Lesson 4 21 February, 2016 The Better Sacrifice Lesson Scope: Hebrews 9 References in brackets refer to Hebrews 9 unless otherwise noted Lesson Focus Chapter 7 discusses the better priesthood of Christ. This naturally leads to the better covenant held forth in chapter 8. In the opening verses of chapter 9, the writer refers to the earthly sanctuary and the ordinances that accompanied the Old Covenant. These ordinances were "imposed... until the time of reformation." The priests went only into "the first tabernacle." The high priest went into "the second" once a year "not without blood," which he offered first for himself and then for the sins of the people. These expressions from verse 7 find their counterpart in verse 23 Christ the better sacrifice, the key thought of this passage and the central theme of the Bible. Although the blood of the Old Testament sacrifices was fully efficacious for the Old Testament worshiper, it was so only because it foreshadowed the better blood of the New Covenant. Faith in this better sacrifice is what made it effective; the sins of the Old Covenant were forgiven in Christ. The Old Testament priests offered many blood sacrifices to cover sins. By one offering of His own blood, Jesus washes away sins. A grasp of the Old Covenant rituals is beneficial in effectively conveying the superior nature of Christ's sacrifice. A view of man's inability to live up to God's holy standard under the Old Covenant magnifies Christ and what He has accomplished through His perfect sacrifice. The better sacrifice needs to inspire us personally if we would effectively share this inspiration with others. Lesson Aim: To show how Jesus' sacrifice is superior to the Old Testament sacrifices. Theme Verses: 1 Peter 1:18-19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Lesson Text: External Ritual Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. Hebrews 9:6-10 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. Internal Purging Hebrews 9:11-17 11 But Christ being come an 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 building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 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: 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? 15 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. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Hebrews 9:22-23 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 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.
Eternal Redemption Hebrews 9:24-28 24 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: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 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. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 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. Questions for Study External Ritual 1. Upon what did Old Testament sacrifices depend to be effective? 2. What purpose did the Old Testament sacrifices fill? 3. What could Old Testament sacrifices not do? Internal Purging 4. What made Christ's sacrifice better? 5. What did the blood of Christ do for Old Testament saints? For the New Testament saints? 6. What makes Christ's blood effective? Eternal Redemption 7. What is Jesus' work today? 8. What will Christ's blood do for the believer in the future? Analyzing the Passage Worldly (9:1) means "earthly." These things (9:6) refer to the laws, rituals, and objects related to worship, such as the tabernacle and its furnishings discussed in verses 1-5. Ordained (9:6) means "build, furnish, equip, prepare." We see in verse 8 the significance of the unrent veil, access into the holiest was not yet prepared. The Old Covenant was made effective through the shedding of animal blood that was typical of the blood of the coming better sacrifice. The New Covenant was established and made effective through the shed blood of Christ, the great antitype. Christ offered Himself without sin, a perfect sacrifice once, totally effective, priceless, and enduring.
Principles and Application External Ritual 1. The Old Testament sacrifices were but earthly types of the great and perfect antitype, Jesus Christ (9:1, 6-7). Burnt offerings and sacrifices brought no pleasure to God, but the yielded heart of the worshiper, who through the eye of faith saw the work of Christ, did. The Old Testament sacrifices were but types of Christ. 2. The Old Testament blood sacrifices did not remove sin or provide access into the very presence of God (9:7-10). These sacrifices satisfied God until Jesus came and satisfied the debt of sin for all saints of all ages. The Old Testament sacrifices provided a covering for sin that satisfied God's justice and brought rest to the hearts of men. But those ceremonies and sacrifices needed to be repeated year after year. And year after year, sins were remembered and covered again as the high priest alone entered into God's presence. Internal Purging 3. Christ, with His own perfect, sacrificial blood, entered into the holy place once, to offer for sin and to purge man's conscience from sin (9:10-14). According to God's plan from eternity past, fallen mankind could be redeemed only by sinless human blood. Jesus' life was not taken; He gave it voluntarily. Also, His life was absolutely sinless; therefore His sacrifice was perfect. Through faith in His redeeming work, the conscience is purged. Not only did Jesus enter "within the veil," but He also rent the veil, and we now have direct access to the Father. 