Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Well, for most of us Christmas is over and we are now looking forward to beginning a new year.

I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to believe that we are about to embark on the year 2020!

This morning, we are going to go back to our study of the book of Hebrews.

Many of you may have expected a “New Year’s Sermon” today, and in a strange way this is that kind of sermon.

The writer of Hebrews has been laying out for us the reason God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world.

The author has been showing the need for something different.

The old earth-bound priestly system was not able to truly give mankind unfettered access to God.

So God changed things up a bit, by sending His one and only Son into this world.

If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Hebrews chapter 8.

Hebrews 8:1-

The Main Point!

When we come to chapter 8, the author tells us, “The point of what we are saying is this. .

.”

I like the way the NLT translates this, “Here is the main point. .

.”

A Better High Priest

First, our High Priest is better than any previous high priest, because He is in the place of honor—beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.

Our High Priest is actually living in the presence of the majestic God.

This Majesty refers to the greatness of God.

THOUGHT

—This year, I want to challenges us as a church to really focus on the GREATNESS of God—

The Real Sanctuary

The second point the author makes is that our High Priest serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord.

Jesus, our High Priest, serves in God’s real, true, authentic sanctuary.

Jesus is not serving in some facsimile that was made by man.

The High Priest’s Job

Hebrews 8:3-

Offer Gifts & Sacrifices

Jesus also needed to have something to offer.

The problem is this: Here on the earth Jesus could not have served as a High Priest, because there were already men who served according to the law (4).

Now these men, served in a sanctuary that was a copy—a shadow of the real sanctuary mentioned in verse 2.

The author goes on to say in verse 5 that it was a good copy— “This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’” ().

A Better Ministry

Once again, the author tells us that the ministry of Jesus and this New Covenant is far better than the old one.

Not only that, but this new covenant is founded on better promises.

Jesus is the mediator—the go-between—of this new covenant.

Jesus has been given a superior ministry (superior priestly service).

This superior ministry is founded on a superior covenant.

And this superior covenant is founded on better promises.

So we have a superior ministry founded on a superior covenant which is based on superior promises!

When you come to the next section the author once again shows why this new system was needed.

Hebrews 8:7-

The old covenant could not be kept by the people!

That’s why in verse 7 we read, “But God found fault with the people. .

.”

The fact is no one could keep the entire law, so everyone fell short ().

So way back in God said, “When the time was right:”

(1) He would make a new covenant with Israel.

(2) The covenant will be different than the old one—which depended on man’s ability to keep it.

(3) He (God) would put His laws in their minds!

Literally—established, inflicted, entrusted.

(4) He (God) would write the laws on their hearts.

Literally—inscribed upon.

This New Covenant will be easier for mankind to keep for a couple of reasons.

First, they will have an inner desire to follow after God, because knowledge of Him will come from inside the person’s heart and mind.

(5) God will be their God, and they would become His people.

(6) Everyone (all) will know God.

Literally—to know, understand, be sure of, experience, honor.

(7) God will forgive their wickedness, and will stop remembering their sins ().

God was speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, saying He would give Israel (and Judah) this New Covenant.

In verse 13 we read, “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.”

So if the New Covenant was given to Israel, how is it that Christians apply the covenant to the present day Christian?

When Jesus came to earth, He came to offer the Millennial Kingdom of God to Israel.

The only problem was Isreal did not accept Jesus as the Messiah—or promised one.

So the New Covenant was opened up to the Gentiles.

That’s why Paul writes, “He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant.

This is a covenant no of written laws, but of the Spirit.

The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.”

(, NLT)

So What?

Okay, I told you this was going to be a different kind of New Year’s message.

In this coming year, I want to challenge you commit to doing five things:

Let the Spirit of God work in your life the way He wants to work.

Live out your salvation—or to put it another way let the New Covenant shine through you.

Apply God’s Word to your life, and work this year to live it out before mankind.

Focus on knowing God!

Not just facts, but learning how to trust Him, depend on Him, serve Him, and share Him.

And finally, this year experience the freedom that comes from knowing your sins are no longer remembered by God!