October 3, 2012
JESUS WINS OUR HEARTS AND MINDS
Hebrews 8
Don Campbell
Central Truth
Jesus, as the High Priest of a New Covenant, offered a sacrifice of Himself for our many sins. If we accept His sacrifice, then the Holy Spirit will change us to be like Him.
Key Verse | Hebrews 8:6
But now He [Christ] 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. (Hebrews 8:6)
Hebrews 8
Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant
1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent 1 8:2 Or tabernacle; also verse 5 that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ 2 8:6 Greek he has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
8 For he finds fault with them when he says: 3 8:8 Some manuscripts For finding fault with it he says to them
“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,
9
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.
10
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.
11
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.
12
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.”
13 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.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 8
Because of my legal background, I was curious about the scriptural meaning of a "covenant," whether "new" or "old." Dr. Wayne Grudem provides this definition: "A covenant is an unchangeable, divinely imposed legal agreement between God and man that stipulates the conditions of their relationship." Systematic Theology, p. 515 (1994)
Since Hebrews 8 speaks of a "new covenant," of which Jesus is the mediator and High Priest, we should ask, "What was the 'old covenant,' with its conditions of a relationship between God and man?" This old covenant was the Mosaic Covenant, based on detailed laws written on stone tablets and scrolls (Exodus 19-24) and requiring sacrifices to restrain and atone for peoples' sins. God clearly told people what to do, but over time it became obvious that humans weren't capable of living up to God's standards. The human heart is just too sinful. So, God began "phase two" of His plan to save humanity. He sent his Son (the perfect sacrifice) to die for our sins, and He sent His Spirit to change our hearts. This is the NEW covenant. It doesn't mean that we can live anyway that we want. It does mean that we can finally live the way God wants.
I'm glad that we live under the new covenant instead of the old. For one thing, animal sacrifices probably aren't that much fun. But most of all, I'm glad because the promises we have in Christ are better than those under Old Testament law. Christ forgives our sins, and the Holy Spirit changes our hearts so that we can live with God. I don't have to give sacrifices to God, because He's already given everything for me.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you accepted Christ's sacrifice for your sins? Are you still trying to get God's approval or pay Him back for His gift?
2. Do you have peace and contentment in your life; and, if not, do you understand that these attributes are available through Jesus as your Savior?
3. Have you shared this awesome promise from God with someone lately? Who in your life could benefit from hearing about Christ's sacrifice for them?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
October 1-5 (Hebrews 6-10)
Read Hebrews 10:19-25.
• What makes us clean and allows us to be in the presence of a Holy God?
• What hope do you have? (Talk about the hope of Jesus coming back and being with God face-to-face one day.) How do you hold tightly to this hope?
• What does verse 23 tell us about God and His promises?
• What does it mean in verse 25 that we are not to forsake "our own assembling together"?
• What are different ways that your family meets with other believers?
• What does it mean to encourage each other in truth?
Activity: Think about some people you know who are having a hard time right now. They may be struggling to trust God or living through really hard circumstances. Take Hebrews 10:23 and think of a fun, creative way to use that verse to encourage them today.