Tag: Hebrews 10:19-25
New Covenant Realities
Scripture reading for December 12: Hebrews 6-10
I love new things! Old things are nice to collect, but new things are more up to date. However, change and adoption of the new is difficult when we have to learn the new. This is what happened to many Jewish believers in the time of the letter to the Hebrews. The author spent time explaining the New Covenant and how it was better than the Old Covenant.
The Old Covenant had laws and requirements for those who broke those laws. The Old Covenant had promises for those who obeyed and warning for those who didn’t. Moses, God’s servant, was the mediator of the Old Covenant and Aaron and the Levites were the high priest and priesthood. These were men who had failings themselves and eventually died. The Old Covenant had a mobile tabernacle carried by the Levites, and God could only be visited at prescribed times by a certain few people. In fact, only Aaron the high priest could go in the Holy of Holies to meet with God once a year.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, God’s Son is the Mediator. He was perfectly obedient to the Old Covenant while here on earth and then could willingly become the sacrifice for laws broken under the Old Covenant. He could forgive sins and cleanse from sin, not just cover them temporarily. In Him, God would remember our sins no more! We would be adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters. We receive the gift of eternal life and a full inheritance in God’s family.
Jesus’ sacrifice was better because His body and blood were without sin. He offered it once for all to put away sin. (Hebrews 9:14) His blood was offered in heaven on the heavenly mercy seat when He rose from the dead. He lives forever and is able to be a perfect High Priest. (Hebrews 6:20) He can identify with us because He is a man and has lived on earth, experiencing our temptations. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
When we trust in Christ and His sacrifice for us, God gives us a new heart and sends His Spirit to live in us. (Hebrews 8:10-12) We become priests of the New Covenant here on earth! Our sins are forgiven and erased from God’s memory. We become the new dwelling place of God, living stones in His new body the church. We become children of our Father and can approach Him boldly without fear to find help in times of need or just to worship and have fellowship.
New Covenant people love to gather together and encourage each other. We know Jesus Christ is coming soon! We want to be ready and reach as many as possible before the full reality is unveiled when He appears! (Hebrews 10:19-25)
“Let us draw near to Jesus!”
Scripture reading for March 16th: Hebrews 10, Psalm 54, Proverbs 23
Hebrews 10: 19-25 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living Way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
The writer of Hebrews believed that the Day of Christ’s return was drawing near. This is a central truth of Scripture, especially for those living in the last days. Faith in this truth should call all believers to respond by their willful choice to draw near to Jesus now, in this time, to find grace and cleansing and deliverance from all sin and bondage. Christ’s blood washes our consciences clean and our baptism symbolizes the cleansing of body, soul and spirit in preparation to meet Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom. We gather together regularly to confess our faith and hope and to encourage one another to love Jesus through holy obedience. He is coming for a ‘holy bride.’
Psalm 54:6-7 “With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your Name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness in fulfilling every promise You have made to us. I trust today in the promise that Jesus Christ is coming again to bring full salvation and a glorified body for each believer. Help me to draw nearer to You each day and find the grace to walk in purity and faith. Wash me with Your Son’s blood from all sin. Fill my heart with wisdom to speak boldly the Good News of Jesus!
Proverbs 23:15-16 “My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.”