Hebrews 9:23-28: Christ's Sacrifice Permenently Removes Sin

Introduction

Scripture

Hebrews 9:23–28 ESV

23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory

Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses

Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus

Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature

Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity

Hebrews 6:9-12 - Loving Motivation

Hebrews 6:13-20 - The Promise of God’s Word and God’s Oath

Hebrews 7:1-10 - The Greatness of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-19 - Jesus’ Priesthood is Needed

Hebrews 7:20-28 - Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-10:18 - Jesus is the Greater Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-6 - Jesus Mediates a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:7-13 - The Promise of the New Covenant

Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle Points to What Would Come

Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ is The Mercy Seat

Hebrews 9:15-22 - Blood is Necessary for Forgiveness

Hebrews 9:23-28 - Christ’s Sacrifice Permanently Removes Sin

Hebrews 9:23-26 - The Once and for all Offering

Hebrews 9:27-28 - Judgment and Eternal Salvation

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

The priestly work of Christ, which is far greater than the Old Mosiac Covenant, not only secures salvation in the present, but also provides eschatological deliverance

Hebrews 9:23-26 - The Once and for all Offering

Hebrews 9:23–26 ESV

23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

***“How much more” argument***

Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Necessary

Absolutely necessary

Copies of the heavenly things

Handmade tabernacle

The book

Vessels

Purified

Functions as a linking word for this section and the previous section - Hebrews 9:15-22

Heavenly things themselves

Heaven itself has been purified for the inheritors of eternal salvation

Those who inherit eternal salvation have been purified

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 9

Covenantal structure, and the need of purification, requires an inaugurating sacrifice.

Better sacrifices than these

The sacrifice of Jesus

Hebrews 9:11–14 ESV

11 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) 12 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. 13 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, 14 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.

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

***Less than to greater than***

Made with hands

Leviticus 26:1 LES2

1 “ ‘I am the Lord your God: You shall not make for yourselves idols made by human hands; neither shaped stones nor a stone pillar will you set up for yourselves, nor a stone object will you erect in your land to bow down to it—I myself am the Lord your God.

Turning back to the Levitical structure would be compared to idolatry under the new covenant

The old covenant/tabernacle is earthly and obsolete

Appear in the presence of God on our behalf

Jesus is the intercessor on our behalf

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

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.

Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not of his own,

Day of Atonement reference

Hebrews 9:6–7 ESV

6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 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.

For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world.

Jesus’ singular act reveals the contrast between the Day of Atonement and His once for all sacrifice

If Jesus’ one sacrifice wasn’t sufficient it would have required Him to be continually sacrificed

But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

At the end of the ages

Hebrews 1:2 ESV

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

The age between the first coming of the Messiah and his second coming

Put away sin by the sacrifice of himself

Christ put SIN away

Sin remains a force in the world, but it’s claim over us has been entirely abolished

Hebrews 9:27-28 - Judgment and Eternal Salvation

Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once,

Every person is appointed one life with one death

Even Christ was appointed death, but the result was far different

And after that comes judgment,

Romans 14:10 ESV

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time,

Having been offered once to bear the sins of many

Isaiah 53:12 ESV

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Once and for all sacrifice that makes the Levitical offerings obsolete

Will appear a second time

The first coming anticipates the second

Not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Here is where Christ’s glory will completely fulfill His people’s salvation, an eschatological deliverance

Christ is not dealing with sin again like the Levitical priests would have on the Day of Atonement

Eagerly Waiting for him

Philippians 3:20 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Application

Jesus’ death is a once and for all sacrifice. There is nothing else you need to do to have forgiveness from God

Christ is coming again and will give the fullness of salvation to those who are His!

Main Point

The priestly work of Christ, which is far greater than the Old Mosiac Covenant, not only secures salvation in the present, but also provides eschatological deliverance