850. Old Covenant: Purified Flesh (Dead Works); New Covenant: Purified Conscience
849. Jesus Secured an Eternal Redemption (Hebrews 9)
We’re back to discussing the surety of our forgiveness contained within the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews provides us with many contrasts, comparing the Old Covenant to the New. The law of regulations contained within the old, obsolete covenant was not able to provide what God required from the Jewish people.
The old way involved ceremonial repetitions which could not permanently address the issue of sin and its consequences, whereas Jesus entered once into a holy place—not a copy made with human hands, and not with the blood of animals—but with His own blood He obtained and secured an “eternal redemption.” Those suggesting that one can lose this gift have failed to realize the power and effectiveness of the finished work of Christ—who has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
832. Things Seldom Heard in Church: The 10 Commandments Not Written on Our Hearts
When God spoke about His laws being put in our minds and written upon our hearts in this better covenant, the assumption by many church folks is that this is a reference to the Ten Commandments. But why would God want to write something on the hearts of His people which brought condemnation, resulted in sin increasing, and wasn’t based upon faith? In the previous chapter, the writer had just declared that old ministry as one that became nullified or cancelled because it was weak and unprofitable, unable to bring a required spiritual perfection. Our hearts now contain and reflect something new and better than a law of sin and death—it’s “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” It’s based upon the ministry of God’s Spirit in us, the gift of righteousness, faith, love and liberty.
818. Religious Bondage: Working to Become Who God Has Already Made You to Be
Telling believers they need to change will not be nearly as effective as helping them to understand they have already been changed. Trying to become somebody that you think you are not will become a frustrating, lifelong endeavor which never seems to find the end of the rainbow. On the other hand, once we grow in the understanding of our identity, we can begin to live from who God says we already are as believers “in Christ.”
In this race, we get to start at the finish line, which is a place of rest. Under the Old Covenant, the Jewish people were working at pursuing what they could never attain. Unfortunately, many believers who abide in a new and better covenant are chasing after what has already been given to them.
813. The 800 Club: Looking Back – What Is the Gospel? Righteousness Gifted!
We examine Paul’s revelation of the good news from Romans chapter 1, where we discover that right-standing with God isn’t something people work for as the Jewish people attempted to do under the law. Righteousness pursued us, and came as a gift in the Person of Jesus for those who believe. Another reason why the New Covenant is better than the first one.
802. The 800 Club: Looking Back – We Have No Relationship With the Mosaic Law
The world needed a Savior who could fulfill the law for us and bring us into a better covenant of grace. Perfection would come to us, but not by what we do. Grace isn’t cheap, it cost Jesus everything and it was free for us. But cheap law dominates many man-made church doctrines and leads people away from the gospel.
756. Sins Forgiven and Taken Away (Unless You Sin?) Hebrews 10:26 – Part 2
Chapters 7-10 in the book of Hebrews contain some of the most powerful information within the pages of Scripture as it relates to the finished work of Christ and the once for all forgiveness that came through His blood. He became the guarantee of a better covenant. We can add nothing to it because it’s based upon what He did … not what we do or don’t do. Faith places trust that what He did, and it was more than enough for those who don’t reject the one sacrifice for sins that God provided through His Son.
753. Hebrews 10: No More Offerings = No More Forgiveness Required
The removal of sins and the end of sacrifices brought a complete forgiveness, once for all. No more forgiveness is being offered because the offerings stopped and no further blood is being shed. Blood no longer needs to be poured out when sins have been thrown as far as the east is from the west.
On this podcast we referred to a blog post written by Joel a few years ago called Instant and Permanent Sanctification, as well as a previous podcast in our current Hebrews series, Hebrews 8: One Bible - Two Different Covenants (Not to Be Mixed).
747. Hebrews 8: One Bible – Two Different Covenants (Not to Be Mixed)
If the first one that came through Moses had been faultless, there would have been no need to seek a second one which would be “more excellent.” This new way would take sin away, to be remembered no more by God. He would write new laws upon our hearts — not the old law or former commandments which only caused sin to increase. This New Covenant isn’t a revised version of the Old, but it replaced what Jesus brought to an end. The old way has become obsolete because it wasn’t based upon grace through faith.
746. Hebrews 7: Jesus Became the Guarantee of a Better Covenant
The old priesthood and commandments from the law were defined as weak and useless by the writer of Hebrews—and couldn’t bring the required perfection for the people. This resulted in a better hope and a better covenant than what the Israelites had been under since they had escaped from Egypt. Jesus is that New Covenant of grace and we have been brought into Him.
720. God Doesn’t Change – But the Covenant Did
Those who tout modern-day law keeping from the Old Covenant must also execute the punishments when one fails. For example, one who did not honor their father and mother and spoke evil of them was worthy of death. The good news is that God doesn’t change … but the covenant did … and the new one is better.
673. “Do I Still Need God to Forgive Me Each Day?”
When contrasting the Old Covenant to the New, we find quite a contrast as the book of Hebrews explains the true power of the blood of Jesus that was shed just one time. The Jewish people were unable to rest in God’s forgiveness. Why? Because they had to keep seeking a renewed forgiveness on a daily basis. It’s likely we haven’t fully understood what occurred on that cross when Jesus died and uttered the words, “It is finished.” The good news is far better than we think, and it’s why we live in something called a better covenant, established upon better promises.