August 5, 2014

A CLEANSED CONSCIENCE

Hebrews 9:11-28

Devin Phillips
Tuesday's Devo

August 5, 2014

Tuesday's Devo

August 5, 2014

Central Truth

Through Christ's sacrifice we have true forgiveness of sin.

Key Verse | Hebrews 9:14

[H]ow much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14)

Hebrews 9:11-28

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, 1 9:11 Some manuscripts good things to come then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify 2 9:13 Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our 3 9:14 Some manuscripts your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 4 9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and 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 that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Footnotes

[1] 9:11 Some manuscripts good things to come
[2] 9:13 Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies
[3] 9:14 Some manuscripts your
[4] 9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17

Dive Deeper | Hebrews 9:11-28

So often I struggle with finding my worth in the things that I do. I have always been this way. Growing up, I was the good kid who never really got in trouble. As long as I wasn't doing anything bad, that was enough. I kept up the appearance that I was perfect, all the while knowing that inside, my heart and mind were far from good. But there is a major problem. Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB) says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" It doesn't matter how things appear, how much we have read the Bible, prayed, had good intentions, or helped little old ladies across the street. There is a much bigger issue -- a sinful heart.

That is why this passage in Hebrews is so relevant. Before Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, God allowed the Israelites to make sacrifices in order to reconcile their relationships to Him. For forgiveness only comes through the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). But these sacrifices had to be repeated every year and ultimately did not cleanse them. In fact, it only reminded them of how sinful they were (Hebrews 10:3). So often, when I am working on how I appear, it is because I know in my heart and mind that I am falling short of God's standard.

But thanks be to God that this is not our reality! Through Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross, we not only have forgiveness of sins, but also a cleansed conscience! Through Christ we are free to serve God! Christ did what no animal sacrifice would ever be able to do. He willingly laid down His life so that we may not only be reconciled to God, but that we could also feel the sweet freedom of forgiveness.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you rely on just being good enough? What does Jeremiah 17:9 or Isaiah 64:6 say about how good we can be?

2. Are you walking around with any sin that you are not truly free from? If so, why? Pray to God, asking for forgiveness and a renewed mind.

3. What is holding you back from living in God's grace?