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Greetings from Cities Church within the Twin Cities of Minnesota. We’re a nine-year-old church with a century-old constructing not removed from that nice civic dividing line referred to as the Mississippi River.
Only a few blocks north of us is an space referred to as Halfway, which will get its identify from being halfway between Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Minneapolis is about three miles west; Saint Paul, three miles east.
I point out Halfway as a result of what I’d like to do that morning is linger on the halfway level of the guide of Hebrews. Chapter 8:1–2 is the seam that runs down the center of the guide. So, our passage is correct on the midway level. It’s like chapter 1 is three miles behind us, and chapter 13 is three miles forward.
This halfway level is an efficient place to provide slightly overview of the construction of Hebrews, beginning proper the place we’re, on the midpoint, after which shifting outward, backward, and ahead to get a way of the entire letter.
Construction of Hebrews
The guts of Hebrews is chapters 5–10. These chapters give attention to the individual and work of Christ — or who he’s as excessive priest after which what he does. Chapters 5–7 (with the apart in chapter 6 to warn sluggish hearers) make the case that Jesus is the nice excessive priest that God, by means of the Hebrew Scriptures, has deliberate for and anticipated all alongside. He isn’t a priest within the Levitical line, underneath the phrases of the primary covenant. Fairly, he’s a priest of a distinct order, a king-priest, like that enigmatic king-priest determine in Genesis 14 named Melchizedek. So, chapters 5–7: Jesus is the climactic, remaining, nice excessive priest to which the entire old-covenant system pointed and awaited.
Earlier than shifting on after chapter 7, Hebrews needs to verify we’re clear on this. So he says in 8:1, “Now the purpose in what we’re saying is that this: we’ve got such a excessive priest.” So, this isn’t idea or speculation or fantasy. That is actuality. Chapters 5–7: Jesus is the nice excessive priest. And we have such a excessive priest! Already. No extra ready. We have now him now — the “one who’s seated on the proper hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister within the holy locations.” So, not solely is Jesus a brand new type of priest, however as a priest he should have some work, some ministry to do. That’s what chapters 8–10 are about: Jesus’s work as excessive priest.
So, that’s the guts of Hebrews, chapters 5–10, with 8:1–2 within the center. And standing guard across the coronary heart of this letter are two vital and comparable exhortations in 4:14–16 and 10:19–23.
Each passages, like 8:1, say, “We have now an ideal (excessive) priest” (4:14; 10:21), and each identify him as Jesus (4:14; 10:19) and say he has handed “by means of the heavens” or “by means of the curtain” (4:14; 10:20) into God’s presence. And each give this double exhortation: “Allow us to maintain quick our confession” (4:14; 10:23) and “Allow us to draw close to” with confidence (4:16; 10:22). So, these exhortations that mirror one another so strikingly are like two sentinels on guard across the coronary heart of the letter in 5:1–10:18.
Then, nonetheless working outward, 3:1 and 12:1–3 deliver to the exhortation the precise language of “take into account Jesus” (3:1; 12:3) — that’s, look to him, attend to him, meditate on him. Don’t ignore him or neglect him or drift from him, however bear in mind him, ponder him, ponder him, set and reset your soul on him — and in doing so you’ll maintain quick to your confession of religion in him and draw close to to him.
Between the exhortations to “take into account Jesus” and the pillar exhortations (in 4:14–16 and 10:19–23), we’ve got a detrimental instance in chapters 3–4 of the wilderness technology not enduring in religion, and we’ve got in chapter 11 the practice of optimistic examples of pre-Christian saints who persevered in religion, culminating with Jesus himself.
