Simply Jesus
A Better Covenant
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Welcome to our guests today! We’re so glad to have you join us! Welcome to Paul and Nicole Meyers and their families as we will later share in the dedication of their beautiful daughter Holly.
Call to Worship:
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:14–16
This is the glory of the Gospel because of Jesus and through Jesus, we can confidently come before our Holy God, we can enter the throne room with no fear. We can boldly ask for and receive His mercy and grace. This is what sets apart Christianity from any other religion-The relationship we share with God. Let us be reminded this morning why we assemble at church, why we worship-it’s because of the mercy and grace extended to us through Christ, our high priest, and mediator before God. He gave His life for our sins and through His blood paid the atonement. Through His righteousness imparted to us, we have been redeemed and restored with our holy God-something we could never do on our own.
Let’s pray. We have this hope in Christ for all eternity! Let us lift up worship to our God and King this morning.
Praise Songs
Intro: We have been called to focus on Simply Jesus this year and dive deeper into what that means to have faith solely in who He is, and what He has done, and let His finished work be our anchor to trust in God’s promises. We have been in the book of Hebrews calling us to learn or remember the supremacy of Christ above all, the sovereignty of His power above all, and to trust in Him alone above our religious practices and rules we like to add on extras because we as a people are very performance driven. The Law itself as it was given, caused Israel to be works-based. Our society rewards work and performance, so letting go of that mentality in regards to our faith and learning to believe in our hearts that Jesus alone is enough; He is the way to right-standing with God and not through my works; and I simply need to follow Him and know as I do, it is His righteousness, not my own, that God sees and approves of. This takes some time to process and much practice to really embrace this as truth.
In Hebrews, as I have shared, this was a letter to the early Jewish Christians, who were as you can imagine, really struggling with letting go of the former Law, the traditions, and the works-based religion because it was all they knew for generations. But God said there is a better way, one that is perfect and without the tainting of sin; one that satisfies My wrath against sin and one that brings My people back into a close relationship with me that which I have desired all along and sin prevented from happening.
So the author has been impressing on this group, Jesus is this way. He is the High Priest that serves forever and it is His Kingdom forever. Now he knows he must address the next point-that of the covenant God made with His people, going back to Moses. This covenant said follow My Law, adhere to My ways of holy living, and I will protect and provide for you, I will multiply your people. Ignore My Law and I will give you over to the hands of your enemies. They watched this for generations-both the blessing and the curse of either obeying or ignoring God’s Law. God upheld His agreement. But now there was an introduction of a “new covenant” and this author is telling them, this one is better.
How can that be? The Law is the Law. It is perfect, so how can there be anything better? You can see how they might wrestle and also fear letting go of the former because they had witnessed their ancestors sent into exile and the fall of Jerusalem through the hand of their enemies when they didn’t uphold the Law.
Here is what the author is making known to them, and to us yet today as we try to bridge Old Testament Law and the ways of God with New Testament teaching from Jesus as the way. The original covenant was established to give Israel a picture of what was to come. The Law is perfect, but those administering the Law were not perfect and God knew that. It was given to teach Israel-they were chosen, set apart by God and they were to live differently from the rest of the world. We are called to do the same. We are to influence and shape the world around us, not the other way around. They were to learn to look to Him and follow His ways that are holy, pure, and righteous. They were to worship Him alone-not other gods, not other idols. To solely trust in Him as their God.
The Law was a safeguard for them to keep them from completely going off the rails (teaching them right and wrong) as they learned to walk with God. It was to highlight how differently the world lives- so often for selfish gain, greed, power, lust and every man for self to get ahead and survive. His Law says you will trust in Me over self; you will live honestly, justly, and care for one another with holiness at the center of your lives-not as an afterthought. In doing so my covenant with you is to protect you, bless you and make your people increase. Which God was faithful to do.
But Israel was lured away to worship other gods and set their hearts on worldly pleasures again and again. This covenant was never meant to be permanent; it couldn’t be. We needed something better because we would always fall short. Our flesh constantly rebels God. The first covenant was a copy or shadow of a better covenant to come. This was God’s plan all along. Let’s read on.
Hebrews 8:5-13 NIV
5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts. I will be their God,
and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
- The Former Was a Copy and Shadow.
The earthly temple was made by man and while it was glorious to be sure, nothing would compare to the glory of the heavenly temple Jesus ministers over.
Hebrews 8:5 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
This reference was spoken to Moses directly in Exodus as God was giving him the exact plans in all that he was to build as a place of worship and honor to the Lord.
Exodus 25:40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
The greatness and preciseness of every detail given was a foreshadowing of the even greater yet to come through Christ, His Son.
