People today are familiar with the Christmas story.

They're just not sure why Jesus came.

That’s what has been covered over by the holiday hype.

The writer of Hebrews sheds a bright light on the “why” of Christmas in Hebrews 10:5-10.,

He starts, “When Christ came into the world…” This is the holy night we sing about and celebrate.

In this passage we learn that Jesus came into world to carry out the will of His Father.

He came to establish the New Covenant.

And he did when he cried out, “It is finished!” from the cross.

And in this New Covenant, God remembers your sins no more.

And he came to make you holy by offering his body once and for all.

This is the “why” of Christmas.

Let’s let the world know. It’s good news.

Categories: Jesus Christ New Covenant Hope

The internet today is filled with fake news.

So it is important not to believe everything you see, hear and read.

The same was true following the days of Jesus.

There were a lot of false messages going around back then.

Fake gospels.

John warned about this in his first letter.

“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”

Here is the test.

Do they teach that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, that he became flesh and dwelled among us.

That’s the sign that they are speaking the truth.

If he didn’t come in the flesh, then we have no gospel, no death, burial or resurrection.

There are people today who say Christ did not come in the flesh.

Don’t believe them. They are not speaking the truth.

Categories: Jesus Christ New Covenant

If you asked an Israelite back in Moses’ day, Where is God’s dwelling place, they would have answered, the tabernacle.

In Solomon’s day, they would have answered, the temple in Jerusalem.

But where is his dwelling place today?

It is not in a temple made by human hands.

On the day of Pentecost he dedicated a new temple, and he filled it with his glory by the giving of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ death on the cross made this reality possible. He cleansed us once and for all so that He could take up residence in our hearts.

So where does God live today? In you and me. We are the temple of God.

As Paul wrote, God’s Spirit live in us.

Categories: Holy Spirit New Covenant

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples they would “be baptized by the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4, 5).

Something significant was going to happen to them.

What, they weren’t sure.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were met by the sound of rushing wind and tongues of fire.

The sound brought Jerusalem to life. People hurried to the place where the disciples had gathered wondering. What is this strange thing that is happening?

Peter offered the words of the prophet Joel — the long awaited gift of God’s Spirit had come. God had a new dwelling place on earth — the hearts of men.

Which means, the day you believed the good news, God found a home in you.

Categories: Holy Spirit New Covenant

Romans 15:7 says to accept one another as Christ accepted you.

Now the word accept means to admit to one’s fellowship, to receive and treat with kindness.

That’s what Jesus did for you.

• He received you unto himself.
• He called you into fellowship and he treated you with kindness.
• He forgave all of your sins.
• He gave you his righteousness and made you holy.
• He made you alive and sent the Holy Spirit to live in you.

His acceptance of you is so binding that nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from his love.

This is how he accepted you.

Today, let me encourage you to take a fresh look at how Christ loves and accepts you.

It will help you accept one another.

Categories: Love New Covenant

What is God going to say about you on the Day of Judgment?

Many believers live in fear that he is going to flash every sinful deed and thought on the heavenly video screen for all to see.

But that’s not true.

In this New Covenant, God remembers your sins no more.

They are gone as far as the east is from the west.

Your sins are not going to be a part of your eternal story.

Why? Because your story is one that has been written by grace through faith in Jesus.

To see what I mean, read Hebrews 11.

Just as God commended those saints of old for their faith, he is going to commend you for your faith in Jesus Christ.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Grace Faith New Covenant

Did you know that Jesus Christ is your high priest?

According to the law, he shouldn’t be.

Priests came through the line of Levi, not the line of Judah.

But God declared him to be a priest, and to be a priest forever.

Now this is important, because when there is a change in the priesthood, there is a change in the law as well.

As a matter of fact, a change in the priesthood necessitated a change in the law.

So when Christ died, offering himself as the final sacrifice to take away our sins, he did what was necessary.

He set aside the first covenant to establish the New Covenant.

And this is the covenant you live in today. A covenant in which God remembers you sins no more.

Categories: Jesus Christ New Covenant

When God made a promise to Abraham, he sealed that promise with an oath.

Now for us we swear by something greater than ourselves. But since there is no one greater than God he swore the oath to himself.

The same is true concerning the promise he made to you. The New Covenant.

He guaranteed this covenant with an oath.

And oath that shows you as an heir of his promise the unchangeable, unshakable character of his purpose for you.

Which means that when Christ through his sacrifice made you perfect, He made you perfect forever.

His oath guarantees that this is true of you eternally.

Now the writer of Hebrews calls this oath the stedfast anchor or your soul.

I call it good news.

Categories: New Covenant Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is your high priest.

Now this is a strange truth to many of us.

We’re not sure what it means.

But the writer of Hebrews explains it this way.

Jesus was appointed by God to act on your behalf in relation to Him.

So here is what he did on your behalf.

He offered himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins once and for all.

And as Paul wrote, he became obedient even to the point of death.

Now through that death he became for you the source of eternal salvation.

This could have never happened through the priests of old, or any other priest.

Only Jesus.

He acted on your behalf to save you eternally.

Aren’t you glad Jesus is your high priest.

Categories: Jesus Christ New Covenant

What is your greatest fear?

For most people, public speaking tops the list.

But there is a fear that ensnares all of us — the fear of death.

We don’t talk about this fear much. It just sits in the background of our lives.

But it is there, and it’s real.

Because we know that once we die we will face judgment.

And that’s what we really fear. But we don’t have to.

Jesus took away our sins once and for all. And he destroyed the one who has power over death.

So in him the judgment is eternal life.

Rest in this truth and you will break free from that fear of death.

Categories: Jesus Christ New Covenant