In "Covenant Promises," Don Fortner explores the doctrine of the New Covenant as revealed in Hebrews 8:9-13. He articulates five key promises from God that reflect His grace and are securely applied to the elect, emphasizing that these promises are grounded in God's sovereign choice and the atoning work of Christ. Fortner discusses how these promises contrast with the Old Covenant, highlighting that the New Covenant establishes an intimate relationship between God and His people, making all believers participants in a new priesthood and access to God. He supports his arguments by referencing Scripture such as Romans 2:14-15, 1 John 2:20, and 1 John 1:8-10, illustrating the security of God's promises and His forgiving nature toward sin. The practical significance of these doctrines lies in their assurance of eternal security and a deepened relationship with God, as they reaffirm that believers are no longer bound by the law but are embraced by God's grace.
Key Quotes
“These are promises steadfast and sure to all God's elect promises of grace flowing freely to chosen sinners according as God hath chosen us in Christ before the world began.”
“God will pardon freely those to whom he is reconciled in Christ. This forgiveness of sin is more than an act of mercy. It is an act of justice.”
“They are cast into the depths of the sea. They are cast behind his back. They cannot be found ever.”
“The establishing of the new covenant was the abolishment of the Levitical covenant.”
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: put...: Gr. give in...: Or, upon And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. - Hebrews 8:9-13Covenant Promises
In these verses God the Holy Spirit gives us five, blessed covenant promises, promises and blessings of grace which the Lord our God declared from old eternity. These are promises “steadfast and sure” to all God’s elect, promises of grace flowing freely to chosen sinners, “according as God hath chosen us in Christ before the world began.” This is what the Lord God declared he would do for all his people in this Gospel day by his free, sovereign, saving grace in Christ. These are matters as infallibly secure to God’s elect as the very throne of God himself.
1. “I will put my laws in their minds and write them in their hearts.” -- God’s laws here cannot possibly have reference merely to the moral law. We know that because God’s moral law is inscribed upon every man’s conscience by nature in creation (Rom. 2:14-15; 1:18-20).
The laws of God here refer to the commandments of the Gospel, all the commands of Christ with respect to repentance, faith and godliness (1 John 3:23-24). Indeed, the whole Word of God is included. Saving grace gives the believer a genuine love for the whole of God’s Revelation and causes us to cherish it.
These things are written not on tablets of stone, but on every believer’s heart and mind. Believers think on the things of God, meditate upon them, love his Word and his way, and walk in the light of his revealed will. “I love thy law, O Lord!” His commandments are not grievous, but precious to the renewed heart (Matt. 11:28-30; 1 John 5:1-4).
2. “I will be to them their God and they shall be my people.” -- He who is our God is the God of all creation. He is the God of all men, all angels, and all devils. But this is a promise of special grace, special grace, indeed!
Here God almighty promises that he is the God of his covenant people, just as he is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus (John 17:21; 1 John 1:3). Yes, we who believe on Christ are his people in the sense that all mankind are his people; but this is a promise of grace. It goes far, far beyond man’s creature relationship to God. We are the sons of God, whom he loved distinctly and chose in Christ. We are the family of God (Rom. 8:14-17; 1 John 3:1-3).
3. They “all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” -- Hebrews 1:1 sheds some light on this. In the Old Testament, God spoke to his people through the prophets and the priests. If a man wanted to know what the Lord had to say, he inquired of the prophet. If he wanted to offer a sacrifice, he went to the priest. That is not the case in this gospel age. Every believer has an unction from the Holy One (1 John 2:20). We all have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:14-16).
All who are born of God are taught of God; and all who are taught of God are well-taught. They are taught to come to Christ for all things (John 6:44-45). -- Every believer is a son of God by adoption. -- Every believer is a student of the Word. -- Every believer is taught of God. -- Every believer is a priest to offer sacrifices of prayer and praise. -- Every believer has the Spirit of God dwelling in him. – Every believer has the mind of Christ and discerns all things.
The Lord Jesus today has given his church pastors and teachers that we may grow in grace through the ministry of the Word; but those pastors are not priests. All believers know the Lord, pray to the Lord, and walk with the Lord. In Christ, we are kings and priests unto God (Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-22; Rev. 1:4-6).
4. “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.” -- This refers to our sin. All unrighteousness is sin. The phrase tells us that God will forgive our sins (1 John 1:8-10). God will pardon freely those to whom he is reconciled in Christ. This forgiveness of sin is more than an act of mercy. It is an act of justice. Christ has paid for our sins (1 John 2:1,2). When the Lord God forgives sin he is “faithful and just” in doing so.
5. “Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.” -- What a blessed promise of grace this is! God remembers our sins no more! All our sins of all kinds: -- original and actual, before conversion and after conversion, God remembers them no more! They are cast into the depths of the sea. They are cast behind his back. They cannot be found -- ever!
Then, in verse 13, the Holy Spirit tells us one last thing about the old covenant. Learn it and learn it well. – That old, carnal, legal covenant is gone forever! “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”
The establishing of the new covenant was the abolishment of the Levitical covenant. It served its day and purpose; but it is now taken away, never to be used again. As a garment rots and vanishes away, so that old garment of law and works has been put away forever (Gal. 5:1-6). “Christ is the end of the law!”
“Children of God, O glorious calling!
Surely His grace will keep us from falling!
Passing from death to life at His call,
Blessed salvation, once for all!”
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