THE NEW COVENANT

 

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.  (Hebrews 8:6)

Marriage is a covenant.  A man and woman enter into a commitment to love each other exclusively for life.   God entered into a covenant relationship with Israel.  He promised to bless them, if they would obey Him.  They agreed.  But, because of their sinful hearts, they proved unfaithful.  God still reached out and promised a New Covenant.  This covenant would be provided by His Son, Jesus Christ.  It would be superior to the Old Covenant.  Hebrews 8:1-13 tells us why.

There is a better ministry based on a superior priesthood (v.1-6).  “He has obtained a more excellent ministry” (v.6a).   In this section, we get to “the main point” (v.1).  At the heart of this message is that Jesus is our Great High Priest.  The writer is showing the folly of those who were tempted to turn back to Judaism.

Christ’s ministry is superior in His seat (v.1).  The Levitical priests never sat down.  They couldn’t sit down because their work was never finished.  But, when Jesus did His redeeming work, He cried out from the cross, “It is finished!”  Then, He arose from the grave and ascended to glory—and took a seat!

Christ’s ministry is superior in His sanctuary (v.2).  The Old Testament tabernacle was a tent—manufactured, transported, and erected by men—temporary, and has ceased to exist long ago.  Yet Christ ministers in the splendor of the New Jerusalem above—the eternal dwelling of God!

Christ’s ministry is superior in His sacrifice (v.3).  Sacrifices were offered repeatedly by the Old Covenant priests because their virtue was only symbolic and temporary.  But, Jesus offered Himself—the Lamb of God once and for all atoning for sin and it will never need repeating.

Christ’s ministry is superior in His sphere (v.4).  The Levitical priests were men and ministered on earth.  Jesus is God and ministers in eternity.

Christ’s ministry excels in His standard (v.5).  The Hebrew sanctuary was patterned after the Heavenly sanctuary.  It would be like having a replica of Michelangelo’s statue of Moses on your bookshelf.  It could not compare in value and glory to the original.  

All this points to His supremacy (v.6). Hebrews proclaims the supremacy of the Savior in His person—greater than angels, greater than Moses, greater than Joshua; in His priesthood—greater than Aaron; greater in His provision—the grace and mercy in the New Covenant!

There is better Mediator based on superior promises (v.7-13).   “He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (v.6b).

The law could give requirements, but not the resources to meet them (v.7-9).  It could reveal your error but couldn’t remove the evil.  Scales can show you how much you weigh, but cannot make you lose pounds!  The Old Covenant was an external code engraved on stone, while the New Covenant is an internal compulsion engraved on the heart (v.10-11)! 

Jesus has supplied our greatest need (v.12).  We are sinners who need a Savior.  He removes those sins as far as east from west and buries them in the depths of the sea.  

Music technology has changed much in my lifetime—from records to 8 tracks, cassettes to CDs, and now the cloud.  Things become obsolete.  Not the New Covenant—it promises eternal salvation (v.13)!

Are you in this covenant relationship with Jesus Christ?  If you are, then rejoice and tell someone else.  If not—trust in Jesus today!

THE PRIEST KING

 

For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”  (Hebrews 7:17)

When Jesus read the Bible, it was what we call the Old Testament.  If Peter or Paul took a text to preach, it would be from the Old Testament.  This first-century Hebrew church would have known and understood the quotations, allusions and illustrations, but that isn’t necessarily true of a twentieth-first century audience.  Maybe you are clueless concerning Melchizedek.  By the help of God, we are going to fix that.  We are going to tell you who Melchizedek was—and why it matters—a lot!

There is THE MYSTERY OF THE PRIEST KING (v.1-3) “made like the Son of God” (v.3).  Melchizedek, the “mystery man” steps out of the shadows in Genesis, for a brief moment in the spotlight, and then vanishes until Psalm 110 (quoted in Heb.7:17, 21).  There is a message in the mystery—He is a type of Christ.   The story unfolds in Genesis 14, where Abraham pays a tithe to this man who is both king and priest of Jerusalem.  There the greater man, Melchizedek, blesses the lesser man, Abraham, and the lesser man pays tithes to the greater.  Jesus combines the offices of King and Priest. 

