But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Hebrews 8:6–7

I spend a lot of time reading the Old Testament, and I’m not suggesting we get rid it. But I’m living under the New Covenant, and I am not under the curse and the punishment of the Old Testament Law.

The Ultimate Upgrade: A Better Covenant

There is a huge difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, yet the average Christian fails to understand the difference and misses out on living in the victory and freedom that Jesus purchased for us. The old system of animal sacrifice was only a temporary, imperfect way to deal with sin. Out of love, God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, into the world and established a new covenant that would resolve the problem of sin once and for all.

The Deity of Jesus

Another major point that’s emphasized in Hebrews is the deity of Jesus. To me, the real dividing line between a cult and true Christianity hinges on the deity of Jesus. Jesus isn’t just a good teacher or a prophet; He is God incarnate (1 Tim. 3:16). He is the exact representation of God’s glory (Heb. 1:3). This isn’t a theological debate—it’s a foundational truth that separates true Christianity from every other belief system. Cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses acknowledge Jesus as a great man, but they deny His deity. Others like Mormonism have created a completely unbiblical definition of God that nullifies any profession they make about Jesus being God. But Scripture is clear: Jesus is God.

Jesus: The Final Word from God

The first chapter of Hebrews opens with a powerful declaration. It establishes not only the deity of Jesus but also His superiority over any other way that God ever spoke to people:

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

Hebrews 1:1–2

What an awesome statement! You know, in Luke 2:11 when the angels declared that Jesus was “Christ the Lord,” it wasn’t just a title; it was a proclamation of His deity. Yet in His human form, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), experiencing life like us but without sin. His earthly body concealed His divine glory, but it was revealed momentarily on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1–6).

The New Covenant: More than Just Hope

Understanding Jesus’ deity is absolutely critical to salvation and faith, and it underscores the power of the New Covenant. Jesus came as God in the flesh and sacrificed Himself once and for all. And His payment for the sins of all humanity is totally and completely sufficient (Hebrews 9–10). No more ongoing animal sacrifices to atone for sin; Jesus paid it all. Man, that’s awesome!

I hope you are beginning to get a better grasp of God’s grace. I’m talking about the profound, life-changing grace that empowers you to experience freedom and God’s presence now. Maybe you’re reading this and feeling stuck in your walk with the Lord. You’ve accepted Christ and you know you’re saved, but victory in your daily life seems out of reach. If you think that joy, prosperity, and peace are things reserved for heaven, let me challenge you with Galatians 1:4:

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

From Theory to Reality: Grace for Today

The point I’m making is that Jesus came to deliver us from this present evil world—right here, right now. Consider how He taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” That’s not just a future hope; it’s a present reality! Healing, prosperity, joy, peace—they’re all part of the package Jesus secured for us. Yet too many Christians struggle to grasp this because they’re mixing Old Covenant Law with New Covenant grace. And that’s like trying to put new wine into old wineskins, just as Jesus warned:

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Matthew 9:17

Grace vs. Law: The Ultimate Choice

Matthew 9:17 is talking about how you can’t mix the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. Trying to relate to God based on the Old Covenant just won’t work. You’re either justified by grace without works or by works without grace. It’s one or the other, not a hybrid version.

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Romans 11:6

Experience True Freedom in Christ

The book of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus perfectly fulfilled all the Old Testament sacrifices, down to the smallest detail. His crucifixion wasn’t just a historical event—it was the ultimate fulfillment of everything those sacrifices pointed to. This means Jesus has provided a complete and final solution for sin, making all Old Covenant practices obsolete.

Are you still trying to approach God through a Law-based mindset, believing that any time you sin with your thoughts or your actions you’ve got to get it “under the blood” or risk being rejected by God?

Hebrews 10:14 says that Jesus sanctified you once for all. If that sounds like heresy to you, you need to study the book of Hebrews. If you’re holding on to old ways instead of embracing the new life Jesus has given you, my teaching Hebrews: Living in the New Covenant Reality will help you understand what Jesus has done for you and show you how to fully live in His grace.

To get an even richer understanding of the full power the New Covenant, watch or listen to the teaching below!