Too many of us do not give enough thought to how blessed we are to be under a covenant like the gospel of Christ.  While God’s people have always been under law, the law that we are answerable to now is far superior to the last.

Hebrews 8:6 (ESV)
⁶  But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

What makes the new covenant better than the old one?  Primarily, it is the blood of Christ.  Any law that is void of the blood of Christ demands perfection.  As we saw in last night’s blog, such was the case with the Law of Moses.  However,  having access to the blood of Christ under this new covenant removes the need for sinless living.  As long as we have an obedient faith, and we repent of any sins that we commit, the sins that we are guilty of will be covered by the grace of God.  David, by inspiration, anticipated this blessed state of being when he wrote the following:

Psalm 32:1-2 (ESV)
¹  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. ²  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

That these words of David find their ultimate fulfillment in the times of Christ is evident by Paul’s quoting of them in Romans 4 (Romans 4:6-8).  Notice, David did not say that those who never sin are blessed, for, if any such people existed, they would not need to be blessed, seeing that their fellowship with God would be based on their meritorious works, not God’s grace.  We know, however, that there are no such people (Romans 3:23).

What David does describe is the blessedness of the one who is forgiven and whose sins are covered.  Why is he blessed?  Because, while he is a sinner, God does not count his sins against him.  Why not?  Does God just ignore his sins?  No, God’s moral perfection would not allow Him to do such a thing.  His sins are not counted against him because they are paid for by the blood of Christ.  Paul had a lot to say about this in Romans 3.  Here is a sample.

Romans 3:21-26 (ESV)
²¹  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²²  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Thanks to Jesus being willing to be our propitiation, we can be saved by faith rather than by perfection.  This is what makes this covenant so great and superior to the last one.  Not only can we be sure about our past sins being forgiven, but we can also be sure that our future sins will be covered if we continue to walk by the Spirit (Romans 8:4).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.