Hebrews 9:15-22 The Power of Blood

Hebrews 9:15-22

Background

In order for a covenant to be ratified, blood must be shed and death must take place. Jesus shed His blood so that through His death men may obtain the promises of the new covenant. Christ’s blood taught us the unparalleled seriousness of men’s second covenant with God. The gravity of the new covenant cannot be understated and it demands utmost commitment on the part of men. Christ’s blood speaks of God’s faithfulness in reconciling men to God and in conforming them to Christ’s image. The power of Christ’s blood breaks the stronghold and bondages of evil within our conscience.

Observation

15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

What is this reason? It is for the reason of cleansing the conscience of men. The first covenant promised probationary reprieve from punishment but it could not cleanse men’s conscience which harbored the bondages of sin. Without cleansing the conscience, deep-seated deceptions and fleshly desires remain preventing believers from obtaining new covenant promises.

Jesus as the mediator consummated the first covenant and inaugurated the second:

1. In the first covenant, the men made an oath requiring death for all transgressors. Hence, Jesus died a representative death on behalf of all who sinned under the first covenant.
2. In the same vein, Christ’s death ratified and inaugurated a new covenant by cleansing the conscience and freeing believers to live for God.

In doing so, Christ paved the way for participants of the first covenant to be redeemed from their transgressions and receive the promise of eternal inheritance. At the same time, He made a new covenant through which the bondages of sin were purged from their conscience.

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.

Why is there need for Christ to die in order to inaugurate a new covenant? In the procedure of ratifying a covenant, it requires the death of the covenant ratifier or covenant participant. In the process the participant of the covenant invoked a curse upon himself when he swore commitment to comply with the terms of the covenant. The ratifying party was represented by animals designated for sacrifice inferring violent death if he proved faithless to his oath. Hence, Christ’s death was the new covenant sacrifice on the part of God and was necessary to provide the blood of the new covenant. His sacrificial death made legally valid the new covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34, “I will put My law within them… I will be their God and they shall be My people… they will all know Me… for I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more.”

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.

This section stresses the power of blood:

1. Blood inaugurates the first covenant (v 18). The first covenant promises prosperity for obedience and certain death for disobedience. At the same time, it made provisions for probationary atonement through sin offerings at the tabernacle.
2. Blood sealed the covenant with covenant participants (v 19). By sprinkling  blood on the people, he made the covenant legally binding on all participants of the covenant.
3. Blood cleanses the objects used for worship within the tabernacle (v 21). This act of sprinkling blood anointed the tabernacle and the religious articles for divine worship.
4. Blood cleanses everything (v 22a). Even houses were cleansed of evil by blood (see Leviticus 14).
5. Blood makes provisions for forgiveness and access to God (v 22b).

In the first covenant, the people ratified the covenant with God using animals’ blood as Moses commanded them: “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” But the use of Jesus’ blood in the new covenant infers unparalleled seriousness as compared to the first covenant. Although the first covenant depended entirely on men’s own moral resolve to fulfill it, the new covenant empowers men to live godly lives as they yield themselves to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, men no longer need to depend on their moral determination alone to live according to the Law.

Truth

The shedding of Christ’s blood infers the unparalleled seriousness of men’s second covenant with God. Many churchgoers today could not fully grasp the seriousness of the new covenant. This is partly due to the way these churchgoers were first initiated into the church community. They were promised “unconditional” salvation without an expressed commitment to live according to the truth. Hence, it appears as a one sided covenant of “unconditional” salvation. As a result, many celebrate the grace of God supposing He has absolutely no expectations on the way they should live. The first covenant carried an imagery of severity and death should they turn away from the covenant. Moses inaugurated the first covenant by sprinkling blood on the book of the Law and on the people saying: “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” The new covenant imagery carried an even greater severity with the very fact that Christ’s blood is now involved. Jesus inaugurated the new covenant by instituting the Holy Communion, He said, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” Matthew 26:28. The Holy Communion becomes a constant reminder of our covenant with Christ – to walk in His truth until we see Him in the Father’s kingdom. Our attitude in approaching the new covenant should be one of deepest seriousness and gratitude towards God.

The shedding of Christ’s blood insures God’s faithfulness towards me. There are believers who constantly feel the need to confess their sins fearing what consequences their sins may bring. Such believers perceive the trials of life as consequential to their lack of obedience or spirituality towards God. People under the first covenant live in constant fear of punishment as sins were forgiven only when a sin sacrifice was offered at the tabernacle. However, under the new covenant, the shedding of Christ’s blood effectively eradicated all enmity between God and men. Now, believers’ relationship with God is above sin where God is forgiving and will never stop forgiving. Therefore, the shedding of Christ’s blood assures us that despite our incessant imperfection, God will never give up on us.

The shedding of Christ’s blood insures the cleansing of my conscience through the Spirit. There are some believers who constantly struggle with the bondages of addictions, anxieties, confusion and hatred unaware of the power of Christ’s blood. Christ’s blood is able reach into men’s conscience to destroy the bondages therein. Therefore, believers can invoke the cleansing action of Christ’s blood whenever they feel oppressed by darkness. How can I invoke the blood of Christ? First, by focusing on the virtues of Christ and be determined to conform to His image. Then, I declare, “I put the blood of Jesus upon my conscience. I cleanse my conscience of ___________________ (e.g. hatred, unbelief, lust etc.) within. Holy Spirit, feel me with your virtues ___________________ (e.g. love, faith, purity etc.).”

Application

1. Do you sometimes make light of Christ’s sacrifice just because you did not pay for it? What comes freely to you may not come cheap to God. The salvation of men comes at the cost of Christ’s life. Your covenant with God comprises your oath to help accomplish His plans on earth. Therefore, you need to seek God’s instructions daily and to live according to His will.
2. Are you often under the power of the devil’s devices? Are you constantly distracted by addictions, negative emotions, greed and illnesses? Invoke the blood of Christ over your conscience and pray the Spirit’s virtues: peace, joy, love, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness and self-control over your conscience.

Dear Lord, I thank you for shedding your precious blood so that I will obtain the promises of the new covenant. I am awed by your mercies and lovingkindness towards me. I commit myself to live for your course and to help accomplish your will on earth. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.