Hebrews 9:15-22
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.
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.
18:Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.
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.
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Because Jesus offered His own unblemished blood, He is the mediator of this new covenant. His purpose being to restore fellowship between God and man. His death was the price for the transgressions committed so those called through the gospel of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14, Romans 10:13-17) could receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Covenants, as in a last will and testament, are put into effect when the one who made the covenant dies. A person’s will is not read or implemented until they die. The first covenant was inaugurated with blood after Moses spoke the commandment—the Law—to the people. He then sprinkled the blood of the sacrificed calves and goats on the book and the people (Exodus 24:3-8). Paul quoted from Exodus 24:8 where Moses declared the animal’s blood to be the blood of the covenant which God commanded.
The sacrificed blood and the associated commands go hand in hand. A priesthood and all of its functions are based on its corresponding law (Hebrews 7:11-12). The blood which establishes a covenant does so because it testifies to the legitimacy of those commands—of those words. Moses sprinkled the tabernacle and everything inside with the sacrificed blood. The blood that establishes a covenant of God also cleanses—it forgives. Paul said you could almost say that all things are cleansed by blood. There is no forgiveness without shedding blood. Paul said "almost" because the Lord allowed bloodless offerings in cases where a poor person could not afford it (Leviticus 5:11). However, even that allowance could not have been made without the established covenant in place which was done so through the animal’s blood.
The new covenant was established by the blood of Jesus. The commandments He testified to were His life and His message—His gospel. The Word--the commandment itself—came and sacrificed Himself to establish this covenant. Jesus Christ Himself was the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). There is no greater confirmation as to the truth and power of a word or command than the willing sacrifice of sinless blood to testify to it. The sacrifice was made by His own will and testimony, putting in place the covenant which gives the inheritance of eternal life to all who join this covenant by faith.
Covenants, as in a last will and testament, are put into effect when the one who made the covenant dies. A person’s will is not read or implemented until they die. The first covenant was inaugurated with blood after Moses spoke the commandment—the Law—to the people. He then sprinkled the blood of the sacrificed calves and goats on the book and the people (Exodus 24:3-8). Paul quoted from Exodus 24:8 where Moses declared the animal’s blood to be the blood of the covenant which God commanded.
The sacrificed blood and the associated commands go hand in hand. A priesthood and all of its functions are based on its corresponding law (Hebrews 7:11-12). The blood which establishes a covenant does so because it testifies to the legitimacy of those commands—of those words. Moses sprinkled the tabernacle and everything inside with the sacrificed blood. The blood that establishes a covenant of God also cleanses—it forgives. Paul said you could almost say that all things are cleansed by blood. There is no forgiveness without shedding blood. Paul said "almost" because the Lord allowed bloodless offerings in cases where a poor person could not afford it (Leviticus 5:11). However, even that allowance could not have been made without the established covenant in place which was done so through the animal’s blood.
The new covenant was established by the blood of Jesus. The commandments He testified to were His life and His message—His gospel. The Word--the commandment itself—came and sacrificed Himself to establish this covenant. Jesus Christ Himself was the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). There is no greater confirmation as to the truth and power of a word or command than the willing sacrifice of sinless blood to testify to it. The sacrifice was made by His own will and testimony, putting in place the covenant which gives the inheritance of eternal life to all who join this covenant by faith.
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