Day 746: Once and for all - Hebrews 9 vs 17 - 28

17-18 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19-21 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, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 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.

24-26 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. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 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. 27-28 And, just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgement, 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. Hebrews 9:17-28 English Standard Version

Having read today's section, keep in mind that Hebrews was firstly intended for Christians who'd come from a strong Jewish background. They would have quickly understood the rituals described in vs 19-21 of Moses sprinkling blood on the laws God had given, on the tabernacle, all the things inside it, and even on the people. What was the key to all those rituals? (vs 22)

God had warned Adam and Eve that the sin of disobedience would lead to death. After they sinned He had provided garments of skin to cover them. That implies the death of animal and blood that was shed. It was the death that they actually deserved. But it was only a temporary covering, for in the next chapter the writer says: “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:3)

Now this is why the writer says that the covenant God made with the people He saves was like a will. A will only comes into operation when a death has occurred, and the shedding of blood speaks of such death. So the blood of animals sacrificed in Old Testament days was sprinkled on everything as a picture of purification – as vs 22 pointed out. But what is the point he then makes in vs 23?

Everything Moses had made known to Israel was only a copy, or a picture, of something far bigger. They spoke of the sanctuary of heaven itself and the very presence of God. And to be pure enough to enter God's presence required something more than the blood of animal sacrifices! And what was the wonderful hope that the gospel had said before them? (vs 24-26)

Those are words that we should take to heart and learn by heart. They sum up the perfection of the sacrifice Christ Jesus made at Calvary. It was the once and for all sacrifice that the Old Testament sacrifices, which could not in themselves save anyone, were pointing to. It was the climax of God's way to save sinners from the days of Adam till when Christ returns in glory.

What is the important application the writer makes of this once for all sacrifice? (vs 27-28)

Having died once – the fate in store for all of us – Christ will return one day to usher in the great salvation which His death has made possible for all who repent of sin and believe on Him. Those verses also show that multiple reincarnations to many lives is a false teaching. We have only one life in this world. As a missionary once said: “One life to live, will soon be past – only what's done for Christ will last!” Are we among those who are eagerly waiting for Jesus' return?