Jesus Sacrifice Part 2 Hebrews 9:16-28 Lesson 14 This week, we will continue learning about Jesus sacrifice and the New Covenant He established with believers. When Jesus died on the cross, the earthly sanctuary and sacrifices were no longer necessary because they were replaced by this New Covenant. The people no longer needed to continually offer animal sacrifices because the perfect blood of Jesus Christ was far superior to these. Under the Old Covenant, the sins of the people could only be covered by the blood of many animal sacrifices. But, when Jesus died on the cross, His own blood cleansed us once and for all. He was the perfect sacrifice and His finished work on the cross effectively dealt with our sins. It was necessary for Jesus to die so that the Old Covenant could be replaced by a new and far superior covenant. What exactly does Jesus sacrifice mean to us today? EVERYTHING! Now, we have a perfect High Priest Jesus Christ! We don t have to hope for cleansing and forgiveness because our sins, which were once like scarlet, have been made as white as snow. We don t have to hope for a better sanctuary because Jesus is that better sanctuary and He is seated in Heaven with His Father. He has settled everything on earth and we can live secure and confident in all that He has accomplished for us. How freeing for the woman of God walking in faith to know that we are no longer dependent upon any earthly high priest, but solely on our heavenly High Priest. The work of Jesus is a completed work, final and eternal. Amen and amen! 1
Open your Bible and begin with a word of prayer This Week s Scripture: Hebrews 9:16-28 Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. 17 The will goes into effect only after the person s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect. 18 That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. 19 For after Moses had read each of God s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. 20 Then he said, This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you. 21 And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. 22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. 23 That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. 24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. 27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. NLT This Week s Memory Verse: And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Hebrews 8:27-28 NKJV 1. The writer of Hebrews states that there was once a covenant in which the blood of animals was used for the remission of sins. What is the New Covenant according to Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25? 2
2. Communion is a time to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Read Psalm 22:1-18 and write down just a few things that Jesus suffered for us on the cross. With the above passage in mind, answer the following questions. a. What warnings are given in 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 about taking communion in an unworthy manner? b. Why do you think the consequences of taking communion in an unworthy manner are so severe? 3. In the Old Covenant, sacrifices had to be made over and over for peoples sins. According to Romans 6:10, how many times did Christ have to die for the remission of sin under the New Covenant? (Use the New Living Translation, if possible.) a. Now read Romans 6:5-11 and answer the following questions. What was crucified with Christ? What are we no longer a slave to? What are we now alive to? b. According to Romans 6:12-14, what should be the outcome of these changes? 3
Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory. Warren Wiersbe 4. The Hebrew Christians were tempted to return to the Old Covenant along with its ceremonies, rather than stay with the New Covenant that Jesus Christ was showing them. List some examples of how we return to ceremonies or familiar patterns, even though continuing in these ways is not necessarily what God wants for our lives. 5. At the end of this week s portion of scripture (v. 27-28), we see the writer speaking of our appointed time to die. Although the writer s intent was not to frighten us about our mortality, we often read verse 27 with trepidation. What encouragement did the writer give us in verse 28 that should bring us comfort? What further encouragement do the following verses give us? a. Psalm 68:20: b. Romans 6:23: c. 2 Corinthians 1:9: d. 1 Peter 3:18: e. Are you encouraged? Why or why not? 4
Reflect What has touched your heart during this week s study? Respond How has this study encouraged your spiritual growth? Result In what practical ways can you apply what you have learned this week? 5
Thoughts & Prayers 6