Title: That Was Then This Is Now
Text: Hebrews 9-10
Theme: To show the glory of the New Covenant God has made with us.
Introduction: What is a Covenant? It is an agreement between two. Marriage is a covenant. Tonight we want to focus on Hebrews 9-10 to see the glorious agreement God has made with us. JUST WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PART OF THE NEW COVENANT?
1. Characteristics of the 1st or Old Covenant
a. The old covenant was PHYSICAL.
i. Hebrews 9:1-5 "The first agreement had rules for worship and a man-made place for worship. {2} The Holy Tent was set up for this. The first area in the Tent was called the Holy Place. In it were the lamp and the table with the bread that was made holy for God. {3} Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place. {4} In it was a golden altar for burning incense and the Ark covered with gold that held the old agreement. Inside this Ark was a golden jar of manna, Aaron’s rod that once grew leaves, and the stone tablets of the old agreement. {5} Above the Ark were the creatures that showed God’s glory, whose wings reached over the lid. But we cannot tell everything about these things now."
(1) The tabernacle itself was a real tent.
(2) The Articles in the tent; lamps, tables, real gold.
(3) Curtains, the Ark, the blood.
(4) Everything in it was man-made or earthly.
b. The old covenant was RESTRICTIVE.
i. Hebrews 9:6-7 "When everything in the Tent was made ready in this way, the priests went into the first room every day to worship. {7} But only the high priest could go into the second room, and he did that only once a year. He could never enter the inner room without taking blood with him, which he offered to God for himself and for sins the people did without knowing they did them."
(1) THE PRIEST went in to worship, not the people.
(2) Only the HIGH PRIEST went into the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people. Only once a year.
(a) This was a covenant of special or little access by the people.
c. The old covenant was IMPERSONAL.
i. Hebrews 9:7 “which he offered to God for himself and for sins the people did without knowing they did them."
(1) They did not offer this sacrifice for themselves.
(2) They weren’t even allowed to be in the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 9:8 "The Holy Spirit uses this to show that the way into the Most Holy Place was not open while the system of the old Holy Tent was still being used."
d. The old covenant was IMPERFECT.
i. Hebrews 9:9-10 "...the gifts and sacrifices offered cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect. {10} These gifts and sacrifices were only about food and drink and special washings. They were rules for the body, to be followed until the time of God’s new way."
(1) The last phrase especially shows the temporary nature of the Old covenant.
(2) The old covenant could not do what would ultimately have to be done in order to save men. It could not get rid of the sin problem.
2. Characteristics of the 2nd or New Covenant!!
a. The new covenant is SPIRITUAL.
i. Hebrews 9:11 "But when Christ came as the high priest of the good things we now have, he entered the greater and more perfect tent. It is not made by humans and does not belong to this world."
(1) We have a more perfect tent. One not made with hands. One that is not of this world.
(2) Our High Priest is not a man, but the resurrected Lord Jesus.
b. The new covenant is NON-RESTRICTIVE. For everyone!!
i. Hebrews 9:15 "For this reason Christ brings a new agreement from God to his people. Those who are called by God can now receive the blessings he has promised, blessings that will last forever. They can have those things because Christ died so that the people who lived under the first agreement could be set free from sin."
(1) All who are called by God can receive the blessing He has promised.
(a) How many has God called?
(b) Romans 1:6-7 "And you who are in Rome are also called to belong to Jesus Christ. {7} To all of you in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
(c) Not everyone called answers, but all are called by the gospel of Jesus Christ to be a part of the kingdom. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 "God used the Good News that we preached to call you to be saved so you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
(d) We are all called by the gospel and it is unrestrictive.
(e) Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.”
c. The new covenant is PERSONAL.
i. We are closely related to God. Listen to these verses in Hebrews and other places.
(1) Hebrews 10:16 "This is the agreement I will make with them at that time, says the Lord. I will put my teachings in their hearts and write them on their minds."
(a) The teaching of God are for hearts and minds. That’s personal!
(b) Hebrews 10:19-22 "So, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place without fear because of the blood of Jesus’ death. {20} We can enter through a new and living way that Jesus opened for us. It leads through the curtain--Christ’s body. {21} And since we have a great priest over God’s house, {22} let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."
(i) Hallelujah!! Listen to the “We’s and Us’s.”
(ii) We can enter the Most Holy Place.
(iii) Why is this a blessing? Because God is there!!
d. The new covenant is PERFECT.
i. Hebrews 9:12 "Christ entered the Most Holy Place only once--and for all time. He did not take with him the blood of goats and calves. His sacrifice was his own blood, and by it he set us free from sin forever."
(1) Christ makes the new covenant perfect.
(a) He is the “once--and for all sacrifice.”
3. Conclusion: I met a young lady this week who said that she had no religion. She believed there was a God up there, but she did not pray to Him or believe He did things.
a. She has no idea the happiness she could have in being a part of the new covenant.
b. She has no future.
c. She has no Jesus to confide in.
**Do we really appreciate the reasons for why we have a greater agreement than those of the Old covenant?
--We have the ability to walk before God Himself. Hebrews 10:22 "let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."
--We can come to Him with a sure faith.
--We have freedom from the guilt of sin. “...have been made free from a guilty conscience....”
--Do you have guilt, Then you don’t have Christ.
--We can trust God to do what He promised. Hebrews 10:23
Do you know Him?
