THE SUPERIOR SANCTUARY
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
In the current section of The Epistle To The Hebrews, the focus is on the superiority of the New Covenant which provides...
In the current section of The Epistle To The Hebrews, the focus is on the superiority of the New Covenant which provides...
Better promises - Heb 8:7-13
A better sanctuary - Heb 9:1-28
A better sacrifice - Heb 10:1-18
Our previous study considered “The Earthly Sanctuary” of the Old Covenant, that tabernacle which...
Our previous study considered “The Earthly Sanctuary” of the Old Covenant, that tabernacle which...
Served as copy and shadow of the heavenly things - cf. Heb 9:9; 8:5
Involved fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation - Heb 9:10
...and was therefore limited in its ability to provide what man truly needed! - Heb 9:9b
In the second half of the ninth chapter, we are now introduced to “The Heavenly Sanctuary” of the New Covenant...
In the second half of the ninth chapter, we are now introduced to “The Heavenly Sanctuary” of the New Covenant...
The true tabernacle in which Christ is a minister - Heb 8:2
The true tabernacle “which the Lord erected, and not man” - Heb 8:2
As such it is “The Superior Sanctuary”, which becomes apparent as we make our way through the rest of the ninth chapter...
As such it is “The Superior Sanctuary”, which becomes apparent as we make our way through the rest of the ninth chapter...
DISCUSSION
IT IS HEAVENLY
IT IS HEAVENLY
11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
A Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle is...
A Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle is...
A tabernacle “not made with hands”
A tabernacle “not of this creation”
Where then is this tabernacle? It is...
In Heaven Itself
In Heaven Itself
24 For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:
Christ has not entered the earthly tabernacle “made with hands”
It is “into heaven itself” that Christ has entered!
He now appears “before the face of God” - in His presence
Therefore “The Superior Sanctuary” is none other than heaven , where God dwells!
In this heavenly sanctuary Christ serves as “High Priest of the good things to come” (9:23)
In this heavenly sanctuary Christ serves as “High Priest of the good things to come” (9:23)
The “good things” likely including the promises of Jer 31:31-34
Especially the promise pertaining to forgiveness of sin
The author explains how with “The Superior Sanctuary”...
EFFECTIVELY DEALS WITH SIN (9:12-15)
EFFECTIVELY DEALS WITH SIN (9:12-15)
Eternal Redemption is Provided
Eternal Redemption is Provided
12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.
Christ entered “the holy place” (Most Holy Place - NKJ; heaven) - Just as the high priest entered the Most Holy Place in the earthly sanctuary
But with these two major differences:
Jesus took not the blood of goats and calves, but His own blood
Jesus entered “once for all” - not once a year
With His blood, He “obtained eternal redemption”
This is why He does not need to offer His blood every year - cf...
10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins: 12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
But His redemption is “eternal” in another sense, as seen later in verse 15
But first notice that...
The Blood Cleansed Conscience Purges Sin
The Blood Cleansed Conscience Purges Sin
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The blood of animals was able to purify the flesh of an unclean person
But the blood of Christ is able to purge the conscience from dead works (i.e., sin) to serve
the living God
Animal sacrifices could not do this - cf...
9 which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect, 10 being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
1 For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh. 2 Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
The daily and annual sacrifices constantly reminded them of sin...
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year.
Therefore Christ not only removes the “legal” guilt of sin, but also the “inward” (or
emotional) guilt of sin!
There is Redemption for Sins Under the First Covenant
There is Redemption for Sins Under the First Covenant
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
His role as Mediator of the New Covenant is not limited to those who came after it became of force
His death covers not only sinners since His death, but also those who lived under the first covenant, who were called to receive the promise of eternal inheritance (v. 12)
In providing atonement for those before and after His death, Jesus has truly “obtained eternal redemption” (v.12)
In providing atonement for those before and after His death, Jesus has truly “obtained eternal redemption” (v.12)
The service rendered by Jesus, its High Priest, certainly makes the “heavenly sanctuary” a superior one!
As one contemplates the meaning of Christ’s death in its relation to the heavenly sanctuary, there is much to consider, and the author proceeds to explain further why...
ITS MINISTRY NECESSITATED A COSTLY SACRIFICE (9:16-22)
ITS MINISTRY NECESSITATED A COSTLY SACRIFICE (9:16-22)
A Costly Sacrifice was need to Initiate A New Testament
A Costly Sacrifice was need to Initiate A New Testament
16 For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. 17 For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.
