THE PROMISES OF GOD'S NEW COVENANT
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Up to this point, the focus of The Epistle To The Hebrews has been on Christ...
Up to this point, the focus of The Epistle To The Hebrews has been on Christ...
His superiority to prophets, angels, Moses
The superiority of His priesthood to the Levitical priesthood
With the transition in Hebrew 8:1-6, the focus shifts to the New Covenant...
With the transition in Hebrew 8:1-6, the focus shifts to the New Covenant...
A new covenant in which Jesus has already been described as:
The “surety” (guarantor) - Heb 7:22
The “Mediator” (one who intervenes) - Heb 8:6
In both passages, this covenant was described as a “better” covenant
Better than what? Better in what way? In Hebrews 8, we learn the answer...
Better than what? Better in what way? In Hebrews 8, we learn the answer...
Better than the “first covenant” - cf. Heb 8:7
Better because of the “promises” contained in it - cf. Heb 8:6
Our lesson is entitled: “The Promises Of God’s New Covenant” - so we shall examine our text (Heb 8:7-13) to ascertain how the New Covenant is better, especially with regard to its promises.
Our lesson is entitled: “The Promises Of God’s New Covenant” - so we shall examine our text (Heb 8:7-13) to ascertain how the New Covenant is better, especially with regard to its promises.
Let’s begin by noticing...
DISCUSSION
GOD’S PROMISE OF A NEW COVENANT (8:7-9, 13)
GOD’S PROMISE OF A NEW COVENANT (8:7-9, 13)
The First Covenant Was Not Faultless
The First Covenant Was Not Faultless
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Otherwise, there would have been no need for a second covenant
We have already seen concerning the first covenant that...
The Levitical priesthood could not bring perfection - Heb 7:11
The Law made nothing perfect, and was therefore annulled due to its weakness and unprofitableness - Heb 7:18-19
This inadequacy has special reference to the sacrifices of the first covenant...
They could not make those who approach perfect...
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
The blood of animals offered by the priests could not take away sins...
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
The People of the First Covenant Were Also At Fault
The People of the First Covenant Were Also At Fault
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
God found fault because they did not continue in His covenant...
7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not. 9 And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
For this reason He disregarded them, allowing them to be taken away by their enemies...
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. 12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. 14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
Even so, He did not leave them without some hope, for through the prophet Jeremiah He made a promise...
God Promised a New Covenant (Heb 8:8-9)
God Promised a New Covenant (Heb 8:8-9)
This was promised in...
31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.
Thus, God would make a “new covenant” with Israel and Judah
A covenant different than the one made at Mt. Sinai (How? - we shall see in a moment)
The New Covenant Has Made The First “Old” or obsolete
The New Covenant Has Made The First “Old” or obsolete
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
By even calling the promised covenant “new” - God made the first covenant obsolete
The old covenant actually continued on for about 500 years after Jeremiah
But with the promise of the new - attention would be taken away from the Old Covenant and directed toward the new one that was coming!
The process of it becoming obsolete was especially seen in the days of the Hebrew writer...
Notice the phrase, “decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away”
The death of Jesus rendered the sacrifices of the first covenant unnecessary
Before long, the temple itself would be destroyed, and along with it, the last vestiges of the Levitical priesthood
Truly, it was “ready to vanish away”
So God promised a “new covenant” to replace the “old covenant” - and Jesus is the “Mediator” of this covenant, which is “a better covenant”.
So God promised a “new covenant” to replace the “old covenant” - and Jesus is the “Mediator” of this covenant, which is “a better covenant”.
Better in what way?
Better because it “was established on better promises”.
Let’s now consider some of...
GOD’S PROMISES INVOLVING THE NEW COVENANT (8:10-12)
GOD’S PROMISES INVOLVING THE NEW COVENANT (8:10-12)
The New Covenant Will Be Inward and Spiritual
The New Covenant Will Be Inward and Spiritual
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
“I will put my laws in their mind, and write them in their hearts”
The first covenant had its laws written on tablets of stone; the new covenant is one that requires God’s laws be written in our hearts
It is not enough to have God’s Word in our hands, on our coffee tables, etc.
We must plant God’s Word into our hearts...
21 Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
For only then can we truly be born again by the incorruptible seed, the word of God
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Are you living up to intent of the New Covenant, or are you like those under the first covenant, who had the Word, but not on their hearts?
The New Covenant Will Provide A Closer Relationship With God
The New Covenant Will Provide A Closer Relationship With God
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
“I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”
The actual terms of this promise is really nothing new…
7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
But in each successive “age” - its promise is filled with fresh meaning; for example...
In “this age”, we enjoy a closer relationship with God...
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
But even more so, in the “age to come”, which is in eternity...
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Are you utilizing the blessings whereby you can have a closer relationship with God?
The New Covenant Will Be With People Who Know The Lord
The New Covenant Will Be With People Who Know The Lord
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
“They shall not teach...saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me...” Thus, the New Covenant will be with people who have already come to know the Lord
This is unlike the first covenant, in which people entered it at birth; as they grew up, they needed to be taught about the Lord
In the new covenant, one must come to know the Lord before they can enter the covenant
So it is that one must believe in Jesus before they can enter into a covenant relationship with their Lord through baptism…
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Does not this feature of the New Covenant prove that infant baptism is a false doctrine?
The New Covenant Will Provide True Forgiveness For Sin
The New Covenant Will Provide True Forgiveness For Sin
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Here is the ultimate basis of the blessing previously described; by virtue of the forgiveness of sins can we truly be God’s people, and He our God!
Thus the New Covenant provides what the first covenant could not - true forgiveness of sins! - again, notice...
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
CONCLUSION
Such are “The Promises Of God’s New Covenant”...
Such are “The Promises Of God’s New Covenant”...
As foretold through the prophet Jeremiah
Now fulfilled through the coming of Jesus and His death on the cross
By virtue of “better promises”, Christ is truly the Mediator of a “better covenant”!
But there is more to be said about why the New Covenant is a better covenant...
But there is more to be said about why the New Covenant is a better covenant...
It also has a better sanctuary
It also has a better sacrifice
But consideration of these things will be saved for later
At this point it might be appropriate to ask: Have you truly entered into a covenant relationship with the Lord?
At this point it might be appropriate to ask: Have you truly entered into a covenant relationship with the Lord?
The entrance terms of this New Covenant are simple:
The entrance terms of this New Covenant are simple:
They involve faith in Christ and a confession of that faith (Rom 10:9,10), along with repentance of sins and baptism into Christ (Acts 2:36-39).
The promised blessings of the New Covenant await any and all who are willing to so respond to the gospel of Christ!