October 1, 2020

How Can We Stand Before God?

Hebrews 9:11–28

Juliana McConaghy
Thursday's Devo

October 1, 2020

Thursday's Devo

October 1, 2020

Central Truth

The shedding of blood from goats and bulls was only a temporary payment for sin; it had to be repeated every year. The shedding of blood from Jesus covered sin once and for all!

Key Verse | Hebrews 9:22

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:11–28

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, 1 9:11 Some manuscripts good things to 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 2 9:13 Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies 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 3 9:14 Some manuscripts your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 4 9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and 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 that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

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.

Footnotes

[1] 9:11 Some manuscripts good things to come
[2] 9:13 Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies
[3] 9:14 Some manuscripts your
[4] 9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17

Dive Deeper | Hebrews 9:11–28

"The Bible is shallow enough for a child not to drown, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim." —St. Augustine

I have to admit that as I delved deeper into Hebrews 9, the more I felt out of my depth, like I was trying to swim with elephants. I was initially lost in the concepts of priests, sacrifices, covenants, and tabernacles; and most of all, why was there so much blood? There certainly seems to be a lot of talk about blood in both the Old and New Testaments. It reminded me of a comment I read once that the God of the Bible seemed to be a bloodthirsty God. Who am I to discuss this conceptually complex topic? (Can I please insert the nervous-looking emoji face here? 😳)

But then I remembered that I can pray for wisdom. We are told, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5, emphasis added) Praise the Lord that when complex or difficult-to-understand areas of the Bible arise, God will give us wisdom concerning it! 

Leviticus 17:11 teaches us that blood represents the life of flesh. There isn't a greater symbol of life than blood. I have sometimes wondered why Christ's death couldn't have been less violent. Why couldn't He have died for us in His sleep in His bed? This verse helped me understand why there had to be bloodshed. When Jesus died on the cross, He shed His blood, gave His life. It wasn't a bloodthirsty requirement from God, it was the most beautiful picture of Christ passing on life to us. His blood, His perfect blood, covered all of our sins, once and for all. There wasn't a repeat sacrifice needed in a year, it was FINISHED!       

After Christ shed His blood for us, He rose from the grave and showed victory over sin and death. When we accept this free gift that Christ offers, we can stand before God blameless and righteous.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever had someone question you why there had to be a blood sacrifice for so many things in the Bible? What would be a clear and (hopefully) not long-winded response?

2. Are there any areas or concepts in the Bible that seem confusing or so complex that you gloss over them when reading? I encourage you to pray James 1:5 and ask for wisdom when those topics arise.  

3. How does Moses make coffee?