Understanding the Covenant: Renewal, Transformation, and Love
Summary
The essence of our faith journey is deeply rooted in understanding the covenant that God has established with humanity. This covenant, as I argue, is not a series of separate agreements but a singular, continuous promise that God has made, beginning with figures like Noah and Abraham and finding its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The notion of a "new covenant" often misinterpreted, is not about replacement but renewal and transformation. This understanding challenges us to critically engage with Scripture, recognizing that the Bible, while divinely inspired, is a complex collection of texts that sometimes present tensions and contradictions.
In Hebrews, we see the portrayal of Jesus as the high priest, a mediator of a better covenant, which is enacted through better promises. This is not to say that the old covenant was flawed, but rather that it was incomplete without the fulfillment brought by Christ. The epistles, particularly Hebrews, have been used historically to justify harmful theologies, such as replacement theology, which have led to anti-Semitic behaviors. It is crucial to approach these texts with a critical mind, understanding the historical and cultural contexts in which they were written.
Paul's writings, especially in Corinthians and Romans, offer a profound insight into the nature of faith and love. He speaks of moving from childish ways to mature understanding, emphasizing that faith, hope, and love are foundational, with love being the greatest. This love is not superficial but sacrificial, demanding a commitment to the well-being of others. Paul's journey from a persecutor to a proponent of the faith illustrates the transformative power of the covenant and the necessity of continual growth and learning in our spiritual lives.
The covenant is not just a historical or communal concept but a personal one, calling each of us to a transformation of the heart. It is through Christ's death and resurrection that we find the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This covenant is eternal, inviting us into a relationship with God that is both personal and communal, grounded in love and service.
Key Takeaways:
1. The covenant is a singular, continuous promise from God, not a series of separate agreements. It finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, emphasizing renewal and transformation rather than replacement. This understanding challenges us to engage critically with Scripture, recognizing its complexities and tensions. [02:04]
2. Hebrews presents Jesus as the high priest and mediator of a better covenant, enacted through better promises. This does not imply the old covenant was flawed but highlights its fulfillment in Christ. Understanding this helps us avoid harmful theologies like replacement theology. [03:51]
3. Paul's writings, particularly in Corinthians, emphasize the transition from childish ways to mature understanding, with faith, hope, and love as foundational elements. Love, being the greatest, is sacrificial and demands commitment to others' well-being. [07:32]
4. The covenant is personal, calling for a transformation of the heart. Through Christ's death and resurrection, we find forgiveness and reconciliation with God, making the covenant eternal and inviting us into a personal and communal relationship with God. [10:18]
5. A strong, resilient faith requires a critical and open-minded approach to Scripture, constantly learning and growing. Paul's journey from persecutor to proponent illustrates the transformative power of the covenant and the necessity of continual spiritual growth. [09:08]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:47] - Introduction to Hebrews 8
[02:04] - The Better Covenant
[03:51] - Tension Between Epistles and Gospels
[04:27] - Critical Engagement with Scripture
[05:21] - Paul's Transformation and Teachings
[07:32] - The Nature of Love in Corinthians
[09:08] - The Problem with Replacement Theology
[10:18] - The Personal Call of the Covenant
[11:45] - The Eternal Nature of the Covenant
[13:00] - Conclusion and Call to Transformation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 8:1-7 - This passage introduces Jesus as the high priest and mediator of a better covenant.
2. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 - Paul discusses the transition from childish ways to mature understanding, emphasizing faith, hope, and love.
