My dear friend Hope joins us around My Messy Desk again this week, discussing the New Covenant!

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new: (from kainos) something recently made which is superior to what it succeeds

covenant: (from diatheke) usually means an unbreakable agreement between two parties; in this case, emphasis is on the unilateral action of God

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For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant . . . 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 a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘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 8:7-12, from Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Once there lived two women (Genesis 15-21) who came to represent two covenants (Galatians 4:21-31).

HAGAR & SLAVERY

Hagar, a slave woman, gave birth to Abraham’s son, Ishmael. With this child, Abraham relied upon his own ability to produce the results of God’s promise (Genesis 15:4-6). Ishmael was also a slave, born in the ordinary way, and could not inherit the promise of God.

One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves. This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children (Galatians 4:24-25).

Hagar, according to the writer of Hebrews:

• unable to provide perfection (7:11 & 18, 10:1)
• set aside because weak and useless (7:18)
• obsolete, aging, disappearing (8:13)
• incapable of clearing the conscience of the worshiper (9:9)
• covenant regulations only applied until time of new order (9:10)
• better sacrifice needed (9:23)
• only a shadow of good things coming (10:1)
• cannot provide real cleansing or relieve guilt (10:2)
• impossible to take away sins (10:4)

SARAH & FREEDOM

Sarah, a free woman, gave birth to Abraham’s son, Isaac. With this child, God faithfully fulfilled His promise to Abraham (Genesis 17, 21:1-7). Isaac was also free, born as the result of the promise, and the one to inherit.

But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother . . . like Isaac, you are children of promise . . . not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman (Galatians 4:26-31).

Sarah, according to the writer of Hebrews:

• better hope by which we draw near to God (7:19)
• Jesus: guarantee of a better covenant (7:22)
• Jesus: able to save completely 7:25)
• Jesus: blameless, pure, holy, exalted High Priest (7:27)
• Jesus: once-for-all sacrifice for sins (7:27, 10:26)
• superior to old covenant, founded on better promises (8:6)
• blood of Christ cleanses the conscience (9:14)
• provides perfection forever (10:14)
• access to enter Most Holy Place with confidence, by blood of Jesus (10:19)

Christ is the mediator of a new covenant that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15).

REMEMBER & PROCLAIM

Jesus: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you (Luke 22:20) for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (I Cor. 11:25-26).

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Meet my dear friend, Hope!!

Hello and Grüß Gott from Bavaria where I live with my dear husband. Although I have loved reading and writing and teaching for as long as I can remember, I am very new to blogging. I have been a disciple of Jesus Christ and student of God’s Word for nearly 25 years.

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For more encouragement please join the discussions on these fabulous blog link ups - Suzanne Eller, Thought Provoking Thursday, Susan B. Mead, Faith Filled Friday, Grace and Truth, Faith and Fellowship Friday, Grace and Truth Friday, Good Morning Monday, Soul Survival, Monday Musings, Rah Rah Link Up, Tell His Story, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Women With Intention Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Word of God Speak, Testimony Tuesday.