JESUS THE BETTER WAY: JESUS MAKES BETTER PROMISES
HEBREWS 8:1-13
Big Idea: The ministry and covenant of Jesus is superior to the old covenant and ministry; it is also founded on better promises.
Supporting Scripture:
• Reading from the Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 146:1-10
• Reading from the Epistles: Hebrews 8:1-13
• Reading from the Gospels: Mark 12:28-34
HEBREWS 8:1-13
Heb 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
Heb 8:2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
Heb 8:3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.
Heb 8:4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.
Heb 8:5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Heb 8:6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
Heb 8:8 But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
Heb 8:9 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.
Heb 8:10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Heb 8:11 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.
Heb 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Heb 8:13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
INTRO
How many times have people made promises to you and broken them? In some cases this probably brought real disappointment - maybe even left scars and a broken heart.
• Marriage vows were violated
• Promises at work never materialized
• Mom or dad did not come through or follow through as they said they would
• The degree from the university did not live up to its billing
• The politician’s words proved hollow
• A friend’s loyalty wasn’t so “loyal”
• Need I go on?
This might explain why some people approach religion with hesitancy. It might explain why, even for some Christians, God’s promises in Scripture are viewed with resistance and skepticism. It is, after all, a step of faith.
I am certain it explains why when Christians extend God’s promises of salvation, grace, and love to unbelievers they are met with resistance and skepticism.
What will it take for a watching, wounded, and weary world to place their trust in our Savior? Well, if the Christians the world is watching would authentically show the evidence of transformation listed in chapter 8 it would probably go a long way in whetting their appetite.
There is a song I heard while on Sabbatical that addresses this. It is called "How to Worship a King"
VERSE
You give me joy
You give me life
You give me strength
To stand in the fire
Now I can live
Live what I sing
Showing the world
How to worship a King
BRIDGE
With all my heart
All my strength
All that God has given me
This is how I worship my King
CHORUS
Lord, I give You thanks
God, I give You praise
I give You a life that shows
I'm living like a child who bears Your name
Now with every day
Let my life proclaim what I sing
I worship my King
The “better promises” listed in this chapter are in contrast to (to use this writer’s descriptions) the “weak, useless, imperfect, temporary, obsolete, and inferior” hopes that the Hebrews placed in the law (see also chapter 7,9, 10). It also contrasts with any worn and inferior promises that other religions might offer.
All that religion offers is accomplished in the flesh. It has built in inferiority and failure. It cannot, you see, change a heart.
But this chapter makes promises from God to change us from the inside out; it promises to do something FOR us and WITHIN us ... instead of expecting changes BY us. These promises are the fruit of the work of God -we cannot fake them or do them ourselves. They are the birthing of the Holy Spirit.
When you begin to look at his argument as a whole, at least back to 5:11 where he tells them they are stuck on the milk of the word and haven’t moved on from basic teachings, you see something akin to the invitations found throughout the book of Acts. There, you find Jesus’ followers approaching people who only knew the baptism of repentance by John. Jesus’ followers offered something more … something full … something that went beyond mere will-power. They offered the baptism of the Spirit which makes all the difference in living the Christian life.
In 5:11-6:3 the writer tells these early Christians that the doctrines of: repentance from dead works, faith in God, laying on of hands, baptisms, the resurrection and eternal judgment should be settled issues. These issues aren’t “meaty” at all; they are basic / elementary doctrines. The fact that we think they are meaty issues says something about our spiritual growth. They should, long ago, have been seen in the rear view mirror and Jesus’ followers should be moving on to the meat of the Word ... to spiritual growth.
The writer does nore that state this – he takes the bottle of milk away and throws a steak in front of them and says “Belly up folks! It’s time for a spiritual banquet of meaty subjects.”
It’s the author’s way of saying – move on. Get past the “baptism of John” and move on to the baptism of the Spirit. You see:
• Only God’s Spirit can write His laws on your heart
• Only God’s Spirit can give you eyes to see that the Law of the Old Testament is a dead and useless way to relate to God
• Only God’s Spirit can help the mind to be open to the deeper / meatier things of the Word
• Only God’s Spirit can give confidence that we are His people and He is our God (8:8-10)
God is offering a new covenant. It is new in kind and new in time. It solves the problems that the old covenant could not. Notice how many times God uses the personal pronoun "I." Notice when the pronouns are used and how positive the pronouns are! They are indeed "Better Promises."
Notice he never says “Now you have to do ‘x’ if you want to be in relationship with me.”
The covenant of the law, like so much in religion, can show us our sin but was never able to show us how to “not sin.” Neither we nor the law had the ability to change our hearts. No matter how sincere we are or much we try, we fail and become frustrated.
The new covenant of Jesus Christ, however, places the law in our hearts and equips us to live with God.
Some might say, Pastor Ken, you are giving people a license to sin! You are taking away motivation to “live right.” I say that is nonsense. The standard is actually higher now and yet it is also actually doable now. God, Himself, takes personal responsibility for our spiritual development and salvation. Remember the word used for covenant in the new one is a different word than used when describing the old covenant (which was a bi-lateral agreement). The presence of God’s Spirit makes relationship actually possible.
WRAP-UP
Many of us have seen promises come and go. We are left disillusioned and skeptical. May I encourage you to trust God? He makes “better promises.” He alone (no human) has the power to come through time and again.
Hebrews is insistent that God’s promises are based upon God’s character. That God can be trusted and relied on to carry through on what He says He can and will do. This, of course, begins, with his promises to save. Chapter eight makes it clear that God will:
• Instill an inner, heartfelt relationship with the Lord, in contrast to the more external relationship under the old covenant (v. 10)
• Impart a universal knowledge of the Lord that permeates the Christian community through the indwelling Holy Spirit (v. 11)
• Initiate complete forgiveness of sins based upon the permanent sacrifice of Christ on the cross (v. 12).
But God’s “better promises” extend much further than just His salvation. Every promise made to you in His Word is reliable.
• Every promise for wisdom
• Every promise for strength
• Every promise for abiding presence
• Every promise for holiness
• Every promise for provision
Just because others have failed to keep their promises is no indication that God will. In fact, His track record is stellar! With that in mind, I encourage you to come to Him today – bring your need and discover His promises.
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This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
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Jesus: The Better Way
(A Congregational Prayer from Hebrews)
Leader: Heavenly Father, giver of all good gifts,
Leader: Because Jesus is better than our legends
All: We will look to Him for character
Leader: Because Jesus is better than our human potential
All: We will look to Him for strength
Leader: Because Jesus is better than our family pedigree
All: We will look to Him for identity
Leader: Because Jesus is a better mediator
All: We will look to Him for reconciliation
Leader: Because Jesus serves as a better guide
All: We will look to Him for direction
Leader: Because Jesus offers a better relationship
All: We will look to Him for communion
Leader: Because Jesus makes better promises
All: We will look to Him for assurance
Leader: Because Jesus ensures a better peace
All: We will look to Him for comfort
Leader: Because Jesus provides better possessions
All: We will look to Him for satisfaction
Leader: Because Jesus instills a better motivation
All: We will look to Him for purpose
Leader: Because Jesus establishes a better family
All: We will look to Him for belonging
Leader: Because Jesus awards a better inheritance
All: We will look to Him for our future
Leader: Because Jesus imparts a better life
All: We will look to Him for an example
Leader: In the name of Jesus, the Better Way, we pray.
