LESSON AIM

1. We will gain a better understanding of the promises and provisions allotted to us through the new covenant we have through JESUS CHRIST

2. We will examine our relationship with CHRIST.

KEEP IN MIND

“But now hath he ordained a more excellent ministry, by now much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).

The covenant of the Old Testament was replaced with the covenant of the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the people did not keep their part of the covenant, so the covenant was nullified. JESUS replaced the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. In the New Covenant, through our relationship with JESUS CHRIST, GOD places HIS WORD in our hearts. In contrast, the Law of the Old Covenant was written in stone.

By way of background, in the Old Testament, the theme of a covenant between GOD and man expands from generation to generation. GOD made a covenant with Noah when HE told him that he and his family would enter the ark to escape the flood (Genesis 6:18). GOD promised to make Abram a great nation (Genesis 12:2), and as HIS covenant with Abram continued, GOD changed Abram’s name to Abraham and promised to bless his descendants, making him the father of many nations (Genesis 15, 17). GOD initiated a covenant with the people of Israel on Mount Sinai through Moses, bringing into existence the Mosaic Law (Exodus 19-20). GOD frequently renewed HIS covenant with the Children of Israel throughout the Old Testament (Joshua 8:30-35; 24:1-28). GOD also entered into a covenant with King David; this covenant is commonly referred to as the Messianic covenant because through the lineage of David would come the Messiah, JESUS CHRIST (Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:31).

The Old Testament covenant—the Mosaic Law was filled with legalistic clauses regarding blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 27—28). The covenant between GOD and Abraham was contingent on Abraham and his descendant’s ability to live blameless before GOD and required the performance of certain rituals, such as the act of circumcision, as a sign of their covenant with GOD (Genesis 17:1, 9-14). The Old Testament prophets spoke of the day when GOD would make a new covenant with HIS people and write HIS laws on the hearts of men (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12). This new covenant would be built on better promises.

1. BETTER COVENANT (Hebrews 8:6)

The ministry of JESUS CHRIST IS A FAR BETTER COVENANT (v.6). It is founded on greater promises than the previous covenant for the following reasons. First, the work performed by the Levitical priesthood was partial and incomplete. Under the old covenant, a priest had to make yearly sacrifices to atone for man’s sin. These yearly sacrificed took place in the inner room, the sacred tabernacle of the HOLY OF HOLIES. Under the new covenant, priests are no longer required to make annual sacrifices, for we have a HIGH PRIEST—JESUS CHRIST—who made the final and complete sacrifice for our sin. JESUS CHRIST gave HIS LIFE on the cross as a sin offering for all people and fulfilled the requirements of the Law.

Second, under the old covenant, priests acted as mediators between man and GOD. Under the new covenant, JESUS is the mediator between GOD and man; seated on the right hand of our FATHER in heaven, HE intercedes on behalf of the saints. We have access to JESUS 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Third, the tabernacle on earth was set up by man and is temporal. The tabernacle in heaven is set up by the LORD and is eternal. Under the old covenant, men became priests according to regulations established through their ancestral lineage (the Levitical priesthood was given to men from the lineage of Aaron). Because men are mortal, the death of one priest required another to take his place. JESUS CHRIST is immortal and is made a HIGH PRIEST forever according to an oath sworn by GOD guaranteeing a new covenant founded on better and more permanent promises (Hebrews 7:15-22).

Fourth, the sacrificial offerings made by the priests were only a shadow of what was to come. A shadow is defined as a reflection or imitation of something else; it is not the real thing. The tabernacle’s design was created by man under GOD’S instructions and was set up in a pattern that reflected what JESUS would do on the cross. JESUS performed the ultimate sacrifice, one that the priest could only imitate. CHRIST entered the “HOLY OF HOLIES, the tabernacle” in heaven once and for all, making sin offerings obsolete (Hebrews 8:5).

Fifth, the sin offerings made by a priest had to be sprinkled with the blood of animals. It was also required of our LORD JESUS CHRIST that HE offer the same kind of sacrifice, shedding HIS blood on the cross before entering into heaven.

2. BETTER PROVISIONS (v.7)

The old covenant had its limitations. It was faulty, and GOD sought a more permanent replacement through HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. The old covenant was faulty because it offered uncertainty and imperfection, provided blessings based on performance, possessed no real power to alter man’s sinful behavior, and inhibited man’s access to GOD.

When the priest offered sacrifices in the temple, the people of Israel were not certain if he would leave the temple alive. GOD could deny the offering, and he priest would die. One indication that proved GOD had accepted the offering was tinkling sound of bells attached to the priest’s garment as he proceeded out of the temple. This meant he was alive and GOD had forgiven the people. This ritual was imperfect because it hinged on the ability of sinful and imperfect man to successfully complete the sacred task of atonement. It was imperfect, because it needed to be repeated year after year. Under the new covenant, the sacrifice JESUS made on the cross never has to be repeated. As children of GOD we have the assurance that GOD has forgiven us through our faith in JESUS CHRIST, who is perfect, made the final, irreversible, and acceptable sacrifice for our sins.

