Setting

In our last study we have looked at the tabernacle and divine services under the old covenant. These ordinances were not able to lead us into God’s presence because they could not remove sin. But Christ has come, and has entered the true tabernacle with His own blood. This becomes the source of our eternal redemption. The passage of this lesson will explain in detail why the death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of what the old covenant foreshadowed.

Key Verse

(9:14)

Did You Know...?

1. Ashes of a heifer… (9:13): The regulations on cleansing with the ashes of a a heifer are recorded in Numbers 19.

Outline

  • Cleansing by the Blood of Christ
    (9:13-15)
  • Purification and Remission of Sins
    (9:16-22)
  • Finality of Christ’s Offering
    (9:23-28)

Segment Analysis

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  • 9:13-15

    1.

    What contrast is made between the blood of Christ and the blood of animals?

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    The blood of bulls and goats sanctifies externally. But the blood of Christ, offered through the eternal Spirit, sanctifies internally by cleansing the conscience.

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  • 2.

    Based on verse 14, explain what kind of life Christians should live.

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    Having been cleansed from sin, our purpose in life is to serve God. But in order to be true servants of God, our lives need to be free from “dead works”, that is, free from sin and unrighteousness (cf. Rom 6:21-23). Serving God involves more than offering our possessions. More essentially, we must be holy in all that we do. We should no longer offer our bodies to sin as instruments of wickedness, but we must always live in a manner that is pleasing to God (Rom 6:12-19, 12:1-2).

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  • 3.

    What was the price of redemption for our transgressions (15)?

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    The death of Christ.

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  • 4.

    “For this reason” (15) indicates that the reason is to be found in the previous verses. What qualifies Jesus to be the Mediator of the new covenant? How does His mediation fulfill the terms of the new covenant (cf. 8:10-12)?

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    The foremost promise in the new covenant is the forgiveness of sins (8:12). Christ’s death fulfills this promise because His blood cleanses our conscience from sins. Since He has put the new covenant into effect, Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant. Having been cleansed of our sins, we also inherit the other promises in the new covenant, namely, receiving a new heart to obey God’s laws, being God’s people, and having a personal knowledge of God.

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  • 5.

    What blessing awaits those who have been redeemed (15)?

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    Eternal inheritance (cf. 1Pet 1:3-4).

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  • 9:16-22

    6.

    How are verses 16 and 17 an explanation of verse 15?

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    Verse 15 tells us that Christ was the Mediator of the new covenant by means of death. Verses 16 and 17 explain why death is necessary for the testament (or covenant) to take effect.

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  • 7.

    What reason does the author give for why Christ’s blood is essential to the new covenant?

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    Even the first covenant was dedicated with blood (18). According to the law, almost all things are purified with blood, and without blood there is no remission (22).

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  • 9:23-28

    8.

    Based on verse 24, what has Christ accomplished which the old covenant was not able to do (cf. 9:8)?

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    While the way into the Most Holy Place was not made manifest in the old covenant, Christ has now appeared before God’s presence for us.

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  • 9.

    What contrasts are made between the offering of the high priest and the offering of Christ in verses 25 and 26?

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    The high priests entered the Most Holy Place every year, but Christ has appeared at the end of the ages only once. The high priests offered the blood of another, but Christ offered the sacrifice of Himself. No word is said about the high priests’ offering being able to remove sin, but verse 26 tells us that Christ has appeared to put away sin.

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  • 10.

    The author establishes a connection between verses 27 and 28. What is the relationship of these two verses?

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    The finality of death and judgment is analogous to the finality of Christ’s offering and its effect. Just as death is the end of all men and judgment follows death, Christ’s offering spells the end of all offerings, and salvation results from this final offering.
    While the death of all men functions as an analogy for the offering of Christ, they also stand in sharp contrast at the same time. The death of Christ is contrasted with the death of all men, and the salvation that He brings is contrasted with the judgment that men must face (cf. Rom 5:17-19). The offering of Christ has changed the destiny of men. Because of Christ’s death, we who believe in Him will not be condemned at the judgment but will receive salvation.

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  • 11.

    To whom will Christ appear a second time? What kind of life should you live to be one of them?

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    He will appear a second time to those who eagerly wait for Him. Eagerly waiting for the Lord Jesus involves holding onto our faith with patience while living holy and godly lives (Rom 8:23-25; Php 3:17-21; 2Pet 3:11-14; 1Jn 3:2-3)

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