Hebrews 7:3 doesn’t mean that Melchizedek literally had no parents, pedigree, birth or death, but that none is recorded, and as such paints a prophetic picture of Christ, the Eternal Son of God.  Jesus didn't have a Father concerning His humanity.  He had no mother concerning His Deity. 

Jesus is the ultimate King of Righteousness and Peace.  As suddenly as Melchizedek showed up, Jesus will step out of the clouds, onto Planet Earth and seize control.  The greatest of all will bless the world and we will bow before Him!

Next consider THE MAJESTY OF THE PRIEST KING (v.4-10) “how great this man was” (v.4).  We are called to pause and meditate on the greatness of this man.  Abraham was their father, and great example of faith.  To hear someone speak of a greater than Abraham to these Jews was arresting, but it is evident that Abraham so considered him.  The clear focus of Hebrews is that Jesus is superior to all!  The Levitical priests would receive tithes under the law, but Levi paid tithes through Abraham in the genetic connection. 

Then there is THE MINISTRY OF THE PRIEST KING (v.11-28) “He always lives to make intercession” (v.25).  Thus the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical.  Jesus offers a better hope (v.11-19).  The preparatory phase of the Levitical priesthood is representative of the temporary nature of the law.  The law could prescribe righteousness, but could not provide it.  It could bring justice on sinners, but could not justify sinners.  Reconciliation has been accomplished through our Mediator, Christ the Lord.  Christ made a better covenant (v.20-28).  The Levitical priests were installed by virtue of their physical descent.  Jesus was set aside by God’s eternal decree.  When Levites died, their service ended, but Jesus never dies!  There was no one else like Melchizedek in the Old Testament.  We may be sure, that in an infinitely better way, there is no one like Jesus!  He is resurrected from the sepulcher, risen through the sky, and reigning above the stars.  He will be ultimately acknowledged as King of kings and Lord of lords!

Jesus is King and Priest, Master and Mediator—Lord and Savior—He is both.  We must receive Him as both, if we would be His follower.  Have you?

THE WAY OF THE UNFAITHFUL

And he carried Jehoiachin captive to Babylon. The king’s mother, the king’s wives, his officers, and the mighty of the land he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.  (2 Kings 24:15)

Scripture warns that, “the way of the unfaithful is hard.”  (Prov.13:15b)  Sin allures us with the promise of pleasure, but transforms into a cruel taskmaster that brings pain instead. Now, the results of sin are not always immediate.  Because some sin and seem to get by with it for a while they are enticed to sin even more.  But one day the inevitable consequences emerge.

In 2 Kings 24-25, we see the way of the unfaithful. 

We observe first that IT LEADS TO BONDAGE (24:8-16).  That sin brings bondage is illustrated in the reign of Jehoiachin.  

Sin is seductive, but it can be resisted.  God will make a way of escape, if we choose to do it.  Jehoiachin’s father had set a bad example and the environment he lived in was godless.  Still, he had the power of choice.  Sadly, he chose to reject God’s law and write his own rules.  

Sin promises freedom, but produces the exact opposite. Nebuchadnezzar was God’s scourge.  At least, Jehoiachin submitted to God’s discipline.  There are those who continue to resist and must be dealt with more severely.  Jehoiachin’s response will eventually lead to somewhat of a restoration, but he will never fully recover and know what might have been had he stayed true to God.  Our sin affects others, like ripples from a stone dropped in a pond, extending outward and we know not how far.  Jehoiachin’s family and many others were carried into captivity with the unfaithful king.

Furthermore the way of the unfaithful is hard for IT LEADS TO BLINDNESS  (24:17-25:7).  King Zedekiah illustrates this blindness.  

Zedekiah was placed in a position of influence.  He had an opportunity to do right.  He did not.  We are fools to fail to seize the opportunity when it comes.  He rebelled against God’s authority and against God’s human representative Nebuchadnezzar (for government is ordained by God).  

