The Glorious Promises (Realities) of the New Covenant
This last weekend, in our study through Hebrews, we looked at the glorious promises that are at the heart of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13). This New Covenant was anticipated by the prophet Jeremiah, and its promises are now ours in substance through Christ. Let these simple yet profound basics of the Gospel wash your heart this week. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus by keeping our eyes on these wondrous truths in faith…
Tansformation – “I will write my laws on their hearts…”
When you were born again through faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit came in and made you brand new (regenerate) at the core of your being (Titus 3:5, 2 Cor 5:17). This means that at the deepest part of who you are, regardless of how strong and real the battle with sin is at times, you truly long to please Christ and walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. Not only do you desire it, but the power to do it is yours as well because the Spirit now dwells in you to strengthen you, convict you of sin, lead you into all truth, and bear forth fruit in your life!
Acceptance – “I will be their God, and they shall be My people…”
If you know Christ, you are unconditionally loved and accepted by God. That is because He accepts you based upon the perfect merits of Jesus, not based upon your own personal level of obedience or righteousness. What a wonderful place of blessing! You are His child (Rom 8:15-17). Think of how this impacts the motive for daily living. Because you are His child, you are not trying to earn His favor by the way you live, nor are you worried about losing His favor when you fail to live as He calls you to. You are free to imitate Christ exactly because you already are His beloved child (Eph 5:1).
Forgiveness – “I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more…”
When we fail to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel, when we sin, we are not condemned (Rom 8:1). That is because all of our sin has been completely paid for by our Savior through His death on the cross. He has paid it all (Col 2:13-14, Eph 1:7)! What freedom and joy there is in being a forgiven person! What thankfulness and worship this glorious forgiveness produces (Psalm 103)!