Chapters 1–2, then, we’d see as an prolonged introduction concerning the exaltation and incarnation of Christ, main as much as that first cost to “take into account Jesus” in 3:1. And chapters 12–13 are, in some ways, a type of prolonged conclusion, following the excessive level of Jesus because the grand finale of the parade of examples of religion. So, right here’s my abstract, ranging from the start:
1–2: Introduction: Jesus as exalted, incarnate, reigning
3:1: Contemplate Jesus; look to Jesus; ponder him
3–4: Damaging instance (of unbelief): Israel’s wilderness technology
4:14–16: We have now an ideal priest; maintain quick, draw close to to him
5–7: Who Jesus is: the true priest
8:1–2: Halfway — “Now the purpose in what we’re saying is that this . . .”
9–10: What Jesus does: the true sacrifice
10:19–23: We have now an ideal priest; maintain quick, draw close to, to him
11: Constructive examples (of religion): from Abel to Jesus
12:1–3: Contemplate Jesus, look to Jesus, ponder him
12–13: Prolonged conclusion
Hebrews communicates, many times, that Christian religion perseveres as we glance to Jesus. Because the patterns of our lives, and the gaze of our souls, return many times to ponder Jesus, and draw close to to Jesus, so we maintain quick to him, and our religion in him perseveres.
So, having established Jesus because the superior priest in chapter 7, and made this transition from his individual to his work in 8:1–2, we flip in Hebrews 8:3–6 to give attention to three extra superiorities of such a superior priest.
1. Jesus Serves in a Superior Place
Verse 2 launched the notion of place. Jesus is now in heaven and “a minister within the holy locations, within the true tent that the Lord arrange, not man.” Verses 4–5 then develop on the placement:
Now if [Jesus] had been on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest in any respect, since there are monks who supply items in line with the regulation. They serve a replica and shadow of the heavenly issues. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you just make every thing in line with the sample that was proven you on the mountain.”
The final a part of verse 5 quotes Exodus 25:40. As Moses and the individuals of Israel went about establishing the old-covenant tabernacle, they had been to not design it as they noticed match. Nor did God simply make up one thing on the spot. Fairly, God confirmed Moses a sample to observe.
Which implies that this tabernacle wasn’t the unique; it was primarily based on one thing else. The earthly tabernacle was patterned after the unique place of God’s presence — particularly, heaven itself, the true tabernacle. And so, in line with Exodus 25, the holy place of the outdated covenant was not the unique or remaining holy place. The tabernacle was a replica of the unique. It was a shadow of another substance. And now, the risen Christ has ascended into heaven itself, the superior place, and sat down on the proper hand of Majesty.
And lest we assume, as many do within the fashionable world, that the superior place is down right here — this world with its sights and sounds and smells and tastes and pleasures — and that heaven is the shadowy, ethereal, bland place, Hebrews confronts us with one other mind-set. Jesus isn’t much less efficient for us as king and priest as a result of he’s in heaven, however extra. “It’s to your benefit that I am going away,” he says in John 16:7.
The upshot just isn’t that we might assume any much less of the realness of our world, however that we might reckon all of the extra with the realness of heaven, the place Jesus is extra actual than our issues and obstacles and anxieties. Heaven is much extra actual, within the rapid presence of God, than this fallen world with all its many glories and sorrows.
Heaven is the superior place the place our superior excessive priest ministers for us proper now. And a day is coming when he’ll return, and convey his superior place with him, and remake this world into his new heavens and new earth.
2. Jesus Makes a Superior Providing
Verse 27, on the finish of chapter 7, hints at Jesus’s superior providing. It says, on the finish of the verse, “As soon as for all . . . he supplied up himself.” Now verse 3 of chapter 8 says,
Each excessive priest is appointed to supply items and sacrifices; thus it’s vital for this priest additionally to have one thing to supply.
Bear in mind: chapters 5–7 concern his priesthood; chapters 8–10, his providing. Verse 3 now begins the give attention to his providing. What do monks do? They make choices and sacrifices. If somebody is appointed a fireman, what do you count on he’ll do? Put out fires. If somebody turns into a mailman? Ship the mail. So, when Jesus is exalted, within the phrases of Psalm 110:4, to the place of priest, what ought to we count on him to do? Have one thing to supply.
