Why Redemption is what My Conscience Needed. Hebrews 9:1-14 (Outline)

To help people believe that enduring in the Christian life is directly connected to drawing near to God on the basis of Christ’s eternal redemption secured by his blood.

Illustration: Esther 4:10-5:2.

Why is this goal needed?

We take for granted the weight of God’s holy presence.

We turn off our conscience when it may not please our flesh.

We’ve underestimated the value of Jesus’ redemption.

We are tired and looking for superficial answers that never work.

Big Idea:

Draw near to God on the basis of Jesus’ eternal redemption secured by his blood.

Preview:

(1) What is my need for redemption (9:1-5)

(2) What is the nature of the redemption I need (9:6-10)

(3) How as this redemption secured and what does it do? (9:11-14)

(4) What must I believe and do because of this redemption secured?

Body:

(1) What is my need for redemption? (Hebrews 9:1-5)

The structure of this place points to my need. (expl. the structure) - No self-autonomy.

The sanctity of this place points to my need.

(v. 1, 2, 3) The same word is used three times to point to the sanctity of this place. This kind of sanctity makes you more aware of God’s holiness and our unholiness.

The supremacy of this presence (v. 4-5) points to my need.

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine 9. Holiness

The most holy place, where the ark of the covenant was kept, was the place most separated from evil and sin and most fully devoted to God’s service.

Answer/Meaning:

My need for redemption is because God is so holy and I am not — the need is to be set free from slavery to my unholiness.

Without meeting his demands, I have no option but to accept the judgment that He knows I deserve because I fall short of His glory.

Illustration: American Idol, Seacrest interviews before an individual enters before the judges to seek their favor. They needed to be set free from their usual way of life, and their freedom was based on the judgment of the judges.

Application:

God’s tokens of his holiness are also tokens of his goodness.

Have you taken time to consider,

“Why is there anything rather than nothing at all?”

“What message do you sense as you consider these things?”

Transition:

The presence of God is what we need most, but the presence of God is what we deserve least.

(2) What is the nature of the redemption I need? (Hebrews 9:6-10)

What the continual work shows us: (v. 6-7)

The nature of what we need: What I need cannot be fixed by another sinner sacrificing continually. CONTRASTS

What the Holy Ghost shows us (v. 8-10)

The first section = “You can’t go into the presence of God!” (v. 8)

The “conscience” is not the Holy Ghost, but it is a gift: (v. 9-10)

Answer/Meaning: The nature of the redemption that I need is one that can eternally set me free from my own attempts to cover up, that which I am aware of, is missing.

Illustration: Adam & Eve or Luke 5:4-8 (Peter).

Application:

Recognize that the nature of what you and I need cannot be corrected by our activities.

The presence of God is what we need most, but the presence of God activates our conscience to make us realize that we are missing something...

Transition:

Our need is to be delivered from slavery to my unholiness and the nature of the deliverance that I need is an ETERNAL deliverance from my attempts to continually cover up.

(3) How was this redemption secured and what does it do? (Hebrews 9:11-14)

Illustration: Argument from the lesser to the greater; Roger McMonigle’s beans - “There’s more where that came from...”

This redemption was secured by a better high priest of a better place, with better blood sacrifice, and a completed better work. (v. 11-12)

Owen: "I shall take the boldness, therefore, to say, whoever be offended at it, that if we lose the ancient doctrine of justification through faith in the blood of Christ, and the imputation of his righteousness unto us, public profession of religion will quickly issue in Popery or Atheism" [Beeke, A Puritan Theology, Ch. 31 - opening page)

This redemption does the impossible — sets me free from me. (v. 13-14).

Puritans - “sensible cleansing [vs. objective/subjective] - to make the soul conscious that it is washed clean, and forgiven of all its trespasses, and has a right to eternal life.” [Beeke, Ibid, p. 361]

No other religion like biblical Christianity.

Naselli & Crowley, “We know of no other religion that freely offers such a comprehensive and eternal cleansing at the deepest level of conscience. ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ Jesus pronounced (Matthew 9:2).

Illustration: I can’t go there looking like that. I need to change. Recent festivities, required to dress business professional. Friend admitted he rarely dressed this way…but we were going to see the president…etc How do you clothe yourself for someone who sees the real you?

