GOD'S PROMISE TO BELIEVERS

Proclamation:

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares The Lord.  I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be My people.  No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know The Lord,' because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.  For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.  By calling this covenant 'new,' He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear."  Hebrews 8:10-13 (NIV)

Explanation:

Here the unknown author of The Bible Book of Hebrews is quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34 regarding the "new covenant."  This covenant was made with the people of God. It is a promise which is based upon a spiritual change within the believer.  The new covenant bring with it the forgiveness of sins.  The first covenant was written in stone and failed because the people turned away from God.  The new covenant will be written in the hearts and minds of believers and is not dependent upon human behavior.

Application:

The new covenant promises us forgiveness of our sins.  Once we confess our sins, and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and accept Christ as our personal savior, we are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)  Our wickedness and sins are forgiven. (1 John 1:9)  Once saved, we will be judged based upon what we did that gave God glory and that will determine our rewards. In The Bible Book of First Corinthians 3:13-15, it states, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved."  Believers will be saved and rewarded based upon their works.