Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

Sermon Text: Hebrews 9:11-14.

Audience: General Sunday morning worship service and a Catechism audience.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you voluntarily died on the cross for all of us to take away the sins of the world. Let us be blessed and trust in the knowledge that we have been washed by your blood and forgiven.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be always acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.

Introduction of the Sermon:

I was at Quantico Virginia on September 11, about 20 minutes away when terrorists attacked the Pentagon. I knew Joe, a friend of mine that was a firefighter who worked there. Joe like so many was a brave firefighter who was known for his courage and selflessness. During 9-11, massive fires broke out in the large portion of the Pentagon building. The men and women were trapped inside, and the situation was dire. Joe, without a second thought, rushed into the burning building. He managed to save many people, but the fire was still raging, and there were still people trapped inside. Despite the risks, Joe decided to go back into the building. This time, however, he didn't come back out. He sacrificed his own life to save others.

Just like Christ, Joe made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave up his own life to save others. His act was selfless. He didn't need to prove his bravery or worthiness before he could save others. His actions spoke louder than any words could.

This story, while tragic, illustrates the sacrifice Christ made for us. Just like Joe, Christ gave up His own life to save us.

In Hebrews 9:11-14 we find a profound comparison between the Old Covenant's earthly sanctuary and rituals, and the New Covenant established by Christ. The passage contrasts the physical (the tabernacle, the blood of goats and calves) with the spiritual (the blood of Christ, the eternal Spirit). In our present worldview, we must ask ourselves: why do we put more value on the physical over the spiritual? This passage emphasizes the superiority of Christ's sacrifice, which provides eternal redemption, over the temporary atonement offered by the high priests in the Old Testament.

In Hebrews 9:11-14, we distinguished the Old Covenant’s sacrificial system with the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. This passage describes the concept of Christ as the ultimate high priest who offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to cleanse us from sin by His blood.

It is my hope to invite you to experience the truth of the superiority of Christ's sacrifice over the old covenant sacrifices, emphasizing His role as our High Priest, comparing the lesser physical animal sacrifices to the greater spiritual sacrifice and the cleansing of our souls from dead works by the blood of Jesus.

Let us look at the biblical narrative of Christ as the high priest, who entered a perfect tabernacle not made by human hands.

1. Christ’s Superior Sacrifice and the Perfect Tent (Heb. 9:11-12)

This passage in Hebrews begins by contrasting the earthly sanctuary used by the high priests in the old covenant with the greater and more perfect tent (heaven itself) where Jesus entered. Unlike the high priests who had to offer sacrifices yearly, Jesus entered once for all by means of his own blood, obtaining eternal redemption.

Notice the words ‘and more perfect tent.’ In the Old Testament, the tent built under Moses was to signify servitude to the law. However, the more perfect tent is the dwelling of grace, the body of Christ whose head is Christ Himself.

The Greek texts have a few things to say that are noteworthy. The first is the word “greater” [meizonos] in verse 11 which is used to compare the tent (or tabernacle) that Christ entered, which is not of this creation, to the earthly tabernacle. This comparison emphasizes the superiority of Christ's priestly ministry.

And the second item is the term “an eternal redemption” [aiōnian lutrōsin] in verse 12. This emphasizes the enduring effect of Christ's sacrifice, in contrast to the temporary effect of the old covenant sacrifices. Here the perspective is that that redemption “has come” because Christ has completed His work.

The Old Testament laws, specifically in the books of Leviticus and Numbers, do mention the sacrifice of goats and calves as an atonement of sin. But the point to remember in this verse is that the basis of the Messiah’s entrance to the heavenly tabernacle was not by animal blood, but rather by His own blood.

Here is an affirmation that Christ's sacrifice was once and for all, securing eternal redemption. This means that Christians can have confidence in their salvation, not because of their own works, but because of what Christ has done for them.

In Hebrews 9:13, The old ways are now replaced by the only way to sanctification.

2. The blood of animals as the old way of atonement. (Heb. 9:13)

In the Book of Hebrews, the author compares the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer, which were used for purification in the Old Covenant to the sacrifice of Jesus.

What happened when Old Testament worshipers offered sacrifices? Did these offerings provide spiritual benefit for the offerers?

These offerings were meant to cleanse from fleshly defilement and provide temporary purity. They could not give spiritual cleansing. Only the blood of Christ could do that.

The phrase ‘sanctify for the purification of the flesh’ suggests that these rituals could cleanse people on an external, physical level. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

What a contrast! The high priest took another creature’s blood into the holy of holies many times during His life; but Jesus took His own blood into God’s presence once for all. The Old Testament sacrifices brought about ceremonial cleansing for the body but could never reach into the heart and conscience.

A Christian doesn’t cleanse themselves in the sense of performing some ritual or action that removes their sins. Rather, they are cleansed by placing their faith in Jesus Christ, confessing their sins, and seeking God’s forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:14 highlights the concept, ‘from the lesser to the greater.’

3. The blood of Christ - from the lesser to the greater(Hebrews 9:14)

Superior to the cleansing power of the ashes of an animal is the cleansing power of the sacrifice of Christ. ‘The Blood of Christ’ in verse 12 refers not simply to the fluid, but the whole atoning sacrificial work of Christ in His death.

This verse clearly shows the importance of the shedding of the blood sacrifice.

From the lesser (significance of animal sacrifice) to the greater significance of the sacrifice of our LORD and Savior. The phraseology within the Book of Leviticus is reminiscent of Christ’s words, ‘for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ (Matt. 26:28 [ESV]).

Do you believe that the blood of Christ was shed for you? If so, how do we acknowledge His sacrifice for you and me and be thankful? Acknowledging this sacrifice is a key step.

As we close, let us be reminded daily that the blood of Christ cleansed us internally from sin.

Conclusion of the Sermon:

The passages in Hebrews 9:11-14, explains the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice over the Old Testament sacrifice. It emphasizes that Christ's sacrifice by blood provides a deeper, spiritual cleansing compared to the physical cleansing provided by the Old Testament sacrifices

Through the blood of Christ, we are cleansed from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God. This passage emphasizes the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and the new covenant over the old, and the complete redemption and cleansing it provides for believers.