Open Heavens October 2, 2008

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Gen 33-36

THE BETTER COVENANT

MEMORIZE: "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" (Hebrews 8:6)

READ: Hebrews 8:6-13

“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” (Hebrews 8:6). The covenant between God and Abraham was in favor of the Israelites alone. The Gentiles could not benefit from it, hence our Lord Jesus Christ introduced another covenant which is all-embracing. This new covenant is a far better one. It is not limited to any geographical divide. It is non-racial and is open to all, irrespective of age, status, or gender. Through the New Testament, Jews and Gentile nations are reconciled to God. By reason of the blood He shed, anyone can gain entry into the commonwealth of Kingdom citizens. This better covenant affords everyone under its cover better promises and benefits.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). One cardinal benefit of the New Covenant is forgiveness of sins. If you come under this new covenant by the blood of Jesus Christ, all your sins will be forgiven. It is so difficult to obtain forgiveness in today’s world, but this is available in Christ. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. If God were to pay us with death for every sin committed, imagine the number of death sentences that would have hung over our heads!

Sometime ago, I read a news item in the dailies, of a man who committed so many crimes that he was sentenced to 70 life imprisonments. The implication of his sentence was that after serving the first until death, he would be expected to arise from the dead to serve the second. Until he did so 70 times! After reading that news story, I realized that many of us were guilty of thousands of death sentences for thousands of sins committed. But the New Covenant erases all our judgements, and makes us stand blameless before the Throne of God. Anyone who does not come under the covenant of the blood of Jesus, can never have his or her sins forgiven. As long as you walk in the light of this covenant, your sins can be cleansed. But if you wilfully violate the covenant or take it for granted, it ceases to cleanse your sins. Appreciate the Lord for being a beneficiary of the blood of Jesus.

ACTIONPOINT: Forgiveness is what billions of religious people are working hard to get through different measures but cannot obtain. Yet the born again child of God gets it instantly through the blood of Jesus