Under the old covenant, blessings were contingent on a person’s ability to obey the Mosaic Law. Legalism reigned, and the people lived under strict rules that governed their lives. Curses and severe punishment resulted when GOD ‘S children disobeyed HIS laws. The new covenant is a ministry of grace, one that hinges on mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love. GOD still disciplines HIS children and commands us to obey HIS WORD. However, HIS wrath is reserved for those who blatantly reject our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST and harden their hearts to HIS voice (Hebrews 3:7-11; 12:5-6).

Through the ministry of JESUS CHRIST, GOD has given all HIS children direct access to HIS presence and an opportunity to witness HIS GLORY. We have the ability to hear and receive individual instructions from GOD. JESUS’ work on the cross has removed all the “curtains and veils” that hinder our access to our FATHER in heaven.

3. BETTER MINISTRY (vv.8-9)

GOD found fault with the people because of their continual disobedience to HIS law (v.8). The laws provided rules and principles that govern man’s external response to GOD, yet man’s heart remained far from HIM. GOD wanted a people whose heart was rich toward HIM. HE desired to make a covenant with HIS people that would govern their hearts. The old covenant focused on the temple—the sanctuary where the people came to worship GOD. The new covenant focused on the “new temple,” the individual, whereby GOD planted HIS WORD in the hearts of HIS people and they could worship HIM from their hearts.

GOD instituted A NEW COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE, ONE THAT IS BASED ON A BETTER MINISTRY (v.9). This new covenant guarantees a personal relationship with GOD and is founded on GOD’S faithfulness to keep HIS promises. HE will not turn HIS back on us. WHAT AN AWESOME PROMISE FROM GOD! Under the old covenant, the people of Israel were constantly breaking the heart of GOD. Their disobedience made GOD angry, and HE declared they would never enter into HIS REST, which is the blessing and favor of GOD (Hebrews 3:7-19).

The new covenant guarantees complete assurance of GOD’S presence to the children of GOD. This assurance is not based on our ability to remain faithful, but on our faith in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who promises to never leave or forsake us. We must believer GOD’S WORD when HE reminds us of HIS faithfulness, for HE is faithful even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 13:5).

4. BETTER PROMISES (v.10)

Under the new covenant, GOD places HIS laws on the hearts of HIS PEOPLE. The WORD OF GOD is written on the hearts of every believer when he or she becomes a committed student of the WORD. The WORD helps us understand the ways of GOD and HIS WILL for our lives. We must meditate on the promises of GOD written in the Bible. Our faith helps us to have confidence in HIS written WORD. Faith in JESUS gives us the security we need to live our lives according to GOD’S WORD.

The promises of GOD are revealed to us through HIS WORD. GOD’S promises are no longer granted to just a select group of people as in the Old Testament, when only the Children of Israel, those of Jewish descent, were afforded the blessings of GOD. Under the new covenant, the Gentiles as well as the Jews are allowed into the Kingdom of GOD and have access to GOD’S promises through faith in our LORD JESUS CHRIST. When GOD’S laws are ingrained in our minds, HIS WORD promises to produce certain qualities in our lives.

First, we begin to think on the things of GOD. The LORD promises to transform us through the renewing of our minds; this is done through HIS WORD, which has the supernatural ability to change the way we think. The WORD of GOD reminds us of the things we should think on—things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:7-9). The WORD promises us that if we think on these things, our hearts and minds will have peace that passes all understanding.

Second, when the law of GOD is written on our hearts, our hearts become pliable and ripe for GOD’S use. We serve GOD with a sincere desire to do HIS WILL when our hearts are drawn toward HIM. God knows that without HIS WORD firmly planted in our hearts, we would drift away from HIS WILL. HE knows that laws only show us our weaknesses. Under the old covenant, man could not keep the commandment of the Law because there was no change in his heart. However, when the WORD of GOD changes a heart, GOD has direct access to that heart. When we give GOD access to our hearts, we give HIM access to our lives. It is only then that HE can begin to mold us into the likeness of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.

5. BETTER RELATIONSHIP (vv.11-12)

GOD ensures a better relationship with HIM. HE tells us that all people will know HIM, from the least to the greatest (v.11). In this passage of Scripture, HE is not saying that pastors and teachers are no longer required to teach us the WORD. HE is telling us that we have the ability to know GOD personally for ourselves through HIS WRITTEN WORD and by way of the HOLY SPIRIT, who lives within every believer.

Under the old covenant, people had no choice but to rely on the prophets and religious leaders to reveal GOD’S WORD to them. Today, we still rely on the preached word of the Gospel to be conveyed through a man or woman of GOD in the church. However, GOD through the ministry of JESUS CHRIST, has given us the ability to hear directly from HIM

GOD does not remember our sin (v.12). JESUS CHRIST has provided an excellent ministry whereby GOD forgives us completely. GOD is not like man; HE forgives completely when we come to HIM with sincere repentance and seek HIS forgiveness. JESUS CHRIST is our sin offering, and HE makes possible a better relationship between man and GOD.

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!

Spiritually Yours,

Rev. Chris Lowe, Sr. DD

email Dr. Lowe

LightStream Streaming News OUR SPEAKERS