Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9:1-14

Redemption Obtained How can guilty sinners, men and women who know they are sinners, – who know they have broken God’s holy law, willfully and constantly, from their youth up, – who know that in thought, word, and deed, in action and in attitude, they are vile, abominable, and unclean, approach the holy Lord God with confidence, peace, and assurance of acceptance? That is a huge question. But the answer to that question is given plainly and clearly in Hebrews 9:1-14. The Tabernacle In Hebrews 9:1-7 we are given a brief description of the ordinances of divine worship in the Old Testament. That typical, ceremonial dispensation had a tabernacle (a temporary place of worship) made according to the pattern God showed Moses in the mount. It was an earthly, carnal tabernacle; and the rules and regulations for sacrifice and worship were carnal ordinances (Hebrews 9:10). The tabernacle was forty-five feet long, fifteen feet wide, and fifteen feet high. It had two sections separated by a heavy veil. In the first section, called “the holy place,” there were three pieces of furniture. (1.) The table of showbread was a wooden table overlaid with gold, picturing both the humanity and deity of Christ. The bread (twelve loaves) represented Christ, the Bread of life. (2.) The golden lamp stand portrayed our Lord Jesus Christ as the Light of the world. It was made of pure gold, representing our Lord’s deity. There were seven candles in the lamp stand, portraying the perfection of his being and the completeness of his revelation. (3.) The altar of incense (Exodus 30:1; Exodus 30:6-9), with its continual, sweet burning incense before the veil, typified Christ’s intercession as our great Advocate and High Priest before the Father. The second section of the tabernacle was called “the holiest of all.” In that room there was one piece of furniture with two parts. That one piece of furniture was the ark of the covenant, the most important thing in the Jewish worship in the Old Testament. It was made of wood covered with pure gold, and contained the tables of the law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the golden pot of manna. The mercy-seat was a solid lid of pure gold. It completely covered the ark and the tables of God’s broken law, which were in it. The mercy-seat, the place of atonement and propitiation, was overshadowed by the cherubims of glory (Romans 3:24-26). The Sacrifices In Hebrews 9:6-7 the sacrifices, required by God’s law in the Old Testament are described. The common priests went every day into the holy place, the first tabernacle, every morning and every evening, accomplishing the service of God. None of the common priests were allowed to go beyond the veil into the holiest of all. The high priest alone was allowed to enter in behind the veil. He went in once every year, on the day of atonement, with the blood of the paschal lamb, and sprinkled the blood of the lamb on the mercy-seat covering the broken law (Exodus 30:20; Leviticus 16:15-17). The Meaning These things may seem strange to us. Many look at these things and say, “Well, that has no meaning for us today.” What a tragic mistake! In Hebrews 9:8-10 the Holy Spirit tells us that these divinely ordained ordinances signified the necessity of Christ’s accomplishments at Calvary. The Holy Spirit used those ordinances to declare that the way to God was not yet revealed (Hebrews 10:18-20). The tabernacle, its priesthood, and its services were only symbols, types, and pictures of Christ and the accomplishment of redemption by him. Those sacrifices and services could never take away sin (Hebrews 10:1-4). All the carnal ordinances and legal services of the Old Testament were imposed upon the children of Israel until the coming of Christ, who put an end to them by fulfilling them. Redemption Accomplished In Hebrews 9:11-14 the Holy Spirit tells us that Christ, our great High Priest, our sin-atoning Substitute, by the sacrifice of himself, has actually accomplished and obtained eternal redemption for God’s elect by the infinite merit and efficacy of his shed blood. Hebrews 9:11-12 declare the efficacy of Christ’s shed blood. – The Lord Jesus Christ has, by the sacrifice of himself, fully satisfied the law and justice of God, and has thereby obtained eternal redemption for us. At God’s appointed time Christ came (Galatians 4:4-5), made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem and save his people. He came to bring the good things of everlasting salvation and ultimate glory to God’s elect (Ephesians 1:3-6). He dwelt (tabernacled) among men as a man. In him men meet God, and in him God deals with men. He is our Representative, our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (2 Corinthians 5:19).

