“Death of the Savior”Hebrews 9:16-28

Death of the Savior…•Surveys say a majority of people fear death•The main reasons, they say, are the unknown and its finality•If you’re a Believer, you know its NOT final, as well as much, much more than the average guy•If we were 1st Century Jews, we’d understand all about the sacrificial system, but its foreign to us

Death of the Savior…•So the nature of its seeming foreign brought me to this question: Why did Jesus have to die for our salvation?•All sin, so all we deserve is Hell, unless pardoned•Blood is required for the pardon– not just a couple pints, but all of it form the one sacrificed—our Life

“16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the 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 WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true

one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the

sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Hebrews 9:16-28, NASB

A. Blood and Covenant…•Vs 16-21,

“16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the 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 WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.’ 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.”

Hebrews 9:16-21

A. Blood and Covenant…•Vs 16-21, The Greek word translated Covenant, or Testament, or Will, is ‘dia-the-ke’•Without understanding the O.T. reasons for Leviticus 17, you can’t understand Hebrews…

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”

Leviticus 17:11, NASB

A. Blood and Covenant…•Vs 16-21, The Greek word translated Covenant, or Testament, or Will, is ‘dia-the-ke’•Without understanding the O.T. reasons for Leviticus 17, you can’t understand Hebrews…•With that in mind, Jesus told His disciples…

“And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’ ”

Luke 22:20, NASB

A. Blood and Covenant…•Vs 16-21, The Greek word translated Covenant, or Testament, or Will, is ‘dia-the-ke’•Without understanding the O.T. reasons for Leviticus 17, you can’t understand Hebrews…•With that in mind, Jesus told His disciples… •To ratify the Old Covenant, Moses sprinkled blood on the Torah, people, tabernacle and furnishings– and for regular worship services

B. Blood and Forgiveness…•Vs 22,

“22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Hebrews 9:22, NASB

B. Blood and Forgiveness…•Vs 22, Sin is sin. No variations or degrees•There are no sins that can be explained away by using other words like mistake, shortcoming, or weakness. Sin is Sin.•Forgiveness cannot start until we confess and repent•This is a foundational principle of God dealing with mankind– some think sin is forgiven by time, good works, or living decent lives

B. Blood and Forgiveness…•But this is the key—•There is NO forgiveness without bloodshed•And there is NO perfect forgiveness without a perfect sacrifice•Since God ordained remission of sin by blood sacrifice in Genesis, it is necessary blood be shed and applied if the New Covenant is to be in force•Matthew 26:28

“…for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:28, NASB

C. Blood and Salvation…•Vs 23-28,

“23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now

once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”

Hebrews 9:16-28, NASB

C. Blood and Salvation…•Vs 23-28, All earthly sacrifices were imperfect•No sin in Jesus’ life made Him the perfect sacrifice– offered to the Father in Heaven, and accepted to pay the debt of all•Remember ‘once’ in V26?•People who fear death come up with their own answers too– Reincarnation, Limbo, Purgatory•Born once, Die twice; Born Twice, Die Once…

Take Home…

•God’s judgment is escapable only through Jesus Christ•True Believers walk by faith, not by sight– no matter what happens here on earth; we can be confident that He is in control and our salvation is sure!!