Is God a difficult deal-maker?
God is Lord, the Covenant Master
Part of God—Who is he?
February 24, 2019

Hebrews 12:18-29 (NIV)

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;

19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,

20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”

21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”


One title can suggest truths about a person.

God’s title “ ” suggests multiple truths about him.

It means that he is the King.

It means that he is the King.

Today we’ll look at a third strand of meaning within the word “lord.”

Big Idea: God is Lord, the Covenant Master.

A covenant is a made between two parties.

Throughout human history has made covenants with humanity.

Here is a list of God’s covenants with humanity:

  • The covenant of works (Genesis 1:28)

  • The covenant of grace (Genesis 3:14-15)

  • The Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9:16)

  • The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3)

  • The Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19:1-8)

  • The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:8-16)

  • The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8-9)

Some of God’s covenants are

covenants.

“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 ‘I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.’12 And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.’” —Genesis 9:8-13

Some of God’s covenants are

covenants.

God’s covenant with Israel through Moses was designed to eventually include the entire .

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Deuteronomy 4:5-7: “See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” —Exodus 19:5-6

“In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. 25 The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, ‘Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.’” —Isaiah 19:24-25


“All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. 10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.” —Psalm 86:9-10

Because we could not obey our covenant Lord, the LORD God promised to make a covenant with humanity.


  • The new covenant is a promise to give spiritual .


    “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah…. This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the Lord. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’” —Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34


    -The new covenant was given to Israel but was to Gentiles by the grace of God.


    Romans 11:1-2a, 13, 15, 30-32 : “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew…. 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles…. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world…. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.”

- Jesus Christ, God’s son, is the of the new covenant (vv. 18-24).

“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proc.laim the Lord’s death until he comes.” —1 Corinthians 11:23b-26

Because God is Lord, him.

Worship is the right response to aspects of God’s lordship.


  • It is the right response to God as Lord, the King.


    “For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods…. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker….” —Psalm 95:3, 6

  • It is the right response to God as Lord, the King.


    “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” —2 Samuel 7:22

  • It is the right response to God as Lord, the Master.


    “Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly…. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever…. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name.” —Psalm 111:5, 9

Receive his of eternal life in order to worship the Lord (vv. 18-24).

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” —Hebrews 9:15

Speak and sing to the Lord privately and with us together (vv. 28-29).

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” —Hebrews 13:15

God’s word as an expression of worship to the Lord (v. 25).

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” —Romans 12:1