HF191 - Hebrews 9 (#16 - The Blood of the Eternal Sacrifice)
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Subject: Bible Study HF191 - Hebrews 9 (#16 - The Blood of the Eternal Sacrifice)
Hebraics,
In this study we will soon see why the atonement of Jesus Christ was sufficient for the sins of humanity for all time. This is the message that the apostolic writer is bringing attention to. Actually this is the central message of the book of Hebrews and the very heart of the gospel. It is through the sacrifice of Jesus that sinful men can possess both eternal life and the happiness that comes from having a true spiritual relationship with the God of creation.
This is Bible Study HF191 - Hebrews 9 (#16 - The Blood of the Eternal Sacrifice)
In order not to be overly repetitive in the subject we will highlight the main objectives of Hebrews chapter nine. Let's begin:
Heb 9:1-8 - "Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing..."
The tabernacle contained a picture of God's plan of redemption. Rather than explain each item of furniture it is enough to say that everything in the tabernacle plan spoke of Christ and of God's plan for the ages.
Where it speaks of the high priest entering into the holiest of holies but once a year, but not without the blood of the sacrifice, this was to show that the eternal sacrifice had not been made. The high priest served as a type of Jesus our high priest.
The veiled curtain of separation spoke volumes concerning man's place with God. Before Christ came, there was no direct access to the throne of God. But we know what happened when Jesus yielded up His spirit. It says, "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split." (Cf. Matt 27:50,51 nasb)
The tabernacle plan has much more to say. The gaze of the two cherubim was fixed on the mercy seat. This scene was a picture of heaven in how all of the angels wondered at the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Peter draws attention to this when he wrote,
"As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow...
"...It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit--things into which angels long to look." (1 Peter 1:10-12)
Without pressing the issue of angels 'longing to look', the apostle Paul also tells us that God is teaching angels about Himself through His love and grace to the church.
Heb 9:9-12 - "... which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption."
The issue of symbol is again pointed out. What they did in the physical or natural realm, has its counterpart or its true expression with what happened through the cross. When Christ entered into heaven, He offered His own blood as the sacrifice for sins. Out of this offering came our 'eternal redemption.'
Thus, no more sacrifices are to be made. The redemption He offers is *eternal. *The types, shadows, foreglimpses, pictures and Old Testament symbols have reached their end. The Old Testament Law with its rituals and all else that was connected to it, is no longer in place. The eternal has taken the place of that which merely pointed to it.
Heb 9:13,14 - "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
Now we come to what actually takes place in the new covenant. In the new covenant it is the blood of Jesus, which, by the way is also called 'the blood of God,' is sprinkled upon the human heart when a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Consider these Scriptures:
"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)
Again,
"Peter, and apostle of Jesus Christ to those who reside as aliens ... who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood; May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure." (1 Peter 1:1,2)
When a person truly receives Jesus Christ, there is a sprinkling of the blood of Christ upon the human spirit (heart), and from this sprinkling comes a cleansed conscience and a heart that is filled with kingdom peace. Peace in the heart is the sign that Jesus has become our Lord.
Heb 9:15-17 "For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives."
Here we find the term 'testament' and 'covenant' used interchangeably. Because of who Jesus was, out of his death came the true heirs of the eternal inheritance. This is why Paul tells us that we are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Christ. And out of the resurrection of Jesus Christ came a new redeemed humanity. Our inheritance transcends this life and reaches into the eternity of God.
Heb 9:18-23 - "Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, 'This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.' And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
The first covenant was inaugurated with blood. Listen to the Lord: *"And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them says, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." *(Matthew 26:27,28)
This happening in the upper room is what can be called an 'acted out prophecy.' At that time the blood of Jesus had not been offered. But reaching forward to the day of Pentecost, 33 a.d., it is that day that the blood was applied to the hearts of all the Lord's disciples. Pentecost 33 a.d. was coronation day for Jesus Christ and the ushering in of the new covenant. From that time on every person who believes in Jesus Christ becomes a partaker with His blood. (The life is in the blood.)
Heb 9:24-28 - "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
Sometimes this last statement is used in part to hammer away on those who already belong to the Lord, but it is misused. Yes, 'It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,' but that is not a stand along statement. Notice carefully the second part of that statement: "...so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
The second coming of Christ does contain a judgment for the world, but not for the child of the living God. Our sins have already been judged at the cross.
There will be more on this in the next chapters.
The study is open.
Buddy
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Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)