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Note: This lecture goes with Precept study of Hebrews, Part 2
I. Introduction - Hebrews 4:14–7:28
The Supremacy of the High Priesthood of Jesus as associated with order of Melchizedek (New Covenant), not the order of Aaron (Old Covenant of the Law).
Application: “Temple worshippers” look to pastors and/or teachers to be their priests; True worshippers look to Jesus to be their Great High Priest to escort them personally into the very presence of God.
Summary: Heb 8:1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: We have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
II. Covenant Background Information
A. Hebrew “beriyth” = a compact (agreement) made by passing through pieces of flesh (cf Ge 15:17+, Jer 34:18,19), symbolizing destruction of the vows made in walking through the “way of death,” or “path of blood.”
B. Common elements of covenant:
1. Sacrifice
2. Solemn vows
3. Co-mingling of blood (“two lives become one”)
4. Exchange of names, robes, belt – exchanging principle of identitiesChrist’s exchange of identity with believers under the New Covenant of His blood:
- He took our death so we could have His life.
- He took on our robe of sin and unrighteousness, so we could be robed in His righteousness.
- He put on our weakness, so we could have His strength.
- He took our ID, under death penalty for sin, and gave us His name, “Christian.”Jesus does not come into my life to improve me, but to replace me.
His death saved me; His life sustains me.5. Covenant marks: His, the wounds left by crucifixion (Jn 20:27+, Rev 5:6,9,12+). Our "mark" of covenant is the Holy Spirit dwelling within enabling continuance in faith, fruitfulness, love, etc.
6. Covenant meal - Luke 22:14-20+
C. Covenant = Greek "diatheke"-
1. Not a suntheke, a covenant made between equals, ex. marriage.
2. Diatheke is a covenant made by one person, like a will. The maker sets the terms; the parties can only receive or refuse the terms. This covenant goes into effect at the death of the maker. (New Covenant went into effect when Jesus died, then His heirs received the rights promised in the New Covenant in His blood Heb 9:15–17).
III. Old Covenant of the Law - Frustration prepared the people to appreciate the practical value of the New Covenant:
A. John 1:17 Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
1. Law = Old Covenant: external; conditional and based on the obedience of the people; fragile, failed.
2. Grace and truth = New Covenant: internal change, unconditional, based God’s faithfulness.
B. Giving of the Law (Old Covenant) through Moses Ex 19:5-6+
C. Inauguration of the Covenant Ex 24:1-11+
1. Sacrifice, sprinkling of blood
2. Covenant meal
D. Conditional promises of the Old Covenant Deut 28+
1. Blessings for obedience Deut 28:1-14+
2. Curses for disobedience Deut 28:15-68+ included threat of being torn from land, scattered Deut 28:63-65+
E. The problem/weakness of the Old Covenant
The people themselves (they could not obey, even though they vowed that they would) Hebrews 8:7-8
IV. The New Covenant, first mentioned in Jer 31:31+
A. “New” = kainos = totally, qualitatively new
B. With house of Israel and house of Judah, bc of God’s unconditional covenant with Abraham Jer 31:31+
C. Promises of the New Covenant Jer 31:33-34+
1. Law written within, written on their hearts
2. I will be their God; they will be My people (Gen 17:8+)
3. They shall all know Me (access to God for all, not just priests)
4. I will forgive their iniquity; their sin I will not remember
5. Everlasting, unconditional promise tied to them Jer 32:40-43+
6. Based on God’s faithfulness, not theirs
7. New heart within them - remove heart of stone, give heart of flesh Ezek 36:26+
8. New spirit, His Spirit within them Ezek 36:27+, to cause them (and enable them) to walk in His statutes
V. Practical Implications of the New Covenant Promises:
A. Once saved, we have a regenerated, new heart, but our mind needs to be renewed (Ro 12:2+).
B. Sin is now a choice - don’t give yourself or others a co-op out for carnality.
C. A Christian cannot habitually sin because God’s heart and Spirit are within him. (1Jn 3:4-6, 8+)
VI. Conclusion: The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: The New Covenant is much better than the Old Covenant Heb 8:6
A. Old Covenant was conditional - based on man’s response to God; impossible for man to keep.
B. New Covenant is unconditional - based on God’s response to man; impossible for God to break.
We stand on His faithfulness, not ours.
C. Wayne’s story of the pig who had a “change of heart”.
D. Evidence of true salvation - Radical change from the inside out:
1. Inward change of heart that changes your appetites and actions: You no longer desire to sin.
2. God disciplines/corrects/trains you as His true child Heb 12:5-11+