Covenant: Why the New is Better

 

 

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Related Topics

Covenant: As It Relates to Marriage
Covenant: Why Study It?
Covenant: Introduction

Covenant: Summary
Covenant: The Exchange of Robes
Covenant: The Exchange of Armor and Belts
Covenant: Solemn and Binding
Covenant: A Walk Into Death
Covenant: The Oneness of Covenant
Covenant: Oneness Notes
Covenant: Withholding Nothing from God
Covenant: Abrahamic versus Mosaic
Covenant: New Covenant in the Old Testament
Covenant: Why the New is Better
Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs New

 

COVENANT:
WHY THE NEW IS BETTER
Hebrews 8-10

CONTEXT: The book of Hebrews is a letter of exhortation ("But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly" Hebrews 13:22) addressed to Jewish recipients who had entered the New Covenant or were being drawn that direction. This letter provides many exhortations (strong urgings, appeals and encouragements) designed to undergird the readers so that they would hold fast to the truth about Jesus their great High Priest and conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the New Covenant into which they had entered, despite severe persecution ("a great conflict of sufferings" Hebrews 10:32) and strong temptation to return to Judaism and the regulations of divine worship under the Old Covenant ("who shrink back to destruction" Hebrews 10:39). Chapters 5-7 presents a strong argument explaining why Jesus is a better High Priest than the Levitical priesthood and Chapters 8-10 amplify why Jesus now has a more excellent ministry in the New Covenant and how this covenant is a better covenant with better promises.

Remember that the Old Covenant ("the first"), which was never referred to as everlasting, was inaugurated by God at Mt Sinai, with the nation of Israel, through the mediation of Moses, for the purpose of setting Israel apart as God's special possession and included promises of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience (therefore a conditional covenant), and Israel agreed to obey the covenant laws ("All...we will do!"), this agreement being solemnly attested to and ratified by "the blood of the covenant".

Note: An attempt has been made in discussing Hebrews 8-10 to describe a related topic or subject on each row, usually from left to right and usually drawing out a contrast the writer is making between the old and new covenants (or the priesthood, tabernacle or other ritual associated with covenant).

Hebrews 8

THE FIRST
COVENANT
THE BETTER
COVENANT
THE BETTER
PROMISES

How does the place of service of earthly priests contrast with that of our High Priest Jesus? (Heb 8:5-note)

 

The earthly tabernacle was a Copy & shadow of heavenly - according to pattern God showed Moses on Sinai
 

What is the main point of the preceding chapters? (Heb 8:1-note)

Jesus our High Priest has taken His seat at right hand of throne of Majesty in heavens

 

Where does He minister? (Heb 8:2-note)

In the sanctuary = the true tabernacle the Lord pitched, not man.

What is Jesus' ministry in the true tabernacle according to (Heb 7:25-note)?

 

He ever lives to make intercession for those who draw near to God through Him

How is the first covenant described? (Heb 8:7-note)

Not faultless

 

What was the fault? (Heb 8:9-note)
People did not continue in OC

 

What is the status of the first covenant? (Heb 8:13-note)

Made obsolete
Growing old
Ready to disappear

How is Jesus' ministry described?  (Hebrews 8:6-note)

More excellent
(than OC priests)

Mediator a better covenant

 

Where is this better covenant first mentioned and to whom? (Heb 8:8-note)

Jeremiah 31:31, 32, 33, 34
To Israel and Judah

 

Why is it better according to (Heb 8:8-note)
It is
new in quality (see word study of kainos) = different nature from old = something never seen or done before

Why is the NC
a
better covenant?
(Heb 8:6-note)

It is based on

Better promises than OC


What are some of the better promises noted in Heb 8:10,11,12 (see notes Heb 8:10,11,12)?

 

"I will" (6x) (no conditions)

 

Put His laws into their minds

 

Write laws upon their hearts


Be their God, they His people

 

All shall know God

 

Mercy for their iniquities


Remember their sins no more

Hebrews 9

THE FIRST
COVENANT
THE BETTER
COVENANT
THE BETTER
PROMISES

What structure does the writer describe in Heb 9:1; 2; 3; 4; 5 - see notes Heb 9:1; 2; 3; 4; 5)?

The earthly tabernacle
(
see note)

See Tabernacle Diagram
 

See note on location of
"altar of incense"

 

How is the priestly activity characterized in (notes Heb 9:6; 7 see notes Heb 9:6; 7)?

