A New Spirit-Empowered Mission

The New Covenant contains a multitude of new realities for a new order for the new People of God.  There are three promises of particular importance for us in Hebrews 8:8-13.

“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, 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. 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. 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. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.’ 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.”

1.  God Puts His Laws into Our Minds and Hearts

The New Covenant promises making us a new mind and heart and so making us obedient through the Spirit.  The contrast with Old Covenant is that now in the New Covenant obedience would be more thorough.  This is a radical empowerment for a whole new level for the purity of the People of God. (Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 3:5-7; Romans 8:1-6)

2.  God Allows Us as His People to Know Him Intimately

The New Covenant promises a deep personal relationship with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The contrast with Old Covenant is that now in New Covenant all the People of God relate personally to God and know Him well.  Everyone in the covenant community, in the People of God, has a privileged relationship with God, not just Moses or the priests or prophets, but everyone of us, enjoys God’s Presence. (Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:6)

3.  God Removes Our Sin Permanently and Completely

The New Covenant promises that the Messiah would fully rescue from sin and give assurance by the Holy Spirit.  The contrast with Old Covenant is that now in New Covenant the historical realization of this has finally come!  This hope had been proclaimed throughout the Old Testament, and so perhaps, this is most important of the three listed for the author of Hebrews.  To serve God with an unburdened soul and free conscience, and with the Spirit to keep one in holiness, is one of the greatest joys of living as a Christian!  (Hebrews 10, esp. v.14)

The Covenant Change is Complete and Brings a Better Future

Although these promises have been fulfilled in the New Covenant, they were not non-existent under the Old Covenant, but only realized to a lesser degree.  God communicated His Law.  God was present with His People.  God forgave sin in Promise.

The assumption by the author of Hebrews is that the prophecy of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31 and elsewhere is for all peoples of the world, not just the physical descendants of Abraham.  This is just as the prophet Isaiah speaks of the Messiah:

Isaiah 42:6 ESV “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,”

Isaiah 49:6 ESV “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

The author of Hebrews sums up his presentation by explaining why this Covenant is called “New.”  Simply put, it is because the old one has been rendered obsolete.  God had fully accomplished His purposes through the Old Covenant made with Moses on Sinai, and would no longer be using it directly in His redemptive program, but only as a background to highlight greater glories in His Eternal Son.  

The fading away of the first covenant might refer to the destruction of the temple in AD 70, or the natural dissolution that would occur with the New Covenant order, or perhaps both. 

And still, the promises are yet to be realized by us in their ultimate expression at the Return of Christ.  Then, we will live in absolute conformity to the will of God!  Then, we will know God as we are known, basking in His glorious presence!  Then, we will receive the completion of our salvation in body and soul, in resurrection glory!

The Priestly Empowerment Ministry of Jesus Christ 

The point of Hebrews 8 is that God has made a New Covenant, mediated through Jesus Christ, the Crucified and Risen One, who is reigning as King and ministering as Priest for His People.  The Lord Jesus Christ is our New Covenant High Priest.

In this new priestly ministry, He is performing a superior liturgy, He is bringing the effects of the New Covenant into full expression and reality in our lives as His Church.  He is dispensing all the grace He purchased for us on the Cross as we need it to do His will.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven ministering in the true sanctuary. (Ro 8:34b)  The Lord Jesus Christ brought us a superior covenant--one that is full of forgiveness and full of the Spirit--and He administrates all its blessings for us from heaven.

The New Covenant Empowers Us for the New Mission

The message of our mission is unprecedented in the history of redemption.  And it stands out as the truth among all the false, ugly, destructive and worthless religions of the world invented by men, and even upheld by demons.

• The New Covenant has made us a new mind and heart and so makes us obedient through the Spirit.  How might we live empowered by the Spirit for a great obedience and joy?

• The New Covenant has established a deep personal relationship with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  How might we keep growing in our relationship with God by the Spirit?

• The New Covenant Messiah has fully rescued us from sin and given us assurance by the Holy Spirit.  How might we serve more boldly in the Spirit knowing that we are forgiven?