Hebrews 8

God's grace and peace to you,

Here we are in the center of Hebrews (chapter 8) with a succinct but powerful outline of the new covenant.  The outline for Hebrews 8 is based on the 'D' of 'Son is Mediator':

• Dominant Mediator (1-6)
• Declared New Covenant (7-13)
  

The memory verses from each section are

• Dominant Mediator
  Hebrews 8:6
  
  
  
  
  ⁶But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
  
  
• Declared New Covenant
  Hebrews 8:8
  
  
  
  
  ⁸For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
   

(editor's note:  I needed to remind myself this morning that this project is a work in progress.  I have trimmed down the memory passages over the last few studies, but I'm wondering if there is a place for the 'other' verses that augment the main theme?  I could select one verse from each section as the memory verse, but then use the other verses as additional meditation material during that week.  These verses might not be reviewed in the same way as the assigned memory verse, but would provide an additional 'hook' for the chapter.  Of course, this makes me want to go back and look at all of the other studies and do the same for them.  We'll see.)

 In the first section (Dominant Mediator; 1-6), the writer continues the theme of Jesus as High Priest with a slightly different angle.  He is the High Priest who is seated at the right hand of God, but He doesn't serve in the way the priests of the Law served.  They served in an earthly tent by offering gifts and sacrifices according to the Law (a mere copy and shadow of Christ's ministry in the heavens).  But Jesus' ministry is more excellent than the old because the covenant is better and the promises are better.

It is a better covenant because it is founded on better promises. The covenant of law promised blessing for obedience but threatened death for disobedience. It required righteousness but did not give the ability to produce it.

The New Covenant is an unconditional covenant of grace. It imputes righteousness where there is none. It teaches men to live righteously, empowers them to do so, and rewards them when they do. ^[1]

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^[1]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Heb 8:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The second section of Hebrews 8 (Declared new covenant; 7-12) details this superior covenant of which Christ is the Mediator.  The writer makes a stinging argument in verse 7 that if the first covenant worked to accomplish holiness (which, while the Law was holy, one could not become truly holy by following it) then why did the prophets point to a second covenant?  The writer uses Jeremiah for reference (from Jer 31:31-34).  Through Jeremiah the Lord promises a new covenant distinct from the one He gave Israel through Moses.  The truth is that Israel did not continue in the covenant, but turned away from God.  This new covenant contains 3 main themes:

1. We will know God's laws in our hearts and minds (v10)
2. We will know God personally and intimately (v11)
3. We will know God has forgiven our sins (v12)
   

With the inauguration of this new covenant by the blood of Christ (1 Cor 11:25), the old covenant has become obsolete.  Christ, being the perfect sacrifice, once for all, for our sins, has fulfilled the law and instituted a covenant based on the promised grace of God.  This grace is a gift and cannot be earned (Eph 2:8-9).

How does this affect my worship?
I am thankful that God made a second covenant.  Without it, where would I be?  Who would I be?  I am thankful that Jesus is the Mediator of this promise.  Without Him, where would I be?  Who would I be?  I'm thankful that I can know God, know His law, and know that He has forgiven me.
Who would I be if You didn't love me?  Who would I be without You?  I don't even really want to know.  I just thank You, with my life, that You are my God, and I am Your child. 

How does this affect my discipleship?
This whole chapter just reminds me of God's sovereignty.  I don't understand how or why things happened the way they did.  But somehow it all works together.  My faith has been strengthened today.  I'm also encouraged that this type of study and interaction with God's Word has taken many years to reach.  It reminds me to have patience with those I disciple.

May you walk in the promised assurance of the new covenant today,

Ethan