In this lesson we consider the question: Why was the New Covenant Needed? (Heb 8:6-8).

Why was the New Covenant Needed?

1 There had to be a better covenant

• God's plan was in God's mind before creation (1Pe 1:20).
• Christ's death as an atonement for sin was the crux of God's purpose (Act 2:23-24).
• Reason dictates a change of covenants would occur at this event (Heb 7:22-271:8, cf Heb 7:12).
• The old covenant was a preparation for the coming of Christ (Gal 3:24-25).
• The old covenant (the law of Moses) did not have the means to take away sin (Heb 10:3-4).

2 There had to be a clearer revelation

• What was a secret had to be made manifest (Rom 16:25-26).
• What was a mystery had to be made known (Eph 1:9,1:8, 2Co3:16-17).
• The ancient questions had to be answered (1Pe 1:10-12).
• The shadows had to give way to the real (Heb 10:1).

3 There had to be a fuller freedom to live by faith

• It's always been true that "The just shall live by faith" (Hab 2:4).
• People were living by faith before the old covenant was in force (Heb 11:4-11).
• The old covenant law did not do much to help people live by faith (Gal 3:10-14).
• There was need of a covenant that could be written in the heart (Jer 31:31-33).

4 There had to be a way into the true tabernacle

• It's always been possible to pray personally to God.
• Hannah (Samuel's mother) did this (1Sm 1:1-18).
• But earthly tabernacle kept God at a distance (Heb 9:2-3,11).
• A new covenant was needed to provide a veil for entrance into the most holy place, instead of a veil that barred it (Heb10:19-20).

5 There had to be equal rights for all nations to come to God

• It's always been possible for Gentiles to be converted (Ruth 1:16,1:8, Mtt 23:15,1:8, Act 2:10b).
• But the "fullness of the Gentiles" had to come (Rom 11:25,1:8, Gal 3:14).
• Believers had to be "all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:26-29).
• There had to be "One flock with one Shepherd" (Jhn 10:16).