COVENANT IN HEBREWS

1. A study of the Hebrew letter reveals that the word covenant is used several times.

2. All of the references for today’s material will come from Hebrews.

OUR BEGINNING PLACE IS ONE OF THE VERSES JUST READ—HEBREWS 7:22.

a) At the end of this verse we learn that God has given a “new” covenant.

b) This “new covenant” is what we usually call the “New Testament.”

c) According to the writer, the new covenant is said to be “better” than what previously existed.

d) This is almost startling when compared with the modern belief of many people.

e) We have a world full of people who take great delight in the Old Testament.

2) There are people who want to tithe. There is a desire to live under the Ten Commandments.

3) Many want to have objects to handle or see like Jews under the Old Testament had.

4) While there is often a desire to follow the first part of the Bible, God make a plain point in Heb. 7:

5) The testament (covenant) to live by has changed.

6) If we believe in Jesus, we need to look to and follow the New Testament.

7) Jesus is the “surety” of a new and better covenant, Heb. 7:22.

8) He is the guarantee that we have a New Testament and that this New Testament is better.

9) For those who turn from the New Testament and go back to the Old, they forsake the Lord.

10) If you want to shock someone—and I mean really stun them—do this.

11) When they start talking about following parts of the Old Testament say, “You have forsaken Christ.”

12) “Jesus instituted the New Testament with His blood and you are despising His sacrifice.”

13) Paul said such a thing in his writings, and the Hebrew writer did a similar thing.

14) Let’s proceed to the next chapter in this book—Heb. 8:6.

15) READ.

16) We have “better promises” in the New Testament, and these better promises are part of a “better” covenant.

17) If this is true, why would anyone want to go back to and use the Old Testament?

18) Furthermore, Jesus is the mediator of the “New Testament”, not the Old Testament.

19) If we want to be with Christ, must need to follow the covenant He operates by.

20) The Old Testament is like an old contract.

a) Growing up I remember contract time (my father worked for John Deere).

b) Workers went on strike and there were “contract talks.”

c) Eventually a new contract was signed, and that new contract was the new set of rules.

d) Everyone realized that the old contract was old—null and void—it had been replaced.

e) Such is also true with God and His agreement with mankind—there are new rules.

21) Our third reference is Heb. 8:7.

a) This is a passage which must not be read by itself.

b) I’m afraid that people have read verse 7 and then stopped to draw a conclusion.

c) Here is what I mean – READ verse 7.

d) Some seem to quit reading with this verse and conclude that God gave a bad covenant.

e) If God hadn’t given a bad Covenant, He would not have needed to give a second one.

f) If this is our view of the Old Testament, we need to change it.

g) God is perfect, and His perfection means He does not make mistakes.

h) God did not give an imperfect or a bad law.

i) The Hebrew writer stated this fact in the next verse – READ verse 8.

22) The Old Testament law was weak “because of them.”

23) As another New Testament verse says, it was weak “through the flesh.”

24) God’s Old Testament law was never designed to justify mankind.

25) The Old Testament was designed to make man feel bad; guilty…cry out for a savior.

26) The Old Testament did everything that God intended.

27) Paul in the book of Romans said, “Who shall deliver me from this body of death?”

28) The answer is Christ and the New Testament.

29) Because of this I am amazed when people say, “Let’s go back and follow the Old Testament law.”

30) That way of life is a system of death, condemnation, and hopelessness.

31) People are turning from what can save and redeem them to what will curse and destroy.

32) Look at Heb. 8:10 and ask how anyone reading this verse could now desire the Old Testament.

33) READ Heb. 8:10.

34) This is what we have when we follow the New Testament and only under the New Testament.

35) God’s New Covenant is full of blessings, but some are still not convinced this is all they need.

36) Sometimes people look at the Old Testament and still find parts of the old system to be attractive.

37) I don’t understand that, but let’s say that some do find parts of it appealing.

38) What does God say about following one or more parts of the Old Testament?

39) Heb. 8:13 provides us with an answer – READ.

a) 2,000 years ago the Old Testament was declared “old.”

b) It was “vanishing away” (no longer a religious guide to be followed).

c) God said the Old Testament is like an old contract; it no longer has any binding force.

d) We cannot go back to that part of the Bible and use it to serve God.

