The Eternal Sufficiency of the Blood of Jesus (Part 1)

INTRODUCTION

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a video on social media in which people were asked, “If you could ask God one question—and only one question—with the guarantee that He would answer, what would it be?” It was interesting hearing people’s responses (GIVE EXAMPLES).

It got me thinking, though. If I were given only ONE question to ask God with the guarantee that He would answer, what would it be? Now…disclaimer…for those of you theologically parsing and dismantling this HYPOTHETICAL sermon illustration and before you send me an email telling me about the problems … STOP. We know you’re the smartest person in the room…just play along. Ok. I felt like I just needed to get that off my chest.

Anyway…where was I? If I were given only ONE question to ask God with the guarantee that He would answer, what would it be? I really pondered this and I think I’ve come up with it.

Knowing what I know about myself, it would be—“All of my sins—past, present, future—the things that no one else knows about me and that I would be ashamed if they did…they really are eternally forgiven?”

The answer to that great question is given, I believe, in our text today and next week.

Hebrews 9:1–14 ESV

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 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 worshiper, 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.

{The Blood of Jesus eternally and effectually COVERS all who come to Him in faith and repentance. In other words, in Christ, you are—COMPLETELY and FOREVER—covered in His sin—cleansing, life—changing, and sanctifying blood.}

I want you to write this down. Commit it to memory. Preach it over and over again to yourself this week.

So, to understand what the author of Hebrews is saying, we need to start with the text and ask a couple of questions—1) Why is he going into such detail about the OT tabernacle, and, 2) What does it mean for us to be “covered eternally and effectually?” We, obviously, aren’t literally covered in blood. We don’t have a jar of Jesus’s blood somewhere and when a person gets saved we sprinkle it on them.

EXPLANATION

(vs. 1-10)—Why the description of the tabernacle/temple and the work of the priests?

A) We come to God on HIS terms—not ours. We are sinful—mired in sin to our very core—and God is Holy. He initiates a relationship with sinners but on HIS terms. God set up the OT worship system to show us that He both invites us into a relationship with Him but, also, that He establishes the relationship.

B) To show us that it is not enough. It was only temporary. It is not eternal and it is not effectual. The blood was applied to the “outside” of things…The blood of Jesus is applied to us. It all serves to point a new day when everything will change.

This is what the author says in verses 11-12. He entered into THE holy place.

High Priest

Through the greater and more perfect tent—the greater tabernacle

Entered once for all into the holy place—the presence of God

Not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood—sacrifice. He presented his own blood in the holy place.

Powerful

Christ is tabernacle, priest, and sacrifice and by presenting his own blood in the MOST HOLY PLACE—before the throne of God—He secured for us an “eternal redemption.”

Jesus is completely/effectually and eternally everything required for our redemption. Therefore, he eternally and effectually saves us.

Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

What does this “covering” do? The power…

Eternally and effectually CLEANSES us.

All this talk about “blood” and the need for the blood of a sacrifice…that seems archaic…gross, even…it speaks of the depth of our sin. There is not one molecule of our being that is not stained by sin. Our minds are stained with sin. Our hands are stained with sin. Our feet. Sin runs to the very core of who we are.

When we talk about the biblical concept of forgiveness we don’t mean that God says, “Ok. No big deal. It’s all good now.” No. We are cleansed fully, completely, for all of eternity.

Twice, in this text, the author uses two words to describe what the blood of the OT sacrifices are unable to do but what the blood of Jesus does for the sinner…In verse 9, he says that the gifts and sacrifices offered by the priests “cannot perfect the conscience of the worshipper.”

And, then, in verse 14, he says that the blood of Christ “purifies our conscience.” Perfection//Purification = cleansing. This concept of cleansing/purifying from sin goes all the way back to the OT. In the book of Leviticus, God gives very specific instructions on how to cleanse human beings from uncleanness and from sin.

Hebrews Exegesis

Typically uncleanness in the OT is from physical defilement. Such defilement is related to sin, but the cleansing Jesus accomplished is deeper, for he cleansed the conscience from the works that lead to death (cf.

1 Corinthians 6:11 “…you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

1 John 1:7 “…the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Can your sin be cleansed? All of your sin? Forever and completely by the blood of Jesus.

Hope for you this morning…

Eternally and effectually CHANGES us.

All this talk about “blood” and the need for the blood of a sacrifice…that seems archaic…gross, even…it speaks of the depth of our depravity.

Eternally and effectually CONSECRATES us.

(vs. 14)

All this talk about “blood” and the need for the blood of a sacrifice…that seems archaic…gross, even…it speaks of the depth of our depravity.

APPLICATION

We come to God on His terms—not ours—SALVATION

Don’t settle for superficiality.

If you are covered…you are cleansed.

If you’re covered…stop living under condemnation—SERVE GOD.