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 is that
first covenant had been fautless,
then should no place have been
sought for the second. For finding
fault with them, He saith, Behold,
the days come, saith the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with
the house of Judah: not according
to the covenant that I made with
their fathers in the day when I took
them by the hand to lead them out of
the land of Egypt: because they
continued not in my covenant, and I
regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 8:6-9
Why? Why another covenant? Was the first so bad that it needed 'fixin?' Another covenant was necessary, not because it was bad, rather, that the people were bad, they did not follow the covenant that God gave to them so that they would not only have a better life on this earth, but also would be worshiping God in obedience. We must remember that God has issued several covenants, and the one that stands forever is the covenant God made with Abraham. Abraham was faithful, so there is no need to replace that covenant with another. The covenant made by God with Moses and the children of Israel stands in completeness in the Ten Commandments, there is no need to replace that covenant. Abraham's covenant was a promise of God that cannot be broken. The Ten Commandments was Law, a law embedded in the covenant to the children of Israel that if the kept the Law they would be blessed. This the children did not do: "they did not continue in this covenant." The Law led to a knowledge of sin, a need for a mediator between man and God. Some were led to this knowledge, others, well, they left the true worship of God to follow after other religious ideas and practices. Time went by, capture, incarcerations by other nations, wars, killings, nothing would turn the mass of Israelites back to God, some did, some did not and what they were missing was to know that God even though unhappy with their living intended to bring forth the mediator that they needed even if they were not as a whole looking for that mediator promised way back with Adam and Eve. Some Israelites were looking in "all the wrong places," to find a mediator, the Messiah. Even after the entering into this world, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, with all His teachings, and miracles, many would not believe that He is the Mediator promised by God.
God then made a "better" covenant and not just with and for the Israelites, but for the whole world, Gentiles alike. The word used in translation: "Better," must be understood: The Greek word means not just "better," rather it means more, it means "nobler,", the "best," for the Greek word: κρείττόνός, formed from: κράτος, that means strong, denoting power in activity and effect, and is used 12 times in Hebrews, and indicates what is advantageous or useful. Why then is this New Covenant better? It is as is with the covenant with Abraham, God's promise to all who believe upon the Mediator, Jesus Christ. This covenant will never end, it is eternal for Jesus Christ is eternal and the eternal Mediator. God shows His displeasure of those who will not keep His covenant. Those examples found in the Bible should bring fear to anyone who wishes to be called a "Christian." Obedience, Obedience, and true repentance will lead to "Obedience." It is not just saying: "I am sorry for my sins," it is more, it is to be truly convicted of your sinfulness against a Holy God, His covenant, His Only Begotten Son who is the Mediator, the covenant that is in Him, from Him, and kept by Him. Authentic Christians live according to the covenant of God. PERIOD! Believe upon Jesus Christ as the Bible has so dutifully done to show that He is the Mediator. How can one believe? Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God. This faith is a free gift from God. You or I do not earn it, no do anything to obtain this gift, but we must do the one thing: accept this gift and this acceptance comes when one hears the true word of God, not any man's gospel, but, the Gospel as revealed in the Bible. Here is the rubric: read, hear, the word of God, accept by faith, this free gift of salvation that comes by faith in the One by which salvation comes, Jesus Christ, and believe with full repentance that comes by your conviction of sin, and your need for a Savior. Now, if this is true of you, then by obedience you live what God has revealed in His word for His children to live. Now you are more, you are a faithful witness to the promises of God, to His "better," covenant that applies to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Due to so much misrepresentation of God's word, His covenant, and as to Who He is, we must study to be prepared to defend our faith, our belief. This requires to read, to study, to pray, and to listen to men who are speaking from Scripture to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth. This is work! Yes! But, is there a better work to be done? No! We have a responsibility to live as who we say we are: Christians, Authentic Christians, with Authentic Christian Faith. I am trying to be a part of disseminating from Scripture the truth as revealed in Scripture and to give tools to defend your faith. I guess the questions is: Will I do it?
And it came to pass, when I
heard these words, that I
sat down and wept, and
mourned certain days,
and fasted, and prayed
before the God of Heaven.
Nehemiah 1:4
Choose whom you will serve
Richard L. Crumb
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