Hebrews 9:14-28 - Recipients of an eternal inheritance

Hebrews 9:15–28 CSB

15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, 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. 16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 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. 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. 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. 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. 25 He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. 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. 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—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.

Last week we focused on the fact that Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come (v11). We saw that He did that by offering Himself without blemish to God and in doing that our consciences can be cleansed to serve the living God.

Now, because He did that, Christ becomes the mediator of the new covenant. The job of a mediator was to arbitrate so that two parties can be brought together - in this case, a Holy God and sinful humanity.

These chapters are loaded with essential theological truths that we need to embrace as followers of Christ.

We have been seeing that He goes before us and

Why does He do this?

So that we can receive the promise of an eternal inheritance v15

What God has for us goes beyond this world.

Eternal life

The inheritance of the Kingdom (1 Cor 6:9-10)

Present reality to that now and that changes how we see ourselves and how we live now. Children of the King who live royally now.

Future fullness

1 Peter 1:4 CSB

...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

Guaranteed through the presence of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Who is this promise for?

1. Those who are called v15a

1.1. He qualifies you for this inheritance!

Note, if you have put your faith in Christ, it’s because God called you.

Romans 8:28–30 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

1.2. He calls you and makes you alive!

There is the general call of God which is made in the proclamation of the Gospel, but this is the particular call of God where He has called you by name and says, “You are mine!”

2. The called are redeemed v15b

When we see a death has taken place for redemption, we are given an awareness of the seriousness of our sin.

Romans 6:23 CSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We need a redeemer, a deliverer.

Before Christ came it was a lamb, a goat, a calf, but Christ dies, His blood is shed and His blood covers our sin.

Ephesians 1:7 CSB

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

2.1. Retroactive - it dates back to Eden

It covers sins/transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews —An Anchor for the Soul (2 vols.) Mediator

Their sacrifices were not a means of salvation, but they were evidence of believing, faithful hearts. To these, Christ’s blood extended its retroactive power

2.2. Proactive

We are beneficiaries of Christ’s redeeming work at the cross.

1 Peter 1:18–19 CSB

18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

What does that say to you?

John 3:16 CSB

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

3. The redeemed have a promise

We have the promise of an eternal inheritance. A will had been made. It was only effective through a death.

Wills generally only come into effect when someone has died. My father distributed some of his things while he was living, but his will determined how the remainder of his estate would be distributed.

To live by faith is to hold to the promise. And you don’t do this alone, because God is with you.

You were bought at a price.

This is why it was necessary for Christ to die because in this way the will is brought into effect.

4. Those with promise are purified

The first covenant showed us we are sinners. But His redemption is in His blood.

4.1. The old Covenant

He goes into detail of how Moses would read the law and then show how blood was needed to cover sin. Blood would be sprinkled over everything to purify it. It’s feels like what was happening in the OT with all the blood was simply a bloody mess.

This was all a picture of the need for the shedding of blood to cover sin.

I had a friend who didn’t like too much teaching on blood because it so offensive to our modern mind. This talk of blood can easily offend our modern sensitivities. That was until she needed blood. But we are shown that the blood of an appropriate sacrifice was necessary. This, perhaps shows how we have missed things. We think neat and tidy, but there’s something incredibly messy here for purification of the copy.

But it was life for life.

4.2. The new covenant

We still needed a better sacrifice and Christ brought that. He went into heaven itself so that “He might now appear in the presence of God for us.”

He is the one who saves and intercedes.

He purifies before God - He justifies us.

Brings forgiveness through His blood - none of this is cheap.

5. The purified have hope

5.1. We will die unless Christ returns first - even in that there is hope

5.2. He is coming again.

5.3. When He comes our salvation will be complete

We will groan now as we wait

We will live now

in holiness

in service

Many want a bloodless sacrifice.

God calls for surrender