 

Priests continually (daily) entered the outer tabernacle (note)

 

Only High Priest entered the 2nd (Holy of holies) 1/yr & only with blood for himself & the people (note)

 

How did the Holy Spirit use the Tabernacle to teach Israel according to (Heb 9:8-note)?

He used it as a "Symbol" =
The OC trappings were set beside the NC to allow comparison (
See note)

 

 What truths did the Holy Spirit teaching using the symbol of the Tabernacle (Heb 9:8-Heb 9:8; Heb 9:9 note)?

1) The majority of the people had no access into the presence of God (Holy Place = Holy of holies) as long as the Tabernacle stood or as long as it had a significant standing in their mind (See note regarding translation)

 

2) Animal sacrifices were unable to cleanse one's conscience (remember that the heart of the problem is the problem with the heart) (note)

 

What was the implied weakness of the OC according to (Heb 9:10-note)? (Clue: see NLT)

The weakness of the priestly service under the OC was its inability to address the need for inner transformation in man; therefore it was only imposed until the time of reformation (when God would "set things right")

How does the writer allude to the New Covenant in (Heb 9:10-note)?

The time of reformation
(straightening out)
(
see note)
 

Only the NC could set things right between God and man

 

Application to NT believers: Are you still trying to earn a sense of being pleasing to God by trusting in your good deeds and/or good behavior. The problem with this approach is that you never know when you have done enough to please Him and the result is often an uneasy, troubled, restless feeling. If this is you beloved, you need to cease striving and know that He is God and believe that He has graciously provided for your bold entrance into His glorious presence through His beloved Son's finished work as your Great High Priest!
 

How is the priestly activity of Christ contrasted ("but when") with that of the OC (Heb 9:11-note; Heb 9:12- note)?

 

1) Where?: He entered the greater, more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, not of this creation

He entered the "holy place" in heaven = very throne room of God!

 

2) When?: He entered once for all

 

His work is finished. PTL! (See John 19:30)

 

3) How?: He entered through His own blood (not through the blood of animals)

 

(Note that "but when" in Heb 9:11 marks a major contrast as the author shifts from discussion of the old system to the new - the time of reformation.)

What did the priestly activity of Christ accomplish (Heb 9:12-note)?

 

Eternal
Redemption

 

Redemption = lutrosis = Greeks used it to describe paying a ransom to free slaves, for all who enter the new covenant it means deliverance from the guilt, penalty and power of our old "master" Sin, so that now we don't have to obey Sin


You can have confidence in your salvation because it is not temporary but eternal

What was the purpose of the blood of animals and sprinkled ashes of a heifer (Heb 9:12-note;Heb 9:13 note)?

V12 Made it possible for the earthly high priest to enter the Holy Place on the Day of Atonement


v13 Cleansed the body from ritual defilement - deals only with external cleansing and did not change the person's heart

How did blood of Christ compare with the blood of animals (Heb 9:14-note)?

 

Much more effective

Blood of Christ was
Without blemish

(cf 1 Peter 1:18-
note; 1Pe 1:19 note)


Christ by the power of the eternal Spirit as the High Priest Who offered Himself as the sacrifice!

 

OT priests carried animal blood in as their offering
 

The  High Priest became the sacrifice!

How much more effective was blood of Christ compared to blood of animals (Heb 9:14-note)?

The blood of Christ effects a complete cleansing of our conscience from dead works (deeds that only lead to death) to serve the living God

 

Note the contrast: This better promise is based on the fact that the cleansing by the blood of Christ is internal not external like OC sacrifices

 

How does the writer refer to Christ in (Heb 9:15-note)?
Mediator of a New Covenant
(
see comment)

How did He become the Mediator?
A death took place

 

How does the writer explain why Christ had to die (Heb 9:16-note; Heb 9:17- note)?

Note that "covenant" in this case is used like a will - while the person is alive the will does not go into effect - the person who made the will must die for the will to go into force - the point is that the promise of eternal inheritance is in the will so to speak and did not go into effect until Christ died

What did Christ death accomplish according to (Heb 9:15-note)?

Redemption of the transgressions committed under the first covenant
(
see comment)

Promise of eternal inheritance for those who are called

How was the first covenant inaugurated? (Heb 9:18; 19; 20; 21; 22) (see notes Heb 9:18; 19; 20; 21; 22)

 

With blood (which was proof of death so that as is the case with a will the terms of the will could now be activated) - Moses sprinkled people, book, tabernacle, vessels of ministry

 

The blood of the covenant

 

What was the effect
of this blood? (Heb 9:22-
note)

 

Almost all things
cleansed with blood

 

What does he reiterate regarding the blood in (Heb 9:23-note)? What was the blood used for?