“We live at a special time in the history of redemption. God’s people can now have a clear conscience because Jesus inaugurated the new covenant through his life, death, and resurrection. In former times, God’s people under the old covenant had guilty consciences that hindered how they approached God. The gifts and sacrifices that God’s people offered could not perfect or clear the conscience of the worshiper (Heb. 9:9). But now we can confidently approach God on the basis of Jesus’s definitive conscience-cleansing work on the cross. Now we can have a “clear conscience” (Heb. 13:18). 4 [Naselli, Andrew David,Crowley, J. D.. Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ (p. 51). Crossway. Kindle Edition.]

Answer/Meaning: This redemption, secured by the blood of Christ, cleanses our consciences so that we may boldly draw near to God.

Illustration: The Samaritan Woman. Jesus did NOT overlook the sin; He paid for the sin.

App:

We are about to enter the summer, and we must not depend upon our summer vacations to do for us what only Jesus can do. DON’T VACATE THE SECRET TO ENDURANCE.

Don’t be a slave to physical rest. Be a slave to Jesus.

Don’t be a slave to seeking your own satisfaction. Be a slave to Jesus as your satisfaction.

Your clear conscience does not begin with you. Your clear conscience begins with Jesus Christ.

(4) What must I believe and do because of this redemption secured?

You must believe in a standard of holiness/sacredness.

You will never appreciate the forgiveness of sin, unless you first recognize the sin.

Do you believe in any kind of sacredness, moral cleanliness, right, purity, character purity? If so, what is the standard by which that is measured?

You must be compelled towards holiness by the blood of Christ.

The value of the blood of Christ should compel us towards holiness.

"Christ’s bloody satisfaction should make us deeply mourn over our sin that nailed Him to the cross.” - Beeke, A Puritan Theology, p. 369.

You must meditate on the blood.

Charnock concluded that when we do not meditate on Christ’s substitionary blood, we are prone to continue in sin, as if Christ died to give us a license for sin rather than to destroy sin. On the other hand, daily regarding His blood will stifle the worldliness and ungodliness that harasses our souls. [Beeke, p. 366-67]

Sins of the mind - by the blood draw near to God.

Sins of the body - by the blood draw near to God.

Sins of discontentment - by the blood draw near to God.

Sins of self-righteousness - by the blood draw near to God.

Sins of absenteeism - by the blood draw near to God.

Sins of gossip - by the blood draw near to God.

You must decide the kind of worshipper that you will be.

“Make-Up-for-it” Worshipper

You must be washed in the blood!

You must draw nigh to God, on the merit of Jesus, and He will cause you to endure.

How do you know if you are drawing near to God?

We most readily encounter the presence of God through the Holy Spirit of God, through the Word of God, through the people of God, through the ordinances among the people of God…etc.

Drawing nigh to God is a term of closeness.

Drawing nigh to God is a phrase of worship.

Drawing nigh to God means experiencing the fullness of His person by a faith-filled heart of worship.

Drawing nigh to God is when our spiritual disciplines lead us to the experience of God’s presence.

Drawing nigh to God is the heart of a believer who is worshipping day-by-day by faith in the eternal redemption of Jesus Christ.

Drawing near to God is the secret of persevering for God, but you can only draw near because Jesus has won for you the favor of God.

Answer/Meaning: I must believe that the only way to persevere is to draw near by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

The Redemption that my conscience needed is the one provided by the perfect High Priest, whereby he paid with his blood so that I could be set free and empowered to persevere in this life.

Illustration: Esther - God protected his people, and all that was necessary for their endurance came through that one-time audience she had with the king....how much better is it for us?

Once for All - Philip P. Bliss (1838-1876), Author

1. Free from the law, O happy condition, Jesus has bled and there is remission, Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall, Grace hath redeemed us once for all.

Chorus. Once for all, O sinner, receive it, Once for all, O brother, believe it; Cling to the cross, the burden will fall, Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

2. Now we are free--there's no condemnation, Jesus provides a perfect salvation. "Come unto Me," O hear His sweet call, Come, and He saves us once for all.

3. "Children of God," O glorious calling, Surely His grace will keep us from falling; Passing from death to life at His call; Blessed salvation once for all.

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