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Better Covenant… (3 points)
- 1st – Better priest… vs. 1-2
- 1st – Better POSITION… vs. 1
- NOW – this is the MAIN POINT of the things we are saying…
- MAIN POINT – 2x NT – also translated as SUM [conclusion]
- The author had been building for SEVEN chapters to this point…
- Jesus is BETTER than everyone and everything – but it had all been leading up to THIS…
- Jesus brought us a BETTER covenant – built on BETTER promises!
- By being a BETTER priest – in a BETTER position…
- We have a High Priest who is SEATED at the right hand of the throne of the MAJESTY…
- Jesus BETTER because He is our High Priest in HEAVEN…
- SEATED at the right hand of the MAJESTY [3x NT] – also Hebrews 1:3
- Note His position – Jesus is NOT standing – He is SEATED – His work is done!
- Hebrews 10:11-12 – “Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But [Jesus], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, SAT DOWN at the right hand of God.”
- Old Testament priests never SAT DOWN…
- Their work was NEVER done – there was always anther SACRIFICE to give…
- But Jesus only had to offer Himself as a sacrifice ONCE – and it was FINISHED!
- John 19:30 – “He said – It is finished [perfect/indicative]!”
- Jesus had not come to heal / make men rich / or to give us better lives on earth…
- Jesus came to die – He came because were all destined for hell because of our sin…
- Through the cross His work was done – sin was defeated – death overcome…
- Jesus paid a debt He did NOT owe – because we owed a debt that we could NOT pay!
- NOW – this is the MAIN POINT of the things we are saying…
- 2nd – Better MINISTER… vs. 2
- Jesus is a – MINISTER in the SANCTUARY [ἁγίων] …
- Not in the TABERNACLE set up by men – Moses – Exodus 35-39
- But the [heavenly] TABERNACLE which the Lord erected [literally pitched] …
- MINISTER [λειτουργός]– 5x NT – to WORK for the PEOPLE!
- How does Jesus MINISTERS [work for] us – TWO ways!
- FIRST – Jesus works for us PRACTICALLY – He takes care of ALL our NEEDS…
- We all have a LOT of WANTS in life – but the question is do we NEED it!
- The ONLY things God says we NEED – is food and clothing – I Timothy 6:8
- And He gives us the PROMISE we do NOT need to worry about those – Luke 12:22
- Pretty much everything else in life appears to fall into the WANT category!
- That is not to say the Lord might not BLESS us with some of our WANTS…
- John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me… you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done.”
- IF we ABIDE in Jesus – we can ask for anything we WANT and receive it…
- But often in life we WANT selfish things – and those God will NOT give to us!
- James 4:3 – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
- SECOND – Jesus works for us SPIRITUALLY…
- This is by FAR the more important way Jesus MINISTERS to us…
- We tend to focus on the PHYSICAL – but EVERYTHING in this life is temporary…
- Our money – possessions – even our health – will one day be gone…
- But our relationship with Jesus opens the door to have eternal life in HEAVEN!
- Hebrews 7:25 – “He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” [NLT]
- Jesus is a – MINISTER in the SANCTUARY [ἁγίων] …
- 1st – Better POSITION… vs. 1
- 2nd – Better Place… vs. 3-5
- 1st – Better SACRIFICE… vs. 3-4
- Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices…
- They priest in the Old Testament were required to offer various sacrifices…
- The BURNT offering – dedication to God – Leviticus 1:3-9
- The GRAIN offering – gift to God – Leviticus 2:8-13
- The PEACE offering – fellowship with God – Leviticus 3:1
- The SIN offering – forgiveness from God – Leviticus 4:13-21
- It was necessary [Jesus] also have something to offer…
- If [Jesus] was here on EARTH – He would NOT be a priest…
- Since there are [still] priests who offer gifts according to the Law [of Moses]
- When the author of Hebrews wrote the book – the Temple was still standing…
- Today there is NO Temple – there are no priests offering GIFTS here on EARTH!
- But since Jesus is NOT on EARTH – He is in HEAVEN – He offered a BETTER sacrifice!
