The
New Covenant Hebrews 8: 3-13
Throughout the old
testament period there has been a hint that the (old) covenant God established
through Moses would be replaced one day. This promise of change came to a
resounding clarity with the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It became reality in
Jesus.
Just before he was
crucified Jesus shared in the Passover meal with his disciples. Taking a cup of
wine, he gave thanks and offered it to his disciples, saying, ‘This is my
blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many.’
In Hebrews 8:3-13 the two
covenants are contrasted:
The covenant of Moses - law, priests and ceremonies. (Old Covenant.)
This partially dealt with sin so God could continue with his people. (8:3-6)
The covenant of Jesus. (New Covenant) This dealt completely with
sin so God could live with his people
forever.
‘.. the ministry Jesus has received
is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to
the old one,– it’s founded on better promises.’ Heb. 8:6)
It's very important to
know how the new covenant works. Sadly, many Christians live as though they are
still under the old. They don’t
experience the joy, freedom and close relationship with God that the new
covenant brings.
The apostle Paul called
the old covenant the ministry of death with a fading glory. He called the new covenant the ministry
of the Spirit with surpassing glory that lasts. (2 Cor. 3:5-11)
Two major defects in
the old covenant:
1. It gave no strength to
enable the people to do what they promised.
2. it couldn’t provide for
the clearing of the conscience. ‘....the gifts & sacrifices
being offered were not
able to clear the conscience of the worshipper.’ (Heb 9:9)
Many people today still look
to old covenant type activities––Doing good things, ceremonies and rituals to
reach God. They fail, and a guilty
conscious remains.
For if there had been nothing wrong with
that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found
fault with the people and said: "The time is coming,…, when I will make a
new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not
be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. (7-9)
The best the Old Covenant
gave was to show people their need to trust God for something more. It also gave them a wonderful high
moral code to aim for.
The old covenant (law) failed
because of human weakness. It clearly
revealed the ways of good and evil. What it didn’t give people was the desire
or the strength to do the good things or resist the evil things. Paul explained:
The law (old covenant practices) was put in charge to lead us to Christ so that we might be justified by faith (Gal 3:24 ).
(10-12) The prophets in Jeremiah
chapter 31 and Ezekiel 11 spoke of a future new covenant. This is what Hebrews
addresses. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after
that time, declares the Lord…. (10a)‘
Through his death and
resurrection Jesus dealt with human weakness once for all. The ministry
Jesus has received is as superior to theirs ( priests) as the covenant of
which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better
promises.
(Heb 8:6)
The Better Promises
1. The promise of
forgiveness of sins means our deepest need––to be reconciled to God is met: For
I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. (2)
2. The promise of inner
strength means our moral weakness can be overcome. (11) No longer will a man
teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, because they
will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. (10) (the ministry of the Spirit. 2 Cor.3:6)
How do we know we have entered
the New Covenant relationship with God? When we begin to resist wrong desires and
old covenant activities and begin to live God’s way.
We are speaking here of
something that is more than a legal contract. The new covenant relationship is
entry into a new life with Jesus that affects every aspect of our being.
3. The promise of adoption
by God means eternal life is guaranteed.
I will be their God, and they will be my
people. (10b)
- Jesus reveals God as our father.
4. The promise of a deeper
and fuller revelation of God and his ways means a personal fellowship with God
is guaranteed: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their
hearts…’(10b)
The Holy
Spirit indwells us, the Bible becomes alive to us, and we receive spiritual
understanding and motivation from the Spirit sent from God.
Something wonderful happens
immediately we receive the New Covenant: Every description of our failures (sins)
is removed absolutely from God’s records. God declares us legally and absolutely without fault. Unlike
us, he can choose not to remember and forgive absolutely. For I will forgive
their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. (2)
We are now free to enjoy
life and grow with God as our father and friend. For by the one sacrifice
Jesus has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Heb 10:14)
So far as life is
concerned we have already graduated with honors, and we haven’t even finished
the course.
Being under the new
covenant, means salvation is offered as a free gift, not as a reward for any
good things we have done––By grace are you saved, not of works…(Ephesians 2:8-9). For
this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called
may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that He has died as a ransom
to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15).
Living in the freedom and
strength of the New Covenant is truly wonderful. All we need to do is identify with
Jesus––See his suffering and death on the cross as given for us. See him risen
from death for us. Trusting him as our (personal) Lord and savior. Then we are
free to live out our lives simply by showing up each day, and thinking about how
we can enjoy and please God as we follow Jesus.
Bill Saville