Sin in the heart is manifested in the life.   God hedged him in and afflicted him, but instead of submitting, he ran.  The results were tragic for his family was lost (25:7), and so was his vision.  Defiance against God’s law leads to darkness.

Finally, the way of the unfaithful is hard for IT LEADS TO BROKENNESS (25:8-30). This is illustrated by the fall of Jerusalem.  

Our God is a consuming fire.  He burns up the chaff.  He ignites the fruitless branches.  Jerusalem was literally torched. The nation would not worship God, so the house of God was removed.  They wanted paganism, so God would let them have their fill of it in the heathen land of Babylon.  Fear put them to flight.  Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” 

 Though the king and the people were unfaithful, God was faithful to His covenant made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David.  Jehoiachin receives mercy and that works a change in his life.  God is committed to mold his people one way or another. We are human clay in the Divine Potter’s hands.  When clay is formed and begins to unravel on the wheel, it is due to impurity in the clay—that then must be broken down and the grit removed before it can be remodeled.  There is then the pressure exerted and the firing of the clay.  God is faithful to form us.

CODE BLUE

Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand….   (Joel 2:1)

Our world is sick with sin.  The immune system of a godly heritage that once offered protection to America against this plague has weakened to the point our nation is being overwhelmed by evil.  Unless we turn to God, our condition is terminal, our demise perhaps imminent.  A cascade of catastrophe can overwhelm a country.  Our vital signs indicate distress!

I have been in the hospital numerous times—in fact, my first job was at St. Joseph’s Hospital—and heard the call, “Code Blue! Code Blue!”  A patient was in a crisis situation—resuscitation was required immediately, or the patient’s next room would be in the funeral home.  Sometimes, it is too late, the person too far gone—they cannot be revived.

The Jews of Joel’s era had come to such a critical condition.  God tells His prophet to sound the alarm—a spiritual “Code Blue” call goes out.  The parallels to America today should be obvious. We have an emergency.  Our nation needs intervention—stat!

Joel’s “Code Blue” alarm is phrased as “The Day of the Lord.”

The first chapter contains a PREVIEW OF THE DAY OF THE LORD.  Joel’s focus is on the Day of the Lord—a time of retribution for the Gentiles and of redemption for the Jews.  The first chapter presents a preview of the Day of the Lord.  These were literal events in history which preview future events in prophecy—a portrait of Divine judgment is painted.  The devastation we read about was caused by a locust plague.  It reminds us that when the Day of the Lord comes it will be a day of retribution.  The intent of the suffering was to bring them to repentance. Their distress was meant to drive them to their knees.

The preview of the Day of the Lord, given in chapter one, brings us to PROPHECY OF THE DAY OF THE LORD in the second chapter of Joel.  Joel’s, “Code Blue” extends beyond his day, to that future Day—a judgment previewed by historical experiences, that issues in a judgment prophesied in eschatological events.   Joel had described a plague of locusts that would devour the land in the first chapter of his prophecy.  In chapter two, he describes an invasion of a massive army like a locust plague which decimates the land.  If the Jews are not led to repent of their sins by the insect invasion, something much worse is coming—infantry, not insects, from the north (v.20).  As the locust plague was devastating in its scope, so the horror Israel faces in her future will exceed any previous terror.  Jesus described it as a time of tribulation—not just for Israel, but the world—that if it were any longer all life would perish (see Matthew 24:21-22).  Wars and rumors of wars mark the course of the last days and lead ultimately to Armageddon.  Beyond the cataclysm of World War III and its bloody campaigns, there is a demonic locust invasion from the abyss during the Day of the Lord (see Rev.9:1-12).  Ultimately, Israel’s suffering leads them to cry out to God.  Scripture tells us that as the Great Tribulation comes to a crescendo of conflict, the Jews in Jerusalem will face certain genocide, but Christ will come again with the armies of heaven and obliterate Israel’s foes.  Get ready!  Jesus is coming soon!

RETURN TO GOD!

