2007 Book of Hebrews Series – “The
New Covenant”
Hebrews 8:7-13
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – June 3, 2007
Prayer Introduction: In the same way, after the supper Jesus took the cup saying “This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood, shed for you.” What does this mean and what difference does it make? Our passage this morning tells us.
The theologian in me is really tempted to take this opportunity to teach on the New Covenant. It is really important and really good stuff; but the pastor in me recognizes that you did not come this morning for a lecture – but for a sermon that will practically apply this biblical truth. So instead of a theological lecture, we’re going to get some practical preaching. And all of God’s people said – “Amen!”
We will look at 4
benefits of the New Covenant in Christ revealed in our passage this morning –
and see what difference this makes. These benefits are expressed in our closing
worship song “I Glory in My Redeemer” – #9 in the worship song booklets. Let me
encourage you to open up to that song along with
Scripture Introduction: Most of our reading this morning is a quote from the Prophet Jeremiah (31:31-34). This is, in fact, the longest complete Old Testament quote in the New Testament.
READ
I. Righteousness (v.10b)
First, I would have you see the New Covenant benefit of Righteousness. That doesn’t sound very exciting, because we think of it in Old Covenant terms. Notice the difference, as it is stated in the middle of verse 10: God says, “I will put my laws on their minds and write them on their hearts.”
You know what a huge difference there is between doing something because you’re supposed to – because you “hafta” – as opposed to doing it from the heart – because you “wanta.”
Parents we tell our kids to clean their room – and we’ve seen them do it [dragging their heals, doing it begrudgingly, muttering under their breath about life being unfair] How different would that be if – from their heart – they cleaned their room? It is hard to imagine isn’t it? It can only happen once your kids embrace Jesus Christ as their redeemer – and can demonstrate genuine righteousness.
It is the same way with our work. We can do our job in a half-hearted way (just doing what must be done – and complaining about it); or we can put our whole heart into it. What a huge difference that makes. The job hasn’t changed, but our heart has.
We’ve seen professional athletes who treat it as a job – a business – [cough: Barry Bonds]. That is way different than playing with your whole heart – like Rudy [If you don’t know the story about Rudy Ruettiger – you really need to watch the movie – “Rudy”].
We see it in our worship. Admit it – we’ve all done it – come to church and go through the motions. There’s a huge difference between singing [with no passion] “Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee…” and singing passionately from the heart – “Joyful! Joyful! We adore Thee! God of glory! Lord of Love!”
Everything is different when you do it from the heart. You can even do what you don’t want to do – with passion – because of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Do you know what my least favorite household chore is? Scooping up dog poop. I hated it. When Shadrach died, I was so happy that I wouldn’t have to scoop anymore. Do you know what my favorite household chore is? Cleaning the lint screen on the dryer. I know that’s weird. But here’s what’s really weird. There were times, when I would surprise my wife by scooping all the dog poop – with the enthusiasm of cleaning the dryer lint screen. And it was because I love my wife with my whole heart.
What is the greatest commandment? Is it, “Try to be a good person and do the right thing?” No, it Is “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul and all your strength.”
Genuine, passionate, righteousness comes when the law is written on your heart – not on tablets of stone. The Lord tells us through the prophet Ezekiel – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
In the first verse of Worship Song #9 we sing:
“I will glory in my Redeemer,
Whose priceless blood has ransomed me.
Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails,
and hung Him on that judgment tree.”
Many people understand that it was our sins that caused Jesus to be crucified; but miss the best part – look at the rest of that first verse:
“I will glory in my Redeemer,
Who crushed the power of sin and death.
My only Savior before the Holy Judge
The Lamb who is my righteousness.”
Jesus crushed the power of sin and death. In the New Covenant we are free to do what is right – not because we hafta, but because we wanta. The law is no longer external, but internal – written on our mind and heart. Love the Lord with all of your heart. Love your neighbor – your spouse, your kids, your parents, your boss, your co-worker – with all of your heart.
II. Relationship (v.10c)
The first benefit of the New Covenant is genuine Righteousness – living obediently from the heart. The second benefit is a Relationship with God. Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship. The end of verse 10 – “I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
In every other religion people seek to satisfy their god by their external acts. But in the New Covenant we can have a full relationship with God. He knows us, and we know Him. He talks to us and we talk to Him. He is not a cold, impersonal god, who must be obeyed; He is our Heavenly Father, whom we desire to obey.
