How do we enter into the New Covenant?
(Hebrews 7:11-19; 8:1-12; Jer. 31;31-34; Eze. 36:26-27) Blog Feb. 13-19, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Jesus is equal with the Father in glory, substance, and power. By himself he atoned for our sins and rose to heaven to begin a high priestly ministry there. As surety of the covenant he ministers there, he became the sacrifice and offering that priests are required to offer to God in behalf of their sinful brethren. By continually looking to Jesus in faith, his sacrifice and ministry are effective for us.
Its Priest
1. What great change did Paul establish in Hebrews 7? In Hebrews 7 Paul established a change in the heaven appointed priesthood from Levi to Melchizedek, from Aaron to Jesus (Heb. 7:11, 15, 28).
2. Since God ordained a new, non-Levitical priesthood what other change was necessary? Since God changed the priesthood the ceremonial Law of Moses also had to be set aside (Heb. 7:12).
3. What other new idea does Paul introduce in Hebrews 7:22? Paul writes that Jesus was made a surety of a better covenant (Heb. 7:22).
4. Before going into detail about the new or better covenant what summary of Hebrews 1-7 does Paul give? Paul summarizes the previous chapters by saying that Jesus is a perfect high priest who ministers in God’s true temple in heaven (Heb. 8:1-2).
5. What added proof does Paul give that the services in the earthy sanctuary were a type of Christ’s ministry in heaven? Paul states that since the earthy ministry included gifts & sacrifices it is necessary for Jesus to have gifts & sacrifices to offer in heaven. Then he states that the earthly services act as an example & shadow of Christ’s heavenly ministry for Moses was told to make the earthly according to the heavenly pattern (Heb. 8:3-5).
6. Why does Paul say that Jesus’ ministry is more excellent than the earthly ministry? Jesus’ ministry is more excellent because he is the mediator of a better covenant (Heb. 8:6).
Its Promises
7. What did God promise in the Sinai (Old) covenant? God promised to be the deliverer & Partner of his people, making them his peculiar treasure (Ex. 6:5-7; 19:5).
8. What did the children of Israel promise in the Sinai (Old) covenant? The children of Israel promised to do everything God commanded in his Law (Ex. 19:8; 24:7).
9. What were the words of the Sinai (Old) covenant? The words of the Sinai covenant were the Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13).
10. Why does Paul say that there needed to be a second covenant? There needed to be a second covenant because the one made at Mount Sinai was faulty (Heb. 8:7).
11. What was the matter with the covenant made at Mount Sinai? The problem with the covenant made at Mount Sinai was the people because they didn’t keep their promise (Jer. 31:32; Heb. 8:8-9).
12. Why didn’t the children of Israel keep their covenant promise? Israel didn’t keep their covenant promise because their hearts were sinful making them incapable of keeping it on their own (Deut. 5:29).
13. After Israel demonstrated their inability to keep their promise, who stepped into their place and promised to fulfill all the will of God as recorded in the covenant? Jesus, the true Israelite, promised to fulfill all the will of God as expressed in the Ten Commandments (Psa. 40:6-8; Dan. 9:24; Heb. 10:5-10).
14. What are the words of the new covenant? The words of the New Covenant are the same as those of the Old for God does not change, only the administrator of the covenant changed (Mal. 3:6; 2 Cor. 3:6-11; James 1:17).
15. Who was the mediator of the Old Covenant? Apparently, Moses was both the administrator & the mediator of the Old Covenant (while the Spirit is the administrator & Jesus the mediator of the New) (Ex. 32:31-32; John 7:19; Acts 3:22; 7:35-37; 2 Cor. 3:6-11; Gal. 3:19; Heb. 8:5; 9:19-21).
16. Why is the New Covenant better than the Old? The New Covenant is better because the promises were better, for they were Jesus’ promises to fulfill all the will of God which he did, for in his humanity he was without sin in nature & in deed: a spotless lamb (Heb. 8:6; Luke 1:35; John 8:29).
Its Provisions
17. How do we enter into the New Covenant? Since Jesus is the human side of the New Covenant then we must enter him through faith in order to be in the New Covenant (Rom.4:16; Gal. 3:14-16, 22, 29; Heb. 4:3; 6:12).
18. What assistance does the New Covenant promise for living a godly life? The New Covenant promises that the Ten Commandments will be written in our hearts, that God will be our Partner, & that we will be given the Holy Spirit to guide, enable, & inspire us in living godly lives (Jer. 31:33-34; Eze. 36:26-27; Heb. 8:10-11).
19. What two-phase work of grace does the New Covenant provide for Christians who continue to be sinners by nature? The New Covenant provides both the forgiveness of sins & the blotting out of sins for those in it (Jer. 18:23; 31:34; Heb. 8:12).
20. When will those who remain in the New Covenant no longer need the forgiveness of sins? God’s people will no longer need the forgiveness of sins after they are glorified for in the Spirit’s work of glorification their sinful natures are remove (Rom. 8:17-21).