- Jesus was the BETTER sacrifice – because His SACRIFICE was all in ONE!
- He died for our SINS – so we could have FELLOWSHIP with God…
- Making us DEDICATED to God – so we can give our lives as a GIFT to Him!
- Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices…
- 2nd – Better TABERNACLE… vs. 5
- TABERNACLE on EARTH – was a COPY and SHADOW of the heavenly things…
- Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the TABERNACLE…
- Make all things according to the PATTERN shown you on the mountain – Exodus 25:40
- COPY – [ὑποδείγματι] – to place something under your eyes / easily seen…
- SHADOW – meant to point you to the thing that is making the SHADOW!
- TABERNACLE had THREE doors…
- The FIRST door led into the courtyard – where the priests offered sacrifices for sin…
- The SECOND door led into the TABERNACLE – where the menorah was…
- The THIRD door led into the HOLIEST – where the Ark and Mercy seat were!
- The TABERNACLE is an incredible COPY / SHADOW – of our relationship with God…
- When we receive Jesus – the FIRST door – the price for our sin is paid…
- When we live for Jesus – the SECOND door – He lights the way for us to live our life…
- When we finally get to go home – the THIRD door – we come into the presence of God!
- TABERNACLE on EARTH – was a COPY and SHADOW of the heavenly things…
- 1st – Better SACRIFICE… vs. 3-4
Which makes the NEW Covenant – a BETTER Covenant – built on BETTER promises!
3rd – Better Promise… vs. 6-13
1st – Better COVENANT… vs. 6
Jesus had obtained a more excellent [better kind] of MINISTRY [working for the people] …
Because He is the MEDIATOR of a BETTER Covenant…
MEDIATOR – a person who can give us access to God…
The problem is we have all sinned – and been separated from God – Romans 3:23
To stand before God now – would be to face the wrath and judgment of God…
Therefore – we need a MEDIATOR to bridge the gap – give us access to our Holy God!
I Timothy 2:5 – “One God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
There is no other way to be able to approach God – than through Jesus!
If we reject the way God has provided – there is no second option…
It is only through Jesus we have complete access – to our Holy and Perfect God!
John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
MEDIATOR of a – BETTER Covenant was established on BETTER Promises…
BETTER – 18x NT – to be MORE useful / more advantageous…
The AUTHOR makes a CONTRAST – comparing the OLD and the NEW Covenant…
Showing the NEW COVENANT is MORE useful – because of the BETTER Promises in it!
He will do this by quoting from – Jeremiah 31:31-34
2nd– The OLD Covenant… vs. 7-9
Had a FAULT…
If [second class] the FIRST Covenant had been [imperfect] FAULTLESS…
The FIRST covenant had a FAULT – that is why there was a NEED for NEW Covenant!
The FAULT is NOT in the Law – it is PERFECT / HOLY / JUST / and GOOD – Romans 7:12
The FAULT is in US – we are NOT perfect – Romans 7:14
It only takes one sin to keep us out of heaven – James 2:10
While the perfect LAW has the power to show us our FAULT – show us we are sinners…
Romans 7:7 – “I would not have known sin except through the law.”
The LAW is LIMITED – it has no POWER to make us PERFECT!
Romans 3:20 – “No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” [NLT]
The EXAMPLE of Israel…
Finding FAULT [present] with them [Israel] God said – Jeremiah 31:31-32
I will make a NEW Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah…
NOT according to the [OLD] Covenant I made with their FATHERS – coming out of Egypt…
Because they did NOT continue in [the OLD] Covenant – and I DISREGARDED them!
DISREGARDED [LXX] – the Masoretic text says – I was a HUSBAND to them!
God was FAITHFUL to His part in the Old Covenant – but Israel could NEVER keep it!