He died in our room and stead (2 Corinthians 5:21). By the merit of his blood, our great High Priest entered into the true holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. By his one offering the Lord Jesus Christ perfected forever all who were sanctified, set apart by God for himself in eternal election (Hebrews 10:11-14). Now, because Christ has made us priests, believing sinners can come boldly before the very throne of grace (Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:19-22; Luke 23:45). Not only is his blood efficacious with God, Christ’s blood is efficacious to purge the consciences of believing sinners, when applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9:13-14). When the holy Lord God looks on the blood of Christ, he says, “ENOUGH.” When the believing sinner looks on that same blood, his conscience says, “ENOUGH!” Thus, redemption was obtained. Thus redemption is applied!

Hebrews 9:4-5

Inside The Ark Come into “the Holiest of all”, by the “golden censer” of our Savior’s merits, asking God to show you Christ our Ark as he was portrayed in that Old Testament type. What can be found in the ark? Let’s do by faith what no mortal man could ever do in those days of types and shadows. Let’s lift up the mercy-seat and look inside the ark. Remember, the ark was but a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. What do we see in the ark? We see the two tables of the law of God, which we have broken. The broken law, our sins, is under the mercy-seat, under the blood. God’s Purpose Those broken tables of the law, under the blood, represent God’s purpose of grace. The law was written upon tables of stone, representing both the hardness of our hearts and the inflexibility of God’s law. The law represents our curse and condemnation by reason of sin. The tables of God’s broken law were always kept in the ark, under the mercy-seat (Exodus 25:16; Exodus 25:21), representing perfect redemption by Christ. That perfect redemption of his elect is the purpose of God (Romans 8:28-31). The law of God, being perfectly satisfied by Christ, cries as strongly for our salvation as the grace of God. We are, in Christ, free from the law, because the law’s demands have been fully met for us by Christ’s obedience and blood. God’s Power Look again, there is something else inside the ark. There is Aaron’s rod that budded. That rod represents God’s power. Aaron’s rod that budded portrayed the gospel of Christ, the Man whom God has chosen (Numbers 17:10). Christ, the Rock of our salvation, was smitten by Moses’ rod, which represented God’s holy law. The water of life flows out to sinners by Aaron’s rod, the gospel, which is the power of God before which Dagon must fall, the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16-17). God’s Provision There is one more thing inside the ark, the golden pot that had manna. That is a picture of Christ, God’s Provision (Exodus 16:33-34). It was a golden pot, portraying the richness of God’s free grace in Christ. It was a big pot, holding an omer of manna; and Christ is a great Savior, a bounteous store of mercy and grace! This golden pot had manna, the bread of heaven, portraying Christ, the Bread of Life. All God’s provision for sinners is in Christ Jesus. His name is Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide (Ephesians 1:3). All the provisions of grace, of providence, and of eternity are in Christ! Come to the Ark Christ Jesus. The way is open. All who come to God by Christ are forever saved. All we need, all God requires, all that heaven can bestow is in Christ, the Ark. Come to the Ark!

Hebrews 9:5

The Mercy-Seat If we could go behind the veil with the High Priest on the day of atonement, into the holy of holies, the very first thing that would strike our eyes would be “the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat;” but we would not look long at the cherubim. Their eyes, their faces, their wings direct our attention away from themselves to the mercy-seat. Christ Our Propitiation The mercy-seat represented Christ, God’s propitiation, the propitiation for our sins (Exodus 25:17; Exodus 25:21-22; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:9-10; Romans 3:24-26). In fact the word translated “propitiation” elsewhere in the New Testament is the same word that is translated “mercy-seat” in Hebrews 9:5. The Day of Atonement In the Old Testament, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron took the blood of the paschal lamb behind the veil, into the holy of holies, and sprinkled the blood on the mercy-seat, making ceremonial atonement for the sins of the people of Israel. And the holy Lord God promised to meet his people there upon the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat, in peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. That ceremonial service was a beautiful, instructive picture of the obtaining of eternal redemption for God’s elect by Christ, our great High Priest. “By his own blood (by the merit of his blood) he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” The mercy-seat of the Old Testament was typically what Christ is in reality: the place of substitution, sacrifice, satisfaction, atonement, reconciliation, forgiveness, peace and worship. The Publican The Publican in Luke 18 cried, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” He understood exactly what was portrayed in the Old Testament mercy-seat. It is reflected in his prayer. He prayed, “God, look on the blood upon the mercy-seat, the blood covering your holy law, which I have broken, and be propitious to me, the sinner, forgiving my sin for Christ’s sake.” God’s Presence Standing in the holiest of all with Christ, our Aaron, our great High Priest, suddenly, we realize that we are standing before the mercy-seat, the symbol of God’s presence. With blood upon the mercy-seat, covering the broken tables of the law, there we see the glory of God in the pardon of sin by the sacrifice of Christ (Leviticus 9:23-24; Isaiah 6:1-6; Psalms 85:9-11). The holy Lord God not only meets us upon the mercy-seat, there in Christ, he abides with us. No matter where we are if we are in Christ, the name of the place is Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord is there. Our lives are hid with Christ in God (Isaiah 43:1-5).

