Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
6 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.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for he shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
MEMORY VERSE: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them. – Hebrews 10:16
CENTRAL THOUGHT: The laws of God are no longer a written set of rules that we must obey, but in Christ Jesus the Holy Spirit writes the laws of God upon the tables of our heart, with His power and love blending and harmonizing the holiness of the Lord with the humble, yielded soul.
LESSON BACKGROUND
The epistle to the Hebrews seems to be a special message to the Jews revealing the change from the Old Testament to the New, from the old law system to that which is through the grace of God. Paul is most generally regarded as the author, although some have speculated that the author could have been Apollos. But regardless of who wrote this wonderful book, it was surely inspired and anointed of God.
While Moses was upon the holy mount receiving the commandments and pattern for the worship of God, he received two tables of stone whereon was written, by the finger of God, the ten commandments. Upon returning to the camp of Israel, he was dismayed and sad to see the people worshiping the golden calf. In his wrath, Moses cast the two tables of stone to the ground, breaking them to pieces. Later God called Moses up again unto the mount, and Moses hewed out two tables of stone and the commandments were written again on these stones. When Moses returned from the second stay in the mount, his face shone so brightly with the glory of God that the people could not look upon him.
In the lesson for today, the law was termed a covenant. But now we see a new covenant being made, in Christ Jesus, with all who are saved in Him. This time, instead of on tables of stone, the laws of God are inscribed upon the tables of the heart of man. This means that God’s law of holiness and righteousness is impressed vividly upon the affections and desires. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the new covenant. This is where the law of God should be. Merely to have the law written out to be obeyed is not enough. The soul of man must be cleansed from sin and the truth written indelibly upon the heart and mind. This is accomplished in the New Testament plan of salvation wherein the soul is saved and sanctified by the Spirit of God.
—Bro. Leslie Busbee
QUESTIONS:
- Why did the law written on stones fail?
- In Christ, where are the laws of God written now?
- What is the difference between the two?
- Who writes the law upon the heart?
- What is the result in the life of one who has the laws of God written upon his heart?
COMMENTS AND APPLICATION
Oh, the wonderful truth of our lesson today! We are living in the time of abounding grace; there is no excuse for disobedience and sin today. God has not only commanded, but He has provided the wonderful free gift of righteousness, justifying us without the deeds of the law, and has sent the Holy Spirit, making Him available to all.
The Holy Spirit coming into the soul to take up His sacred abode brings power and inspiration to do and to be. The Holy Spirit burns in holy love a standard of purity and holiness that is well-pleasing in God’s sight—right in the soul of man. Sin is purged out and the love of God reigns supreme. There is no desire to do wrong. What temptations come by way of the flesh are subdued and overcome. Thus we are victorious over sin and death. ”The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). We overcome all things through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who has conquered sin and the power of death. We are thus delivered from our enemies and the power of Satan so that we can live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world.
See how firm and sure this is. See how uncertain and shaky the old system was. See how souls did fail under that way of the law! It was impossible to live up to the law, but in Christ Jesus the power of the Holy Spirit is made available to us. Oh, how we need to consecrate our lives and yield our all to Him! He wants to sanctify the soul and make us His sacred dwelling. He wants to write upon every heart the laws and commandments of the Lord. Hereby the commandments of God are not grievous: the love of Christ constrains us.
Look at the new covenant and compare it with the old. Behold, today this principle still is true. Trying to live for God in our own strength is to be under the law. It will generate bondage and self-righteousness and pride; but, to fully realize our helplessness and plead for the mercy and grace of God will qualify us for receiving the grace of God and the gift of righteousness. Thus, the laws of God are written and imprinted upon the mind and heart. We can live for God victoriously.
—Bro. Leslie Busbee
REFLECTIONS
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” These words were penned by Zechariah, from the Lord, to Zerubbabel. This message is so important for us to remember today. Zechariah 4:7 says, “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain…”
Are there some big things opposing us, keeping us from accomplishing the will of God in our lives? Perhaps it is a big mountain of fear; fear of people or fear of the unknown. Perhaps it something in our personality that we have struggled with over and over, and it has hindered us on more than one occasion. Zerubbabel had a mountain in front of him, but God was going to give victory and turn it into a plain. Mountains can be intimidating and seemingly insurmountable.
Jesus’ disciples on an occasion were unsuccessful in casting out a devil. They asked Jesus and He said, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20). The Lord wants us to overcome all hindrances that would hinder us from the will of God, whether they be in us or out in front of us. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Caleb, at 85 years of age, said, “Give me this mountain” (Joshua 14:12).
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.” Let us take our eyes off of our insufficiencies and trust and believe in the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
–Bro. Bob Wilson
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