HEBREWS 9:3

In the first part of Hebrews chapter 9 we are being told about some of the things from the old covenant of the law that were symbolic in nature. For example, the tabernacle had an inner sanctuary that had a very definite symbolism to it. It says in Hebrews 9:3 about the inner sanctuary, “And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the holiest of all.” The inner sanctuary of the tabernacle was called “the holiest of all” or the holiest of the holies. It was symbolic of the very presence of God. One important detail about this inner sanctuary was its limited access. There was very little access to this place that symbolized the closest presence of God. Only the high priest could enter it, and he could only enter once each year. The word “holy” tells us why the access was so limited. God is holy, and man is sinful. That is the greatest problem of mankind: the sin problem. The old covenant could not solve this sin problem. In the new covenant of His blood, Jesus solved this problem once for all. Jesus came into the world to save man from sin, and to bring all mankind into the closest connection to God.

Speaking of the tabernacle the Bible says in Hebrews 9:4-5, “Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.” The ark of the covenant must have been both beautiful and wonderful. Inside the ark was that which defined the sinfulness of man: the tables made of stone upon which were written the holy commandments from God. This is what man must do to be holy: obey these commandments. The old covenant said clearly: Thou shalt obey, or thou shalt not inherit the promises. Man’s access to the presence of God was restricted because man did not obey the commandments. But in the new covenant Jesus fulfilled the law for us. We now have access to the very presence of God because of what Jesus has done for us. The new covenant is much better than the old covenant.

Even the old covenant recognized that man needed mercy from God, and so it had a “mercyseat.” The “mercyseat” inside the tabernacle symbolized the fact that even when God gave commandments to men, God knew that man would fail and would need mercy. Jesus said that the one who is justified before God is the one who bows his head and says, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” That is because everyone has failed in some point to keep the holy commandments that were written on the tables. It says in James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

The priests who ministered in the tabernacle of that old covenant were very limited in what they could do for man. Speaking of this limitation, the Bible says in Hebrews 9:6-10, “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”

The priests only went into the holiest of the holies “once per year.” That is a very limited access compared to Christ who is always in the holiest place of all: the presence of the father in heaven. Also, the priests went “alone.” No one else was allowed that access. But now in the age of grace every believer can come boldly to the throne of grace. The new covenant is better than the old covenant.

Notice that the priest could not enter the holiest of the holies “without blood.” The blood that they used was the blood of bulls and of goats. No wonder that the new testament is better than the old testament: we have access to the presence of God because of the precious blood of Christ. Every innocent sacrifice of the old covenant was only a representation of what the Christ would do for the sins of the world. Jesus would pay the price for sins. The sacrifices of the old covenant were not good enough, but they did precede and pre-tell the coming of a better sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:10 said that the ceremonies and sacrifices of the old covenant were in effect only until “the time of the reformation.” This means “the time of the setting things right.” Things were just not right until the coming of Christ. Things were not right with the old covenant of the law. The law had its time, but it also had its time to pass away. In the fullness of time Jesus came into the world. We live in the time of grace and of the new covenant. This time will also come to an end. The end-time for the world will come next.

Hebrews 9:11 says concerning the priesthood of Christ, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” Of course, we have a wonderful future with Christ. Even though we may have some difficult times in this life, the future that He will give us will be filled with “good things.” Christians should spend a lot of time thinking of the sweet by and by when we will be constantly blessed in the Kingdom of God and of Christ. We will join Christ in that “perfect tabernacle” in the sky. The people who do not know Christ have only the buildings of this world to strive for. But through Christ we have the eternal building “not made with hands.”

Hebrews 11:12 tells us how such a wonderful future was purchased for us. It says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Of course, the blood of Christ accomplished more than what could have ever been accomplished by the blood of goats and calves. Christ gave His blood “once.” His sacrifice purchased “eternal redemption.” This teaching alone should be able to settle the question of eternal security. This teaching alone should be enough to allow a person to realize that Jesus paid it all. There is nothing for me to do to purchase my salvation. Jesus purchased it for me with His precious blood. There are no good works for me to do to obtain my eternal redemption. Jesus paid it all. Jesus gave His blood. There is nothing more to give.

The Bible says in Hebrews 9:13-14, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Every human being at some time in their life has a guilty conscience. That is because all have sinned. It becomes critical what a person does about that guilty conscience. If you ignore your conscience, you are putting yourself at great peril from a spiritual standpoint. Sadly, some people go to great measures to turn away from their conscience. It would be much better to take God’s solution: cleansing by means of the blood of Christ.

The blood of Christ made it possible for the conscience of a human being to be cleansed. But notice that the cleansing of the conscience should be followed by a change in behavior. The conscience is purged “from dead works to serve the living God.” The dead works were the sins that a person committed. Once we are cleansed from our sins, we are passed from death unto life. Notice carefully that serving the living God is associated with having a clean conscience. If you have a bad conscience, you cannot serve God. That is why Paul said to Timothy in First Timothy 1:19, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.” Paul also wrote by the Holy Spirit in First Timothy 3:9, “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” Some do not listen to their conscience, do not repent of their sins, and therefore do not keep a clean conscience through the blood of Christ. The Bible says about these in Titus 1:15, “but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”

If you have a clear conscience, you owe it to the blood of Christ. If you have a clear conscience, the greatest burden of life has been lifted from your shoulders. If you are saved, at the time of your salvation the guilt of your sins was taken from you. No wonder that Christians sing, “Happy day, happy day when Jesus washed my sins away.”

The Bible says in Hebrews 9:15, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of internal inheritance.” This verse tells us why Jesus died. It says, “for this cause,” referring back to the previous verse. Jesus died so that human beings could have their conscience purged. God does not want to punish sinful man. God wants to forgive and to save. Jesus said about His coming into the world, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” God wants every person to “receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” And because we committed transgressions against the requirements of the first testament, a new testament was required to give us salvation instead of condemnation. Of course, in order to receive this salvation, one must be called of God. There is a spiritual calling that must take place in order for a person to come to Christ. That is why Jesus called it a spiritual birth. No one can be talked into receiving Christ unless the Spirit of God comes over them to draw them to Him. Only they which are called shall receive the promise of eternal inheritance. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” If God is calling you, make sure that you come to Christ while the Spirit is speaking to you.

If there is a testament that has been given that leaves an inheritance to beneficiaries, then that means that someone has died. Jesus died in order to provide the inheritance promised by the New Testament. That is what Hebrews 9:16-17 is speaking about. It says, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”

Once again the importance of the very blood of Christ being shed for us is emphasized in the verses that follow. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:18-20, “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, this is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.” Even in the first testament blood was required for cleansing. Of course, the Old Testament had much symbolism of that which would come through Christ. All of the blood shed in the animal sacrifices for thousands of years was not enough to cleanse man from sin. All of the blood that was shed in all the animal sacrifices could only symbolize that which would come. But when the time did come, the precious blood of Christ shed one time on the cross of Calvary purchased eternal salvation for all who believe forever. Without His shed blood, there would be no salvation. How terrible our sins must be to God because He had to send His own Son to a savage and bloody death to purchase our salvation.

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