Bobservations' Column
Titled - "A Better Sacrifice"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
As God made man in His own image, Satan’s plan is to make man as rebellious against God as he himself was, and is to this day. Satan’s first victims were Adam and his wife Eve. Judgment befell them and they were cast out of God’s beautiful garden. Genesis 5:1-5 follows with an explanation of how sin was passed down to Adam’s third son, Seth. And as it was passed down to him, it was passed down to all, because although Adam was made in God’s image, he fell into sin, and was no longer in God’s image.
Cain learned in Genesis 4 that his pride got the best of him. And after murdering his brother Able, he cried to God, “…My punishment is too great for me to bear!” and he ran from the Lord, rather than admitting his offense and taking responsibility for Able’s death, and his own jealousy because his sacrifice was insufficient for God’s required sacrifice.
I shudder to think of where Cain is today! Nevertheless, it was a blood sacrifice that covered over the knowledge that sin brought with it. Coats of skins covered over Adam’s nakedness, and ended his embarrassment and guilt for his and Eve’s sin. That’s recorded in Genesis 3:21, and in verse 22, God’s word has come true as He declares that Adam and Eve now knew the difference between good and evil.
This was the beginning of blood sacrifices for sin. But it fell short of obliterating sin. All through the seven covenants of the Old Testament, blood sacrifices were made, bringing us to the eighth covenant were God sent Himself in human form to be the one sacrifice that actually made a difference for humanity. In the New Covenant, God simply asks men to believe on His Son, and acknowledge His atoning work on the cross. It IS that simple! Then, God restores His relationship with man by man’s choice to believe in Jesus.
Paul, Silas, and the Philippian jail after an earthquake, “Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” - Acts 16: 30, 31
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
As God made man in His own image, Satan’s plan is to make man as rebellious against God as he himself was, and is to this day. Satan’s first victims were Adam and his wife Eve. Judgment befell them and they were cast out of God’s beautiful garden. Genesis 5:1-5 follows with an explanation of how sin was passed down to Adam’s third son, Seth. And as it was passed down to him, it was passed down to all, because although Adam was made in God’s image, he fell into sin, and was no longer in God’s image.
Cain learned in Genesis 4 that his pride got the best of him. And after murdering his brother Able, he cried to God, “…My punishment is too great for me to bear!” and he ran from the Lord, rather than admitting his offense and taking responsibility for Able’s death, and his own jealousy because his sacrifice was insufficient for God’s required sacrifice.
I shudder to think of where Cain is today! Nevertheless, it was a blood sacrifice that covered over the knowledge that sin brought with it. Coats of skins covered over Adam’s nakedness, and ended his embarrassment and guilt for his and Eve’s sin. That’s recorded in Genesis 3:21, and in verse 22, God’s word has come true as He declares that Adam and Eve now knew the difference between good and evil.
This was the beginning of blood sacrifices for sin. But it fell short of obliterating sin. All through the seven covenants of the Old Testament, blood sacrifices were made, bringing us to the eighth covenant were God sent Himself in human form to be the one sacrifice that actually made a difference for humanity. In the New Covenant, God simply asks men to believe on His Son, and acknowledge His atoning work on the cross. It IS that simple! Then, God restores His relationship with man by man’s choice to believe in Jesus.
Paul, Silas, and the Philippian jail after an earthquake, “Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” - Acts 16: 30, 31
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
Sunday Morning Message:
Hebrews 9:15-28 - "A Better Sacrifice"
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
Why did Jesus have to die? Why did Christ’s blood have to be spilled? I mean, was there no other way to save sinners?
If you’ve ever wondered this, you’re not the first. His disciples did. Matthew 16 reports that when “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things … and be killed …. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord!’” (16:21–22). Translation: “There has to be another way!”
Israel’s leaders saw Jesus’s death as proof that he was not the Messiah for which they were waiting. As he hung on the cross, Luke records that they “were sneering at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if this is the Christ of God, his Chosen One’” (Luke 23:35). “It can’t be him. Our Deliverer doesn’t die! That’s not needed.”