The former served it’s purpose, which was to point to our Holy God, developing reverence and awe for Him and our worship of Him, to begin to comprehend what holiness means and what is required for us to come anywhere near our holy God. Remember there were limits how far into the courts people could go. At this time most people were kept in outer courts, some in inner courts, and only the priest allowed to enter the holy places and as we shared recently, only the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies.
But through Jesus, all of that changed. Now we all have direct access to our holy Father and God and we can come boldly before Him and receive His grace and mercy. Quite mind blowing no doubt for these early Jewish Christians. Maybe it is even for some of you yet today-that you can come freely before God Almighty and talk to Him about anything and everything and He hears you, and delights in you. We can only do this through a new covenant Jesus ushered in, one of grace and by faith in Him, not by our works.
Hebrews 8:13 13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
The former was only to show us what was coming, that would be better.
Why is it better?
- Eternal and Relational.
Because of Jesus, we have been bought back through His blood shed, we have been justified and given right-standing with God. This means we are back in relationship with Him. This is what this new covenant offers us.
The author of Hebrews is also referencing a time spoken to Jeremiah the prophet during the days Israel was exiled by the Babylonians and Jerusalem was destroyed. They were wayward in their hearts and weren’t upholding the covenant with God. They weren’t faithful, so God allowed them to be taken over by their enemies. He gave a Word and vision to Jeremiah about a coming day and time when there would be a new and lasting covenant with His people.
Jeremiah 31:31-32 31 “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.
Hebrews 8:10 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
This is an all inviting personal, intimate relationship with God and we are able to do this because Jesus is the gateway. He then sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and teach us, giving us understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and faith. The Holy Spirit is writing His ways on our hearts and in our minds.
This covenant also opened up for all people. Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord and believes in Jesus shall be able to enter this covenant. We can all know the Lord personally! This was not so with the former covenant-it was only for Israel. How many are thankful this covenant was extended to you? I sure am!
Hebrews 8:11 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
Only through this new covenant could His command to the apostles to take the Good News to the ends of the earth be accomplished-because now any and all who heard and believed could enter.
Jesus is the platform for establishing this covenant. There are better promises we have through Jesus-let’s talk about what that means.
- Established on Better Promises.
Hebrews 8:6 .” 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
First let’s note based on previous messages we have already learned if Jesus were to be a minister here on earth, through the former covenant, he would not qualify. Ponder that for a moment. He was not born through the Levitical line and they were the only ones by The Law, able to serve as priests. There were already plenty of priests in this order serving according to the Law of Moses.
BUT for Jesus to serve in the heavenly ministry He forever oversees, He is the only one qualified to serve! So a new covenant had to come about that is established on better promises.
Let’s look at some of the better promises we have through Jesus.
1 Peter 2:24 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Colossians 2:14 NLT 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
This was not based on our merit, but given through the mercy of God, for His name’s sake.
Hebrews 8:12 . 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
We have been pardoned and fully forgiven, so fixed that God declares I won’t remember them. What Jesus did is not just a covering of our sin as the former priests did; it was a full cleansing of our sin. Amazing!
Note: Unpardoned sin prevents mercy and pulls down judgment. This was true living under the Law. Pardoned sin through mercy, prevents judgment-which opens the door to receive all the spiritual blessings God desires for us.
What is required of us to receive this amazing covenant and all the blessings that come with it? To believe. Then receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Romans 10:9 NLT 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Why would God do this? To display the riches of His grace. Because He loves us.
Ephesians 2: 8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Conclusion: This is the supremacy of this covenant. It is marked by our believing, not our earning. Through Christ, we have been set free to enjoy the abundant promises of God. Let us honor this precious covenant of grace gifted to us.
Sinner’s Prayer-join me. Bow your heads, reaffirm your hearts to Jesus this morning and if you are here feeling the nudge to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior simply raise your hand and pray this with me.
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen"
Let’s pray the Lord’s prayer together. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Offering
Prayers:
Baby Dedication:
It is with great joy that we will now move into the dedication ceremony for Holly Rose Meyers. Nicole and Paul could I have you and your family or friends involved in the ceremony please come forward?
Paul and Nicole-What a blessing to have so many join you today as you dedicate your daughter to the Lord. Look around and take notice of all who are here to celebrate with you, to offer support and guidance through the years, to pray with you, to stand with you, and to love you and your family. You are not in this alone. You have a large network to lean on every step of the way. Remember these faces and this support you see and feel today, in the hard days that will come with parenting and raising your family. They all want the very best for each of you-their love, support, and friendship are truly gifts to be cherished always. Thank you all for being part of this special day for Nicole, Paul and Holly.
Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127: 3 proclaims that “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” As believers we are called to recognize that children belong first and foremost to God. God in His goodness gives children as gifts to parents. They not only have an awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying this gift. Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
We are told in 1 Samuel 1 that Hannah presented her son Samuel to the Lord. 1: 11 “ And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut. In Luke 2:22 we read that Mary and Joseph brought their baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem in order to present him before the Lord. In the same way, Paul and Nicole today bring Holly, presenting first themselves, and then their daughter before the Lord our God.
Accompanying them in making this commitment are godparents: Johnny Kraemer and Bailee Kroeger
Paul and Nicole, I call your attention to the commands of God recorded in His Word. Deuteronomy 6: 4-7 tells us: 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
You two first and foremost, are to love God with all your heart and teach Holly to do the same. As you love God, and one another, you will model before Holly a wonderful love for God she will want for herself as she grows.
Paul and Nicole, by coming forward before God and His people, do you hereby declare your desire to dedicate yourselves and daughter, Holly, to the Lord? If so, please respond by saying “we do.”
Having come freely, I ask now that you enter into the following commitment in the presence of God and his people so Holly may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers. Do you Paul and Nicole, vow by God’s help and in partnership with the church-the body of Christ, to provide Holly Rose a Christian home of love and peace, to raise her in the truth of the Lord’s instruction and discipline, and to encourage her to one day trust Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and Lord? (Say We do.)
Modeling this kind of love cannot be done alone. It requires the help of others. For this reason, Paul and Nicole call upon the help of their chosen godparents. I now direct my questions to you. By coming forward before God and his people, do you hereby declare your desire to help Paul and Nicole fulfill the vow they just made by becoming Holly’s godparents? If so, please respond by saying “We do.”
Having come freely, I ask that you enter into the following commitment: so that Holly may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God’s help, to encourage-through praise and guidance, Paul and Nicole in their effort to raise Holly in reverence to the Lord, to uphold them in prayer, and if anything should happen to Paul and Nicole, to assume responsibility in helping Holly receive our Lord’s guidance and instruction? If so, say “we do.”
Grandparents with us today, you play such a key role in loving and supporting Paul and Nicole in this journey to follow the Lord as they raise their family. I ask you to enter into a commitment as well to help Holly walk in the abundant life that Christ offers. Do you vow by God’s help to encourage, support, and lovingly guide Paul and Nicole in their effort to raise Holly in the fear of the Lord, to uphold them, their marriage, and their family in prayer? If so say “we do.”
Finally, I ask that the church, representing Christ’s Church, to make a vow today as well. There’s an old proverb that says, “it takes a village to raise a child.” We know as Christians it takes the body of Christ to raise up a child who knows the Lord and walks in His ways. Parents have first and primary responsibility. But parents need the help and support of the community, the body of Christ, their church family. So I direct my questions now to the church. By being present in God’s house today, do you hereby declare yourselves to be children of God because you trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life? If this is true, please respond by saying “we do.”
Would you please stand? (Church-all Believers) Paul and Nicole feel the strength of the Body with you and network of support through God’s Church. Having come freely, I ask now that you make the following commitment to those who stand before you: So that young Holly may walk in the abundant life that Christ offers, do you vow by God’s help, to be faithful in your calling as members of the body of Christ, to help Paul and Nicole be faithful to God, and to pray for and with this family, to model for Holly the ways of the Lord so that she might one day trust him as Savior and Lord? If you accept this responsibility, please respond by saying, “we do.”
I pray a blessing over Holly and anoint her head with oil.
Pray: Lord, we thank you for the precious gift and life you have given in Holly. We pray that Holly’s heart, like seed sown on good soil, will hear the word-Your Word, accept it, and through Your favor produce a crop—a hundred times what was sown. We pray that You will be her personal shepherd, that she will not be left in need. Lord, make her to lie down in green pastures. May You lead her beside still waters. Restore her soul when it grows weary. May You lead her into paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Even though she will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, may she fear no evil knowing You are with her. May your rod and your staff comfort her. May You prepare a table before her in the presence of her enemies. May You anoint her head with oil. May her cup run over. May goodness and mercy follow her all the days of her life; and we pray that she will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Use us who are present here today Lord, as examples to Holly of what living a life of obedience to you looks like. We pray she finds her joy in You alone! In the name of Jesus, we pray and dedicate Holly Rose Meyers back to you. Amen
Anoint head with oil and lay hands on her
“May the Lord bless you and protect you, May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you favor and give you His peace.”
Let us rejoice with Paul and Nicole in the dedication of their precious daughter! Praise be to God for the wonderful gift He has given them!
Final Song
Final Blessing: Ephesians 3:17-19 May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
