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HEBREWS 8:6 

"THE BETTER COVENANT"

I. THE PURPOSE OF THE COVENANT.
        A. To establish the basis for fellowship.
                1. Sin had thwarted the purpose of God for man (fellowship).
                2. God sought to restore man to fellowship.
        B. To put away sin.

II. GOD'S FIRST COVENANT WITH ISRAEL (THE LAW).
        A. Predicated upon man's obedience.
                1. Thou shalt, thou shalt not.
                2. If thou shalt keep my statutes.
        B. This covenant failed.
                1. Verse 13, is ready to vanish away.
                2. It has vanished away.
                        a. After 70 A .D. no more sacrifice for sin.
                        b. "Without the shedding of blood no forgiveness of sin."
                3. The Jews today have sought to substitute their own good works.
                        a. This is to follow after Cain.
                        b. This is to ignore their prophets.
                                1. "Our righteousness is as filthy rags."
                                2. "They have forsaken the fountain..."
        C. The reason for the failure.
                1. It depended on man's faithfulness.
                2. The law was good, it is right.
                        a. I should live by these rules, but I can't.

III. THE NEW COVENANT WITH ISRAEL.
        A. Better covenant established upon better promises.
                1. If the first covenant worked, no need for new.
        B. This new covenant predicated upon God's faithfulness.
                1. I will, I will, I will.
                2. I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts.
                        a. This means He will direct by the desires He places within.
                        b. Statement to missionaries in New Guinea.
                3. I will be to them a God.
                        a. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.
                        b. I will remember their sin no more.
        C. The new covenant cannot fail.
                1. Because it is based upon God's faithfulness.
                2. If God said He would do it, you can be sure He will.

IV. THE CONTRASTS OF THE COVENANTS.
        A. Old covenant a legal covenant that brought man into a legal relationship  with God.
                1. New covenant a covenant of love bringing man into a loving  relationship 
                   with God.
        B. In the old covenant, the laws were written on tables of stone.
                1. In the new covenant law written upon our hearts.
        C. In old covenant sins were covered by the sacrifice of animals.
                1. New covenant sins are put away by sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
        D. Old covenant based upon mans faithfulness.
                1. New covenant based upon God's faithfulness.

Some still trying to relate to God through laws.

Hoping to be good enough.

How much better to related to Him through grace.