The Blessings of the New Covenant
Hebrews 13: 18-21
INTRODUCTION:
Let’s look at the description of God and Jesus in these verses before we get started.
“The God of Peace” in verse 20
~But why the God of Peace, rather than the God of Power, or the God of Grace, or the
God of Glory?
~Because the divine power was not put forth in raising Christ from the grave, but it was receiving his Son as the sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
Christ; as “The Great Shepherd” verse 20
~That great shepherd of the sheep, because as a shepherd, he feeds them with his word, even with his precious body and blood. He is styled not ‘the’, but “that” shepherd, the one that was promised of old.
~The very object and the hope of the church from the beginning: great is His person, His power, His undertaking; great is His glory and exaltation from above everything else. ~Shepherd of the sheep, because they are his own, a little flock in the mist of wolves, which could never bet kept, but by the power, care, and love of the Great Shepherd.
“The God of Peace”
~The work assigned to God as a God of peace; was to bring forth again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ.
~Christ is said to raise himself so grace would abound. But God the Father is said to raise Him in regard of His sovereign authority.
~God the Father, to who justice is due, was satisfied because peace was now perfectly made in the death burial and resurrection of His Son, making Him the God of Peace.
> How did he do this?
By the blood of the everlasting covenant, that is, by the blood of Christ himself, this confirmed the covenant.
> Because of his everlasting covenant.
He had to raise Christ from the dead or the covenant would not have been everlasting.
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~What is a new covenant? What was wrong with the old one?
Let me start by saying this… when properly understood it provides us the foundation for personal and powerful spiritual life. But when ignored it leaves us searching for God through legalistic means. I know which way I would rather have my life.
~What is a Covenant?
It is a pledge, agreement or testament between two parties.
~In the old days (O.T.) it was a treaty between two parties.
~There were two kinds of covenants:
1. Voluntary agreement between equals.
2. Treaties of loyalty between a great king and a lesser king.
~In the Bible, covenants between God and his people are always the second type. God
always dictates the terms of His covenants, which shows His sovereignty and kingship,
and the people’s obligation of faith in the King.
~What was the old covenant?
It was started in Genesis with promises to Noah and Abraham, of land, people, and God’s blessings.
Some important things to notice of the old covenant:
A. It focused on conformity to the law:
1. Keep the Sabbath holy.
2. Follow worship regulations.
B. God who is wholly (completely) separate from mankind:
* Only one of twelve tribes could be a priest.
* Only one priest a day could enter the holy place
* Only priests on duty could enter the tabernacle
* Only the High Priest could enter the “most holy place’ behind the veil, and once a
year.
* The High Priest never spoke to God, the Blood of the Sacrifice spoke for him.
C. The blood of animals used as a picture of the cost of forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22
With out the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.
A. forgiveness was secured through the blood of animals offered by the people
to God at the tabernacle.
B. Although there were sacrifices offered daily, there was still the continuing problem of the slavery of sin. (works)
D. Salvation of the law depended on the obedience to the law.
In other words, it depended on the level of obedience of the law.
So people think that the ‘old covenant’ is still in effect, living there lives in subjection to the laws, observances, and doing good will get them to heaven.
~What is the new Covenant?
The first mention of this is in Jeremiah 31:31-34 but it is explained in
Hebrews 8:6-13 “read”
So we see that God promised, when the ‘new covenant’ would be in motion, he would forgive mankind’s wickedness and forget about there sins.
Some real awesome promises, and with the words of Jesus at the Last Supper we are told that, that time has now come.
~ What difference does the ‘New Covenant” make to me?
A. It means that God will change me from within, rather than me trying to change
me from the outside in. But according to his ways not mine.
* Now that the covenant has been established through Jesus – I am promised that
God will change from within. He will right his words on my heart, and fill me
with his presence.
* It means I now have full access to the very presence now and through eternity.
* As valuable as confessing sins to a priest may be; under the ‘new covenant’
we are told that we can come directly and boldly to our High Priest.
* It means I have been liberated from the bondage of sin and death.
* Although the ‘old covenant’ provided a means for covering up my sins by being
forgiven, it did not provide the means for me to stop sinning!
* The is the very focal point of the ‘new covenant’
Hebrews 9:15 says…
And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by
means of death for the redemption of the transgressions, that were
made under the first covenant, they which are called might receive
the promise of eternal inheritance.
Praise God we have received the promise, Eternal Life in Christ Jesus
