A Better Covenant

Introduction

Main Text

Hebrews 8:1–13 ESV

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Three Reasons Why The New Covenant Is Better Than The Old

1. God Promises Transformation Of The Heart

2. God Promises Relationship With Him

3. God Promises Our Sins Will Be Forgotten

Application

In reverse order…

(God Promises Our Sins Will Be Forgotten) Trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins. If you aren’t a Christian today, let me tell you the good news…Now you can have your sins forgiven and forgotten. God isn’t a nagging spouse, he won’t bring up your past. Once it is under the blood, it is forgiven completely and it is forever under the blood. So put your trust in Him today. If you have never turned from your sins and surrendered your life to Jesus. Let today be the day.

You should also live in this knowledge. If you have been a Christian a while, you shouldn’t feel shame for your past. You should feel loved. Let go of the shame and receive his love for you today.

(God Promises Relationship With Him) Perhaps you are here and you don’t know what a good relationship with God looks like. Perhaps you’ve never had a good relationship with anyone. Let me give you a few examples of what this looks like practically.

Pray - Prayer is communication. Now, because of what Jesus has done, you can talk directly to God himself. You can communicate your wants, will, desires, needs, hurts, failures, disappointments and joy. God is a friend that is closer than a brother.

Silence - You can simply spend time with God. One of the joys of my life is getting to just be in proximity to Autumn. I get to be near her. That brings me such joy. It is the same with the Lord. Spend time just near Him and let that change your life. We do that be engaging in the spiritual discipline of silence. This is where you spend time before the Lord quietly. You don’t need to say anything, you don’t need to do anything. You simply “be” with the Lord.

Serving - Serving is the act of doing things for God. Serving Him can look like a lot of different things. We engage in our relationships with others by doing this same thing. A few weeks back, some of the men in the church served The Doggett family by doing some home maintenance and beautification. This shows relationship. Others cooked her dinner. This shows relationship. We don’t typically mow the grass of someone we don’t know, nor do we cook for them. We do that for people we know and love.

In serving God, we have a multitude of options. Some of them in the church like food ministry, children’s ministry, tech team, worship team. Others outside the walls like delivering the food from food ministry, serving at With Love From Jesus, making meals, building ramps for the elderly, serving God with your business, the list goes on and on.

(God Promises Transformation Of The Heart) - Submit to his process of transformation. The New Covenant promises that we will be transformed by God. First note, the responsibility of this is on God, not you. God

Decision