July 17, 2016
Morning Service

Chapter 8 of Hebrews continued the writer’s quest to enlighten the Jews of how Jesus’ DBR has ushered in the new covenant that Jeremiah spoke of in his prophecy.

 Hebrews 8:10-13 

·         The old covenant was designed to fail.  It was one of rules and regulations that required one to “earn” his status with God by unfailing obedience.  It proved the point that man, no matter how hard he tried, could not live the perfect life that is required to be found pleasing in God’s site.  It revealed to us that we need help.  We need a Savior and Redeemer.

·         The new perfect covenant we now live under is one of mercy, grace and love.  We are saved by God’s grace alone not of our works “earning” salvation; it is a free gift.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,  (9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

·         Our covenant is one of relationship.  We are God’s people and He is our God.  His commands are no longer a burden to carry, but a joy for us to show Him how much we love Him.  Jesus said, “If you love Me keep my commandments.”

·         The writer now continues the comparison of the OT and NT this as he discusses the old covenant’s process that was instituted for the forgiveness of their sins.  This will sound familiar to many of you as we did a study on this subject last winter on Wednesday night.

 

Hebrews 9:1-10

·         The tabernacle was a manmade tent that was designed to resemble the true things of heaven.  The presence of God was in the Holiest of Holies and only one man from one tribe was allowed to enter it and only once a year.

·         The people had to rely on this high priest to do this perfectly or there would be no forgiveness.  There was certainly plenty of room for error as it only resembled perfection.

 

Hebrews 9:11-14 But when Christ had become a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation (12)  nor by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered once for all into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  (13)  For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh,  (14)  how much more shall the blood of Christ (who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God) purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

·         The first covenant was based on things that resembled heaven and the second is based on the real thing.  Jesus did not enter the manmade tabernacle, but entered heaven itself.  He did not take the blood of animal sacrifices but He took His own blood and purchased the forgiveness of sins once and for all.

·         Which way better builds your faith that your sins are truly forgiven?  Don’t ever think that the price for your sins was not paid in full.  Our perfect High Priest shed His own blood and offered it as the perfect sacrifice in the perfect temple of God.   It was one and done.

 

Hebrews 9:15-17  And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  (16)  For where there is a testament, there must also be the death of a testator.  (17)  For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

·         A mediator intervenes between two to make or restore peace and friendship, to form a compact, or to ratify a covenant.  Jesus as our Mediator has removed the one obstacle between man and God; our sin.  We can only have a relationship with God through Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (Acts 4:12)

 

Hebrews 9:18-28  From which we see that neither was the first covenant dedicated without blood.  (19)  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,  (20)  saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you."  (21)  And likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.  (22)  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.  (23)  Therefore it was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves were purified with better sacrifices than these.  (24)  For Christ has not entered into the Holy of Holies made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.  (25)  Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, even as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies every year with the blood of others (26) (for then He must have suffered often since the foundation of the world), but now once in the end of the world He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  (27)  And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment,  (28)  so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And to those who look for Him He shall appear the second time without sin to salvation.

·         The first covenant was made to resemble perfection.  The second one was perfect.  Jesus entered heaven itself offering His own blood for the sins of mankind one time only purchasing the forgiveness of sin once and for all.  One and done.

·         His blood has bought us the ability to enter the Holy of Holies (into God’s presence) not only once a year, but to dwell there constantly. Jesus has provided us opportunity to have a close relationship through Himself with the Father.  This was not an option with the OT.

·         This is why Jesus had to shed His blood upon the cross; for the remission of our sin (verse 22) and our salvation.

Lord thank You for the perfect work of Christ upon the cross and may we never take the price of our sins lightly.