Text: Hebrews 9:1–28 - Central Truth: The Old Covenant pointed toward Christ, but Jesus Christ is the perfect High Priest who entered the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood, obtained eternal redemption, cleansed our conscience, and opened the way for us to God.
1. THE OLD COVENANT HAD A SANCTUARY, BUT IT WAS ONLY A
SHADOW
Hebrews 9:1–10
The earthly tabernacle had:
- The lampstand
- The table
- The showbread
- The Holy Place
- The Most Holy Place
- The ark of the covenant
- The mercy seat
- The cherubim
- The priestly ministry
Everything was carefully arranged by
God.
But there was a limitation.
“The way into the Holiest of All was
not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.” — Hebrews 9:8
The priests could enter the first
room, but only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only
once a year.
What does this teach
us?
The Old Testament system was a
shadow pointing to Christ.
Hebrews 10:1 says:
“For the law, having a shadow of the
good things to come, and not the very image of the things…”
The tabernacle was real, but it was
not the final reality.
The sacrifices were real, but they
could not permanently remove sin.
The priesthood was real, but those
priests were only temporary representatives.
Everything was pointing forward to
Jesus.
Application
We must not remain satisfied with the
shadow when Christ has come as the reality.
It is possible to have:
- religious activities without Christ,
- church attendance without surrender,
- Bible knowledge without obedience,
- outward religion without inward transformation.
God does not merely want us to perform
religious ceremonies.
God wants us to come to Him through
Jesus Christ.
2. THE OLD SACRIFICES COULD NOT PERFECT THE CONSCIENCE
Hebrews 9:9–10
Hebrews says that the gifts and
sacrifices offered under the old system:
“Cannot make him who performed the
service perfect in regard to the conscience.” — Hebrews 9:9
This is extremely important.
The Old Covenant sacrifices could deal
with ceremonial uncleanness, but they could not ultimately cleanse the human
conscience from sin.
People can try many things to silence
their guilty conscience:
- religion,
- good works,
- giving money,
- religious rituals,
- self-discipline,
- comparison with others.
But none of these can remove sin.
The problem is
deeper than behavior.
The problem is the heart and
conscience.
Jeremiah 17:9 says:
“The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”
We need more than external
improvement.
We need internal cleansing.
And that cleansing comes through
Christ.
3. CHRIST CAME AS THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST
Hebrews 9:11
Now we come to the great turning
point:
“But Christ came as High Priest of the
good things to come…”
Notice the words:
BUT CHRIST CAME!
The old priesthood could not finish
the work.
But Christ came.
The old sacrifices could not
completely remove sin.
But Christ came.
The earthly sanctuary could not give
permanent access to God.
But Christ came.
The old covenant could not perfect the
conscience.
But Christ came!
Jesus is not merely another priest.
He is the perfect High Priest.
Hebrews 4:14 says:
“Seeing then that we have a great High
Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…”
4. JESUS ENTERED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD
Hebrews
9:12
This is one of the most powerful
statements in the chapter:
“Not with the blood of goats and
calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all,
having obtained eternal redemption.”
Under the Old Covenant, animals were
sacrificed.
But Jesus did not bring the blood of
an animal.
He brought His own blood.
The priests offered another creature.
Jesus offered Himself.
The priests offered repeatedly.
Jesus offered once for all.
The priests could only provide
temporary ceremonial cleansing.
Jesus obtained eternal redemption.
The cross was not an
accident.
Jesus deliberately gave Himself for
us.
Isaiah 53:5 says:
“But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”
1 Peter 2:24 says:
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own
body on the tree.”
5. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST CLEANSES THE CONSCIENCE
Hebrews 9:13–14
Here is one of the greatest promises
in this chapter:
“How much more shall the blood of
Christ…cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Notice what Christ cleanses.
He cleanses the conscience.
Sin produces guilt.
Sin produces shame.
Sin produces condemnation.
Sin separates us from God.
But Christ's blood reaches deeper than
outward religious cleansing.
It reaches the conscience.
What are “dead
works”?
They are works that cannot produce
spiritual life.
A person may attempt to earn God's
acceptance through works.
But salvation is not:
“I work so that God will accept me.”
The gospel is:
“Christ has accomplished what I could
never accomplish.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
“For by grace you have been saved
through faith…not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
But notice Hebrews 9:14 also says that
we are cleansed:
“to serve the living God.”
Grace does not produce laziness.
Grace produces service.
We are not saved by good works,
but we are saved for good works.
Ephesians 2:10 says:
“For we are His workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works.”
6. JESUS IS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT
Hebrews 9:15
The Bible says:
“And for this reason, He is the
Mediator of the new covenant…”
A mediator stands between two parties.
Jesus is our Mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5 says:
“For there is one God and one Mediator
between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
You do not need another mediator
between you and God.
Jesus is enough.
You do not need to add another
sacrifice.
Jesus is enough.
You do not need another priest to
accomplish redemption.
Jesus is enough.
You do not need another payment for
sin.
Jesus paid it all.
7. WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO REMISSION
Hebrews 9:22
This verse gives us a foundational
biblical truth:
“Without shedding of blood there is no
remission.”
Why?
Because sin deserves judgment.
Romans 6:23 says:
“For the wages of sin is death.”
Sin cannot simply be ignored.
God is holy and righteous.
The cross demonstrates both God's
justice and God's love.
Romans 5:8 says:
“But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
At the cross:
Justice was satisfied.
Mercy was extended.
