A Tale of Two Covenants • 03.19.23
A Tale of Two Covenants
Hebrews 9:1-14
- God always planned to make a people for himself.
- Humanity’s sinfulness required a perfect solution.
- Jesus Christ’s finished work is the only answer.
Good morning church family! What a fun morning of worship! It’s good for us to enjoy singing praises to our God. I am so thankful for songs filled with truth that changes our lives.
Welcome to those who are new this morning. My name is Nick Lees and I serve as the senior pastor here. We’re thankful you’re with us this morning. As we turn our attention to the study of God’s Word, we’re going to pick back up in the book of Hebrews. This book has been our focus this year and it has been incredible to dive deep into it. Are you thankful to see how the Bible fits together? To grasp how both the Old and New Testaments reveal the grand redemption plan of God? I hope this study has been helping you to understand both your God and His Word better. That has certainly been one of our goals in this series.
Dismiss 4th + 5th graders
Ushers + Bibles (Hebrews 9, page 1192)
As you might have noticed, I had some fun with the sermon title today. A Tale of Two Covenants
But don’t worry, I’m not here to talk about how it was the best of times and the worst of times, the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness… I’m not Charles Dickens and what we’re discussing today is not a fictional story. No, this tale of two covenants is a true story, and, as you’ll see, there are real ramifications of this true story for each one of us here today.
During our time together we’re aiming at… Understanding the Christ connection between the Covenants
And truly, if you’ve been here for the rest of the series through Hebrews, much of the groundwork has already been laid. From the very start of this sermonic letter, we’ve heard of how Christ is the better, the ULTIMATE revelation of God. In fact, as we’ve heard, he is God in human form. And as we’ve progressed through chapters 1-8 of the author’s sermon, we’ve heard quite a bit of Christ connections between the Covenants.
With so many Christ connections already made, where could we possibly be going today?! Great question! Today we’re going to follow where the author of Hebrews leads us, which is to further reflect on and be in awe of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God’s grand plan of redemption. He’s not done building his argument for how Jesus is superior in every way. Jesus is better and we’re here to see it and celebrate it this morning!
With that in mind let’s read God’s Word in Hebrews 9.
Hebrews 9:1–14 (ESV)
9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
What you’ve just heard is the author of Hebrews continuing to explain the Covenants to his audience. And he uses lots of visual imagery. We hear about gold and holy places and blood, priests, and sacrifices. But don’t let that distract you from the fact that these covenants are COMMITMENTS that God made with people. As we heard last week, a covenant is a strong, binding agreement. And God made these covenants because he desires to be in relationship with these people! Let me remind you of two examples where this is clearly revealed in Scripture… first from last week’s passage on the New Covenant (a quote of Jeremiah 31):
Hebrews 8:10 (ESV)
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
This desire for a people for himself wasn’t “new” with the New Covenant, listen to God speak in the Old Covenant days:
Exodus 6:5–7 (ESV)
5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel,
‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Here’s what you need to understand this morning… from the Old to New Covenant…
These covenants are commitments that God made with people to be in relationship with them.The Bible records for us the grand plan of God to make a people for himself. Let’s tie that back into what we read this morning in Hebrews 9.
The author began this section of his sermon by reminding them that the Old Covenant had very specific regulations for worship. These regulations were outlined in the Law, which is revealed in the Old Testament books of Exodus (chps 19++), Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. There is extensive writing about these rules and regulations, including the most famous of them the 10 Commandments! After teaching Moses these commands, he then sent him to the people of Israel to call them to enter into the covenant with God. We see that in Exodus 24.
Exodus 24:1–8 (ESV)
24 Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”
3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people.
And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
This is recording for us the people of Israel covenanting with God to obey and follow him as his people. Blood was a sign of the seal of the covenant.
Do you know what comes after this? Moses remained on Mount Sinai and received specific instructions from God on how to construct a sanctuary for him to dwell in their midst. This was known as the tabernacle or dwelling place of God aka the Tent of Meeting. Jordan spoke about this last week.
Exodus chapters 25-31 capture in exquisite detail the instructions for how to build everything necessary for this sanctuary, as well as prepare the priests to minister within it. Such extensivedetail was given so no mistakes would be made! After all, they were designing a worship center for the HOLY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE to meet them in!
Understand this was an incredible moment in history – God planning to dwell with HIS people again! It was as close to God as man had been since the Garden of Eden! God with us!
Now in Hebrews 9:1-5, we see the author reference back to the details of the tabernacle/tent of meeting. I’ve got some images here of what they might have looked like. (Images)
As the author recounted the setup of the first tabernacle, he was reminding them of the Old Covenant patterns and regulations of worship. The tabernacle was off limits to everyone but the priests and the priests were only allowed to go into the first room on a regular basis. The second room, the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies, which contained the Ark and God’s Presence on the Ark was off-limits to everyone but the High Priest, and even he was only permitted to enter once per year.
