Hebrews 8:6-7 “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” A covenant is basically a promise with conditions that need to be met. The Internet definition describes it like this: In the Bible, a covenant is a binding agreement, often between God and humanity, establishing a relationship and including promises and obligations. It’s a sacred agreement, a partnership, where God’s blessings are linked to obedience and His promises are fulfilled when conditions are met. Covenants are a central theme in the Bible, shaping the story of God’s relationship with humankind.
Like I said, a covenant is a promise with conditions that must be met to be fulfilled. Our Jewish friends believe they have a covenant with the Almighty God stemming back to the time of Abraham. It is still in effect today, but it is limited by the conditions God placed on Israel.
Here is the promise from God: Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The promise was contingent on the obedience of Abram who later became Abraham. Abram had to leave his country, their gods, and his family behind. God could not fulfill His promise because Abram took his nephew and his father with him. So Abram wandered, looking forward to the promise but not yet obtaining it. His father died in Haran. He and Lot his nephew separated near Sodom and Gomorrah allowing God to again state his promise.
Genenis 13:14-17 “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”
That is a wonderful promise, but it was conditional. The future Israel had to be obedient to God. God gave them conditions that they must fulfill. God gave them the Law to be obedient to and they failed miserably time and time again.
Since the first promises from God were contingent on the obedience of man, it failed. Thus the need for a second covenant. Hebrews tell us that the second covenant was not contingent on the obedience of man, but the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The old covenant was earthly with land and kingdoms. God promised them prosperity if they were obedient to His conditions. They failed. They were taken into captivity. They repented. God restored them. They failed. God led them into captivity. They repented again. God restored them again. Yet through all the history of Israel the men of Israel continued to fail at the promises of God.
The new promise or covenant spoken of in Hebrews 12 is and eternal one. It is not based on our obedience other than to recognize our need of a Savior, repenting, and accept Christ as our Lord. The second covenant is a better one for the exact reason the first one failed. It is not contingent on the behaviour of man. The second covenant was bought and paid for with the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus paid that penalty or wages for our sin! He dieed in our place. Praise God! I say that loudly for I know what happens to death and sinners at the final judgment.
Revelation 20:14-15 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Is your name in the Book of Life? Make sure, please. Your eternity depends on it.
