An Eternal And Unchanging Covenant.
Hebrews 8:10-12TPT
Maybe because of your sins, failures and lack of commitment, have you felt that God has given up on you?
Let me tell you a story that illustrates why I believe God won't do that.
Dr. Robertson McQuilkin, A noted Christian author and theologian, was president of Columbia Bible college and seminary. When he was 57, he learned that his wife of 40 years, had Alzheimer's disease. When she reached the point that she could no longer care for herself, Dr. McQuilkin had a difficult decision to make. He could put her in a nursing home and let them care for her, or he could do it himself. Of course, if he cared for himself he would have to give up his job as head of the Bible college and seminary. His decision was to resign the presidency and care for his wife.
This is how he explained his decision. My wife needed more and more of me, I wrestle daily with the question of who gets my full-time, my wife, or Columbia Bible college and seminary? When the time came, my decision was firm. It took no great calculation. It was a matter of integrity. Had I not promised 42 years before, “In sickness and in health till death do us part?”
Doctor McQuilkin goes on to say that he was surprised at people's response to his decision. -Husbands and wives renewed their marriage vows. Pastors told the story to their congregations.
More than likely, the theologians decision moved people because it is unusual to see people go to such lengths to honor a covenant.
God has made a New Covenant with us, too. Hebrews chapter 8, indicates that the temples, rituals, and objects of the old covenant were always meant to be symbolic. They were real, and valuable, but their ultimate worth was in their symbolism. Those were always intended by God to point towards a better covenant.
Rather than something repetitive, earthly, and limited, God planned to offer something completed, personal, and eternal through Jesus Christ.
As further proof of this, the writer of Hebrews offers yet another quotation from the Jewish Scriptures, this time from the prophet Jeremiah.
Hebrews 8:10-12TPT For here is the covenant I will one day establish with the people of Israel: I will embed my laws within their thoughts and fasten them onto their hearts.
I will be their loyal God and they will be my loyal people. 11 And the result of this will be
that everyone will know Me as Lord!
There will be no need at all to teach their fellow-citizens or brothers by saying,
‘You should know Yahweh,’ since everyone will know me inwardly, from the most unlikely to the most distinguished. 12 For I will demonstrate My mercy to them and will forgive their evil deeds, and never remember again their sins.”
This verse continues a quotation from Jeremiah 31:31–34. In this verse, Jeremiah describes a new covenant between God and man which perfectly describes the ministry of Jesus Christ.
In particular, this verse points out the difference between a covenant based on external, legalistic rules, and one based on internal, personal experience with God.
This drive for obedience, from the inside out, is the work of the Holy Spirit in those who are saved, (2 Corinthians 3:1–3).
Jeremiah was not the only prophet to make such a claim; the idea is also seen in places such as Ezekiel 36:26–27.
What exactly is a covenant? According to Webster's dictionary, to make a covenant is to enter into a formal agreement; to stipulate; to bind one's self by contract.
Most of us know that a legal covenant is binding. Marriage covenants are also supposed to be binding according to our wedding vows. Even though many people don't honor their wedding vows, God always honors his covenant.
Numbers 23:19NLT God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
God's new covenant with us is unconditional, and made possible only by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:20-21NLT Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep,?and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—21 may He equip you with all you need for doing his will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.
What is God's new covenant with us? It is the promise that He will be our God and we will be His people; we can know and relate to Him as our heavenly father; He has forgiven our sins and will remember them no more; He will put His laws in our minds and write down on our hearts.
The Apostles Paul writes in, 2 Corinthians 3:1-6TPT Are we beginning to sound like those who speak highly of themselves? Do you really need letters of recommendation to validate our ministry, like others do? (Apparently, these were some insecure and phony ministers). Do we really need your letter of endorsement? Of course not! 2 For your very lives are our “letters of recommendation,” permanently engraved on our hearts, recognized and read by everybody. 3 As a result of our ministry, you are living letters written by Christ, not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God—not carved onto stone tablets but on the tablets of tender hearts. 4We carry this confidence in our hearts because of our union with Christ before God. 5 Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence. 6 He alone makes us adequate ministers who are focused on an entirely new covenant. Our ministry is not based on the letter of the law but through the power of the Spirit. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit pours out life.
Remember this, You can stake your life and base your future on this eternal covenant.
Watchman Nee says this about God’s covenant with us: Promises are given to encourage faith, but often we cannot rise to God's promises. At times we cannot even lay hold of divine facts; appearances seem to belie them. But when this is so, we still have His covenant. And the covenant means more than the promises, more even than the mighty works. It is something God has committed Himself to do. The covenant is a handle given us by God on which faith can lay hold. Morally we have no claim on God. But He has been pleased to bind Himself to a covenant, and having thus pledged Himself to act for us, He is –and I say it reverently – bound to do so. Herein is the preciousness of the cabinet. It is this that gives strength to faith when faith is at its weakest.
Please hear me, Because the New Testament Covenant is eternal and unchanging, there is nothing that can change it. The covenant was initiated by God and sealed by the blood of Christ on the cross in order to secure our relationship with God.
Again, Our relationship with God is based on His promises and covenant, not on our ability to perform.
There are 5 primary covenants taught in God’s word:
The Noahic covenant, (Genesis 8).
The Abrahamic Covenant, (Genesis 12).
The Mosaic Covenant, (Exodus 19). Live and learn My Laws and thrive.
The Davidic Covenant, Psalm 89... The Davidic covenant thus identifies more precisely the lineage of the “offspring” who will mediate international blessing: He will be a royal descendant of Abraham through David.
The New Covenant, Jesus’ finished work.
Hebrews 7:21-22TM But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise: 22 God gave His word; He won’t take it back: “You’re the permanent priest.” This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant.
Hebrews 7:21-22AMP (for those Levites who formerly became priests [received their office] without [its being confirmed by the taking of] an oath, but this One [was designated] with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind or regret it, ‘You (Christ) are a Priest forever’”).
22 And so [because of the oath’s greater strength and force] Jesus has become the certain guarantee of a better covenant [a more excellent and more advantageous agreement; one that will never be replaced or annulled].
“God’s love is based on an eternal and unchanging covenant.” P.H
I know most of you have seen the new TV adds on council and psychology, they depict a man with a set of weights on his chest, He’s stuck. Suddenly someone comes from behind and ask the stuck person, if he could use some help? The stuck man reply is, “No man, I’m good.” (The weights are not moving, but he says he’s good).
James 1:16-17AMP Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow [a]cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
We are deceived if we believe we can earn the approval of God; We are deceived if we believe He can't love and accept us, because we are unworthy of His grace.
John 1:12,16AMP But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— 16 For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].
Do you have trouble receiving the grace of God?
Society has taught us to perform and achieve in order to earn approval and develop a sense of worth. But God turns it around and says, “I am the giver.’ ‘Will you receive your identity and sense of worth from Me?”
Many of us have trouble answering yes, because we want to make a name for ourselves and prove to the world that we are really something worthy of their admiration.
There's a name for such foolishness. It's called- pride, and it keeps us from believing and receiving.
Are you convinced that God loves you?
Romans 8:38-39AMP For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing you can do can make God love you less, and nothing you can do can make Him love you more.
It's one thing to acknowledge God's unconditional love and acceptance, but it's another thing to personally believe in, and appropriate God's love and acceptance when we are living in the defeat. P.H
Mother Teresa believed that our biggest need is to be loved and excepted. She spent her life reaching out to the unlovable, demonstrating God's unconditional love.
She would say, “God’s love is most evident when it is most needed. God loves sinners!”
“Will you receive God’s covenant? It’s eternal and everlasting.” PH
Benedition.