Hebrews 9:13-17

Inside The Ark The Word of God has a scarlet thread running through it, like the cord Rahab hung out of her window. That scarlet thread, by which the 66 Books of Inspiration is bound together, which unifies everything written upon the pages of Inspiration, is the blood, the precious blood of Christ The Scriptures speak constantly about the blood. It is written in the books of the law, “The life of the flesh is in the blood.” God told Moses, “The blood shall be to you for a token.” He said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” When the high priest went into the holy of holies on the Day of Atonement, he went in with blood. No man can come to God without blood atonement. When our Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper, he took the cup of wine, held it before his disciples and said, “This is the blood of the New Testament, shed for many for the remission of sins.” In Hebrews 9:22, we read, “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” That makes the blood[1] a matter of immense, infinite importance. [1] The blood represents the life. The blood of Christ speaks of Christ’s sacrifice of himself.These days, it is common for preachers, churches, theologians, and hymn writers to say as little as possible about the blood. We have become so educated, refined, and sophisticated that talking about blood is considered improper, unsophisticated, and rude. But it is still true that “without shedding of blood is no remission.” Nothing is more important and nothing more precious than the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:12; 1 Pet. 18-21). The shedding of his precious blood was and is absolutely essential to the saving of our souls. Let us ever cherish the blood of Christ as that which is precious above all things. Effectual Blood Hebrews 9:13-14 – “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 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 blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin (Hebrews 10:4). That was never God’s purpose. The animal sacrifices were given as types and pictures to illustrate and point to the great, sin-atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. However those Old Testament sacrifices did purify the people in an external, ceremonial way. How much more shall the blood of Christ, God’s own dear Son, spotless, sinless blood of infinite value offered to God by the Holy Spirit, cleanse us, purify our souls, and deliver us from seeking acceptance through our dead works! The blood of Christ is effectual. It has satisfied the wrath and justice of God. By it our sins have been put away. Therefore the believer’s conscience condemns him no more (Romans 8:1; Romans 8:33-34; 1 John 1:7-10; 1 John 3:5). The Cause There was a cause, a necessity for the great sacrifice of Christ. The cause was just this: God’s covenant grace could not come to sinful men without blood atonement. We could not be made righteous apart from the sacrifice of God’s own Son in our room and stead at Calvary (Galatians 2:21; Galatians 3:21). Hebrews 9:15-17 “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” Here the Holy Spirit shows us that Old Testament believers were redeemed by the death of Christ in exactly the same way we are, and for the same reasons. Justice must be satisfied before mercy can be given; and the only One by whom redemption could come is the God-man Mediator, Christ Jesus, of whom all the prophets spoke (Acts 10:43). The promise of eternal inheritance was made to God’s elect in and by Christ, the Mediator of the covenant (testament) (1 Corinthians 10:4; Luke 24:44-47). However, that promise could not come without the death of Christ, the Testator, the Mediator of the covenant. Wherever there is a testament, there must be the death of the testator. No claim can be made by the heirs of the testament until the Testator dies (John 3:14-16; Romans 3:19-26). There was an absolute necessity for the death of God’s Son as our Substitute and the Testator of the covenant. Christ must suffer and die if we are to be redeemed (1 Peter 1:18-21). Promise Received Those who are called (Hebrews 9:15) receive the promise of eternal salvation, our eternal inheritance of grace in Christ by faith. Our faith does not in any way secure the inheritance. It simply receives what God our Father secured for us by his purpose and promise in eternity and Christ secured for us by his death. In fact, faith in Christ is itself a part of the inheritance. We believe because God the Holy Spirit, “the Blessing” of the covenant has been sent into our hearts in saving power and grace (Galatians 3:13-14; Galatians 4:6). The very heart of the gospel is the finished work of Christ at Calvary, – particular, effectual redemption, – limited atonement. We believe, according to Holy Scripture, that the sin-atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ is of infinite merit, value and efficacy, and that the blessings and benefits of our Savior’s great sacrifice are limited by the purpose of God to his elect. I know that this glorious gospel doctrine is offensive to unbelieving men, offensive to all who wish to make man a co-savior with Christ; but that only demonstrates the fact that “the offense of the cross” has not ceased.