In the New Covenant, God doesn’t live in a stone temple; he lives in our very hearts. Notice the intimacy of this relationship in the second verse we sing:
“I will glory in my Redeemer,
My life he bought, my love he owns.
I have no longings for another,
I’m satisfied in him alone.”
“I have no longings for another, I’m satisfied in him alone!” Wow! That isn’t religion. That’s a relationship. And look at the benefit of that relationship in the rest of the second verse:
“I will glory in my Redeemer,
His faithfulness, my standing place.
Though foes are mighty and rush upon me,
My feet are firm, held by his grace.”
Do you ever have those days [maybe weeks, months…] when it seems like the world is against you? Everything you touch seems to break. You can’t seem to do anything right. “Foes are mighty and rush upon you.” Pause for a moment and realize that the Almighty Lord of the Universe is on your side.
The Lord’s Supper is also called communion, because it is a most profound opportunity to be in communion with God (and with God’s people – through our communion with God).
III. Revelation [Regeneration] (v.11)
We’ve seen the benefits of genuine righteousness – living obediently from the heart; and Relationship – being in communion with God. In the New Covenant, we also have the benefit of full Revelation. Verse 11 says: “No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.”
All of God’s people know Him. Many of the people of God’s chosen nation – Israel – under the Old Covenant did not know God. They may have obeyed. They were part of the covenant community. But they did not know God. They did not believe in Him. They did not have faith.
In the New Covenant God’s people are those who know Him. There are people in the covenant community [the church] who do not know Him – they profess to, but show by their actions that they do not. We are called to do all we can to have a regenerate membership – those who have been born again, whose hearts (and lives) have been changed
It isn’t wrong to judge that people aren’t Christians. Some do not profess faith – some become apostate. If a professing believer’s actions bring their profession into question – then we are to say so. Can you imagine our church filled with believers, passionately living their faith?! How glorious.
In the New
Covenant, God is fully revealed to regenerate Christians.
“I will glory in my Redeemer,
Who carries me on eagle’s wings.
He crowns my life with lovingkindness,
His triumph song I’ll ever sing.”
There is an eternal benefit in the New Covenant. One day all of us will stand before the Lord. Only those who “know the Lord” will receive eternal life in God’s Kingdom. And so it is, that for all eternity, all people will know the Lord. We sing this eternal reality in the end of the third verse [I often find myself in tears when I sing these words]:
“I will glory in my Redeemer,
Who waits for me at gates of gold.
And when he calls me it will be paradise,
His face forever to behold.”
IV. Reconciliation (v.12)
I think the most under-utilized benefit of the New Covenant is Reconciliation – to take two people who are angry at one another – and see them love each other. This happens through forgiveness. Verse 12 gives the best phrase you can find to define true forgiveness – “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
We often say you have to forgive and forget. But God – because He is God – cannot forget anything? He promises something more profound than forgetting – He says, “I will remember their sins no more.”
Genuine forgiveness means actively choosing to remember their sins no more. We cannot claim to forgive, yet hold a grudge. That isn’t forgiveness. It is sin.
We are reconciled to God through Christ. In the chorus of the song “Jesus, Thank You” we sing “Once Your enemy, not seated at Your table – Jesus thank You.” The same Jesus who reconciled us to God can reconcile us to one another. We can choose to forgive and never bring their sin up to the other person, ourselves, anyone else.
The Lord’s Table calls us to seek reconciliation in our relationships with others, by the work of Christ who reconciled us to God.
It is wrong to come to the Table of reconciliation when you are refusing to seek reconciliation with someone. Instead, allow the Table of reconciliation to strengthen you to pursue reconciliation.
There is no such thing as irreconcilable differences between Christians. Do not miss out on this extraordinary benefit of the New Covenant in Christ. A great book that can help you with the particulars of reconciliation is Ken Sande’s The Peacemaker. There is a copy in the Church Library. If you want to buy a copy and can’t afford it – let me know.
Pursue genuine Righteousness (living obediently from the heart), a Relationship with God, who is fully Revealed to the Regenerate, and be Reconciled in your Relationships.
MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!