Paul admits the message of “Christ crucified” is “a stumbling block” to some and “foolishness” to others—a confusing and oxymoronic idea (1 Cor 1:23). “If God had a master plan of cosmic restoration, it wouldn’t include a murdered Saviour.” But it did and it does.
But why? Why did Jesus have to die? In the second half of Hebrews 9, the author addresses this question, highlighting the necessity of Christ’s death and the life-shaping difference it makes for Christ’s followers, followers like you and me.
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
Death (9:15) - blood sacrifices. In some of the Old Testament biblical covenants, sacrifices were involved. Jesus Christ is the mediator of a new covenant established by his death, which redeems sins committed under the old covenant and allows those who are called (believers) to receive the promised eternal inheritance. This new covenant replaces the first covenant, making a sacrifice that provides a permanent redemption for transgressions, unlike the temporary, symbolic sacrifices of the past.
Redemption (9:15) - When used by the New Testament writers, this word, and its related term, lutrosis, signify redemption. Redemption reflects the act of freeing, releasing, or buying back by paying a ransom price. The ransom price for humanity's sin is death. Yet, Christ paid this ransom price through His own sacrifice (1 Peter 1:18, 19) and thus freed us from the bondage of sin, to be brought back into the family of God (Galatians 3:13, 4:5).
First Testament (9:15) - Mosaic covenant or the covenant of law (Exodus 19:1-20:21). The Old Covenant was a set of “external regulations applying until the time of the new order” (Hebrews 9:10). Upon Jesus’ death and resurrection, the external regulations gave way to an internal change of heart (see Galatians 6:15). The Old Covenant was fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 5:17). “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves” (Hebrews 10:1). “The reality . . . is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:17). The New Covenant involves a superior ministry (of Christ), is “established on better promises,” and is, in fact, “superior to the old [covenant]” (Hebrews 8:6).
They Which Are Called (9:15) - The effectual calling related to salvation, which in this context refers to Old Testament believers.
Promise of the Eternal Inheritance (9:15) - Salvation in its fullness.
Blood (9:18) - Death in verses 15, 16 is replaced by blood. The term is used to emphasize the violent aspect of His sacrificial death.
Water, Scarlet Wool, and Hyssop (9:19) - Items used at the Passover in Egypt (Exodus 12:22) for sprinkling of blood, and in the ritual cleansing for lepers (Leviticus 14:4, and in the red heifer ceremony (Numbers 19:6). These elements were a part of the sprinkling of blood in the covenant ceremony described in Exodus 24:1-8, though not mentioned there.
The Book . . . the People (9:19) - The consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood is the only other occasion in the Old Testament when any persons were sprinkled with blood.
Almost All (9:22) - There were a few exceptions, Water, incense, and fire were also used to purify. Those who were too poor to bring even a small animal for sacrifice were allowed to bring fine flour instead (Leviticus 5:11).
Blood . . . Remission (9:22) - "It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11). Very similar to Christ's own words (Matthew 26:28). "Shedding of blood" refers to death. Remission (meaning forgiveness is the emphatic last word in this section.
Patterns (9:23) - The earthly tabernacle and its vessels were only symbolic replicas of the true heavenly tabernacle (8:2), and they were also made unclean by the transgressions of the people (Leviticus 16:16).
Better Sacrifices (9:23) - Christ's superior sacrifice is a major theme in 9:13-10:18. The many sacrifices of the Levitical system were to be superseded by better sacrifices that would be represented in the one, all-inclusive, perfect sacrifice of Christ.
Figures (9:24) - The earthly "holy places" in the tabernacle were only types of the heavenly abode of God.
The Judgment (9:27) - A general term encompassing the judgment of all people, believers and unbelievers.
Second Time (9:28) - On the Day of Atonement, the people eagerly waited for the high priest to come back out of the Holy of Holies. When he appeared, they knew that the sacrifice on their behalf had been accepted by God. In the same way, when Christ appears at His Second Coming, it will be confirmation that the Father has been fully satisfied with the Son's sacrifice on behalf of believers. At that point salvation will be consummated.
Without Sin (9:28) - The phrase testifies to the completed work of Christ in removing sins by His sacrifice at His First Coming. No such burden will be upon Him in His Second Coming.
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