The Superiority of Christ

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Christs Blood Procures Forgiveness

• Hebrews 915-22
• Sunday June 13, 2008

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The Covenant and the Will (vs.15-17)

• Two meanings of the one Greek word covenant
  (vs.15, 18-20) and last will and testament
  (vs.16-17)
• Example
• English letter a, b, c, etc or a letter
  like this epistle
• Questions
• How does verse 15 relate to verses 16 17?
• What is the connection between the covenant and
  the will?
• Quote The implication is that the maker of a
  covenant is God, who has also made a will.
  Functioning as a mediator and as a guarantor He
  sees that the conditions of the covenant are met
  and that its promises are honored. Christ died to
  fulfill these conditions. But at the same time,
  Christs death validates the last will and
  testament, so that believers indeed may receive
  the promised eternal inheritance (915). Christ
  is their guarantor. (New Testament Commentary
  Hebrews, p257)

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Covenant and Will (vs.15-17)

• Covenant Will
• Passage Verses 15, 18-20 Verses 16 17
• Nature Agreement of 2 Purpose of 1
• Parties God and man Christ
• Agent Christ as mediator Christ as guarantor
• Duration While both are alive Upon the death of
  the guarantor
• Benefits Eternal redemption Eternal
  Inheritance

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Covenant and Will (vs.15-17)

• Covenant Will
• Benefits available through Christs death
• Israel
• Terms The old and new covenants
• The parties Believing Israelites past and
  future
• The benefits Eternal redemption salvation and
  sanctification
• The basis Christs death and shed blood
• Term Past (pre cross) and future (post rapture)
• Church age believer
• Terms The last will and testament
• The beneficiaries New Testament believers -
  you and I
• The benefits Eternal Inheritance with Christ
• The basis Christs death and shed blood
• Term From Christs ascension to His return

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The Covenant

• The Mediator of the Covenant (vs.15)
• Christ mediates between the parties of the
  covenant agreement
• Note that a will is not mediated
• In retrospect, His death is the basis of
  redemption for those under the old covenant
• For the sins committed under the first covenant
• So they also are part of the eternal
  inheritance
• In prospect, it is also the basis of acceptance
  under the new covenant
• He will mediate the new covenant

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The Covenant

• The Seal of the Covenant (vs.18-20)
• Blood was applied to the parties of a covenant
  agreement as a seal of that agreement
• Gods covenant with Israel (Ex.245-8
  Heb.918-20)
• Sequence i) blood sprinkled on the altar
  (representing God)
• ii) the terms of the covenant were agreed
  to by the Israelites
• iii) blood sprinkled on both the people and
  the document
• Gods covenant with Abraham (Gen.159-18)

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The Covenant

• The Blood of the Covenant (vs.21-22)
• The shed (poured out) blood provides forgiveness
  of sin under both covenants
• Forgiveness put away forever, out of Gods
  memory
• For OT sin the blood was poured out at the
  base of the altar (e.g. Lev.430, 31)
• An exclusive requirement for forgiveness for
  all time (Heb.922)
• God's forgiveness or pardon is abundant even in
  the Old testament (Is.557)
• Forgiveness is the same in both the Old and New
  Testaments
• It is freely available
• It is based on a substitute Jesus Christ
• The guilt and penalty of sin is pardoned as
  the penalty was paid by another
• God blots out the memory of the sin

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The Covenant

• The Blood of the Covenant (vs.21-22)
• The sprinkled blood provides cleansing and
  consecration
• Cleansing the pure gold of the mercy seat
  without alloy or pure
• The practical idea is unalloyed with the non
  sacred
• Not mixed with idolatry and worldliness
• Consecration Gods ownership
• The parties of the first covenant (Ex.246, 8
  Heb.919, 21)
• The OT sin offering (Lev.1619 Heb.913)
• Lepers (Lev.147)
• Conscience (Heb.914)
• Almost all things, exceptions being water or
  fire (Num.3123)

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The Will

• The Guarantor of the Will (vs.16-17)
• Christ is the guarantor (testator) of His last
  will and testament
• His death sealed the promises contained in that
  will (vs.17)
• These promised blessings are irrevocable
  (vs.15)

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The Will

• The Promises of the Will (vs.16-17)
• An eternal inheritance with Christ (vs.15)
• All spiritual blessings in Heaven (Eph.13 36)
• Declared sons and heirs with Christ
  (Rom.816-17)
• Inherit the blessings of Abraham (Gal.329)
• Eternal life now and forever (Tit.37 Rev 217)
• Blessed above the angels (Heb.114)

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The Will

• The Beneficiaries of the Will
• Those who are in Christ
• Have personally accepted the work of Christ on
  the cross on their behalf
• Have been born again by the Spirit of God
• All Church age believers in Jesus Christ both
  Jew and Gentile

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Application

• Dont take the path of least resistance
• Dont fall back to the norms of our culture
• Forgive others as Christ has forgiven you