The blood of Christ represents more than a historical symbol; it signifies the ultimate sacrifice and the path to eternal salvation. In today’s discussion, we journey through Hebrews 9, examining the contrast between the temporary provisions of the old covenant and the everlasting promise of the new. Listen in for an exploration of faith, the role of blood in biblical covenants, and the assurance of hope in the promise of Jesus’s return.
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Allen J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today we are in Hebrews chapter 9. We’ll learn about redemption through Jesus. We’ll listen to our guest reader, Roy Hanske, read Hebrews chapter 9. Roy has been on Denver Christian Radio since 1985. He is currently co-host on the Breakfast Table Show on KPOF, 9-10 a.m., The Point of Faith. He is also an author, just finishing a book called In Search of Shalom, directed primarily for men. Let’s listen to our guest reader, Roy Hanske, on Hebrews 9.
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hebrews nine now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness for a tent was prepared the first section in which there were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the presence it is called the holy place behind the second curtain was a second section called the most holy place having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold in which was a golden urn holding the manna and aaron’s staff that budded and the tablets of the covenant above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat of these things we cannot now speak in detail these preparations having thus been made the priests go regularly into the first section performing their ritual duties but into the second only the high priest goes and he but once a year and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing, which is symbolic for the present age. According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshipper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. but when christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come then through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands that is not of this creation he entered once for all into the holy places not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood thus securing an eternal redemption for if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer sanctify for the purification of the flesh how much more will the blood of christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without blemish to god purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living god Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, for a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.” therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you. And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.” indeed under the law almost everything is purified with blood and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these for christ has entered not into holy places made with hands which are copies of the true things but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of god on our behalf nor was it to offer himself repeatedly as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
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In 1993, I read Hebrews 9-10 on the same day, and concerning this chapter I wrote, Jesus the new, once for all, sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin. No more need for bulls and goats to die for a symbol of death and forgiveness, for the true Lamb of God has been slain for the forgiveness of sin of all men. I thank God He died for me, that I had the chance to accept His sacrifice for my sin, and by God’s grace I accepted His gift of forgiveness and salvation. I thank God He gave me a chance to see it and accept it. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you. In 2005, I read Hebrews chapter 9, and I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, the old and new covenants. What about blood? Blood signifies life and death. Blood keeps us alive. Without blood flowing through our body, we die. Blood is symbolic of life. Covenants are valid only when men are dead, and that’s referring to verse 17. The first covenant was signed by the death and blood of sacrificed animals. Blood was shed. Something had to die to validate the old covenant. The new covenant still requires death to put it into effect, like a will. It’s only triggered at death. But this new covenant is validated by the blood of Christ, a more perfect sacrifice. In 2013, I read Hebrews 8 and 9 on the same day. Concerning Hebrews 9, I wrote… When Jesus died, the veil between the Holy of Holies and the first chamber of the temple was torn from top to bottom, illustrating he opened the way to the Holy of Holies with his blood sacrifice. Jesus did not only enter the Holy of Holies of the temple, he opened heaven’s door and sits at the right hand of the Father on our behalf. His saving work is complete. Next he comes again to save us. Hebrews chapter 9 opens with a description of the tabernacle. The tabernacle had two sections. The first section was called the Holy Place. The second section was called the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, and it was divided by a curtain. Verse 6 says, “…the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.” Verse 11 says, But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is not of this creation, he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. We’ve learned in the first eight chapters of Hebrews that Jesus was superior to angels, to the law, to Moses, to the Levitical priesthood. And here we see that he is superior to the tabernacle. That’s the reference to the greater and more perfect tent. And his own blood is superior to the blood of goats and calves. His blood secured our eternal redemption. Verse 14. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Yes, the blood of Jesus was superior to all the blood shed in the Old Testament Levitical practices. Verse 22 reminds us, Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Now I must admit, I don’t really understand this. I don’t understand all the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament. And I don’t understand why God required the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins. But the Word of God and the salvation from God is not dependent on my understanding. He is the one who decided that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. He is the one that created a blood sacrifice system in the Old Testament where there was so much shedding of blood. all those sacrifices in the old testament with so much shedding of blood was simply a precursor to jesus coming to shed his blood for the forgiveness of sin verse twenty four and following say for christ has entered not into holy places made with hands which are copies of the true things but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of god on our behalf nor was it to offer himself repeatedly as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world but as it is he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Praise God, Jesus, superior to any Old Testament sacrifice, and Jesus’ blood, superior to all the blood shed under the Levitical sacrificial system. And let’s finish with verse 27. It says, “…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Why is this verse so important? This verse alone denies reincarnation. Again, it says, “…it is appointed for man to die once.” Only once, not over and over. We don’t come back reincarnated. It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. So the belief against reincarnation is not human theology. It’s based on the Word of God. And I said we’d finish with verse 27, but I can’t ignore verse 28. So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. How do we apply Hebrews 9 to our lives? First, in our human ability, we can understand that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. Then we can understand from Hebrews 9 that Jesus’ shed blood was superior to any blood shed before him. By means of his own blood, he has secured our eternal redemption. And we can understand that reincarnation is a man-made religion. It is inconsistent with the word of God. And lastly, we hope that we are ones who are eagerly awaiting the second coming of Jesus. In his first appearance on earth, he dealt with the issue of sin. When he comes again, he will come to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. I hope you’re one of them. Father, thank you for the truths of scripture. Thank you for the reminder that we will all die and at that point we will be judged. But thank you, Jesus, for your shed blood that forgives us of our sins and provides eternal redemption if we accept that gift from you. Father, thank you that at 15 years old on a dirt road in Colorado Springs, this truth was revealed to me and I accepted your forgiveness for my sins. I eagerly await your second coming. I pray for every listener that each one will also make such a decision. First, to understand that you shed your blood for us. Second, that that shed blood was for the forgiveness of our sins. And third, that we must accept that gift to secure our eternal redemption. Thank you, Jesus. We eagerly await your second coming. Hallelujah. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible. Our host stations are hearing from you listeners. People are calling in to say thanks for adding AdBible to their program selection. Thank you for tuning in to this program. AdBible is sponsored by the Ezra Project, a ministry started in 2002 to connect God’s people to God’s Word. We speak in churches, provide audio and written resources at EzraProject.net, and find radio as a way to reach deeply committed Christians. You can learn more about the Ezra Project by searching us from your phone, tablet, or computer. You may really enjoy the short video describing how the Lord led us to start this ministry and how he has blessed it for decades. I encourage you to also find the video tab and check out our newest message, AI. 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