Day 109/260: Read Hebrews 9

Why were the Christian recipients of the Hebrews epistle so intent on going back to the old covenant which had been made obsolete by Christ? Why do so many still today try to run back to a time before the cross to find their doctrine?

We are living under the new covenant, established by Christ at His death (Matthew 26:28). At the time of His death, and not before, that new covenant went into effect. “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”

While we can learn principles from the incidents recorded from the lives of Abraham, Moses, David, John the Baptist, and even the thief on the cross, they all died before the new covenant went into effect. We cannot turn to them as examples of specific acts that God expects of us today. Their mindsets serve as an example, but their actions belonged under a different law, a different covenant.

“So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” He is a “better sacrifice.” We live under a new, better covenant than did Abraham, Moses, David, John, and the thief. Let us turn to His new covenant to learn what He commands of us today.

Hear (Romans 10:17). Believe (John 3:16). Repent (Acts 3:19). Confess (Romans 10:9-10). Be immersed (Acts 2:38). Be faithful (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

Hebrews 8:13. In that He says, “A new ___________,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing ___________ is ready to vanish away.

Pray

Pray for wisdom in discerning between the old and new covenants and the present expectations of God.