Hebrews 9:18-28

No Blood – No Remission God almighty will not and cannot forgive sin without blood atonement. He cannot do so because he is holy, just and true. He has sworn, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” His justice must be satisfied; and the only way God’s holy, infinite justice could ever be satisfied is by the righteous obedience and sin-atoning death of his own dear Son, the God-man, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remission Pictured Under the Mosaic law virtually everything relating to the worship of God was ceremonially sanctified and purged of corruption by blood. The reason for this is clearly stated in Hebrews 9:22-23. – “Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these.” Hebrews 9:18-23 – “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 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, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” When Moses gave the pattern for the tabernacle and its services, he took the blood and water[2] and sprinkled the book, people, the tabernacle and all the vessels used in the worship of God. Almost all things were purified by means of blood (Leviticus 17:11). Other things were ceremonially purified by water and fire; but without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness of sin! There is no example of pardon and forgiveness without blood. The Old Testament sacrifices and ceremonies as well as the very fact that Christ’s blood has been shed makes it foolish to suppose that pardon might be had without it (1 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 2:19-21). [2] The blood and water typified the blood and water which flowed from our Lord’s pierced side, and our justification and sanctification by his blood.Fulfilling the type and patterns of heavenly things given in those Old Testament symbols (Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 9:23), the Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, entered into heaven before the holy Lord God as the Representative and Mediator of God’s elect, the true, spiritual Israel, “the Israel of God.” Having fully satisfied the law; he atoned for our sins with his blood. He makes intercession for us in the holy place, in heaven itself, presenting the infinite merits of his blood and righteousness perpetually (1 John 2:1-2). Remission Performed Remission was only pictured in those Old Testament ceremonies. It was actually, once and forever performed and accomplished by the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. Hebrews 9:24-28 – “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” The Lord Jesus Christ, our great God-man Mediator and High Priest, did not enter into an earthly, material holy place, but into heaven itself. Yonder, seated upon the throne of God is a Man, the God-man, Christ Jesus. He perpetually appears in the presence of God on our behalf, – interceding for us, – representing us, – possessing all things as our Forerunner. His one great, infinitely meritorious sacrifice for our sins was and is enough (Hebrews 10:11-14). Because his blood is of infinite merit, it is infinitely effectual. By his one sacrifice for all the sins of all his people, he put them away forever (Isaiah 53:4-6; Hebrews 10:17-18). Be sure you understand the doctrine of Holy Scripture. The Son of God did not die merely to make it possible for sins to be put away. He did not merely provide a way for sins to be put away. He has, by the sacrifice of himself, put away all the sins of God’s elect which were imputed to him. He has put our sins away fully and forever (Romans 4:8). Blessed Hope As men die just once and face judgment but once, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, to bear the sins of God’s elect. They are now fully paid for and forever put away. It is not possible for the sins he put away to be imputed to his people again. Justice will not allow it. Let every ransomed sinner rejoice in this fact: Christ has put away our sins. We met God in judgment at Calvary in the person of our Substitute. God punished us in him for all our sins to the full satisfaction of his holy justice. Now, we have every reason to look forward to Christ’s coming. Unto all them who believe on him and look for him, he will appear without sin unto eternal glory (Romans 8:1-4; Romans 8:33-39). This is blessed hope, indeed! Either God rules, or he is ruled. – Either he is in control, or he is controlled. – Either he is absolutely and universally over all things and at all times, or there is something, somewhere that is sovereign over him.

