Hebrews 9:1-28

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Hebrews

Rusty's Notes

• Let me reiterate what I said last week…
• The Old Covenant originated in the Old Testament…
• Do not disregard the Old Testament.
• Learn to distinguish Old Testament from Old Covenant.
• The non-believing Jews worshipped the system described in the Old Covenant. They did this in both the Old & New Testaments.
• Today we put more value on our local churches (systems) than we do our relationship with Jesus.

OLD COVENANT MINISTRY
HEBREWS 9
1 Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary.

• Offerings & sacrifices in the tabernacle.

2 For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.

• This was before Solomon’s & Herod’s temples.
• Descriptions can be found in Exodus 35-40.
• The outer court was 150 feet long and 75 feet wide.
• The court was 45 feet long and 15 feet wide.
• Holy Place was 30 feet long by 15 wide.

3 Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place.

• Holy of Holies was 15 feet long and 15 feet wide and 15 feet high.

4 It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

• All three items represented Israel’s rebellion.

5 The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.

• The Mercy Seat covered their acts of rebellion.
• The Mercy Seat was soon the place where sin was to be forgiven

6 With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. 7 But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

• General priests went in and out of the Holy Place performing duties.
• The High Priest went into the Holy of Holies at least twice on the Day of Atonement.
• Once to offer a sacrifice for his sins and a second time to offer a sacrifice for all other sin.
• Obvious sins could be dealt with any day of the year.
• “sins of ignorance” were covered on the Day of Atonement only.
• “sins of ignorance” – hidden sins or sins they had forgotten.

8 The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing.

• The closest place a common Jew could get near to God was the outer court.
• Only the High Priest had access to God one day a year.
• They were limited to the access of God because their sins had only been covered and not forgiven.

9 This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.

• Symbol – picture of the real thing. A copy.

10 They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.

• The covering only dealt with the outward behavior and not the problem that existed within.
• They still had a sinful nature.
• “Time of restoration” – to make right or correct.
• All the sins during the OT were dealt with at the cross.

 
NEW COVENANT MINISTRY
11 But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation),

• Jesus entered the tabernacle pitched by the Lord in Heaven.
• Ephesians 2:6 - He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,[1]
• Jesus has provided us access to God 24/7.

12 he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

• The high priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of bulls/calves for his own sin.
• He then reentered with the blood of goats for the people.
• Jesus entered one time with His own perfect blood.
• Jesus’ one time entry was for all eternity. (secure)

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,

• Atonement was only for behavior

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?

• Christ’s blood & forgiveness was for the renewing of the soul, spirit and body.
• Our old sinful nature was removed and replaced with a new nature.
• Ezekiel 36:26 – I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.[2]
• We became saints who sometimes sin… and not lowly sinners saved by grace.
• Jesus did this through the Spirit… the same Spirit that lives in you and me.
• We have been empowered.

15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant,

• Mediator – one who intervenes between two parties to ratify a covenant or peace.

so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

• The OT believers were saved at this point.
• Saved through repentance and faith.
• They believed in the Messiah that was to come.
• They were credited righteousness. Genesis 15:6

16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established.

• Whoever makes a will can change it as long as they are alive.
• But the will goes into effect when the person dies.
• It is binding, unalterable and irrevocable.
• Once again, we are secure.

17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. 18 That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.

• God established the covenant with blood.
• It was the animals that died, not the initiator.
• Why blood? – Leviticus 17:11 - For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.[3]
• The life is in the blood.
• Blood is the symbol of death

19 For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, 20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you. 21 In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. 22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

• Blood was the symbol of death… if it was just the blood, the animals would not have to die.
• Death had to occur.
• Old Covenant was sealed with blood of animals.
• New Covenant was sealed with blood of Jesus.
• Moses’ actions pointed to what Christ was to come and do in the future.
• Once the Old Covenant was sealed with blood, it could not be altered.
• The New Covenant made the Old Covenant obsolete.
• It took the death of a perfect man to remove the sin of man.

23 Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.

• Why did the heavenly tabernacle need to be purified?
• Satan brought sin into heaven after he fell.
• He approached God in Job 1:6-7
• Revelation 12:10 says he is still accusing the brethren.

24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.

• Jesus never entered into the Holy of Holies in the Temple (Herod’s) because He was not a high priest on earth.
• Now he represents all of God’s children in heaven.

25 He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.

• Jesus’s blood sacrifice made it final… “It is finished.”
• One time only!
• He sat down.

26 Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.

• Forgiveness occurred at one time.
• He doesn’t climb back up on the cross for any more sin.
• Sin is an issue that has already been dealt with and defeated.
• He died once… never to die again!

27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment--

• General statement – Lazarus died twice as well as others in the OT/NT that were raised from the dead.
• Enoch & Elijah never died at all.
• Judgment follows death
• Great White Throne Judgment for non-believers in Revelation 20:11-15.
• Judgment Seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
• Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,[4]

28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.[5]

• When Jesus returns, He will not be dealing with the sin issue… He already did.
• When we see Jesus face to face… He will not mention one single sin to you.
• We live in a constant state of forgiveness.
• The High Priest always came out to the people with confirmation that their sacrifices had been received.
• When Jesus returns, it will be confirmation that the Father was pleased with His Son’s offering.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 2:6). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Eze 36:26). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Le 17:11–12). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 8:1). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 9:1–28). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.