A testament, or will, requires the death of the one who makes it
It does not become of force until the testator dies
The New Covenant with its heavenly sanctuary is like a testament, then, requiring Jesus’
death for it to become of force
A Costly Sacrifice was Needed To Dedicate A New Covenant
A Costly Sacrifice was Needed To Dedicate A New Covenant
18 Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto 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 to you-ward. 21 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood. 22 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. 23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Consider what was done with the first covenant...
It was dedicated with the blood of calves and goats
Its tabernacle and furniture were purified with the sprinkling of such blood
Should the new covenant require any less?
The first covenant contained only “copies of the things in the heavens”
Therefore the heavenly things required purification by “better sacrifices” (i.e., Jesus’ own blood)
Exactly what is meant by “heavenly things” is unclear
Some point to passages like Col 1:20, where even “things in heaven” are reconciled to God by Jesus’ blood
Some believe it has reference to the church, of which the Holy Place in the earthly tabernacle was typical
B. W. Johnson comments: “By the heavenly things are meant all of which the tabernacle was typical. The holy place was a type of the church, which is cleansed with the blood of Christ. Perhaps, too, there is a reference to the redeemed church above, in the heavens, which eternally praises him who cleansed it with his blood.” (The People’s New Testament)
It was the “better sacrifices” (i.e., Jesus’ blood) [v. 23] that initiated the new covenant and made the heavenly sanctuary superior to the earthly one.
It was the “better sacrifices” (i.e., Jesus’ blood) [v. 23] that initiated the new covenant and made the heavenly sanctuary superior to the earthly one.
More will be said about Christ’s sacrifice in chapter ten - but in a final note concerning “The Superior Sanctuary” we notice that...
More will be said about Christ’s sacrifice in chapter ten - but in a final note concerning “The Superior Sanctuary” we notice that...
ITS MINISTRY IS FINAL AND COMPLETE (9:24-28)
ITS MINISTRY IS FINAL AND COMPLETE (9:24-28)
24 For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: 25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; 26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; 28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.
Christ is Now in the Presence of God For us
Christ is Now in the Presence of God For us
No longer is a high priest serving in a tabernacle “made with hands”
No longer is one serving in what was only a “copy”
In God’s presence, Jesus is ministering as High Priest in that which is the “true” holy place!
Jesus Only Needed to Offer Himself Once
Jesus Only Needed to Offer Himself Once
The all-sufficiency of His sacrifice is seen that He only needed to offer Himself once
Otherwise, He would have needed to “suffer often from the foundation of the world” (v. 26)
Like the high priests of old, who entered the Most Holy Place each year
Therefore, at the “end of the ages” (v. 26) - He came to put away sin once for all!
The phrase “end of the ages” is equivalent to the “last days” - Heb 1:2
That is, the final period of the world’s history - cf. 1 Cor 10:11; 1 Pet 1:20
Just as man dies only once, so Jesus needed to be offered for sin only once
When Christ Comes Again, It Will Be For Salvation, Not Sin
When Christ Comes Again, It Will Be For Salvation, Not Sin
With His first coming, He was primarily the “sin-bearer”
He came “to bear the sins of many”
Which He did by dying on the cross for our sins
24 who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
His second coming will be “not to deal with sin” (v. 28) - [apart from sin - NKJ; without sin - KJV] - but...
To bring salvation (from the wrath of God to come - Rom 5:9)
To those who eagerly await for Him - cf. 1 The 1:9-10
CONCLUSION
How is the sanctuary of the New Covenant superior?
How is the sanctuary of the New Covenant superior?
By virtue of its nature: it is heavenly, not physical
By virtue of its ministry: dealing effectively with sin, providing complete and final deliverance
Why should we be interested in the ministry of “The Superior Sanctuary”?
Why should we be interested in the ministry of “The Superior Sanctuary”?
Because death is our appointed lot (unless Christ comes first) - Heb 9:27
And then comes the judgment - cf. 2 Cor 5:10
The ministry of Christ prepares us for that coming judgment!
Are you prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ?
Are you prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ?
Preparation involves obedience, for Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey
Him” - Heb 5:9
Preparation involves allowing the blood of Christ to “purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God” - Heb 9:14
Through obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, we can “eagerly wait for Him”, knowing that for us He is coming to bring salvation and not condemnation! - cf. 1 The 1:10
Through obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, we can “eagerly wait for Him”, knowing that for us He is coming to bring salvation and not condemnation! - cf. 1 The 1:10