Copies of the things (emphasizing again that the tabernacle on earth was just a model) in the heavens were cleansed with blood

How were the heavenly things cleansed? (Heb 9:23-note)

 

With better sacrifices

than the blood of animals

 

Why were better sacrifices necessary? (Heb 9:24-note)

 

Christ entered not into a copy (like the earthly priests) but into heaven itself


(OC priests could only enter into the earthly holy place with animal blood)

What is the better
promise
that is suggested in
(Heb 9:22-
note)?

Forgiveness of sins

 

Note: (Also see note) Strictly speaking this is not a promise although it does foreshadow or preview a better promise. The point the writer is making is that forgiveness cannot occur without the shedding of blood - shedding of blood in the OC brought a temporary sense of forgiveness but it was an incomplete forgiveness. Perfect forgiveness demanded a perfect blood sacrifice, which the writer has already presented in in verse 14. Christ's who was without blemish fulfilled the Law which paved the way for perfect forgiveness to be received by those who believed.

 

Forgiveness = aphesis [from apo = away from + hiemi = send] (see word study on aphesis) which refers first to an action which produces a separation. Aphesis was used as a legal term meaning to repay or cancel a debt or to grant a pardon. Through the shedding of His own blood, Jesus Christ actually took the sins of the world upon His own head, as it were, and carried them an infinite distance away from where they could never return. That is the extent of the forgiveness of our trespasses.
 

What's the better promise Christ accomplished by entering into the true holy place made without hands? (Heb 9:24-note)

 

Appears in the presence of God for us (in our place)

What does he repeat about the high priest in (Heb 9:25-note)?

 

Enters year by year with blood not his own

How often did Christ enter the true holy place? (Heb 9:26-note)

Once at the consummation of the ages
 

Why only once?  (Heb 9:26-note)
Would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world

What did Christ
accomplish?
(Heb 9:26-note)

 

Put away sin (made void the power of sin forever) by the sacrifice of Himself
(contrast with OC high priest)

 

What analogy does the writer make to help us understand Christ's death just once (in contrast to the yearly deaths of animals)? (Heb 9:27-Heb 9:27; Heb 9:28 note)

Men die once > judgment
Christ died once
 

What is the better promise that is effected by Christ dying once? (Heb 9:28-note)

Bear the sins of many

What else is promised as a result of His dying once?

Christ shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin
(His second coming)

 

Who will receive this future tense salvation (explained below)?

All who eagerly await Him
 

Beloved are you looking for Him?

Looking will motivate living for Him!

 

This verse speaks of...
 

Future tense salvation =
We will be saved =
Glorification =
Click Three Tenses of Salvation

(Eph 1:14 - note, Ro 8:23-note)
 

Redemption is completed and we receive our new bodies and are forever free from the presence & pleasure of sin! Hallelujah!

Hebrews 10

THE FIRST
COVENANT
THE BETTER
COVENANT
THE BETTER
PROMISES

How did the writer refer to the Law in (Heb 10:1-note)?

Shadow not form (reality)

 

Why was the Law a shadow... What could the Law never do? Heb 10:1; 10:2; 10:4)(see notes Heb 10:1; 10:2; 10:3; 10:4)

 

1 Yearly sacrifices can never perfect those who draw near

 

2 Cannot remove consciousness of sins

 

4 Impossible for animal blood to take away sins

 

Was the Law useless? What was one purpose of the Law? (Heb 10:3-note)

 

Constant reminder
of sins

 

What was the Law a shadow of in (Heb 10:1, 2, 3 4)?(see notes Heb 10:1; 10:2; 10:3; 10:4)

Good things to come
The very form of things

 

What are "the good things to come"?

The New Covenant mediated by the Great High Priest Who offered the perfect sacrifice once for all time

 

 

What are the implied promises of the "good things to come"?
 

1) Make perfect those who draw near to God

 

2) Removes consciousness of sins

 

3) Takes away sins

 

How does Jesus explain the inadequacy of the OC burnt offerings and sacrifices according to (Heb 10:5-note; Heb 10:6-note; Heb 10:8-note)?