3. Romans 11:25-26 - Paul speaks about the mystery of Israel's hardening and the inclusion of the Gentiles.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 8:1-7 say about the role of Jesus as a high priest and the nature of the covenant he mediates? [00:47]
2. In 1 Corinthians 13:11-13, how does Paul describe the transition from childhood to adulthood in terms of understanding faith, hope, and love? [05:21]
3. According to Romans 11:25-26, what mystery does Paul want the believers to understand regarding Israel and the Gentiles? [10:18]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the old and new covenants, and what is the significance of this understanding? [03:51]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the portrayal of Jesus as a high priest in Hebrews 8 challenge or affirm traditional views of the covenant? [00:47]
2. What does Paul's emphasis on love as the greatest of faith, hope, and love in 1 Corinthians 13 suggest about the nature of Christian maturity? [07:32]
3. How does the sermon suggest that understanding the historical and cultural context of biblical texts can prevent harmful theologies? [03:51]
4. In what ways does the sermon propose that the covenant is both a communal and personal call to transformation? [10:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your understanding of the covenant. How does viewing it as a singular, continuous promise from God change your perspective on your faith journey? [02:04]
2. How can you critically engage with Scripture in a way that respects its complexities and avoids proof-texting? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding? [04:27]
3. In what ways can you embody the sacrificial love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13 in your relationships? Identify a specific relationship where you can apply this. [07:32]
4. How does the idea of a personal transformation of the heart resonate with your current spiritual journey? What specific changes do you feel called to make? [10:18]
5. Consider the historical misuse of certain biblical texts to justify harmful behaviors. How can you ensure that your interpretation of Scripture promotes love and reconciliation? [09:08]
6. Reflect on a time when you experienced a crisis of faith. How did it lead to growth, and what role did the covenant play in your journey back to faith? [10:18]
7. How can you actively participate in a community that supports both personal and communal transformation through the covenant? What role can you play in fostering this environment? [10:18]
Devotional
Day 1: The Covenant as a Continuous Promise
The covenant God has established with humanity is not a series of separate agreements but a singular, continuous promise that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This understanding challenges believers to engage critically with Scripture, recognizing its complexities and tensions. The notion of a "new covenant" is often misinterpreted as a replacement, but it is about renewal and transformation. This perspective invites a deeper exploration of the Bible, acknowledging that while it is divinely inspired, it is also a complex collection of texts that sometimes present tensions and contradictions. [02:04]
Jeremiah 31:31-33 (ESV): "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Reflection: How can you engage more critically with Scripture this week, seeking to understand its complexities and the continuous promise of God's covenant?
Day 2: Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Covenant
In the book of Hebrews, Jesus is portrayed as the high priest and mediator of a better covenant, enacted through better promises. This does not imply that the old covenant was flawed but highlights its fulfillment in Christ. Understanding this helps avoid harmful theologies like replacement theology, which have historically led to anti-Semitic behaviors. It is crucial to approach these texts with a critical mind, understanding the historical and cultural contexts in which they were written. [03:51]
Hebrews 8:6-7 (ESV): "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. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second."
Reflection: What steps can you take to better understand the historical and cultural contexts of the Bible, particularly in relation to the covenants?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Love
Paul's writings, especially in Corinthians, emphasize the transition from childish ways to mature understanding, with faith, hope, and love as foundational elements. Love, being the greatest, is sacrificial and demands a commitment to others' well-being. This love is not superficial but requires a deep, sacrificial commitment to the well-being of others. Paul's journey from a persecutor to a proponent of the faith illustrates the transformative power of the covenant and the necessity of continual growth and learning in our spiritual lives. [07:32]
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 (ESV): "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
Reflection: Who in your life can you show sacrificial love to today, and what specific action can you take to demonstrate this love?
Day 4: The Personal Call of the Covenant
The covenant is not just a historical or communal concept but a personal one, calling each individual to a transformation of the heart. Through Christ's death and resurrection, believers find the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This covenant is eternal, inviting individuals into a relationship with God that is both personal and communal, grounded in love and service. [10:18]
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
Reflection: In what ways can you open your heart to God's transformative power today, allowing His Spirit to guide your actions and decisions?
Day 5: Continual Spiritual Growth
A strong, resilient faith requires a critical and open-minded approach to Scripture, constantly learning and growing. Paul's journey from persecutor to proponent illustrates the transformative power of the covenant and the necessity of continual spiritual growth. This journey of faith is marked by a commitment to learning and growing, both personally and communally, in understanding God's promises and living them out in daily life. [09:08]
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel called to grow? How can you take a step towards that growth this week?
