Hebrews 8:10

Hebrews 8:10

The Holy Spirit writes His Word in our minds and on our hearts

The Old Covenant was exclusively with Israel, although it was intended to be a source of truth and inspiration to the whole world. Whilst the Israelites were God’s chosen people, they were not meant to keep that relationship just to themselves, God intended that they should be a light to everyone on the planet, that those who sought after Him could find truth through the Hebrew Scriptures. The most obvious benefit of the New Covenant, as opposed to the Old, was that instead of having to consult and pour over pages of written instructions, God has chosen to write its terms and conditions on our hearts. In this context we are all the people of Israel. Jacob was given this name after he spent a night wrestling with a divine being and Israel means, “One who struggles with God.” Isn’t that true of all of us? 

Ezekiel elaborates on the New Covenant relationship when he prophesies the return of the people to their land, notice the harmony between Ezekiel and Jeremiah. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27.

The Apostle Paul picks up a similar theme, “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4. Those words are a brilliant summary of the difference between the two Covenants and the tension between the law, the flesh and the Spirit.  

This verse goes on to assure us all, Jew and Gentile, that those who live under the New Covenant will have an intimate relationship with their Maker for “He will be our God and we will be his people.” Hallelujah!

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