Sermon Breviary: Better in Every Way | Hebrews 8
Hebrews 8 proclaims the heart of the gospel: Jesus is our great High Priest who mediates a better covenant, grounded in better promises, offering a better hope. Unlike the old covenant, which was external, provisional, and dependent on human obedience, the new covenant is internal, eternal, and secured by Christ Himself.
We are told that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God—not because His priestly work is paused, but because it is finished. He ministers not in a shadowy earthly tabernacle, but in the true heavenly one. The old covenant, with its laws and sacrifices, served as a copy—a placeholder pointing to something greater. That greater reality is Christ Himself.
Where the old covenant revealed our sin, the new covenant removes it. Where the old kept us at a distance, the new brings us near. God’s law is now written on our hearts, not stone tablets. We no longer strive to earn His favor—He has poured out mercy and remembers our sins no more.
This covenant means personal transformation. You are not just forgiven—you are made new. You don’t just follow rules—you walk with God. You aren’t held at arm’s length—you are welcomed as His beloved. And this is true not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done for you.
Application:
- Stop striving to earn what Christ has already accomplished.
- Shake off guilt that Jesus has already carried to the cross.
- Cease fearing God as a distant judge—know Him as your merciful Father.
- Live as one truly loved, completely forgiven, and deeply transformed.
- Live under the new covenant. Let go of fear-driven religion and walk in Spirit-powered obedience. Trust in the finished work of your better High Priest. Let His ministry of mercy shape your prayers, your repentance, your relationships, and your rest.
Come to Jesus—not to perform, but to be changed. The way to God is not closed. The veil is torn. The invitation stands.
You already have the Priest you need. So, come boldly. Come freely. Come today.