When Moses FIRST gave Israel the OLD Covenant – Exodus 20-23
They answered – ALL the WORD the Lord has said – we WILL do – Exodus 24:3
That was the right answer – but it was not the TRUTH – the people quickly rebelled…
Just FORTY days later they would make a GOLDEN CALF – Exodus 32
The FAULT continued till the days of Jeremiah…
Israel divided into TWO nations after the death of Solomon – Israel / Judah
Israel was conquered by Assyria – 722 B.C. – because of their FAULT – II Kings 17:23
Judah was conquered by Babylon – 586 B.C. – because of their FAULT – II Kings 24:3
Jeremiah was the PROPHET during the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar…
He told Israel they would be in CAPTIVITY for SEVENTY years – Jeremiah 29:10
The OLD Covenant was all about what WE had to do for God…
If we had ANY hope of us being able to become PERFECT through the Law…
Israel proved it is NOT possible – they tried for 1000 years – and FAILED!
YET – we still tend to think the way to be a GOOD Christian – is to follow RULES…
Read our Bible / go to church / pray every day / stay away from bad people!
We put ourselves under the bondage of trying to keep these RULES…
Making us think the more we do for God – the more we will GROW in God…
But we are not a better person if we read our Bible today – or worse if we do not…
If we try and follow RULES – they may change the outside – but it is superficial…
The danger of RULES – they do NOT have the POWER to change our HEARTS!
Colossians 2:23 – “Rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.” [NLT]
3rd – The NEW Covenant… vs. 10-13
God does ALL the work…
This is the [NEW] Covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days…
I will put My laws in their minds and write them in their hearts…
I will be their God – and they will be My people – Jeremiah 31:33
Notice WHO does the ALL the work in the NEW Covenant – I – GOD does it ALL!
God PUTS his LAW into our MIND and HEART – HE makes us HIS people!
The problem with promising to obey God – is we are not dependable…
We can make our promise – be determined to do the things we know we should do…
But we end up FAILING – because we are NOT able to follow through…
It is not that we do NOT want to do the right things – we CANNOT do the right things!
Romans 7:18 – “I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I cannot make myself do right…” [NLT]
That is why God gave us a NEW promise – a NEW Covenant…
The NEW Covenant is NOT about what we have to DO – but what God DOES for us!
Only Jesus can bring LASTING change – a transformed heart and new life…
As we come to Jesus – we are CHANGED from the inside out!
God REVEALS Himself…
NONE of them shall teach his neighbor / brother – KNOW [imperative] the Lord…
All shall KNOW Me – from the least to the greatest – Jeremiah 31:34
God sent an ANGEL to the house of Cornelius – a Roman Centurion – Acts 10:3
What is interesting is that God did not use the ANGEL to tell him about Jesus…
Instead – God told Cornelius to send for Simon Peter…
Not because the angel could not share the message – Revelation 14:6
But just because God wanted to let Peter be a part of His work!
God uses us to reach the lost – Romans 10:14 – but not because He needs us…
He uses us because He loves us – and wants us to be a part of His work!
If we do not share the Gospel with someone – God will just use someone else…
The question is do we choose to be blessed by taking part in the work God is doing!
God FORGIVES…
I will be merciful to their unrighteousness [breaking the Law] …
And their sins and their lawless deeds I will REMEMBER no more – Jeremiah 31:34
The OLD Covenant made ATONEMENT for sin…
ATONEMENT [כָּפַר] – the word means to COVER…
Even today the word for hat in Hebrew – Kippa – comes from the word [כָּפַר] …
The sacrifices of the Old Testament could NOT remove sin – they just COVERED it!
REMEMBER [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] – the most powerful negation in Greek!
The NEW Covenant says – God will NEVER / EVER – REMEMBER our sins EVER again!
We are sinners – we have made countless mistakes – but we have Jesus…
Now when God looks down on us – He does NOT see our FAULTS…
He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect / FAULTLESS!
Psalm 103:12 – “He removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”
God REMOVES…
In that He says – A new covenant – He has made the first OBSOLETE…
Now – what is becoming OBSOLETE and growing OLD – is ready to VANISH away…
Not that God abolishes His LAW – the LAW cannot be removed…
Matthew 5:18 – “Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from THE law till all is fulfilled.”
We NO longer need anyone to TELL us what to do – we WANT to do it…
Therefore – there is no longer a NEED for list of RULES – to try and get us to live RIGHT…
The NEW Covenant FULFILLS the LAW – by changing us on the INSIDE!
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