“In Christ, we’re underneath a brand new covenant. Not renewed, not tweaked, not up to date, not expanded. It’s new.”
Within the outdated covenant, the work of the monks was infinite. They needed to “supply sacrifices every day, first for [their] personal sins after which for these of the individuals” (7:27). With every new daybreak, extra sacrifices awaited. The work by no means completed. So too, all through the day, monks had been on their toes; there have been no chairs within the tabernacle. They’d choices to make in line with the regulation.
However now Christ has come because the true priest, and of a brand new order. And since he’s a priest, we ask, What does he supply? What work does he do?
Chapters 8–10 have a lot to say concerning the providing and develop on Christ because the superior and remaining sacrifice. There Hebrews says extra concerning the old-covenant place and choices (plural) in distinction with the new-covenant place and providing (singular),
- and its superior blood (Jesus’s, not bulls and goats),
- and superior willingness (he supplied himself, not in opposition to his will),
- and superior frequency (as soon as for all, not repeatedly),
- and superior impact (everlasting, not short-term; and the internal man or conscience, moderately than externals).
The once-for-all self-sacrifice of Christ now lastly does “take away sins” in a means the outdated covenant couldn’t.
And all that comes collectively in a single final superiority of Christ over what got here earlier than.
That is verse 6:
However [now, in contrast to the past], Christ has obtained a ministry that’s as rather more glorious than the outdated because the covenant he mediates is healthier, since it’s enacted on higher guarantees.
If we wish to understand how a lot better is Jesus’s new covenant than the outdated covenant that got here earlier than, it would assist to place them facet by facet. In some sense, the entire of Hebrews — however particularly this passage — activates the comparability of outdated and new. Contemplate the contrasts simply in Hebrews 8:
First covenant vs. New covenant
Earlier vs. later
On earth vs. in heaven
Copy and shadow vs. unique and precise
Earthly tent vs. the true tent
Man arrange vs. God arrange
Directed by means of Moses vs. prophesied by David and Jeremiah
Enacted by sinful monks vs. enacted by a sinless excessive priest
Imperfect, incomplete vs. good, full, remaining
Prepared to fade away vs. won’t finish
Good vs. (far) higher, rather more glorious
The tip of verse 6 says that the rationale Christ’s new covenant is “rather more glorious than the outdated” is that “it’s enacted on higher guarantees.” What may these be? What are the “higher guarantees” of the brand new covenant, in comparison with the outdated?
Chapter 7 already has spoken of “a greater hope” and “higher covenant” associated to the oath and promise of Psalm 110:4:
The Lord has sworn
and won’t change his thoughts,
“You’re a priest without end.”
So, we’d first say, the guarantees are remaining and without end. Closing: God has sworn; he won’t change his thoughts. Perpetually: Christ was raised from the lifeless, by no means to die once more, with indestructible life, and can proceed without end because the everlasting excessive priest. Which suggests (extra guarantees) he at all times lives to make intercession for us, and he is ready to save us to the uttermost.
And as we’ve seen in Hebrews 8, the place of his priesthood is healthier, and his providing of himself, as soon as for all, is healthier. The remainder of chapter 8 reveals extra “higher guarantees” in Jeremiah 31 — that God will put his regulation in our hearts by his Spirit (verse 10), we every will know him (verse 11), and he’ll deal decisively with our sin and guilt and bear in mind our sins no extra (verse 12).
How New Is the New Covenant?
However let’s finish this morning with a query and a few implications for our lives associated to this new covenant, in distinction with the outdated. This is the reason I selected this odd textual content for a visitor sermon: to finish with this query and a few functions.
The query is that this: How new is the brand new covenant?
Have a look at verse 7:
If that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no event to search for a second.
Do you see that phrase second? A second covenant. And see that phrase first. Hebrews, right here and all through (like Jesus and Paul and John), speaks of two covenants, a primary and a second, outdated and new. And when he says new, it’s plain he means new. Really new. Not an replace. Not an growth. Not an appendix. Not a renovation. New.