These are the details discussed in Hebrews 9:6-10. Access to God was permitted, yet in a very controlled manner. The priests existed to represent the people to God and God to the people. They were offering animal sacrifices to seek atonement for the sins of the people. Atonement is the state of reconciliation between God and sinners. The author of Hebrews is pointing out that these Old Covenant rituals were incomplete. They were not able to remove the stain of sin permanently. They turned aside God’s wrath but did not change the human heart. People kept sinning! Their consciences were still impure.
This is why God sent the prophet Jeremiah around 626 BC to proclaim that a New Covenant was coming. One that would result in a purified conscience and new heart. However, this was a prophecy about the future and the people continued to live rebelliously under the Old Covenant for hundreds of years. In fact, as part of God’s judgment of the rebellious nation of Israel, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the Jewish temple during Jeremiah’s lifetime. This made worship of Yahweh that much harder!
However, God is faithful. He had not given up on his people. He promised that he would bring back a faithful remnant to the land and allow them to rebuild. This promise is fulfilled, and we eventually see the Jews rebuild a smaller version of the temple. This is recounted in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah which occur around 450-430 BC. Unfortunately, their worship was still very half-hearted, and they returned to their sin after a time of initial passion for the Lord…
This lukewarm faith and spiritual idolatry would continue for the next 400 years, which areknown as the years of prophetic silence. These are the years when the whole system of Pharisees and scribes proliferated. They rose to become the “teachers” who dictated the Laws/rules to the people. And during this time, the priests still worked in the temple to attempt to purify the people through animal sacrifices. Day in and day out. Week after week. Year after year. Waiting and longing for God to bring about the New Covenant.
We know for a fact that the temple and priesthood were still operating in Jesus’ lifetime. There are numerous references to Jesus visiting the temple and confronting the religious hypocrisy of those present. So, if you’re keeping track, there are hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of years where the people are operating under the Old Covenant but longing for a better solution. A solution that will give them new hearts and allow them to enjoy true reconciliation with God. And that is what Hebrews 9:8-10 is addressing:
Hebrews 9:8–10 (ESV)
8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
The existence of the temple system with the curtain still standing between the Holy Place and Most Holy Place reveals that there is still a separation between God and man! Though God desires to be in relationship with his people, their sin still separates them from him! This is why Jesus had to come!
The animal sacrifices offered in the temple only cleansed externally, purifying the flesh, but not the heart… A better solution for sin is needed! Which brings us to our second Christ connection between the covenants…
The author of Hebrews has emphasized the necessity of perfection in his sermon. Perfection is what is required by a Holy God. And we lack perfection. Just as the sinful priests of the Old Covenant lacked perfection. Just as the animal sacrifices were inadequate to deal with man’simperfections.
This is why Jesus’ perfect work as our perfect sacrifice is so important! His ministry as our perfect high priest in a perfect heavenly location was the only way that our consciences could be perfectly purified from sin.
Now you might be tempted to think, “Boy, you are really hyping up this sin thing. What’s the big deal about a little sin? So, what if I break the rules from time to time? Is it really that big of a deal?”
The answer to that line of thinking is displayed when Jesus was crucified on the Cross. Yes, sin is that big of a deal. From the littlest of white lies to the most flagrant of horrible actions or words, sin is evil, it corrupts us, and it separates us from God.
Our world significantly downplays the sinfulness of sin. Sin is a horrible thing. Consider not the actual act of sin itself but rather consider the one whom it is against. The HOLY GOD, the KING OF KINGS, your CREATOR. Our sin is immensely evil because of the IMMEASURABLE BEAUTY AND WORTH of the one it is against. Even a single sin is enough to warrant righteous judgment and separation from God.
And our problem is not that we’ve sinned once… It’s that we sin daily. Whether intentional or unintentional, sin is pervasive. And it corrupts. There is a reason the high priests had to offer sacrifices for unintentional sins, we often sin in ways we don’t even recognize!
The author of Hebrews is leading his audience to a particular conclusion…
Oh, if only someone would come who could rescue us from our sin! Who could give us clean hearts and purify our consciences permanently! Who could restore our worship and relationship with our Creator.
We do know of such a One! And his name is Jesus the Christ!
Hebrews 9:11–14 (ESV)
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Jesus Christ is the perfect solution for our sins. He is the one who makes it possible for us to be made new and able to enter the presence of our Holy God. Consider what happens when Jesus finishes the redemptive work on the Cross…
Matthew 27:50–51 (ESV)
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
What was torn in two? The curtain of the temple, between the Holy Place and Most Holy Place… the one symbolizing the separation of the people from the presence of God.
The author of Hebrews will go on to apply this work later:
Hebrews 10:19–20 (ESV)
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
Jesus is the perfect solution for your sin! He has made a way for you to enter with confidence into God’s presence, knowing that you are forgiven and redeemed. This was all made possible because Jesus’ sinless, perfect blood was shed for you. He became the sacrifice of atonement in your place. He has made peace with God possible through his finished work. Which brings us to our final Christ connection between the covenants for today…
The only answer! There is no other way by which men/women may be saved from the wrath of God. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way. Because his finished work is the only answer.