Sin was judged.
Grace was revealed.
Redemption was accomplished.
8. JESUS OFFERED HIMSELF ONCE — NOT REPEATEDLY
Hebrews 9:24–26
The Old Testament high priest entered
the Most Holy Place repeatedly.
But Jesus entered the heavenly
sanctuary:
“once at the end of the ages, He has
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” — Hebrews 9:26
Three words are especially important:
“Once…for all.”
Jesus does not need to die again.
His sacrifice is complete.
John 19:30 records Jesus' final
declaration:
“It is finished!”
Not:
“It is almost finished.”
Not:
“It needs to be completed.”
But:
IT IS FINISHED!
The work of redemption has been
accomplished.
9. CHRIST NOW APPEARS BEFORE GOD FOR US
Hebrews 9:24
What is Jesus doing now?
Hebrews says:
“For Christ has not entered the holy
places made with hands… but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us.”
Look at those final words:
“FOR US.”
Jesus is not against us.
Jesus is for us.
Romans 8:34 says:
“It is Christ who died, and
furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us.”
When Satan accuses you, remember:
Jesus is your Advocate.
1 John 2:1 says:
“If anyone sins, we have an Advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Our confidence is not in our
perfection.
Our confidence is in Christ.
10. CHRIST BEARS OUR SINS
Hebrews 9:28
The climax of the chapter is:
“So Christ was offered once to bear
the sins of many.”
Jesus did not merely come to teach us.
He came to bear our sins.
Jesus did not merely come to give us
an example.
He came to redeem us.
Jesus did not merely come to improve
our lives.
He came to save us from sin.
Isaiah 53:6 says:
“And the LORD has laid on Him the
iniquity of us all.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 says:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be
sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
This is the heart of the gospel:
Our sin was placed upon Christ, and
His righteousness is given to those who believe.
11. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN
Hebrews 9:28
The chapter ends with a glorious
promise:
“To those who eagerly wait for Him He
will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
The first coming was connected with
His sacrifice.
The second coming will be connected
with the completion of salvation for His people.
Therefore, Christians are not merely
people who look backward to the cross.
We also look forward to His return.
Jesus is coming again!
John 14:3:
“I will come again and receive you to
Myself.”
Acts 1:11:
“This same Jesus…will so come in like
manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
12. WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THIS MESSAGE?
A. COME TO CHRIST
Jesus said:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
Do not try to save yourself.
Come to Jesus.
B. TRUST COMPLETELY IN HIS FINISHED WORK
Hebrews 10:14 says:
“For by one offering He has perfected
forever those who are being sanctified.”
Stop depending upon your own
righteousness.
Depend upon Christ.
C. ALLOW CHRIST TO CLEANSE YOUR CONSCIENCE
Hebrews 9:14 says:
“How much more shall the blood of
Christ…cleanse your conscience from dead works…”
Do not continue living under
condemnation when Christ has provided forgiveness.
Romans 8:1 says:
“There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”
D. SERVE THE LIVING GOD
Christ cleanses us:
“to serve the living God.” — Hebrews 9:14
We are not saved to remain spiritually
passive.
We are redeemed to serve.
Serve Christ.
Serve His church.
Serve people.
Share the gospel.
Make disciples.
Live for His glory.
E.
LIVE WITH EXPECTATION OF HIS RETURN
Hebrews 9:28 says:
“To those who eagerly wait for Him He
will appear a second time.”
The question is not merely:
“Do I believe Jesus died?”
The question is:
“Am I living ready for Jesus to
return?”
CONCLUSION: FROM THE SHADOW TO THE SUBSTANCE
Hebrews 9 gives us a beautiful
contrast:
|
Old Covenant |
New Covenant |
|
Earthly sanctuary |
Heavenly sanctuary |
|
Human priests |
Christ the High Priest |
|
Animal blood |
Christ's own blood |
|
Repeated sacrifices |
One perfect sacrifice |
|
Ceremonial cleansing |
Cleansed conscience |
|
Temporary redemption |
Eternal redemption |
|
Restricted access |
Access through Christ |
|
Shadow |
Reality |
|
Old Covenant |
New Covenant |
|
Looking forward |
Christ has accomplished it |
The message of Hebrews 9 is ultimately
not about a building.
It is not about furniture.
It is not about ceremonies.
It is not even primarily about blood.
It is about JESUS
CHRIST.
Jesus is our High Priest.
Jesus is our Mediator.
Jesus is our Sacrifice.
Jesus is our Redeemer.
Jesus cleanses our conscience.
Jesus represents us before the Father.
Jesus bore our sins.
Jesus died once for all.
Jesus rose again.
Jesus is coming again.
Therefore, do not go back to the
shadow when you have the reality.
Do not trust in religion.
Trust in Christ.
Do not trust in your works.
Trust in the finished work of Christ.
Do not live under condemnation.
Walk in the cleansing power of His
blood.
Do not remain spiritually inactive.
Serve the living God.
And do not fear the future.
Wait for Jesus—because He is coming
again!
Final Declaration
“Therefore, He is also able to save to
the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make
intercession for them.” — Hebrews 7:25
Christ has entered once.
Christ has offered Himself once.
Christ has obtained eternal redemption.
Christ has cleansed our conscience.
Christ is interceding for us.
And Christ is coming again.
**THE BLOOD OF JESUS
IS ENOUGH!
THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS IS COMPLETE!
THE REDEMPTION OF JESUS IS ETERNAL
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