Josiah was eight years old when he became king….  And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD….  (2 Kings 22:1a, 2a)

We live in dark, desperate, demonic days.  Still, there have been dark days before when God has visited His people with revival.  All He looks for is an open heart He can enter.  He will then transform that life and use them as a spark to ignite a flame.  Josiah was an example of this.  As we look at 2 Kings 22, we can see the difference that one person sold out to God can make.  My prayer is that we will hear the cry to “Return to God!” from the pages of His Word.  

Josiah was only eight years old when crowned king, but “eight is enough.”  From the outset, he inclined his heart toward God and purposed to establish his reign in righteousness.  Reflecting on Josiah’s age, we must acknowledge the indisputable fact that young people’s hearts are more responsive to God than the aged.  If someone isn’t saved before they get out of High School, the odds are great that they will never be saved.  It isn’t impossible for a senior adult to be saved, for with God all things are possible, but it is improbable.  That is why we must focus on children and student ministries!  We need to encourage and equip our young people in discipleship for they will contain the fire that will change our world for good or bad.

The neglect of the house of God was a clear indicator of the backsliding of God’s people.  When we lose the zeal for worship, alarm bells should go off.  Time and again I have seen people’s spiritual life start spiraling downward at this point.  In revival, the worship of God becomes a priority again. 

Psalm 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your words gives light.”  In those dark days, the light of truth broke upon the people.  It was the Word of God that brought the world out of the dark ages in the revival we call the Protestant Reformation.  Martin Luther searched the Scriptures and there God brought light to his heart.  Revival will never occur without a return to the study, exposition, and application of the Word of God.

Brokenness brought blessedness.  It is always in that order.  It isn’t mere sorrow over the consequences of sin, but over the condition of sin.  There is a difference you know. The prisons are full of people sorry for their crimes, but they are sorry for the consequences, sorry they were caught. They are not repentant for many when released turn to a life of crime.  “For godly sorrow produces repentance” (2 Cor. 7:10). The path that leads us to return to God is paved with tears of contrition.

Once again the people of God have a message to proclaim.  It is backed by the evidence of transformed lives.  The testimony of the lips must always be supported by the testimony of the life. If we’ve damaged our credibility through moral failure, it is time to have it restored through renewed obedience. 

When God comes in the devil must go.  If there is true revival a moral clean up is going to occur.  The stench of sin must be washed away that the sweet savor of sanctification might pervade. We talk about revival, even pray for revival, but until we are willing to turn from our wicked ways we will not experience it. 

Josiah was only one man, but his life made a difference.  Will ours?

BOUNTIFUL BLESSEDNESS

I will be like the dew to Israel….  (Hosea 14:5a)

If we want God to bless us, then we must become “blessable”.  God promises to be like the dew to His people.  Do you think dew rises or falls?  It does neither.  Dew is always present in the atmosphere—it only manifests itself when the conditions are right.  Similarly, God is ever-present and eager to bless His children abundantly—all that awaits is for us to get the spiritual atmosphere prepared to experience Him!  The fourteenth chapter of Hosea tells us how.

There is the PLEA OF GOD TO RETURN (v.1-3a).  The problem isn’t with God; the issue is with us.  If the blessing of God is withdrawn, it is because we have chosen to walk away from Him.  So, God pleads with them to repent (v.1) that blessing might be restored.  Confession of sin will bring cleansing (v.2; cf.1 John 1:9).  We dare not trust in ourselves, or lean on others—we must look to the Lord.

We must then believe in the PLEASURE OF GOD TO RESPOND (v.3b-5a).  As a Father, He adopts the orphan child, and extends mercy to those who need it desperately (v.3b).  Three things God says He will do (v.4-5a).  First, He will heal our backsliding.  As the Great Physician, He will heal our deadly moral malignancy.  Second, He will love us freely.  There will not be a mere trickle, but a torrent; not a drizzle, but a downpour—for God is love—boundless love.  Third, He will be as the dew to us.  Dew just does!

My professor of preaching (it was called “Homiletics”) at Fruitland Baptist Bible College, the late Dr. Kenneth Ridings, loved to preach on this text and remind us of several truths concerning the dew.

