Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
“In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.” ~ Hebrews 9:22
Why does forgiveness require the shedding of blood? This is no arbitrary decree on the part of a bloodthirsty GOD, as some have suggested. There is no greater symbol of life than blood; blood keeps us alive. Jesus shed His blood – gave His life – for our sins so that we would not have to experience spiritual death, eternal separation from GOD. Jesus is the source of life, not death. He gave His own life to pay our penalty for us so that we might live. After shedding His blood for us, Christ rose from the grave and proclaimed victory over sin and death. Hallelujah!
“That is why the earthly tent and everything in it – which were copies of things in heaven – had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.” – Hebrews 9:23 – In a way that we do not fully understand, the earthly Tabernacle was a copy and symbol of heavenly realities. This purification of the heavenly things can best be understood as referring the Christ’s spiritual work for us in heaven. – “For Christ has entered into heaven itself to appear now before GOD as our Advocate. He did not go into the earthly place of worship, for that was merely a copy of the real Temple in heaven. – Hebrews 9:24 – Among references to priest, Tabernacles, sacrifices, and other ideas unfamiliar to us, we come to this description of Christ as our Advocate, appearing in GOD’s presence on our behalf. We can relate to this role and be encouraged by it. Christ is on our side at GOD’s side. He is our Lord and Savior. He is not there to convince or remind GOD that our sins are forgiven but to present both our needs and our service for HIM as an offering. – 25 “ Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, like the earthly high priest who enters the Most Holy Place year after year to offer the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, He would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by His sacrificial death for us.” – Hebrews 9:25-26 – The “end of the age” refers to the time of Christ’s coming to earth in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Christ ushered in the new era of grace and forgiveness.
27 “And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time He will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” – Hebrews 9:27-28 – All people die physically, but Christ died so that we would not have to die spiritually. We can have wonderful confidence in His saving work for us, doing away with sin – past, present, and future. He has forgiven our past sin – when He died on the cross, He sacrificed Himself once for all (9:26); He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us deal with present sin; He appears for us in heaven as our Advocate (9:24); and He promises to return (9:28) and raise us to eternal life in a world where sin will be banished. – We are still living in the “end of the age”. The day of the Lord has begun and will be completed at Christ’s return.
Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus! Because You shed Your life’s blood for us and were raised from the dead – we now have victory over sin and death. Thank You for being our Advocate and sitting at the right side of the Father to present both our needs and our service for HIM as an offering. We have assurance and confidence, through You, Jesus, that our sins are forgiven – past, present and future, and that You will return and raise us to eternal life in a world where sin will be banished forever and ever. The day of the Lord has begun – let us rejoice and be glad!
Photo: Part of the Saint Anne de Beaupre Basilica complex (Quebec, Canada)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
