Hebrews 9:15-28 NKJV
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 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.
This is a blessed text of God’s Holy Scripture that helps Christian congregations to learn about the purpose of Christ’s death. It deepens the appreciation of the reception of Christ’s Body and Blood in, with, and under the bread and the wine of the Sacrament of the Altar.
The blood of Christ is the blood of the New Testament, the testament that Christ established by His sacrificial death, the testament in His blood by which He conveys His eternal heavenly inheritance to the congregation. The beloved blood of Jesus redeems the receivers from slavery to sin and frees from the debt they owe to God because of their transgression of His Law. By way of Christ’s blood (the way of the cross) true believers receive “remission” from all of their sin (see Mt. 26:28; and v. 22).
As a believer’s conscience was mentioned in yesterday’s devotion, so it plays a part in today’s reading as well. By giving them His blood to drink in His testament, Jesus purifies the conscience of God’s people for service to the living God together with Jesus in heaven itself (vs. 14). When service takes place, by way of the Gospel, it is taking place freely — there is no Law. (see Rom. 7:6 & 7:25-8:17)
The conclusion of this section of text inevitably brings one to be confronted with death and the judgment — and definitely take note of verse 27, for it shuts up any talk of reincarnation. Those who belong to Jesus need not fear God’s condemnation in the last judgement but can eagerly wait for Him to bring His full salvation (what I like to call “full sainting” since on this side of glory we remain both sinner/saints). Christians know that Christ will reappear to usher them into the full reception of the heavenly inheritance — by grace alone, because of Christ’s fully atoning merits alone, through God’s gift of faith alone.
Let us pray: Thank you God for sending Christ to earth to fully merit salvation for us — and for His continued appearance before Your face on our behalf. Amen.