1. According to these verses, God has given some very special blessings to His people, including: a. "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (vs.3) b. "exceeding great and precious promises" (vs.4). 2. We are concerned with another promise that is both great and precious. 3. In our lesson we are concentrating on "God's promise of a new covenant." Discussion:
I. GOD PROMISED THROUGH THE PROPHET JEREMIAH (31:31-34) THAT HE WOULD MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE
A. God would make His new covenant at a later time (vs.31, 33). B. God's new covenant would not be like the one He had made through Moses (vs.32). C. Under His new covenant, God "will remember their sin no more" (vs.34). D. With these details in mind, let us turn our attention to some important . . . II. INFORMATION CONCERNING GOD'S PROMISE THAT IS REVEALED IN HEBREWS
A. Hebrews 8 1. Vs.6 a. Jesus is "the mediator" of God's new covenant (also 12:24). b. God's new covenant is "a better covenant," and it is "everlasting" (13:20). c. God's new covenant "was established upon better promises." 2. Vs.7 -- God replaced the first covenant because it was not "faultless." 3. Vs.8-12 -- Because the old covenant was faulty, God had promised to replace it with a better covenant. 4. Vs.13 -- After God established His new covenant, the first covenant became "old." B. Hebrews 9 1. Vs.1-10 -- The service performed under the first covenant "could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience." 2. Vs.15-17 -- Jesus died so the new covenant would become effective. 3. Vs.24-26 -- Jesus offered Himself once as a perfect sacrifice "to put away sin." C. Hebrews 10 1. Vs.1-4 -- The animal blood that was offered under the old covenant could not take away sins. 2. Vs.9 -- Jesus took away the first covenant to establish the second covenant (Galatians 3:24-28; 5:4; Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:14). 3. Vs.15-17 -- The Lord's new covenant is the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy. Conclusion:
1. God promised to make a new covenant with His people, and He has kept His promise. 2. Let us conclude our study by reading Colossians 3:16-17 and James 1:25.