 

Father did not desire them

 

He took no pleasure in them

What was God's solution in view of the inadequacy of the Law? Heb 10:5; 10:6; 10:7; 10:8; 10:9  (notes Heb 10:5; 10:6; 10:7; 10:8; 10:9)

God prepared a body for Jesus (He had to have a body to be a blood sacrifice)

 

What was Jesus' response to God? (Heb 10:7-note; Heb 10:9-note)

He came to do
His Father's will

 

What is the conclusion in view of the fact that Jesus states He will do His Father's will? (Heb 10:9-note)

Takes away the first in order to establish the second

 

How are we sanctified since the Law is taken away? (Heb 10:10-note)

Through offering of body of Jesus Christ once for all

What is the better promise in (Heb 10:10a-note)?

We have been sanctified

Perfect tense indicates completed action at a point in time in the past with present and ongoing effect.

 

This verse speaks of...
 

Past tense salvation =
We have been saved =
Justification by faith =

Click Three Tenses of Salvation

 

We have been once and for all time declared righteous (our standing or position before God is that we are perfectly righteous because we are hid in Christ, our Righteousness)

 

How does he describe the work of the earthly priest? (Heb 10:11-note)

 

Stand daily ministering and offering the same sacrifices

 

What is the problem with their ministry?

Can never (ever)
take away sins

 

What is the contrast in (Heb 10:12-note)?

Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time

 

How do we know it was a satisfactory sacrifice?

Jesus sat down at the right hand of God = His work is finished

 

What is Jesus doing now according to (Heb10:13-note)?

Waiting until all His enemies are conquered
(footstool for His feet)

 

What did Christ's one offering (in contrast to the many offerings of the earthly priests) of Himself accomplish? (Heb 10:14-note)

 

He has perfected for all time those who are (being continually) sanctified

 

This verse speaks of...
 

Present tense salvation =
We are daily being saved =
Sanctification by faith =

Click Three Tenses of Salvation

 

This describes God's part (sanctified = passive voice = God exerts His power on us) to set us apart gradually from the world and our old self and unto Him, by the sanctifying work of His Spirit, and ultimately into conformity with the image of His Son. Note Philippians 2:12  (notes) clearly shows it is not just "Let go and let God" for there believers are to work out their salvation day by day, but the good news in Philippians 2:13 (notes) is that God is at work in us both to work and to will (gives us the "want to") to do His good pleasure (this latter equating with Hebrews 10:14-note)

 

How can we be assured that God has perfected us for all time and is daily sanctifying us? (Heb 10:15-note)

Holy Spirit continually bears witness with us

 

What does the Spirit quote? (Heb 10:16-note; Heb 10:17-note)

Jeremiah 31:33-34

What promises does the Spirit repeat? (Heb 10:16-note; Heb 10:17 note)

God's Laws upon our heart
Written upon our mind

God will no more remember our sins and lawless deeds

 

 

How complete is the work of the New Covenant? (Heb 10:18-note)

There is no longer a need for blood sacrifices

 

What is the wonderful promise in Heb 10:18-note?

There is now forgiveness of all our sins and iniquities

 

 

What is the basis on which a believer can now enter the presence of God?  Heb 10:19; :20; 21; 22; 23 (notes 19; :20; 21; 22; 23)

 

19) The blood of Jesus


20) A new and living way has been inaugurated for us through the veil (His flesh) in the very throne room of God

 

21) We now and forever have a great High Priest

 

22) Our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

 

23) He Who promised all of these things is faithful!

What is the better promise in Hebrews 10:19-note?

Confidently enter Holy Place Into presence of God

 

What is the better promise in Hebrews 10:22- note?

 

Hearts sprinkled clean
(new heart Ezek 36:26,
circumcised hearts Dt 30:6)

 

Clean conscience

What should believers now do
in view of the better covenant with better promises?

1) Draw near with a since heart in full assurance of faith

 

2) Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He Who promised is faithful

 

3) Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds and
     Not forsaking our assembling together as is the habit of some
     But encouraging one another and all the more as we see the day of Christ return draw near

 

Summary of the Better Covenant:
The New Covenant

The New Covenant...

1) Is made by God with Israel and Judah

2) Is an unconditional covenant - It does not rest on anything in man for its efficacy and is thus like the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants. It is something God Himself said He would do.

3) Is a reiteration and an expansion of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants.

The following prophecy in Ezekiel 37 gives details which indicate that there is clearly a relationship between...

a) The Davidic Covenant -- deals with the Kingdom and the King,

b) The Abrahamic Covenant -- has to do with the land and the seed.

c) The New Covenant -- deals with the forgiveness of sins and the redemptive aspects of God's working.

Legend -

i). Note the repetition of "I will" which speaks of the Lord God's sovereignty and the unconditional nature of his promises.

ii). Note God's emphasis on the unending nature on His promises to Israel -