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 – 22
In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Processing the scripture in today’s sermon! If you want to see other sermon notes on Hebrews, use the “category” drop down menu on the right of my blog post, and choose “sermon notes!”
Notice in verse 15 – Christ is the mediator of a new covenant! Moses was the liaison between God and the Israelites in the old covenant. God communicated the requirements of the law through Moses to the people of Israel. The old covenant required the blood of bulls and goats. BUT in the new covenant, the death of Christ pays the penalty for sin for all that will believe! Jesus paid the ransom to liberate us from the stronghold, the prison of sin!
He paid a debt He did not owe
Ellis J. Crum, 1977
I owed a debt I could not pay
I needed someone to wash my sins away
And now I sing a brand new song
Amazing Grace
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay
In verses 16 – 17, the author of Hebrews reminds us that a will is not executed until the owner of the will dies. Therefore, Christ had to die – His death made the new covenant legally valid! What is fascinating is that Christ, Himself, is the executor of His own will! How can that be … the dead do not execute their own will! No – it is through the resurrection of Christ, the fact that He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, that He validates and ratifies this will! Christ had to die so that we could access this amazing inheritance prepared for us, and He lives to make sure we receive the inheritance!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3 – 5
Last, in verses 18 – 22, we see that Jesus’ blood was better than the blood of bulls and goats! Removing the guilt of sin in the old covenant was provisional, not permanent. Not so, with the blood of Jesus – His sacrifice was complete, final, finished! Blood was required for forgiveness and in shedding His blood, Christ provides everlasting forgiveness!
All Christian blessings and resources are grounded in the blood of the Lamb.
Do you find yourself accepted before this holy God?
If so, it is because of the blood of the Lamb.
Have you received the blessed Holy Spirit?
He has been poured out because of the blood of the Lamb.
Do you have the prospect of consummated eternal life in glory?
It was secured by the blood of the Lamb.Are you in the fellowship of saints, brothers and sisters who love Christ, the church of the living God, a new body, the body of Christ on earth?
This is bought, secured, and constituted by the blood of the Lamb.
Are you grateful for the spiritual armaments that Paul tells us to deploy?
The entire arsenal is at our disposal because of the blood of the Lamb.
May we go to God in prayer?
It is because of the blood of the Lamb.
Do we find our wills strengthened by the Spirit?
That incalculable benefit was secured by the blood of the Lamb.Every whiff of victory over the principalities and powers of this dark age has been secured by the blood of the Lamb.
D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus
Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for sinners such as I?Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut its glories in,
when God, the mighty maker, died
for his own creature’s sin.Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes to tears.But drops of tears can ne’er repay
Isaac Watts, 1707
the debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
’tis all that I can do.
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