Hebrews 9:24-26

Once Only – Once Enough! In Hebrews 9:24-28 the Spirit of God tells us of three great appearances of our Savior. He appeared once in the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. – This is our atonement (Hebrews 9:26). In Hebrews 9:24 we are told that our great Savior now appears “in the presence of God for us” as our Advocate. – This is our assurance (1 John 2:1-2). In Hebrews 9:28 the inspired writer declares that the Lord Jesus Christ shall appear to them that look for him the second time “without sin unto salvation.” – That will be our advancement. What an advancement it will be! “Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Our great Redeemer, the Son of God, came into this world in human flesh to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He came but once. He died but once. He made but one great sacrifice for sin. But once was enough! A Horribly Evil Thing What a horribly evil thing sin must be! It is rebellion against God, treason against his throne, man’s attempt to rape and defile the holy Lord God, to drive the Almighty from his throne, to murder the Eternal. Sin is the expression of fallen man’s enmity against God, the display of our natural heart hatred of God. Sin is that which makes us obnoxious to the holy Lord God. Sin is the defilement of our race. Sin has brought us under the curse of God’s holy law. Sin has put us under the sentence of death, eternal death. Sin shuts the door of hope upon all the human race. No Easy Task It is not easy for sin to be put away. No carnal sacrifice can put away sin. “Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain Could give the guilty conscience peace, Or wash away the stain.” No work of man can put away one sin. No amount of repentance can put away sin. Not even our faith can put away sin. “Not all the labors of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands; Could my zeal no languor know,

Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Christ must save, and Christ alone!” Even God himself cannot, in his pure, absolute character as God, put away sin. If sin is to be put away, it must be put away by the sin-atoning death and substitutionary sacrifice of the incarnate God, the God-man Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. But his sacrifice was enough. He died but once; but once was enough! That is the meaning of these words. – “Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Christ Did It Christ’s sufferings and death for sin are of infinite value, merit, and efficacy. Therefore, he suffered for sin only once. He appeared once, in the end of the world to put away sin; and he has done it! Our Lord Jesus Christ put away the guilt of sin by his atoning sacrifice. He put away the punishment of it by his sufferings and death as our Substitute. The incarnate Son of God put away the penalty of the law by his satisfaction of divine justice. He put away the consequences of sin by his obedience unto death. He puts away the dominion of sin in his people by the power of his grace in the new birth. He puts away the filth of sin by his sanctifying grace. And he shall put away the very being of sin in resurrection glory. This work of putting away sin was accomplished by him bearing our sin in his own body upon the cursed tree. He carried it and took it away. This is what was pictured in the Old Testament type of the scapegoat. The Lord Jesus has removed sin from us as far as the east is from the west, by finishing and making an end of it. He disannulled and abolished it, in so far as the law and justice of God is concerned. When he paid our debt, he cancelled it in one day, by his one sacrifice. In one great day, the whole work was done (Zechariah 3:9). Our sins, being forever, effectually put away by the sacrifice of Christ, shall never be found and can never be charged to us again (Jeremiah 50:20; Romans 4:8). “My sin, (O the bliss of this glorious thought!) My sin, not in part, but the whole, Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more. – Praise the Lord! It is well with my soul!”

Hebrews 9:27

“Them That Are Sanctified” “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 9:27 God will by no means clear the guilty; and he will not punish the righteous. How, then, can we, who are the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, stand before the holy, just, and true God in judgment? Is there no hope? As long as we are guilty, as long as there is one remaining spot of sin upon us, unless we are made perfectly righteous, there is no hope. The only hope any sinner has of eternal salvation and acceptance with the holy God is that he might be saved by the infinite merits of an able, acceptable, all-sufficient Substitute. No Sin The Lord Jesus Christ, by his own precious blood, has completely washed away the sins of his people. They are no longer recorded in the book of God’s law against us (Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22). In that great day, when God opens the book, he will not find one sin recorded against any of those for whom Christ died (Jeremiah 50:20). Our sins were imputed to Christ. He was punished in our stead. By his blood he fully satisfied the penalty required by God’s law for our sins. Christ paid our debt to God’s law. Now we have nothing to pay! Perfect Righteousness The Lord Jesus Christ is “the Lord our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6). His righteous obedience to God as the God-man, as our Mediator and Representative, has been imputed to all who believe on him, so that in the sight of God’s holy law, according to the record of God’s own books, we are perfectly righteous. We have been made the very righteousness of God in him (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Believer, hear these words and rejoice: “In thy Surety thou art free, His dear hands were pierced for thee; With His spotless garments on, You’re holy as the Holy One!” No Condemnation If we are in Christ, united to him by faith, washed in his blood and robed in his righteousness, the day of judgment will not be for us a dreaded day of doom, or even of sorrow, but a day of victory, triumph, and glory! Let us look upon that day with sobriety, but not with fear. We must not be presumptuous. But we must not be unbelieving. We have nothing to fear. We will endure no punishment. We will suffer no loss. We will receive the full reward of eternal glory, purchased by his blood and earned by his obedience on our behalf. Our Mediator’s record before God is our record. His merit is our merit. And his reward is our reward!