Jesus – The Guarantee of a Better Covenant!
It’s Much Better! What’s “Much Better?”
The book of Hebrews repeatedly uses the word “better” to describe the reality of our great salvation. Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant:
“By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant” (Heb 7:22). And this better covenant is established on better promises!
“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Heb 8:6).
Jesus is the better sacrifice:
“Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these” (Heb 9:23).
Our heavenly inheritance is better than anything we have on this earth:
“Knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven” (Heb 10:34).
Our covenant is sealed with Jesus’ perfect blood which is much better than the first human blood spilled in the earth, that of Abel.
“To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Heb 12:24).
Let this better covenant do its work in you! Believe it! Meditate on what it includes. All of God’s promises are “yes and amen” (2Cor. 1:20). So don’t stay on the fringes of your inheritance in Christ. Jump in and discover this better covenant!
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20-21).
“For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield” (Ps. 5:12).
”The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall NOT want” (Ps. 23:1). “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
If you are born again, you have been made the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). From God’s gift of righteousness flows God’s unmerited unearned favor and blessing.
“His blessing is upon His people” (Ps. 3:8).
What should this mean? It means you should expect good things, favor, health, joy, peace, and abundance. Yes, persecution exists in this fallen world. It has always existed against the God’s people, but that hasn’t stopped God from promising His favor and blessing in the midst of darkness and corruption.
What you see in your heart is a picture of your future. Some see the past and dwell on it, blocking their future. Some see the challenges of today and look no further. Some see the little they have on hand and plan accordingly. Some see the seeds of God’s grace and look toward a harvest. We are all looking at something. Are you looking at promises or problems?
If you know Grace (John 1:17), Jesus, our precious Lord and Savior, meditate on this: He has a purpose for your life! He has saved (sozoed) us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Tim. 1:9). Thank You, Lord!
Praise God that grace comes with a purpose! Once we understand that we are already loved and accepted, then we are equipped to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.
Look to Grace for the answers to your challenges. He has ALREADY made the provision!
This spiritual truth is found throughout the New Testament. The Grace of God reached Paul with a purpose: “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness….” (Acts 26:16).
The Grace of God works for good to them who are called according to His purpose: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
What is His purpose for your life? Grace is available for you to walk in that purpose. Unique giftings and motivations are within that must be tapped and developed. God has things for you to do! True peace, joy and faith are only realized to the degree that we understand our purpose.
“For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God . . . For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8 and 10).
Grace through faith saves us, but then what? That same Grace leads us unto good works that God has purposed for us. He leads us to green pastures and restores our soul.
To preach grace and not preach purpose doesn’t get the job done. We need to discover our unique purpose and pursue it with the Grace of God as our strength! Our purpose includes our relationships, our children, our jobs and our influence in a fallen world. There is Grace for you. You are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus! You are one of a kind and of infinite value in the Kingdom!