Hebrews 9:15-28
Dear RTB’ers,
The writer of Hebrews has major focus on covenants in this chapter. The word “covenant” is mentioned seven times in this chapter (four times in today’s reading), with “will” mentioned twice more. It is worth our looking more seriously at that “new” covenant: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34) God’s law – Jesus’ words and life testimony – is written on our hearts. We all know Him and our sins are forgiven
Most of us have probably written our wills and made our children aware that they exist (whether they have actually seen our wills or not). Although our wills are written, they do not go into effect until we die. While we are alive we can divide (gift) our resources as we wish, but only when we die will our remaining resources be allocated according to our wishes. So it is with God’s “will” for us, His “New Covenant”. But the death to confirm that new will has already occurred – Jesus’ death (and His attendant Resurrection) – so His New Covenant is already in effect. He has given us the Holy Spirit as His seal of that Covenant: In Him you also … were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit… (Ephesians 1:13a). We are to live in that new life, not just wait for Heaven when we die. His New Covenant is already active; we need to embrace it!
Why do I capitalize “New Covenant”? During my second born-again year, a dear friend of mine moved to the town where I was living and started attending New Covenant Fellowship. I went along to check out his church and became an active member – and later “best man” at his wedding to a woman he had met at that church. So New Covenant is quite meaningful to me!
Blessings!
Fred