40) If this is true, why are people so enamored with this part of the Bible?

a) Perhaps part of the answer is found in Heb. 9:1 – READ.

b) Under the Old Testament there was a “sanctuary.”

c) People wore special clothing.

d) There were religious objects that could be seen and admired.

e) Notice this description from Heb. 9:2-5 – READ.

f) Part of man’s nature is attracted to what we can see and touch.

g) Because these things were part of the Old Testament era, many find this part of the Bible desirable.

41) How many of us have seen a picture of the pope?

42) Seeing him provides us with a wealth of images.

43) He is dressed in special clothes, fancy hat, he has a staff, there are golden goblets, pricey artwork, etc.

44) Similar things were part of the Old Testament covenant, and people like that fanciness.

45) New Testament Christianity is rather “plain,” and this simplicity makes it unattractive to some folks.

46) People want an altar. They want a building that looks like a holy place.

47) They want religious officials to look official.

48) Preacher isn’t a very attractive title; they want something stronger and catchier:

49) Reverend, most reverend, your holiness, your eminence.

50) God knew how the Old Testament system operated.

51) He also knew the New Testament would function in a different manner.

52) After describing the trappings of the Old Testament era, a contrast is made in the book of Hebrews.

53) Let’s skip to verse 11 of the 9^th chapter and look at the first word: READ 11a.

54) Most translations begin this verse with the word but.

55) Under the Old Testament there was a system of “see and touch.”

56) Now, things are different. Here is the complete reading of Heb. 9:11 – READ.

57) Instead of having lots of high priests upon the earth, there is only one high priest (Jesus).

58) Instead of having Him upon the earth, He is in heaven.

59) There is still a “tabernacle,” but it is “not made with hands.”

60) It is also not visible because it is “in heaven.”

61) God has created a New Testament, and it is an agreement that must be followed.

62) Leaving Heb. 9, I want to turn our attention to Heb. 10.

a) We have another contrast in this chapter between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

b) In this chapter we have information on a day of judgment.

c) My understanding of this information is that it relates to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

63) Those who received this book were very familiar with the Old Testament.

64) Prior to their becoming Christians they had worshipped as Moses had commanded.

65) Someone taught them the gospel and they had embraced the truth.

66) Because of persecution, some were beginning to fall away.

67) At least a few of these Christians were turning back to the Old Testament.

68) In Heb. 10 the writer warned people about this decision.

69) His warning is just as important in our day and time.

70) Here is what he said in verse 28 – READ.

a) Those who lived under the Old Testament sometimes suffered consequences.

b) Break the law, and you paid the price.

c) As we have previously noted from this letter, God changed the covenant.

d) Jesus blood was the price for this covenant, and such a high cost means something.

e) Verse 29 – READ.

71) If this chapter does deal with the destruction of Jerusalem, the thought is something like this.

72) Many Jews rejected Christ and the gospel; Jesus said in 70 AD their prized city would be razed.

73) The temple would be demolished. All the family record to record the Hebrew tribes would perish.

74) God would wipe out the system given by Moses.

75) If Christians from a Jewish background tried to go back to the former ways, they would be punished.

a) By going back to Moses, these Christians would be rejecting the Lord.

b) Going back to the Old Testament is like spitting on the Son of God with absolute contempt.

c) God’s grace would be repudiated.

76) In principle verse 29 applies to all people today.

77) Those who completely reject God’s New Testament ultimately reject Christ and God’s grace.

78) Rejecting one or more parts of the New Testament is also rejecting Christ.

79) Going back to some part of the Old Testament for religious rules is rejecting Christ.

80) If we do any of these three things, we separate ourselves from God.

81) We can say this with confidence because of Heb. 13:20.

a) In the last chapter of this book the writer refers to the New Testament as an “eternal” covenant.

b) The New Testament is God’s last covenant with man.

c) There will not be another one, and this is the best covenant God has ever given.

d) In this last covenant there will be no modifications or alterations.

e) We can follow God’s agreement and have fellowship with Him and a home in heaven.

f) We can reject it in part, its entirety, or try to join it with parts of the Old Testament and be lost forever.

82) The choice is ours.

83) If you have not chosen to be part of God’s New Testament, time is running out.

84) Today you have one more opportunity. Will you not take it?

85) Will you not become a Christian by the terms of the covenant…..Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism?

86) Or if you have taken these steps and wandered away, will you not return?