Three Dynamics of the New Covenant

TEXT: HEBREWS 8:1-13

Hebrews 8:1–13 (NLT)

1 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.

2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

3 And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too.

4 If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law.

5 They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

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.

7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.

8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.

9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

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.

11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already.

12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

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 It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

INTRODUCTION:

I. BETTER PROMISES (HEBREWS 8:1-6)

Hebrews 8:1–6 (NLT)

1 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.

2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

3 And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too.

4 If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law.

5 They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

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.

A. The promise of a better ministry (HEBREWS 8:1-2).

Hebrews 8:1–2 (NLT)

1 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.

2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

1. Our High Priest is in the position of power in Heaven (HEBREWS 8:1)

Hebrews 8:1 (NLT)

1 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.

2. Our High Priest ministers in the temple made by God. (HEBREWS 8:2).

Hebrews 8:2 (NLT)

There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

B. The promise of a better sacrifice (HEBREWS 8: 3-4)

Hebrews 8:3–4 (NLT)

3 And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too.

4 If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law.

1. The better sacrifice was made by our Heavenly High Priest.

2. The better sacrifice was a sinless sacrifice.

(1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5)

1 Peter 2:22 (NLT)

22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

1 John 3:5 (NLT)

5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

3. The better sacrifice completely atones for sin.

C. The promise of a better Mediator (HEBREWS 8:5-6)

Hebrews 8:5–6 (NLT)

5 They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

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.

1. Christ mediates for us in the temple that the earthly temple was only a type and shadow.

2. Our mediator is none other than the eternal Son of God.

II. BETTER PLANS (HEBREWS 8:7-10).

Hebrews 8:7–10 (NLT)

7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.

8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.

9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

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.

A. Better plans confirmed through a New covenant with His people. (HEBREWS 8:7-9)

Hebrews 8:7–9 (NLT)

7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.

8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.

9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

1. The new covenant replaces the old faulty covenant.

a. The old covenant was faulty because of man’s inability to keep it. (Rom. 3:10-12,23)

Romans 3:10–12 (NLT)

10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.

11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.

12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

Romans 3:23 (NLT)

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

b. Failure to keep the Old Covenant resulted in condemnation.(Rom. 6:23)

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. Better plans evidenced by changing a person from the inside–out. (HEBREWS 8:10a).

Hebrews 8:10a (NLT)

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.

1. By recreating us, he changes the desires of our heart and mind.

a. The process begins with the new birth.

1) The Old man dies and a new one is born (2 Cor. 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2) The new man is continually being renewed in the image of Christ.( 2 Corinthians 4:16)

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NLT)

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

3) The ultimate goal is that we will become like Jesus.

C. Better plans Confirmed by a new relationship with His people. (HEBREWS 8:10b).

Hebrews 8:10b (NLT)

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.

1. We have become his own people.

(Romans 9:26; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9)

Romans 9:26 (NLT)

26 And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ ”

Titus 2:14 (NLT)

14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

III. BETTER PERFORMANCE (HEBREWS 8:11-13).

Hebrews 8:11–13 (NLT)

11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already.

12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

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.

A. Better performance because of personal knowledge (HEBREWS 8:11).

Hebrews 8:11 (NLT)

11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already.

1. It is not a second-hand knowledge imparted by others (ginwskw), but a personal knowledge (eidw) that comes from a relationship with God.( 1 John 5:20)

1 John 5:20 (NLT)

20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

B. Better performance because of complete forgiveness. (HEBREWS 8:12-13).

Hebrews 8:12–13 (NLT)

12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

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.

1. This relationship is based in the mercy and forgiveness of God.

( Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14;1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:9)

Ephesians 1:7 (NLT)

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:14 (NLT)

who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

1 John 1:7 (NLT)

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:9 (NLT)

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

2. He is (ἱλασμός= the means by which sins are forgiven) ‘the means of forgiveness, expiation.( 1 John 2:2)

1 John 2:2 (NLT)

He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

3. He will forgive our sin (ἁμαρτιῶν) and iniquity (ἀδικίαις)

CONCLUSION: