Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Made for So Much More
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Made for So Much More
Made for So Much MoreHebrews 9:15-28
“And so he is the mediator of a new covenant…”
(Hebrews 9:15)
Every Jewish Christian was familiar with the role of the high priest in Judaism. The high priest represented the people before God. What they had not thought through was the role of Jesus Christ as the ultimate high priest to represent his people before God. Since many were forsaking Christianity for Judaism, the writer of Hebrews wants them to know that they are forsaking their far superior high priest—the Son of God, for a far inferior high priest—the Aaronic high priest.
More than that, the current high priests in Jerusalem weren’t even of the tribe of Levi, as God had prescribed. Instead, the office had become a political position gained by ambition and positioning. The high priests of the 1st Century were more about power and prestige than about serving God’s people. They lived outside of the requirements of the Law.
God meant the high priest to be a faithful and merciful mediator between Him and His people. The writer of Hebrews has already established that Jesus is a faithful (3:1-4:14) and merciful (5:1-10) high priest. In 7:1-9:15 he develops the truth that Jesus is a greater high priest because he has a superior ministry.
Jesus mediates a greater covenant because he has secured eternal redemption by offering himself to God as a superior sacrifice for sin. In Hebrews 9 the writer of Hebrews develops the theology of salvation from a unique and glorious perspective. Contrasting the rituals of the Old Covenant to Jesus’ offering of his blood at the eternal throne, the author describes Jesus’ rescue of his people as “a forward movement into the presence of God” (Lane, Hebrews, Vol 2, p 251).
You were made for more than religious performance.
Jesus has removed every barrier between believers and God.
The message of Hebrews 9 applies to every follower of Christ. We need to stop trying to measure up to the expectations of religious systems and start pursuing all that we have been offered in Christ Jesus.
I. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, set us free from guilt and shame when he secured our eternal salvation by offering his superior sacrifice at a superior sanctuary (Hebrews 9:15-28).
A.Jesus mediated the new covenant by dying to set his people free from the violations of the Old Covenant (9:15).
B.Jesus’ sacrifice was necessary and immeasurably superior to any that came before (9:16-28).
1.The death of Christ was necessary because God required sacrifice by blood in the Old Covenant (9:16-22).
2.The sacrifice of Christ was superior because it was more costly, fulfilled God’s eternal purpose for sacrifices, and is final and complete (9:23-28).
Dr. Tom Constable sums up the message of Hebrews 9: “The readers should not feel guilty about abstaining from the rituals of the Old Covenant. Instead they should appreciate the accomplishments of Jesus Christ’s death. They should also turn their attention to obtaining what God has promised them as a future inheritance and continue to follow the Lord faithfully and patiently (6:12).
II. Christ, Our Mediator, and You! Everything changed when Jesus Christ ascended to heaven after offering himself as a sacrifice for sin. Stop living as if it didn’t happen!
A.Have you trusted in Christ as the one who made payment for your sin?
1.He secured your eternal redemption.
2.He’s inviting you into the presence of the Living God.
B.Have you settled it that you no longer need to perform for God?
1.Every barrier between you and God was permanently and finally removed by Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin.
2.He’s inviting you into the peace of knowing you are completely and totally forgiven, loved, and cherished.
C.Have you realized the awesome reality of who you are in Christ and what you were reborn in Christ to do?
1.You can either live to please religious culture or you can live for Christ, but you can’t do both.
2.Jesus is inviting you into the most awesome experience of life possible for a human being—both today and the world to come.
Question: Why do you feel our hearts cling to what is comfortable and safe instead of pursuing the awesome possibilities of intimacy with the Living God?
View all episodes
By Recentered Group
5
44 ratings
Made for So Much MoreHebrews 9:15-28
“And so he is the mediator of a new covenant…”
(Hebrews 9:15)
Every Jewish Christian was familiar with the role of the high priest in Judaism. The high priest represented the people before God. What they had not thought through was the role of Jesus Christ as the ultimate high priest to represent his people before God. Since many were forsaking Christianity for Judaism, the writer of Hebrews wants them to know that they are forsaking their far superior high priest—the Son of God, for a far inferior high priest—the Aaronic high priest.
More than that, the current high priests in Jerusalem weren’t even of the tribe of Levi, as God had prescribed. Instead, the office had become a political position gained by ambition and positioning. The high priests of the 1st Century were more about power and prestige than about serving God’s people. They lived outside of the requirements of the Law.
God meant the high priest to be a faithful and merciful mediator between Him and His people. The writer of Hebrews has already established that Jesus is a faithful (3:1-4:14) and merciful (5:1-10) high priest. In 7:1-9:15 he develops the truth that Jesus is a greater high priest because he has a superior ministry.
Jesus mediates a greater covenant because he has secured eternal redemption by offering himself to God as a superior sacrifice for sin. In Hebrews 9 the writer of Hebrews develops the theology of salvation from a unique and glorious perspective. Contrasting the rituals of the Old Covenant to Jesus’ offering of his blood at the eternal throne, the author describes Jesus’ rescue of his people as “a forward movement into the presence of God” (Lane, Hebrews, Vol 2, p 251).
You were made for more than religious performance.
Jesus has removed every barrier between believers and God.
The message of Hebrews 9 applies to every follower of Christ. We need to stop trying to measure up to the expectations of religious systems and start pursuing all that we have been offered in Christ Jesus.
I. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, set us free from guilt and shame when he secured our eternal salvation by offering his superior sacrifice at a superior sanctuary (Hebrews 9:15-28).
A.Jesus mediated the new covenant by dying to set his people free from the violations of the Old Covenant (9:15).
B.Jesus’ sacrifice was necessary and immeasurably superior to any that came before (9:16-28).
1.The death of Christ was necessary because God required sacrifice by blood in the Old Covenant (9:16-22).
2.The sacrifice of Christ was superior because it was more costly, fulfilled God’s eternal purpose for sacrifices, and is final and complete (9:23-28).
Dr. Tom Constable sums up the message of Hebrews 9: “The readers should not feel guilty about abstaining from the rituals of the Old Covenant. Instead they should appreciate the accomplishments of Jesus Christ’s death. They should also turn their attention to obtaining what God has promised them as a future inheritance and continue to follow the Lord faithfully and patiently (6:12).
II. Christ, Our Mediator, and You! Everything changed when Jesus Christ ascended to heaven after offering himself as a sacrifice for sin. Stop living as if it didn’t happen!
A.Have you trusted in Christ as the one who made payment for your sin?
1.He secured your eternal redemption.
2.He’s inviting you into the presence of the Living God.
B.Have you settled it that you no longer need to perform for God?
1.Every barrier between you and God was permanently and finally removed by Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin.
2.He’s inviting you into the peace of knowing you are completely and totally forgiven, loved, and cherished.
C.Have you realized the awesome reality of who you are in Christ and what you were reborn in Christ to do?
1.You can either live to please religious culture or you can live for Christ, but you can’t do both.
2.Jesus is inviting you into the most awesome experience of life possible for a human being—both today and the world to come.
Question: Why do you feel our hearts cling to what is comfortable and safe instead of pursuing the awesome possibilities of intimacy with the Living God?