4. Christ's sacrificial blood has obtained eternal redemption (9:12, 15). One sacrifice stands forever; no more sacrifices are needed. Jesus' blood is adequate to redeem all humanity for all eternity. 5. The sacrifice of Christ provides inner cleansing (9:13-14). It reaches into the soul and washes away every stain of sin. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, raised the standard of the Old Testament Law to new heights of inward spiritual victory. His blood has power to cleanse and to keep one from even the spirit of sin. 6. Christ's blood removed the sins of Old Testament saints, whose sins had been covered by the blood of bulls and goats (9:15). The offering of sacrifices "which can never take away sins" was an act of faith that looked forward to God's provision of a Saviour. Prior to Christ's resurrection, deceased Old Testament saints were in a state of conscious bliss, but were probably not in God's presence. 7. Jesus' death activated the New Testament (9:14-17). The long-awaited
promise had become a reality. Ours is not merely a hope in a future provision but a faith in an already accomplished work. Let us praise the One who is pleased to share His inheritance with us! Eternal Redemption 8. Christ has passed "into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (9:24). He has presented Himself with His perfect, sinless blood to the Father. He now is sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding on behalf of every believer. It should humble us to know that our holy Saviour now prays for us in heaven, that we might join Him there. 9. The blood of Christ is able to accomplish the full salvation of fallen man (9:26-28). His blood cleanses from sin and purges the conscience, giving peace and rest. Yet we still long to be delivered from the presence of sin and temptation. Jesus is coming for a spotless bride who has "washed [her] robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Redeemed man will be fully restored to God in eternity, to live in His presence and praise Him throughout all ages. Important Teachings 1. The Old Testament sacrifices were but earthly types of the great and perfect antitype, Jesus Christ (9:1, 6-7). 2. The Old Testament blood sacrifices did not remove sin or provide access into the very presence of God (9:7-10). 3. Christ, with His own perfect, sacrificial blood, entered into the holy place once, to offer for sin and to purge man's conscience from sin (9:10-14). 4. Christ's sacrificial blood has obtained eternal redemption (9:12, 15). 5. The sacrifice of Christ provides inner cleansing (9:13, 14). 6. Christ's blood removed the sins of Old Testament saints, whose sins had been covered by the blood of bulls and goats (9:15). 7. Jesus' death activated the New Testament (9:14-17). 8. Christ has passed "into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (9:24). 9. The blood of Christ is able to accomplish the full salvation of fallen man (9:26-28). Answers to Questions 1. Upon what did Old Testament sacrifices depend to be effective? They depended upon God's foreknowledge of Christ's ultimate provision. The Old Testament saint needed to exercise careful obedience as an ex-
pression of his faith. 2. What purpose did the Old Testament sacrifices fill? They satisfied the justice of God until Jesus' sacrifice was complete. It gave rest to those who by faith followed God's plan. 3. What could Old Testament sacrifices not do? They could not bring the believer into God's presence. They could not purge the conscience. 4. What made Christ's sacrifice better? He offered Himself, sinless and perfect, to the Father with His own shed blood. He is victor over sin and Satan. He is seated at the Father's right hand, interceding for His own purchased possession. 5. What did the blood of Christ do for Old Testament saints? New Testament saints? Jesus' blood removed the sins of the Old Testament saints whose sins were but covered giving them entrance into heaven into the very presence of God. In the New Testament the repentant sinner receives immediate forgiveness of sin; thereby he is transformed into a saint. He then receives power to live the higher law of Christ. He has direct access into the presence of God through the rent veil. 6. What makes Christ's blood effective? His sacrifice is perfect, sinless, and voluntary. He overcame Satan and has potentially done that for all saints. 7. What is Jesus' work today? He has presented Himself with His perfect, sinless blood to the Father on the saints' behalf. He provides forgiveness of sin for every repentant soul. He provides access to the Father. He is our intercessor. He is seated on the right hand of the Father, but we also see His heart of compassion and His love in action as He stood when Stephen was martyred. Ponder what He is doing for us today. 8. What will Christ's blood do for the believer in the future? Redeemed man will experience full restoration to God in the future to live in His presence in eternity and to praise, worship, and serve Him world without end. Summarizing the Lesson The better blood of the better sacrifice makes it possible to live up to the better law of the New Covenant. The Old demanded an adherence to God's holy law. Man, unredeemed, could not attain to it. The believer under the
New Covenant through the better sacrifice, Jesus Christ, can. The perfect and sinless sacrifice of Jesus Christ makes the better things of Hebrews a reality. Research Guide 1. Study some of the requirements of the Law. A good starting place is Leviticus 1. 2. In Doctrines of the Bible, read the relevant chapters on God's plan of salvation.