Hebrews 9:15 explains that the death of Jesus as a sacrifice had the purpose of providing “redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant,” in order that the people of God might “receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (NASB). In the ancient Near East, a covenant between two persons or nations was a … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 9:15, Genesis 15:6–21, Jeremiah 34:8–22, Ephesians 3:14–19, Heb.7:27, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 9:22–28. Memory Text: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14, NKJV). The idea that a man found guilty and executed on a cross should be worshiped as God was offensive to the ancient mind. Sparse reference … Continue reading –>
Sabbath or Scholarship? By Andrew McChesney It was an offer that the Seventh-day Adventist girl could not refuse: a full scholarship to study at a private non-Christian school. Malevelev, who grew up in an Adventist home, had been taught since she was young to remember God in all her decisions. The girl had planned to … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, … Continue reading –>
Compare the new covenant promises of Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:26-27. How are they related? The first covenant document was written by God on tablets of stone and was deposited in the ark of the covenant as an important witness of God’s covenant with His people (Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 10:1-4). Documents written in stone, however, could be broken; and scrolls, as … Continue reading –>
We may be tempted to think that the new covenant has “better promises” in the sense that it has greater rewards than the old covenant had (a heavenly homeland, eternal life, etc.). The truth is that God offered the same rewards to Old Testament believers as He has offered us (read Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 11:13-16). In Hebrews 8:6, the … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 8:1-6. Why is Jesus a better Mediator of the covenant? The Greek term mesites (mediator) derives from mesos (“middle”) and denotes the one who walks or stands in the middle. It was a technical term that referred to a person who fulfilled one or more of the following functions: (1) an arbiter between two or more parties, (2) … Continue reading –>
Compare Hebrews 8:10-12 with Deuteronomy 6:4-6, Deuteronomy 30:11-14, and Jeremiah 31:31-34. What does this teach us about the nature of the new covenant? The promise of a new covenant in Hebrews refers back to Jeremiah. According to Jeremiah, God’s promise of a new covenant was, in fact, a renewal of the covenant that He had first made with Israel through … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 7:11-19. Why was a new covenant needed? According to Hebrews, the fact that Jesus was appointed priest according to the order of Melchizedek implied that a new covenant had been inaugurated. The old covenant had been given on the basis of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:11, NASB). The Levitical priests acted as mediators between God … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 7:11–19; Hebrews 8:10–12; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8:1–6; Exodus 24:1–8; Ezekiel 36:26-27. Memory Text: “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6, ESV). By living a perfect life, and then … Continue reading –>
