The general theme of Chapter 9 is the same as the two preceding chapters – showing that Christ as High Priest is superior to the Jewish high priests.  The more focused point here in Chapter 9 is – that the former dispensation was a mere shadow, type or figure, – and that latter dispensation was real and efficacious.  Verse 14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot (as a perfect sacrifice, without sin) to God, purge your conscience from dead works (works of the unsaved are worthless) to serve the living God (the believer is freed from sin to serve the living God)?”   When Christ entered the Most Holy Place, He did so to offer His own blood once and for all time – making future sacrifices unnecessary.  This is what Jesus meant by His dying words on the cross: “It is finished.”  Only by accepting Jesus’ blood – shed on the cross for the remission of sins – can we stand before God covered in the righteousness of Christ.  Verse 15 “And for this cause he (Christ) is the mediator of the new testament (new covenant), that by means of death (by offering Himself as a sacrifice), for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament (to redeem us from personal sins which remain upon us when we lived by the law), they which are called (who believe on Christ) might receive the promise of eternal inheritance (joint-heirs with Christ in heaven).” We end Chapter 9 with an interesting passage, Verse 27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to do die, but after this the judgment.”  I have heard even Christians say, they would consider re-incarnation to be an option after death.  Reincarnation is a Hindu belief that teaches the rebirth of a person’s soul into a new body – be it human or animal.  That is NOT a biblical teaching.  Paul teaches in Verse 27, that we die – only once.  And after that- we are judged by God.  Chapter 10:14-17 “For by one offering (sacrifice) he (Christ) hath perfected (He provided a way for believers to be made righteous by and through His shed blood) for ever them that are sanctified (made holy).  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he (Christ) had said before (in the past, as recorded in Jeremiah 31:33-34),  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days (after the Law of Moses), saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”  Now, from Verse 18 of Chapter 10, to the end of Chapter 12, the writer of Hebrews begins to petition his readers toward unrelenting faith in Christ.  The passages are outstanding in their clarity of what it means to be a Christian and that our relationship with Christ is all predicated upon faith in Him alone.  Verses 18-22 “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.  Having therefore, brethren, boldness (confidence) to enter into the holiest (Holy of Holies) by the blood of Jesus (because of His Atonement),  By a new and living way (Christ), which he hath consecrated (prepared) for us, through the veil (when the temple veil was torn in two), that is to say, his flesh (His sacrifice).  And having an high priest over the house (kingdom) of God;  Let us draw near (approach God) with a true heart (sincere heart) in full assurance (confidence) of faith, having our hearts sprinkled (cleansed by the blood of Christ) from an evil (guilty) conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (not water baptism, but the Holy Spirit’s purifying by means of the Word of God).”     

Read More

The Prophet Ezekiel, tapping into this imagery and into the time when God would change His people from the heart said: Ezekiel 36:25-26 “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you (referring to the Holy Spirit), and ye sh