Cuba, AL

Church of God (Holiness)

Proclaiming the Cross of Christ, Anchored in God's Word

A Better Covenant - Hebrews 8:1-13

By David Woods

Recently I was listening to a radio advertisement that was encouraging use of headsets with cell phones. “Remember,” the voice said, “Kansas law prohibits distracted driving.” That statement threw me for a loop. How can one prohibit distracted driving? I see a garage sale out of the corner of my eye - I am distracted. I begin thinking about a sermon or church issue - I am distracted. As I understand, some states prohibit use of cell phones while driving without a headset. But a cell phone headset law will not effectively address the real problem - distracted driving. To drive undistracted requires a change of attitude toward driving and focus attention while driving.

God’s Law given to the Israelites in the wilderness was a good law. Living by this Law enables one to experience a much better life than living in disobedience to this law. The problem was and is that a mere law does not change one’s heart. Therefore, while God’s Law was and is good, God’s desire for a holy people was not truly realized as the result of His giving of this law. Our scripture in Hebrews teaches us that:

Big Idea:God’s desire for mankind is realized in the New Covenant.

In verses ten through twelve the Hebrews writer is quoting from Jeremiah 31. Many years before, God had instituted a glorious covenant with the people of Israel. However, while it was effectual and good, it did not accomplish what God truly desired for His people. In verses ten through twelve, we find four desires of God for His people that are realized in the New Covenant.

1. We are sanctified, v. 10b.

Note that since God said, “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts” was a sign of the New Covenant, obviously in the Old Covenant God’s laws were not written in their hearts/minds.

Discussion: In the Old Covenant, where were God’s Laws written?
(Answer: On the two tablets of stone and the Pentateuch parchments.)

Discussion: What is the difference between having a law written in a book somewhere and having a law written on one’s heart?
(Answer: The first signifies a rule that one is made to conform to by outward pressure; the second indicates an inner disposition of the will to act a certain way.)

Discussion: What does this teach us about the effectiveness of rules we erect as a church body or in our larger society?

Read Romans 6:12-14; Galatians 5:17

Please note that this writing of God’s Law in our minds/hearts happens at conversion. There is an initial sanctification that occurs in the new birth. The spiritual birth and implanting of God’s Law in our heart/mind gives us the power to live above sin. This is important to teach for some, in their effort to emphasize the Christian’s need for entire sanctification have almost robbed the new birth of all its power. As a newborn Christian, we can live above sin.

The problem is that there is another law in our members that wars against the Spirit, namely, the carnal nature. This carnal nature tends to sabotage our efforts as a Christian. Therefore, while it may be possible to live in victory over sin before being entirely sanctified, the reality is that it will be much harder to live in victory over sin on a consistent basis. I forget who the preacher was, but I was impressed by one sermon I heard in which the evangelist stressed that carnality is Self. In other words, if your nature is corrupted by carnality, you are carnal. It is not a third-person problem; it is a first-person problem. Therefore, while I would argue that the initially sanctified person can live above sin, the likelihood is that this person who has not yet been entirely sanctified will not live in constant victory.

As a Christian the Holy Spirit is still in charge of our lives. If the carnal nature gains continuing control of our lives, we lose our confidence of salvation. Therefore, while God’s Law is written in our heart/mind when we are saved, it is only when carnality is eradicated from within us in the experience of entire sanctification that we fully experience God’s desire for us in regard to sanctification.

2. We are adopted, v. 10c.

Discussion: God did call the Israelites His people. Why then does God say concerning the New Covenant, “I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”? (see also Exodus 32:30, 33:3; Hosea 1:9)
(Answer: God did consider the Israelites His people as a whole. However, one cannot practice sin and remain part of the people of God. God desired a people who would have constant, continual victory over sin - a people who were not repeatedly backsliding and repenting.)

3. We are regenerated, v. 11.

Discussion: In the New Covenant, the Spirit illuminates our mind. How did people receive truth in the Old Covenant? Why did God deem that method unsatisfactory?
(Answer to the first question: In the Old Covenant, God spoke to priests, prophets or judges who then communicated God’s truth to the rest of the people.)

Discussion: Today the widespread practice in the Church is for “special” Christians (clergy) to deliver God’s truth to “regular” Christians (laity) - to the point that “regular” Christians are viewed as dependent on “special” Christians to understand spiritual truth. Is this concept Biblical? (see also 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 5:9-10)
(My suggestion here is not that the pastor/teacher, evangelist, etc. does not have a legitimate role of instructing the church in matters of doctrine and practice. Rather, I am trying to point out the unhealthy extreme in which some Christians leave all study of the Word to the “minister” and take his word as “gospel” without running what he says through the filter of God’s Word. I have great respect for ministers, commentators, etc. but my allegiance is to God and His Word.)

Discussion: What does it mean for every believer to a minister of God?
(Consider how our churches might be revitalized if every professing Christian took time throughout the week to seriously study just one passage of scripture and accepted the responsibility of ministering to even one person, and felt it his/her duty to attempt to share the Gospel to just one person - or at least to invite that person to church.)

Discussion: How would reclamation of the concept “every believer a minister” change how we approach and “do” church?

4. We are justified, v. 12.

Discussion: What is the difference between the sacrifices offered for sin in the Old Covenant and the sacrifice Jesus offered for sin in the New Covenant?
(Old Covenant sacrifices were offered over and over again. Jesus offered Himself as the one-time sacrifice for sin.)

Discussion: How is the justification we receive through Christ’s death and resurrection much better than the forgiveness of sin possible in the Old Covenant?