Hebrews-A Better Covenant

[6] But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. [7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

[8] For he finds fault with them when he says:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,

when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah,

[9] not like the covenant that I made with their fathers

on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

For they did not continue in my covenant,

and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.

[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

[11] And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

[12] For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.”

[13] In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 6-13 ESV

To introduce to you topics I am going to write about,  I often open my blog with stories or analogies from my everyday life to make a understandable the biblical topic we are going to cover.  As God has opened up Scripture to me over the years, that is what has often helped me to understand the concepts and relationship with have with Him. 

Today we are going to be reading about a better covenant.  Most people are unfamiliar with the term covenant.  A covenant is an arrangement between two parties involving mutual obligations.  It is formal, where each person has responsibilities in the relationship.  

My kids are now young adults and are both dating.  They see these relationships as very serious and feel very committed.  Yet the reality is, if their boyfriend or girlfriend were suddenly want to leave the relationship, all they would be left with is a broken heart.  There is no binding agreement that ties them together other than right now they feel good about being in the tied to this person.  It’s serving them emotionally, but they can leave quickly or easily.  They can also be left without any permanent responsibilities or restitution.  

In contrast, my relationship with my husband is different.  It is a covenant, a formal agreement I made in front of witnesses and recognized by the governing authorities where I live.  I had to apply for a license and my ceremony declared my commitment as legal binding to another.  If I were to divorce, there is more implications than just emotional fallout.  There would be property to divide, resources to split up, and if we had children at home, a parenting plan to develop.  Currently in America, there are only 3 states that still see marriage is a covenant and stipulate a few circumstances like adultery that allow divorce.  Most states are now “no fault divorce” and you can stop being married if you don’t want to anymore.  They make it easier and cheaper for us to separate, though we have promised at the alter, till death do us part.  

This is the reality of the sinful nature of man as they engage in relationships.  It so easy for humanity to disregard their vows.  To make salvation a concept that would comfort the Christian and bring security, it has to be based on more than our ability to keep the law, to keep our promises to God.  Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). 

In chapter 7, the author tells us why Jesus is a better priest, but provides another reason why He couldn’t be over the old sacrificial system.  The system itself was inadequate and would always fail because people could never keep their covenantal commitments to God in according to His moral standard in the 10 commandments.   The sinful nature Adam and Eve gave their prodigy when they disobeyed in the garden, was inherited by everywoman that came from their union, a legacy of a nature bent on sin.  

Jeremiah is quoted here to show that all along, God’s plan was to change the covenant so people would internalized God’s law and be able to uphold it.  His law would not be an outside standard but be formed in the hearts and minds of His people.  Why a new covenant is needed is described further in 2 Corinthians 3:5-11

[5] Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, [6] who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

[7] Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, [8] will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? [9] For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. [10] Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. [11] For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.  

Our God wanted to give us a salvation that would be ours forever but knew we couldn’t keep His law.  Instead of letters on stone to live up to, an impossible task, we receive a life-giving Spirit that indwells us.  The new covenant, inaugurated by the work of Christ’s atonement for our sin, is better than the old—keeping the whole law perfectly.  Like when Moses would talk with God and return with a face alight (Exodus 34:29), the glory of being free from the law will make every Christian’s countenance shine in joy and freedom.  Jesus is a better priest because He rules over a better covenant—one that He purchased for us with His bodily sacrifice.  One that is written internally within and strengthened by the dynamic presence of God who empowers us.  

Remember how loved you are.  God created a way for you to be permanently His, because He has given His Son to hold a relationship with you.  He covenants with us and He alone is faithful to keep us.

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