He is the sinless Lamb of God who came to take away our sins. And in every way, he is better.
This is the argument that the author is making throughout his sermon and rehearsing again in verses 13-14. If these lesser sacrifices were able to purify the outer man, how much more will the perfect offering of Jesus Christ purify the inner man (our conscience) from dead works to serve the living God!
What is the outcome of Jesus’ finished work? Eternal redemption. Internal purification of our conscience so we can choose to live righteously!
How do we avail ourselves of it? Faith in Jesus Christ! You live in a day when worship is not about a place but a person.
What happens if we are outside of it? Stuck in dead works, facing God’s wrath. You have the opportunity to know eternal redemption, don’t scorn it with unbelief or choosing the false pleasures of sin over Christ.
What decision must be made? To repent and believe in Christ. You have the full revelation of God available to you through the Scriptures about Jesus. How will you respond?
When must this decision be made? Today is the day of salvation. Do not tarry. Life is brief and none of us knows the hour of our final breath. There is an urgency to faith. There is also a confidence that comes when our faith is in Christ. We can rest secure in his perfect, finished work!
How ought a man/woman be changed? As we heard in verse 14 – we are no longer condemned in our sin, which frees us from dead works to serve the living God. We serve God out of joy and delight rather than fear of judgment. We are not trying to earn our salvation because we realize it is ours through faith in Christ!
When you are freed to love God and love others like this, it changes you… Allow me to point you to another passage…
2 Corinthians 5:17–21 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
In Christ you are forgiven and made new! This new identity of adopted son/daughter of God allows you to change! You can put off the old self that was corrupted by sin. You are called to renew your thinking through the teaching of God’s Word. And, as you learn the truth from his Word, you then put on your new identity by choosing to live a holy life full of zeal for God!
If you are in Christ, you are an ambassador for Christ. Your calling is to represent and reflect him in all that you do. You are now God’s representative to a hurting, broken world. Your opportunity is to call them to be reconciled to Him! Just as he has done for you through others.
Hebrews makes it clear that we do not do this from a position of fear or trying to earn our salvation. Oh no, that has already been accomplished in the perfect work of Christ. We are nowfreed to delight in our Savior and to live out of that delight in our daily desires and choices.
Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, took on your sin, so that you might become righteous in Him.
How could we who have been given the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life not lay down our lives for the glory of God and good of others?
We live in the day and age that the Old Testament saints longed to see. Every priest and Jewish believer would have loved to be in your shoes. You have direct access to God! You can come into his throne room through prayer at any moment of your day. Do not squander such blessings with apathy. Beware the temptation to find satisfaction in worldly pleasures/treasures rather than in your restored relationship to your Creator. Let us with confidence draw near to God! Let us be about the mission he has given us – to represent and reflect him! Our calling is to pursue holiness and to tell others about the redemption and reconciliation that is available through faith in Jesus!
Communion
We’re going to close out our service with a celebration of the Lord’s Table. We’ve heard a lot today about the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, so this is a great way to reflect on it together. This is an opportunity for Christians to remember all that the Lord has done for us through his death, burial, and resurrection.
We will celebrate by partaking of both the bread and the cup as a symbol and reminder of Jesus’ body broken in our place and his blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Communion is an opportunity to remember how great a price was paid so that we could be saved from our sin. It is a sobering, yet joyful celebration for Christians. Sobering that the Son of God would give himself for us as a ransom. Joyful that he did, and the result was a living hope that cannot be taken from us! Jesus is victorious; therefore, we have the hope of heaven with Him!
At this time, I’d like to invite the ushers forward with the elements.
Before we pass them, I want to share the biblical requirements for joining in this celebration.
This celebration was given by Jesus to his followers. It is an opportunity to remember all that he has done for us. We invite anyone who has trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation to join us in this celebration today. If your faith is not in Jesus Christ alone, then we would encourage you to let the elements pass by you and simply consider what you’ve heard so far during the service this morning and reflect on what is keeping you from trusting him.
The second requirement we see in Scripture is a call to examine ourselves. This is the idea of making sure that you’ve confessed any known sins and sought to turn away from it. It would not be wise to partake of the table if you have sin in your life for which you are not repentant. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11 that taking the table while living in sin is eating and drinking judgment on yourself. I would ask you not to do that, for your sake and the sake of God’s glory. Instead, I would encourage you to use this time to confess that sin and make a plan to address it right away. If you know you need to be reconciled to someone else in this church, please take care of that during this time. The table is time to protect the unity of the church.
The ushers are going to pass the elements now as we have a time of silent reflection and prayer to prepare for the table. Please use this time to reflect on all that we’ve talked about today and to prepare yourself to take communion by confessing and repenting of any known sin. After the elements have been passed, I’ll lead us in prayer and taking communion together.
Ushers pass elements
Silent prayer. Corporate prayer.
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Take bread.
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Take cup
Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!
Before the Throne of God Above
Takeaways:
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