Our Covenant of Faith Part 8

     In the new covenant that the Father set up through Jesus, everything that is to be received must be received by faith.  There is no more sacrifice in this new covenant, but everything depends on our faith in the one sacrifice for all time. Hebrews 9:24-26 (Amplified Bible).  Verse 26(Amplified) says "then He often had to suffer (over and over again) since the foundation of the world.  But as it is now, He has once for all the consummation and the close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice (of Himself)."
 
    Through the ages men have tried to live up to the expectations that they placed on themselves by our own sin conscience.  No matter what we did we always fell short in our own eyes of measuring up to what we and the Father wanted.  Romans 3:10 (Amplified) declared that "none were righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no not one."  In Hebrews 10:1-4 (Amplified)  especially verse 3 even though they made the sacrifice it only brought a fresh remembrance of sins (to be atoned for).

     We find this truth of the new covenant in Hebrews 11:1(Amplified).  The thing that sacrifice and offerings of bulls and goats couldn't bring to pass (which was acceptance before God and our own conscience was now obtainable by faith.  In Hebrews 11:1 we read that "now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things (we) hope for.  Being proof of things (we) don't see and the conviction of our reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."
   
      So we see now that the ability to be able to approach the Father (as our Father) doesn't come by works, sacrifice or any other means but faith.  So now through the sacrifice of Jesus, everything we (and God) ever wanted (to become in right standing with Him) has been granted; but only by faith.
   
      This covenant of faith has with it, one drawback  found in Hebrews 10:35-36 (Amplified) which says "Do not therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carried a great and glorious compensation of reward verse 36 for you have need of steadfast patience (the word patience is translated to the word consistence) and endurance so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God and thus receive and carry away (and enjoy to the full) what is promised."  Verse 37 says that "all the things He promised would be fulfilled when Jesus actually returns."  That doesn't mean that the promises are all laid up for that  time,but that the fullness of the promise can't be accomplished until then.  The promise of the resurrection of the dead and the body of glory that Jesus promised isn't obtainable until His coming according to 1 Thess. 4:13-18 (Amplified).  This promise is the one that we wait for and hold onto to by patience and faith.  All of the other promises of this new covenant are for here as well as there.
   
      Certainly the promise of healing will be fulfilled when we reach heaven, but that part of the covenant is also for our mortal bodies.  As Jesus rose from the dead and entered into the Heavenly Holy of Holies by His own blood, we have received by faith what nothing else can accomplish, the clear conscience and boldness to dare and believe that through Jesus we are accepted and welcomed by the Father.  Hebrews 10:18-23(Amplified).
   
       Now it's not a matter of not being good enough or too unworthy or being left behind and included into.  It's simply having faith in the sacrifice that God Himself has provided.  Hebrews 10:5(Amplified) tells us "Hence when He (Christ) entered into the world, He said 'Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead You have made ready a body for me (to offer).'"
 
        What's left for us to do is to believe in that sacrifice.  Romans 10:6-9 (Amplified) tells us  "the righteousness based on faith (imputed by God and bringing right relationship with Him) says, ''Do not say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven?  that is, to bring Christ down.'" verse 7 "or who will ascend into the abyss?  that is to bring Christ up from the dead (as if we could be saved by our own efforts."  verse 8"But what does it say?  The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart;  That is the Word (the message, the basis and the object) of faith which we preach."

        When I got born again, Jesus didn't have to go to the cross again.  I only had to have faith in the fact that He went for me.  When I needed healing, Jesus didn't have to be whipped again.  I only had to have faith in His sacrifice.  When I needed to be forgiven, made righteous and acceptable,Jesus didn't need to be sacrificed all over again.  I only had to have faith in what He had already done.  As we saw before in Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) "Now faith ( in the sacrifice) is the substance of things hoped for."  My faith in His sacrifice is the only evidence I need.  He doesn't have to come down from heaven and touch me.  And, He doesn't have to be raised again from the dead to bring my healing.  All that is required of me is to have faith that the sacrifice of Jesus is more than enough for my every need to be met.

       The first covenant was made with men who couldn't fulfill it.  The second covenant (faith covenant) was made between God and Jesus.  Hebrews 6:16-18 (Amplified) says "by two unchangeable things (His promise and His oath) in which it's impossible for God to ever prove false or deceive us, we have fled (to Him) for refuge that we might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hoped appointed for us and set before us."