There was outdated; now there’s new. There was a primary; now there’s a second. And in enacting a brand new covenant, by means of his dying on the cross, the outdated is dropped at a wonderful finish — its God-appointed consummation.
Change the Priesthood, Change the Covenant
This distinction between covenants in chapter 8 is an outworking of what Hebrews has already stated briefly in 7:11–12: for those who change the priestly order, you modify the entire covenant.
Now if perfection had been attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood (for underneath it the individuals obtained the regulation), what additional want would there have been for one more priest to come up after the order of Melchizedek, moderately than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there’s a change within the priesthood, there may be essentially a change within the regulation as nicely.
Many Christians don’t assume this fashion; they assume, basically, that underneath the regulation, the individuals obtained the priesthood. However verse 11 says the other — that underneath the priesthood the individuals obtained the law-covenant from Moses. In different phrases, the priesthood just isn’t based on the regulation; the regulation is based on the priesthood.
And now, in Christ, there was a change within the priesthood. A priest of a brand new order has arisen. And verse 12 says, “When there’s a change within the priesthood, there may be essentially a change within the regulation as nicely.”
Brothers and sisters, know your covenant. Cherish your new covenant. In Christ, you might be underneath a brand new covenant. Not renewed, not tweaked, not up to date, not expanded. It’s new. It’s one other covenant. Previous has gone; new has come. One other priest has arisen, and with him, a brand new covenant. There was a primary; this can be a second. There was outdated; this new. The outdated has been “put aside” (7:18 ). Jesus “does away with the primary in an effort to set up the second” (10:9).
And later, 8:13 says that Jeremiah, in prophesying of a brand new covenant, has made the outdated one out of date.
So, the brand new covenant is such a superior covenant. It isn’t the identical outdated covenant newly enhanced, edited, improved, renovated, or expanded. It’s new. You can’t do justice to the argument of Hebrews if our covenant just isn’t new.
New-Covenant Habits
However you may say, “So what?” Let’s shut, then, with three implications for us residing underneath this new covenant.
New-Covenant Bible Studying
First, we learn the Bible as new-covenant Christians. Which suggests we distinguish between the Previous Testomony as our Scripture and our new covenant. All of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is our Scripture, Christian Scripture. However the outdated covenant just isn’t our covenant. Our non secular heritage, certain. Our Scripture, sure — and to say extra: the Previous Testomony is important for understanding and appreciating our covenant. However the outdated covenant just isn’t our covenant.
Ours is the brand new, enacted and mediated by Jesus Christ, our covenant head. And so, on the finish of Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus offers what we name his Nice Fee, he focuses his church on “instructing [the nations] to look at all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20) As we learn the Bible as new-covenant Christians, we take the instructions of Christ and his apostles as instructions to us, in our covenant, in a means that we don’t instantly apply the instructions of Moses to these underneath the outdated covenant.
One instance can be the Sabbath command. As Christians, we train knowledge in gentle of God’s 6-and-1 sample in creation, however we aren’t, as Christians, underneath obligation to “observe the Sabbath” as commanded of the Jewish nation underneath the phrases of the primary covenant. We don’t stay in that period. Christ has come, and we’re underneath a brand new covenant, wherein neither Jesus nor his apostles enjoin Sabbath observance. The truth is, Hebrews 4 reveals that the sabbath command has been fulfilled within the non secular relaxation that’s religion and within the climactic Sabbath relaxation coming on the finish of our earthly days. As Christians, we correctly observe patterns of relaxation, search to honor our Lord in it, and collect with the church to worship. But we aren’t underneath old-covenant constraints of Sabbath observance.
In Christ, we love the Previous Testomony and its varieties and prophecies and hints and foreshadowings, as a result of they’re God-breathed assist for us to raised perceive and admire the antitypes and fulfillments and substance and spectacular glories of what we now have in Christ.
