TRANSPLANT

Hebrews 8:10-12

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord, because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:10-12

These few verses are a marvelous synopsis of the New Covenant that God instituted through Jesus. Part of this is that we now have a personal relationship with the Father. We no longer need someone to mediate that relationship for us. In other words, we do not need someone to teach us about God, instead God reveals Himself directly to us. The previous verses tell us that God found fault with the people and the Old Covenant so He brought about a New Covenant based on His ability to keep it, not the people's ability. Then He describes in a nutshell the main differences between the Old Covenant and the New.

The differences are so drastic we cannot understand the New Covenant in the light of the Old Covenant. Not only is it completely different and far better, but it is also based on better promises and guaranteed by a better High Priest. Now the author of Hebrews describes the New Covenant that has come in the person of Christ, the New Covenant that God has now established. This New Covenant will give an increased desire to obey God's law, which He has put into our minds and written on our hearts. He is our God, and we are His people. We have a personal relationship with God through Christ through the forgiveness of sins for He will forgive our wickedness and will remember our sins no more.

For the original readers, this meant there was no point in going back to the Old Covenant, because by calling this Covenant "New," God has made the first one obsolete and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. Therefore, His readers were to remain faithful to Christ and to Christ's people. For us today who live under this New Covenant, we too are to remain faithful to Christ.

We have this New Covenant. We are to rejoice because of all that Christ has done for us: to make the most of what it means to be God's people; to grow in an intentional, intimate relationship with God; to be committed to the local church of Christ's people; to speak of Christ and advocate for Christ; and, to be thoroughly all in with this wonderful New Covenant of God that is now open to us who trust in Christ.

We have a covenant guaranteed through Jesus that is far better than anything the Israelites experienced in the Old Testament. Jesus is our Mediator and His blood cleanses us, forgives us, and makes it possible for us to experience and enjoy God the Father in a completely new and different way.

We who are members of the church and living in this dispensation of grace are truly blessed, for we have been placed in union with Christ, made part of His body, and we are spiritual partakers of this new and better covenant!!!

Father, thank You for this day and the breath of Your life-sustaining Word. Lord, let Your abundant blessings pour out from the windows of heaven over my friends and family today. Lord, thank You that You are our God of peace Who, through Your shed blood, have made eternal peace with all who trust in You as Savior. Lord thank You that our salvation does not depend on us trying to keep Your perfect Law but on You and Your finished work on the cross, for righteousness to everyone who believes in You. Lord, use my friends to be the touch of Your love someone needs today.

Father, we love You. Amen.