching a corpse

Menstruation

Sexual activity

Skin conditions

Mold

Eating the wrong food

Bodily fluids

Contact with unclean animals

Contact with unclean people

Disease

Certain illnesses

Entering certain areas

Some forms of uncleanness lasted:

1 day

7 days

14 days

40 days

And required:

Washings

Waiting periods

Sacrifices

Priest inspections

For both the priests and the people, the law was an excruciating process—one that would have been laborious and gruesome. And somehow, for some believers, this is exactly what living for Jesus feels like.

Getting Over Wasted Time

With this in mind, we turn our attention to the writer of this incredible letter—the book of Hebrews. For centuries, it has been argued that Paul was the author of this text. However, recent discoveries have concluded that it was likely Apollos. He is the gentleman we met in Acts 18—one skilled, competent, and enthusiastic. He could speak well and had the brains of an Alexandrian, Hellenistic Jew.

Now, imagine him sitting and writing this letter. Thinking through all those times in synagogue, offering those sacrifices, obeying those laws and rituals. Imagine him thinking through the pain and agony of ensuring not one drop of the law is left undone; the mental and physical labor that was required to worship God. Thoughts of what happens if a mistake is made or a law is left unmet; the terror of having to face God’s wrath for not getting it 100% right. Reflections of childhood stories of those who died because they entered the holy place incorrectly, offered strange fire, or touched the ark of the covenant incorrectly.

What do you do when worshipping God is mentally and physically draining? What do you do when the place you go to meet God becomes something you must painfully endure? Where do you go when worship feels like chastisement?

What must Apollos been thinking as he was writing this letter—experiencing what he experienced before, but knowing what he knows now? He may have whispered these words, “Boy, all those years I wasted living under the law.” He may have thought he simply could have been doing something better. However, here’s where Paul helps us.

It was not wasted time. Rather, it was preparation. The truth is, we all needed a law like experience, because it was preparing us for something that would be much better. We had to go through the condemnation of the law, because we would never have come out of what we were in and appreciated the grace of God unless we experienced life with Him. Paul wrote,

Galatians 3:24–25 “24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.”

Point: Don’t lament time you spent under the law. Just realize it was a bridge that got you to something better.

The Better Way Through Christ: Hebrews 8

This is the point of the writer of Hebrews. He wants to convince them that better has arrived and when better comes you go with what’s best. The new covenant is our chance to leave that which was painfully unbearable to join that which is pleasantly better.

The death of Jesus Christ occurred on a cross because it portrays the gruesome labor and weight that would be placed on one who endures the kind of labor and strain that would be due to all if not for Jesus Christ. This is why Hebrews 8:6 says,

Hebrews 8:6 NLT

6 But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

The writer of Hebrews argued:

Jesus is a better priest and high priest than the priests of the Old Covenant because those priests had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, and had to offer sacrifices perpetually.

Jesus grants believers entrance into the presence of God, while the law excludes people from entering the holy of holies.

Jesus was a perfect sacrifice.

As a result, the following was granted:

God will grant understanding.

Hebrews 8:10 “10 But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

God will grant relationship

Hebrews 8:10 “10 But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

God would grant full forgiveness

Hebrews 8:12 “12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.””

Conclusion: The Outdated Church

Hebrews 8:13 NLT

13 When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

Now, there are some of us who have been in an outdated church. We have come from outdated church. And there are others who are still in an outdated church.

What does an outdated church look like?

1. Rule-Driven Instead of Relationship-Driven

Everything would revolve around:

detailed rules,

behavioral codes,

ritual correctness,

outward conformity.

People would focus on checking boxes rather than pursuing Christ.

Spiritually: Holiness = compliance.

2. A Culture of Constant Clean/Unclean Distinctions

Modern equivalents might include:

Who’s “holy enough” to serve

External appearance codes

Strict rules about clothing, hair, or rituals

Additional barriers between clergy and laity

Social separation based on who is considered “clean” or “polluted”

The church would be highly judgmental, emphasizing:

Who’s in

Who’s out

Who’s spiritually “clean” or “unclean”

People would walk on eggshells.

3. Leaders as Gatekeepers Between God and the People

Under the Old Covenant:

Priests were necessary intermediaries.

Only certain people had access to God’s presence.

Worshipers could not approach freely.

Modern equivalent:

Pastors become “spiritual police.”

Ordinary believers feel distant from God.

Holiness is centralized in leaders, not shared with the congregation.

People would believe they need a human mediator instead of Christ.

4. Worship Becomes Performance and Ritual

Everything would be about:

rituals done correctly,

ceremonies done in a precise order,

outward expressions proving inward holiness.

Services would be:

formal,

guarded,

fear-driven,

perfectionistic.

Any mistake would be seen as “displeasing God.”

5. Sin Management Instead of Spiritual Transformation

People would attend church to:

atone for failures,

reset their standing,

reduce guilt.

The emphasis would be: “Do better next week,” not “Walk with Christ by the Spirit.”

There is:

no joy,

no freedom,

no transformation—only maintenance.

6. Burdens Instead of Rest

Members feel:

exhausted,

guilty,

fearful,

never enough.

Every sermon is “try harder.” Every service is “do more.” Every mistake is “you should be ashamed.”

The church becomes weary, anxious, and spiritually dry.

7. A Community of Fear, not Freedom

People hide their struggles because transparency = uncleanness.

Authenticity disappears. People pretend to be perfect.

But in a new covenant church, things are different.

1. Relationship Over Rules

People are taught:

to love God from the heart,

to walk by the Spirit,

to live out holiness from inward transformation.

Holiness flows from relationship, not regulation.

2. All Believers Have Direct Access to God

No spiritual gatekeepers. No inner/outer courts.

Worshipers come boldly to God (Heb. 4:16). The pastor equips rather than controls.

3. Grace Creates Empowered People, Not Exhausted Performers

Sermons emphasize:

Christ’s finished work,

the Spirit’s power,

new identity,

spiritual growth from the inside out.

People leave church feeling:

lifted,

hopeful,

strengthened,

grateful.

4. Worship Centers on Christ, Not Ritual Precision

It’s not about:

doing everything perfectly,

performing rituals,

showing holiness outwardly.

It’s about:

gratitude for the cross,

joy in salvation,

the presence of the Spirit.

5. The Spirit leads, instead of being controlled by the law.

Instead of:

fear-driven obedience,

meticulous rule-keeping,

shame-based morality…

People obey because the Spirit changes their desires.

Grace doesn’t lower the standard— it gives power to meet it.

6. The Community Becomes Welcoming and Transformational

People feel:

accepted,

forgiven,

valued,

empowered.

Outsiders sense:

authenticity,

compassion,

hope.

The church becomes a place of refuge.

7. Ministry Is Shared, Not Controlled

Everyone carries the presence of God. Everyone is gifted. Everyone participates.

The pastor trains; the people minister.

This is the priesthood of all believers in action.

If you are trapped in the old way, better is available.