This Week’s Focus Passage: Psalm 8:4

‘What is man, that thou art mindful of him?’

    It is, we might say, something of a shame that Kris Kristofferson did not use biblical language in his extremely popular song of the seventies, ‘Why me, Lord?” It is a remarkably fine, and excellent, question that every heart, of every individual, that has experienced the blessed activity of God, the Holy Spirit, through the sovereign grace of Jehovah, Father God, in their very own lives, when He regenerated the heart of an elect, chosen sinner, granting that person, according to the New Covenant promise of God, spoken of, and written by both Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, in their respective books of prophecy. Yea, in the Jeremiah passage, to be found in chapter 31, and verse 31; that makes it easy to remember, doesn’t it? Let us enjoy its remembrance:

Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.-Jeremiah 31:31-34.

In Hebrews, chapter 8, we may read, beginning at the first verse, these words.

Now in the things which we are saying, the chief point is this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man. For every  high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that this high priest have somewhat to offer.—Heb.8:1-3.

    Now the question remaining is this; just who is this high priest of whom the writer to the Hebrews has spoken of here in connection with the new covenant? For it is conspicuous that this writer has written these words as something of a preface to his speaking of a new covenant, for he has said, in verses 7-8; For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he saith: and now, in verses 8-12, the human penman writes, almost verbatim, Jeremiah 31:31-34; that is, the New Covenant, which Jehovah had pronounced to Jeremiah, the prophet. Notice all the statements of Jehovah, which begin with “I will.” This is simply because, “You can’t.” “You can’t.”

Consider the “I wills,” if you will. (pun intended, for sure). Jehovah begins with, I will make a new covenant. This is the covenant that I will make. I will put my law in their inward parts. In their hearts will I write it. I will be their God. I will forgive their iniquity. Their sin will I remember no more.  These are the blessed promises that Jehovah God has made in this New Covenant. Are they not precious before our eyes? There is nothing that a man can do. It is all the sovereign, saving grace of Jehovah God through the blood of Jesus. Sadly, there are those proclaiming the ability of mankind to save themselves. Jesus Saves! Just Believe! But the actual truth is that mankind cannot believe.

Jesus Himself has said; and it is written by the evangelist, John, in John 6:44; No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.

    An example, of one of the “YOU CAN DO IT” Gospels is set below:

“In God’s eyes today, you are made perfectly righteous by Jesus’ finished work. The New Covenant’s emphasis is to believe that you are forgiven of every sin and that God has erased them from His memory. If you don’t believe this it will be impossible for you to depend on and expect God to protect, provide for and prosper you. If you don’t believe this, it will rob you of the ability to receive His goodness, blessings, unmerited favor, and success in your life. So believe. Only believe!” 

    Thankfully, a contrary, and true, Gospel is provided in the Word of God; and the very same chapter of Jeremiah at which we have been looking.

Enjoy, please, this blessed declaration from the Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort, in verse 3, we may read: Jehovah appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefor with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. And verse 18; Turn thou me and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented. The regenerating grace of God provides a new heart, granting both repentance and faith; repentance to turn, and faith to come to God through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, slain from before the foundation of the world. Hallelujah, What a Savior.

David Farmer, elder

Fellowship Bible Church