Lesson 4957

 (Lesson 4957) (08-27-25) Hebrews 9:15-28 

   “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 eternal inheritance. 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. 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. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.“ 

 

   Today’s lesson relates that Christ’s sacrifice established the new covenant and fulfilled what the old covenant could never accomplish. It teaches that Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, so that those called may receive life. The quote to a will or testament, which only takes effect after the death of the one who made it. In the same way, Christ’s death was necessary to bring the new covenant into effect. The old covenant was dedicated with the blood of animals, whereas the new covenant was dedicated with the blood of Jesus Christ. This shows that almost all things under the law were purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins. Thank God the Father that Jesus shed the blood that saves us all. We are reminded that it is appointed to men/women once to die, and after this the judgment. In the same way, Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await His return. In summary, today’s lesson stresses that Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice secured eternal redemption, abolished the old covenant rituals, and guarantees salvation to all who trust in Him. ~ 

Lesson 4956

 (Lesson 4956) (08-26-25) Hebrews 9:1-14 

   “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 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 mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 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. 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; 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. 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?” 

 

   Today’s quote explains the difference between the old covenant rituals and the true redemption brought by Christ. The quote describes the first covenant with its earthly sanctuary, the tabernacle, and its furnishings such as the candlestick, the table, the showbread, and the altar of incense. Priests went regularly into the first part to perform their services, but only the high priest entered the second part, which was supposed to make atonement for the sins of the priest as well as the sins of his people, once a year with blood for his own sins and the people’s. These ceremonies showed that the way into God’s presence had not yet been fully revealed. The offerings and rituals under the law, including animal sacrifices and ceremonial washings, (baptisms) were temporary regulations dealing only with outward purity. They could not cleanse the conscience or redeem the soul. In contrast, Christ came as the High Priest of a greater and more perfect tabernacle, built by the hand of God. Jesus entered the heavenly holy place only once for all those who will come to believe in Him, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption. Animal sacrifices purified the flesh outwardly, but the blood of Christ, offered through the eternal Spirit, cleanses the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. This passage makes clear that physical rituals such as sacrifices or washing, including water baptism, have nothing to do with the redemption of the soul. True salvation comes only through the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who provided eternal cleansing and access to God. ~ 

 

Lesson 4955

 (Lesson 4955) (08-25-25) Hebrews Chapter 8 

   “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” 

 

    Today’s quote, in summary, teaches that the old covenant of Moses and the laws God handed down to him, have been replaced by the new covenant in Christ, wherethrough all sin can be “justified”. Christ who serves as the eternal High Priest in the true heavenly tabernacle, offering complete forgiveness and inward transformation to all who will come to believe in Him. ~