New-Covenant Prayer
Second, we pray as new-covenant Christians. We pray to a heavenly Father, as Jesus taught us. And we pray in Jesus’s identify. And we pray as these indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, who “helps us in our weak point. For we have no idea what to wish for as we ought, however the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for phrases” (Romans 8:26). What a glory it’s to wish as a Christian. Don’t throw away “Father” firstly of your prayers, or “in Jesus’s identify” on the finish, or the chance to talk to the residing God at any second, not solely as a creature however as his little one.
How unspeakably nice it’s to “have an ideal excessive priest who has handed by means of the heavens,” that we might “with confidence draw close to to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and discover grace to assist in time of want” (Hebrews 4:14, 16).
New-Covenant Fellowship
Lastly, we belong to the physique of Christ as new-covenant Christians. We aren’t within the new covenant alone. We have now fellows. And so, very virtually, local-church membership issues. And we covenant with one another, as an extension of our new covenant in Christ by religion, to be the church to one another on this time and place. Which implies that we, of necessity, set up sure phrases of this native membership.
At Cities Church, our formal fellowship requires what we name “a reputable career of religion” for baptism and church membership. We understand, and personal, that these are (not less than briefly) exclusionary phrases. That excludes adults, and youngsters, whose career just isn’t but credible or who are usually not but in a position to profess religion. And we’ve got established these phrases, partly (amongst different causes, together with our understanding of New Testomony instructions), as a result of this finest corresponds to the truth of the brand new covenant, in distinction with the outdated, as we’ve seen in Hebrews 8.
The outdated covenant, at its core, was ethnic and tribal. There have been provisions for proselytes (Exodus 12:48–49; Deuteronomy 29:10–13), however by and enormous, the covenant members had been born into the covenant. The locus was a specific ethnicity. So, making use of the ceremony of initiation, circumcision, at bodily beginning was becoming.
However now Christ has come, inaugurating a brand new covenant and bringing an finish to the outdated, with its ethnic and bodily focus. The brand new covenant just isn’t tribal and ethnically centered. Jew is an ethnicity; Christian just isn’t. We Christians are underneath a new covenant.
At the moment the covenant locus is those that have skilled new beginning, non secular rebirth, by religion. And so, in our locality (as in yours), we attempt to make our church membership, as finest as we are able to, extra proximate to God’s new-covenant individuals moderately than much less.
We certain hope — in reality, we intend to make it certain — that being born right into a Christian household is a priceless, inestimable grace: to be close to to the life-saving and life-giving phrase, to be cared for by dad and mom who’ve the Holy Spirit, to be half of a bigger church group. And in accordance with the phrases of the brand new covenant, we don’t presume that beginning right into a Christian household means eventual new beginning. And so, we don’t consider that bodily beginning right into a Christian household is the correct event for baptism or church membership, however moderately new beginning by the Spirit. Thus, we wish our church’s membership to be as just like new-covenant actuality as we are able to fairly discern. Which suggests baptizing and receiving new members primarily based on a reputable career of religion in Jesus.
On the very coronary heart of the brand new covenant, in line with Jeremiah 31, is personally figuring out God. And so, in gentle of Hebrews 8, to belong to the local-church physique, we affirm the information of God in Christ in view of a reputable career.
We Have Him
The glory of Hebrews 8, and the brand new covenant, is that these of us who’ve been born once more and are within the covenant by religion can say — proper now — we’ve got Jesus. We have now him as our nice excessive priest. We have now him as our once-for-all sacrifice.
For us who consider, that is no mere hope or prayer or eager for a actuality that may solely sooner or later be true. It’s true proper now. We have now such a excessive priest.
For hundreds of years, God’s individuals longed to have a king-priest like this — and now we’ve got him! Christ has come, and he lived with out sin, died in our place, rose in triumph, ascended to heaven, and sat down, his work full, and he intercedes for us.
Know him, obtain him, take him once more as your God and nice excessive priest. Belief him. Draw close to to him. Enjoyment of him. Have him.
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