Why Jesus Established a New Covenant (Hebrews 8-9)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

What does true faith look like?

Hebrews 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" chapter. But it's important to note, as Robert Peterson does, that the individuals listed in these 39 verses "were often quite fallible in character. They became heroic not by their abilities or advantages but by the eternal purposes of the One in whom they placed their faith."^[1]

Verse 6 is a pivotal part of this narrative when the author says, "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." As my professor in college, Alan Brown, often pointed out, this verse indicates true faith always involves three components: belief, commitment, and trust. "Faith believes what God says, commits to do as God requires, and trust in and rests on God's promises."[2]

If there were any part I would add to this definition, it would be the tiny phrase "and often for many years without divine reassurance that we're on the right path." I add this part a bit tongue in cheek, but when we look at the lives of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, we cannot help but notice the sheer time attached to their faith. It's one thing to believe God's promises for a day. But it's another to believe them when these promises are not even fulfilled in one's lifetime.

This was certainly a message the oppressed recipients of the Hebrews' letter needed to hear. As George Guthrie writes,

The message to the original hearers must not be missed, for their circumstance must be seen as analogous to that of the patriarchs. Perhaps their current experience of persecution has highlighted the alien nature of their earthly existence. They cannot perceive the fulfillment of God's promises to them; all they can see is the difficulty of their present crisis. The writer's point is that this is normal for people of faith. The promises of God must be embraced even though their fulfillment lies in the future.^[3]

Those last two sentences are especially poignant and perhaps they resonate with you today. Maybe you have placed your hope in God, but there is much you do not understand. Perhaps you felt certain that God told you something would happen, and it hasn't. You thought being a Christian would look one way, but it's turned out very different. You wrestle with doubts, have grown disgruntled with hypocrites, and are disheartened by unanswered prayer.

It's here you have a choice. You can start to become bitter and drift away from God, or you can lean in and see these circumstances as tests of your faith.

We often like to associate great faith with bold acts of courage. But often the greatest demonstrations of faith we will make are those quiet mornings we choose to wake up and make the next right decision—regardless of how out of alignment our choices might seem with what we hope God has in store.

In C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, the main plot revolves around the fictitious plotline of a senior demon, Screwtape, and his nephew Wormwood. As the older mentor, Screwtape's goal is to help Wormwood see how he can best attack a human's faith. Along the way, Screwtape makes this statement: "Be not deceived, Wormwood, our cause is never more in jeopardy than when a human, no longer desiring but still intending to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe in which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."[4]

This is a line we should all remember.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | God, thank you that you are personal. You long to be in close relationship with people like me and have gone to extreme lengths so I can know you.

Release | Guard me against pride. Just as every other believer throughout history was tempted to place their trust in something other than you, I, too, face this temptation today. Forgive me for the times I've tried to live life on my own and without your help.

Ask | Help me never to take this for granted.

Yield | I rest in the reality of your new covenant.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

Before Christ's descent to earth, the people who lived under older covenants believed that God would finish what he had started. As Gareth Cockerill writes, "These promises would be fulfilled in the new covenant to which the old looked forward."[5] Cockerill goes on to note that God accepted those who lived under the covenant God made with Moses because they lived by faith in his promises. Cockerill makes this profound observation: "If we deny the fulfillment of those promises in Christ, then we deny the faith by which they lived. Those who deny the promises live under God's condemnation for the 'transgressions' or sins committed under and revealed by the first covenant.^[6]

The only way you will live as Christ and be conformed to his image is to fully embrace the beauty of the new covenant he ushered in with his death on the cross and victory over death. Because of this reality, you do not need to live in fear. You can rejoice with the words of Hebrews 9:27-28, ^27 "And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Regardless of your circumstances, you have a God who longs to be in a covenantal relationship with you. He has already given his life for you, and now he asks for you to give up your life for him. This means that he becomes the highest priority in every decision you make. 

*Unless you specify otherwise, comments and questions you ask may be featured in upcoming podcast episodes.

^[1]Bryan Chapell, eds. Gospel Transformation Study Bible Notes. Accordance electronic ed. (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), paragraph 6033.

[2] Class Notes

^[3]George H. Guthrie, Hebrews, ed. Terry C. Muck, The NIV Application Commentary. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998), 379.

[4] C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

[5] Cockerill, Gareth L.. Hebrews: A Commentary for Bible Students (Wesleyan Bible Study Commentary) . Wesleyan Publishing House. Kindle Edition. Location 3749.

[6] Cockerill, Gareth L.. Hebrews: A Commentary for Bible Students (Wesleyan Bible Study Commentary) . Wesleyan Publishing House. Kindle Edition. Location 3769.