Quotes
"We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, minister in the sanctuary and the true tent that the Lord, and not any mortal, has set up. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices." [00:00:08] (23 seconds)
"But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry. And to that degree, he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one." [00:01:05] (20 seconds)
"For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant." [00:01:45] (19 seconds)
"I'm trying to make the argument that indeed there is one covenant. And last Sunday we looked at how Jesus sort of respond, responded to this notion of a new covenant. And I challenged the notion that that he represented a new covenant. In fact, I talked about and argued that the scriptural reference that that is at the heart of the Gospels is a renewal." [00:02:45] (23 seconds)
"And so to that end, we have this tricky little problem that the epistles don't line up. Necessarily. With the gospel witness. I could have pointed to you other epistle writings that talk about a new covenant replacing the old. So here's the challenge for us. It's a tension if you like." [00:03:51] (23 seconds)
"Is how to better understand the interpretation and authority of Scripture in light of the dominant themes. And that's what we're painting. We're painting a picture this with constructing creative the dominant themes of of of like strong, resilient Christian faith." [00:05:04] (18 seconds)
"And one of those things that I think is absolutely essential is having a critical mind, a critical awareness about what is being read, seeing the bigger picture, not taking text and blowing it out of context and therefore proof texting. So Hebrews has been used for centuries to really silence this notion of a strong Judeo-Christian, underlying strong Judeo-Christian foundation, Judeo-Christian set of principles about the Bible." [00:05:21] (37 seconds)
"And now faith, hope and love abide. See those foundational ideas? Faith, hope and love. Abide. These three and the greatest of these is love. How many weddings I've conducted where the bride and groom have said, can you please read from 1 Corinthians 13? Love is, and we go through the whole. And they get a little uneasy when I always say to them, but yeah, it's not exactly what you think it means." [00:07:03] (29 seconds)
"Is is it does it line up with this notion of a of a loving monogamous? Committed relationship where there is this sense of of sacrifice to the for the others, the benefit of others, and then together that builds a truly loving relationship. What does that have to do with why did Paul talk about going from childish ways to adult ways and like, what's the connect?" [00:08:03] (26 seconds)
"This is that this is the truth, but it doesn't line up with what Paul says in some of his other letters. Why is that a problem? Well, first of all, I've already talked to you about how I think it has promoted a very dangerous theology throughout the centuries in Christian churches. The replacement theology, which has led to considerable violence and conflict." [00:09:08] (23 seconds)
"but do so in a very critical way not in a in a in a belligerent way not in a in an arrogant way but constantly keep learning constantly keep exploring" [00:13:19] (19 seconds)
"it he was transformed by it and he came to a deeper place of understanding and wisdom about it and I submit to you kind of maybe we could do the same thing in our own lives no I'm not expecting you to go off on 13 -year journeys as an evangelist and but but I think there's still some real kernel of substance to what he's saying so I think as I read the epistles and I could go into Lamar did about other passages and I but I use these passages kind of as a form of an example of what I'm talking about I I believe as we sort of round out the picture of the Covenant I do as I argued from the very beginning I believe in one covenant and I believe that that one covenant is foundational it is eternal and and I believe that is fulfilled in Christ and we talked about that word last Sunday the word filled is to be made complete so the exemplary example of to be fulfilled in Christ means not to replace it but to call for its renewal in our hearts and that's where Jeremiah comes in we talked about Jeremiah I believe this one covenant does begin to become a global vision the inclusion of Gentiles is part of this of this continued revelation of God through this notion of a strong covenanted bond I believe that this covenant is for each and every one of us it's not just for a whole community it's for each and every one of us and it involves a transformation of the world. of our hearts and it is the work of the spirit to make that happen so it's not something you can pass off if you want to to build a strong resilient christian faith that that change of heart that inward transformation is essential and when you think it's too much when you think it's overwhelming i believe this this covenant is made possible by christ's death and resurrection because it it secures for us two foundational ideas the forgiveness of whatever else is going on in your life and the possibility of a reconciliation a coming back a repentance in its full definition of that word repentance and reconciliation with god so the covenant holds it's still with us and as i offer let me offer you these concluding words as a kind of building block for that whole idea the timeless and eternal nature of the almighty god one true god brings into existence jesus the christ who represents the perfection of the sacred covenant that is first established with the israelite people and then extended and confirmed for all humanity amen" [00:17:05] (0 seconds)
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