The Old and the New Covenants Hebrews 9

The Old and the New Covenants • We have seen that Jesus Christ has a superior High Priesthood to that of the Old Testament • Last week we began our study that the New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant – Based on better promises • We will continue that study in this lesson, and will also study our redemption through the Blood of Christ

The Old and the New Covenants • Covenant – an agreement between two • Example – Marriage is a covenant • In this lesson we want to focus on the glorious agreement – covenant – God has made with us • What does it mean to be part of the New Covenant

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the Old Covenant • The old covenant was Physical • The tabernacle was a tent, with two rooms, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place • It contained articles – lamps, tables, gold, curtains, the Ark, blood • Everything was man-made, or earthly

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the Old Covenant • The Old Covenant was Restrictive • Every day, the priests went into the Holy Place to worship, not the people • Only the High Priest went into the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people, only once a year • This was a covenant of special or little access by the people

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the Old Covenant • The Old Covenant was Imperfect • The gifts and sacrifices offered cannot make the conscience of the worshipper perfect (Hebrews 9: 9) • The gifts and sacrifices were only about food and drink and special washings – rules for the body to be followed until the time of God’s new way

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the Old Covenant • The Old Covenant was Imperfect • The Old Covenant could not do what would ultimately have to be done in order to save men • It could not get rid of the sin problem

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the New Covenant • The New Covenant is Spiritual • We now have a more perfect tent (Hebrews 9: 11) • It is not made with human hands – not of this world • Our High Priest is not a man, but the resurrected Lord Jesus

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the New Covenant • The New Covenant is Non-Restrictive • All who are called by God can receive the blessings He has promised (Hebrews 9: 15) • Not everyone called answers (2 Thessalonians 2: 14) • We are all called by the gospel and it is unrestrictive • All colors of people are precious in His sight

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the New Covenant • The New Covenant is Personal • We will see in Hebrews 10 that God will put His teachings in our hearts and minds (Hebrews 10: 16) • And, we can enter the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10: 19 -22) • This is a great blessing – because God is there

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the New Covenant • The New Covenant is Perfect • Christ makes the New Covenant Perfect • He entered the Most Holy Place only once • And, in so doing, He set us free from sin forever

The Old and the New Covenants Characteristics of the New Covenant The New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Illustration of Copper Kettle

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Illustration of Copper Kettle • Almost everything is more valuable once it has been washed and cleaned up • The same is true of us

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • The Bible tells us we are stained with sin – the guilt and shame of our past behavior takes away our value • “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3: 23) • That creates a problem for us – “God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil…He cannot tolerate wrong…” (Habakkuk 1: 13)

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • But the Bible also tells us that God loved us do much, He offered us a way to “wash away” our sins – a way to cleanse our souls so that we might regain the value He created us to have • What is intriguing is, that in cleansing us, God has chosen a very unusual method of cleaning us up

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Hebrews 9: 22 tells us that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness • Blood sacrifices happened all the time throughout the Old Testament • In Hebrews, we find that the Blood of Jesus is what purifies us

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • What is there about blood that would make it a “cleansing agent”? • My limited experience tells me that blood is one of the most difficult stains to get our of your clothes • And the more difficult the stain, the stronger the soap or detergent that is required – which often means more damage to your clothing

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • The Bible tells us that the most powerful cleansing agent in the world is blood • In fact, God created blood to be a cleansing agent • In your body blood takes oxygen and other supplies to cells – and REMOVES waste and impurities from those cells

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Blood literally cleans out the filth from your body – that is one of its major responsibilities • There is no other cleansing agent known to man that can purify our bodily system as well as the blood that flows through our veins and arteries

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • So also, there is not other cleansing agent known to man that can rid your soul of its filth and shame than the Blood of Jesus • Blood was designed by God to be used to forgive you and me of our sins • God used blood for several reasons

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • First, life is in the blood – “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. ” (Leviticus 17: 11) • In other words, God intended for blood to take away our sins because life is in the blood

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • The Bible also teaches us that sin brings death – “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6: 23) • But God desired to give us life – and since blood was identified with life – blood was the most natural substance for God to use

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • During the Passover, an innocent lamb was slaughtered and its blood smeared on the doorpost and lintel of the entrance of every Israelites home to remember when death “passed over” • Blood constantly reminded the people that their sacrifice was to deal with death’s power, and to give life

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Secondly, blood indicated that a price had been paid • In order for a blood sacrifice to be given to God, something had to die • God meant for His people to know how terrible their sins were • Every time they sinned, they were required to offer up a blood sacrifice

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • In the Old Testament, every day at the temple you would see people lined up at the Temple gate with their sacrifices being offered for things they had done • Day after day, sacrifices were offered to God – and these sacrifices cost the life, and the blood, of an innocent animal to pay for their sins • A price had to be paid – and blood was the dearest price that could be paid

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Thirdly, sooner or later, someone had to wonder how the blood of bulls and goats could take away their sins • Think about it – the only link these animals had to the sins of the offerors was that these animals were owned by the sinner • There was nothing inherently powerful in the blood of these animals that would offer forgiveness to sinners

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • That is why we will read in Hebrews 10: 4, “…it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ” • Their blood could not forgive anybody • But God used the blood of animals to help us realize that there would come an Ultimate Blood Sacrifice that would remove all of our sins

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • That Ultimate Blood Sacrifice was the Blood of Jesus • “The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. ” (1 John 1: 7)

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Fourth, the reason Jesus’ blood had the power to remove sins was because it was His Blood • “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, securing an eternal redemption. ” (Hebrews 9: 12)

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • Why is it important that it was Jesus’ blood? • It was important because all our sins are committed against God • Think about the many times we sin directly against God, i. e. having other things we worship, taking His name in vain, etc.

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • But also, if I sin against someone else, I sin against God, because they are owned by God • They are created in God’s image • In offending them, I have offended God – and only God can give ultimate forgiveness

The Old and the New Covenants Redemption through the Blood of Christ • The Blood of God can cleanse away my sins, because every sin I might commit, it is God that I have offended • Unlike the blood of bulls and goats that had nothing to do with the sin of the offeror, the Blood of Jesus cleanses us because He has the right to forgive us