One Death for the Called

 

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:11–14 ESV).

 

Our reading today is just a part of the chapter (Hebrews 9), which contains the main message of the section. The writer asserts that Jesus Christ, as the superior High Priest who entered the heavenly sanctuary once and for all with his own blood, offering an eternal sacrifice that cleanses consciences and perfects worship, rendering the temporary, repetitive animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant no longer necessary.

 

There are some key elements that we should pay careful attention to in this chapter. The first is the superiority of Christ's sacrifice. Unlike the annual animal blood sacrifices, Christ's sacrifice was voluntary, personal, and final, paying the penalty for sins once and for all. All of these elements are present in the Apostle Paul’s declaration to the Church at Philippi:

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5–11 ESV).

 

The second key element is that Jesus entered the true, heavenly tabernacle, not a man-made one, providing direct access to God. At first glance, that seems to be insignificant; it almost feels as if it is no more important than a mere shoulder-shrug. However, when we think of Jesus entering into the very center of all creation, in the presence of His Father and offering Himself as payment in full for our debt is staggering in its impact. Jesus really did “pay it all… and all to Him I owe”!

 

Third, the new covenant sacrifice doesn't just cleanse externally (like the old system), but inwardly, cleaning the conscience to serve the living God. This also bears a "once for all" effectiveness. Because his sacrifice was perfect, it does not need to be repeated, guaranteeing eternal redemption. Hebrews 9 serves as a contrast, urging believers to rely on the completed work of Jesus rather than returning to old, ineffective systems. That same truth applies to any “new system” man may have developed. There is only one means to eternal life. And, that is the perfect blood of Jesus given for us on the cross!