THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT

Hebrews 9:22 NASB95

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:15–16 NASB95

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

AIM

Hebrews 9:15-1

AIM

To teach listeners the blood of Jesus was the only effective way to cleanse the sins of humanity.

INTRODUCTION

The writer of Hebrews offers a contrast between the blood offerings of the high priests according to the Old Testament and the blood offerings of Jesus, our High Priest, according to the New Covenant. The mediator of a new covenant is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James A. An Ineffective Antidote for Sin (vv. 1–10)

The ceremonies and sacrifices of the tabernacle did not destroy the effects of sin.

INEFFECTIVE SANCTUARIES POINTED TOWARD THE NEED FOR THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT

Hebrews 9:1–5 NASB95

1 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. 3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

When considering the Old Testament writings, it would have taken hours to “speak in detail” about the design, furnishings and ceremonial laws of the tabernacle.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 1. An Ineffective Sanctuary (vv. 1–5)

The first covenant provided both regulations for worship and a place for worship. The place for worship was an earthly sanctuary. Earthly did not suggest any feature displeasing to God. It pointed out that the tabernacle was material, imperfect, and temporary.

The tabernacle may have been impressive in design and workmanship, but it produced disappointing spiritual results. This statement is not intended to critical. It merely points out a fundamental doctrine in the New Testament. The blood of animals could never take away sin; only the blood of Jesus could do this.

INEFFECTIVE CEREMONIES POINTED TOWARD THE NEED FOR THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT

Hebrews 9:6

Hebrews 9:6–10 NASB95

6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

We learn the holy of holies was not accessible to people, only to the priests. The high priest entered the holy of holies each year which proves he never succeeded in completely removing the sin. Verse eight teaches us because of the outer sanctuary there was limited to God’s presence. Only the shed blood of Jesus provided access for born again believers to have access to the Father.

The purpose of the previous verses is to prepare the readers for better things to come through Jesus rather than being critical of the Old Testament sacrificial system. This leads to a very important question.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 2. Ineffective Ceremonies (vv. 6–10)

If the old sacrifices could not bring common people to God, what good were they? These gifts and sacrifices were imperfect and temporary. They were imperfect because they were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. Some Old Testament saints had clear consciences, but they did not get them through the sacrificial system.

The sacrifices were temporary because they applied only until the time of the new order. Even though the sacrifices could not cleanse the conscience or produce spiritual life, they pointed to Christ who could. The regulations under the old covenant were only regulations for the body. They provided ceremonial purity. The food, drink, and washings had beneficial effects for the body, but they could not bring liberty to the spirit. Only Christ can do this.

The next few verses should help us to understand the only way to cleansing sin and clearing the conscience.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James B. An Effective Remedy for Sin (vv. 11–28)

Jesus offered a remedy for sin which cleansed the conscience, offered forgiveness, and never needed repetition.

AN EFFECTIVE REMEDY FOR SIN POINTED TOWARD THE NEED FOR THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT

Hebrews 9:11–14 NASB95

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The ministry of Jesus did not deal with shadows and types as the Aaronic priesthood in the Old Testament. He entered into the perfect tabernacle in the heavens. He did not use the sacrifices and blood of animals, but sacrificed Himself and shed His own blood.

Hebrews

Hebrews 9:15–22 NASB95

15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and 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 commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary A Better Sacrifice (Heb. 9:13–10:18)

Why did Christ have to die? The author answers with two illustrations. The first is from secular law. A person’s will becomes effective only when he dies. Christ died to put his will or testament, the new covenant, into effect (vv. 16–17). The second illustration is from divine law (vv. 18–23). A blood sacrifice of a higher order was necessary to seal the new covenant. Christ made that sacrifice with his own blood.

Hebrews 9:23–28 NASB95

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION

We are very blessed to live in the New Testament era. We could have been born during a time when people actually took animal sacrifices to the temple to be offered for their sins. Animals would have died and blood would have been offered in our behalf, but it would need to be repeated over and over. When Jesus, the Mediator of a New Covenant, offered His blood on the cross, He did so “once to bear the sins of many.” The Mediator of a New Covenant offered a sufficient sacrifice to cleanse us of our sins and unrighteousness. For this reason, the Mediator of a New Covenant is the only hope for lost sinners to be cleansed and saved.

Prepared for First Baptist Church Oakdale - July 23, 2017