• Dew appears at night.  The experiences of God we have in the darkest of times are likely to be the seasons of the soul where God does His greatest work.
• Dew is heaviest in the valleys.  We often long for the sunshine of mountaintop experiences, yet God’s way is to bring us into valleys of the shadow of death, where He walks most nearly and dearly with us.
• Dew appears in the stillness.  It isn’t on windy evenings, but on calm nights that the dew appears.  Ours is a noisy world, and yet Scripture bids us to be still and know that He is God.  Solitude is a needed discipline.

Then we claim the PROMISE OF GOD TO RESTORE (v.5b-9).  There are several facets of God’s promise.

• We will grow like the lily (v.5b).  The beauty of our testimony will adorn the place where we are planted.
• We will be rooted like the cedar (v.5c).  There will be stability about us.  We will not be blown about by every wind of doctrine.
• We will spread our branches like the olive tree (v.6a).  We will bear much fruit for the glory of God.
• We will smell like the fragrance of a garden (v.6b).  Lebanon was known for its lush vegetation.  Trees and flowers adorned the area with their perfume—a remnant of paradise restored.  So, our lives can be a reverse of the curse and pervade our home, church, school, workplace—wherever we may be.
• We will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (v.7).  What a refuge!

Bountiful blessing comes when we turn from our false gods (v.8).  We make a clean break with sin.  We turn to the Living God (v.9).  Our feet are set on the pathway of devotion to God.  This is the basis of bountiful blessedness!

OUR GREAT DELIVERER

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  (Hebrews 2:14-15)

No matter who you are or what you have done—none is without the need of salvation or beyond the reach of the Savior.  He is mighty to save.  Jesus came into this world to deliver us from sin and bring us into the family of God.  This is the theme of Hebrews 2.

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CURSE OF SIN (v.5-9).  This speaks of Christ’s incarnation as the Last Adam. Jesus stepped out of the splendor of heaven into this sin-cursed world and did so to reverse the curse as the Last Adam.  It was the first Adam—a man who brought the curse upon this creation and it would be another Man—God become Man—that would establish a new creation.  The writer stresses that it will be a Man, not an angel that will rule over the new world to come (v.5).  Verses 6-8 come from Psalm 8.  In that psalm, David looks into the vastness of the night sky, considers the countless stars, and is amazed that he a little speck on a planet which is but a tiny particle in the cosmos, could claim the attention of the Creator who made it all.  What grace is this!  Yet, it is true.  God knows you and cares for you.  He placed humans in this world to exercise dominion over the creation.  Jesus came in human flesh as the Son of Man.  He has not brought all things under subjection to Himself yet—but He will!

We are DELIVERED BY THE CAPTAIN OF SALVATION (v.10-13).  We have Christ’s identification as the Captain of Salvation.  Jesus has so identified Himself with us that as the Father sees Him, so He sees us.  The sinless One perfectly fulfilled His mission and in His suffering on the cross could cry, “It is finished!”  The expression, “the captain of…salvation” shows Him charging the gates of Hell, securing our freedom, and leading us victoriously, “bringing many sons to glory” (v.10)!  It is our position in Christ that makes us acceptable to Holy God.  As C.S. Lewis said, “The Son of God became the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God.”  We are now in the family of God and can call God our Father in Heaven!

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CAPTIVITY OF SIN (v.14-16).  This is Christ’s intervention as the Seed of Woman.  This expression is found in Gen.3:15—the serpent struck His heel, but His heel crushed the serpent’s head.  He became one of us that He might die for us.  Jesus didn’t come to redeem fallen angels, but sinful people.  He sets us free from the fear of death.  Jesus came in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN (v.17-18).  That is Christ’s intercession as the Great High Priest.  He was the Priest and the offering.  He is “merciful”—willing to save; He is “faithful”—able to save!  “Propitiation” means that God is satisfied with the sacrifice.  His righteous wrath is appeased.  Our High Priest understands for He has walked among us.  Jesus knows what you’re going through.  He is not aloof from our affliction.  More than caring—wonderful grace that is—He is able to deliver you!