A Better Covenant

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph on Nov. 27, 2011. Happy reading!)

Hebrews 8:10-12

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

“None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Today, again, let me remind you of the New Covenant that we have in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. The author of the Book of Hebrews too constantly, throughout the book makes a comparison between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, reminding the people of Israel of the advantages and privileges a believer must experience in the New Covenant. Therefore we cannot, again, go back and live in the Old Covenant.

The Jews of that time had experienced the blessings of the Old Covenant (and there was quite a lot of it); but the prophet in the Old Covenant had prophesied that there would be a New and complete covenant, for all who come. And that is the place we are in today-experiencing the blessings of the New Covenant. Today, I want us to focus on these verses from Hebrews and find out how the New Covenant is different from the Old in three ways.

1. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more

 In the Old Covenant there were sacrifices for the atonement of sins-sacrifices of animals without blemish, whose blood could only cover their sins. It was a pointer to the sinless Lamb of God who would be sacrificed for OUR sins. Animal sacrifices could not take away their sins, and it was only a yearly reminder to them as the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies with the blood of animals. They were not cleansed in their conscience; guilt was present just beneath the covering.

But, in the New Covenant, Jesus died for us... and our sins are not just covered but really cleansed (taken away) by the blood of Jesus. John the Baptist did testify that here was the Lamb that would take away the sins of the whole world. A sinless Lamb sacrificed on the cross of Calvary, to take away the sins of the sinful world-and not just the Jews. God made Jesus who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). A 200% blessing indeed! Not only are our sins cleansed and taken away, but we are also declared righteous-justified before God. Our conscience has been completely cleansed and we can walk this earth guilt-free (and as if we had never sinned). That is how the Lord sees us!

If you are having doubts about your own forgiveness, and are reminded of your sins... it simply cannot be the Lord reminding you, because He has said “I will remember your sins no more”. God has chosen not to remember your sins, once they are forgiven; once you have received and tasted the forgiveness He has offered. It is the devil who reminds you of the past...

Indeed, we are a blessed generation in Jesus Christ. “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.” [Rom. 4: 7-8]

2. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them

 In the Old Covenant, the people of Israel had priests and high priest to represent the people. The people themselves had no access to God, but had the priests as the go-between; and the animals for sacrifices and grain for offering were given to the priests, to offer to God, on their own behalf. Apart from the priestly tribe (Levi), the people had no mediators.

No ordinary person even dared to enter the Holy Place. And a fearful high priest, only once a year, taking with him the blood of animals, and a bell and rope implement in place-to pull him out in the event of his own death, would enter the Most Holy Place. But in the New Covenant, through the blood of Jesus, we have free access to His Mercy Seat. Because when Jesus’ died, the veil of the temple tore from top to bottom, signifying a royal priesthood to everyone who believes in His great sacrifice. Jesus Himself is our only Mediator-between God and man; and all of us- from the least to the greatest, shall know God because of Him.

God is calling each one of us who believe, to have knowledge of Him. We need to have an increasing understanding of Him, day after day; and for that, we must enter the Most Holy Place.

A Christian walk does not stop with just the salvation experience-in the outer courts, where all the people gathered, and where there were sacrifices, in those days. In the outer courts, we can abound with thanksgiving, dance and sing for joy for what God has done for us-He loved us.

Nor does it stop in the Holy Place, where the priests did their daily duties. There was the show bread, the lamp-stand and incense, signifying the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The bread was new each day-it is the living word of God for each day of your life. Every moment, just like the lamp that does not burn out, we can have Holy Spirit, guiding us and helping us.

But beloved, we must know Him in the Most Holy Place-where there is the Mercy Seat surrounded by the Shekinah glory of God. There was no dancing, no sound here; no acts of worship here; the high priest with blood going inside would look stunned at the glory the glory of God, and amazed on what he saw and heard; he may even come out speechless! If we read the verses in 1 Cor. 6:17 “...he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” and put it in context, Paul is really talking about physical relationship. Just as the man is joined to his wife-in body, a believer is joined to the Lord-in his spirit. It is this intimacy and ‘knowing’ the Lord, that is meant in these verses-“all shall know Me.” The man and wife, as they grow in love and understand one another, communicate effectively even by a glance-without even one spoken word-or maybe just a touch or even silence! Beloved, let us know Him more and more... more and more.

I pray, that we will not be content with just a casual knowledge of God or just content to say a few words here and sing a few verses there... but go deep into an intimate relationship with God, our Maker.

3. I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

 The prophecy in Ezek. 36:27 is fulfilled in the New Covenant. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” God the Holy Spirit causes us to walk in His ways, and teaches us and guides us into all truth.

When Jesus cast out demons, he says to his detractors in Luke 11:20 “But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” And the gospel according to Matthew puts it this way, Jesus saying in Matt. 12:28: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” The Spirit of God is also the finger of God-He leads us and guides us to work His will in us. We have the finger of God in every situation that we are confronted with-there will always be a way with God; the question is only ‘Are we willing to take it?’

You may not find a specific verse in Scripture regarding whom to marry-but the Spirit of God will lead you and guide you every step of the way. Likewise, you may not know where to go for the place of work-whether within India or abroad, and it is the Spirit of God who will guide you. The finger of God will give you direction, both to will and to do-you can be sure of that! Read Phil. 2:13.

Let me close with the benediction found in Heb. 13:20, 21

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

May we learn to trust Him, saying “No” to anything that is contrary to God’s word, and speaking out “Yes” to God’s will and pleasure. We sang the song about the Potter’s hand-moulding us and making us, and leading us... even if we are the least among men, we can still know Him.

If you have never heard of forgiveness of sins in the blood of Jesus, it is time now to come to Him. Jesus died for our sins-your sins and mine. He is reaching out now to take away your sins-give it up to Him, and receive His full and free forgiveness. Today is a new day-this is the day of salvation. If you have trusted Jesus, you have a clean slate now to start anew all over; no more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Fix your eyes on the Lord Jesus, and walk the steps of faith to know Him more and more... Let Him have a say in every aspect of your life, and you will learn to lean on Him day by day.

A New and better Covenant is given to us. Indeed, we are a chosen generation-a privileged people. Meet with the Lord-in the Most Holy Place. It is up to us, to come and have a communion with the LORD in the Most Holy Place, beyond the veil that is taken away-a union of our spirit with His Spirit. Amen.