June 1, 2025: Sunday School

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading & Introduction — Hebrews 9:11-14
• Sermon
• Prayer of Closing

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Sermon Title: The Blood of Christ and the Superior Sanctuary

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-14

I. Context: The Insufficiency of the Old Covenant

A. The previous section (Hebrews 9:1-10) toured the earthly tabernacle and its priestly work B. Two problems with the old covenant are identified

1. While the earthly tabernacle stands, man remains separated from God
2. The conscience of the worshipper remains imperfect — only the external man is addressed C. Verses 11–14 now draw a direct contrast between the old covenant and the ministry of Christ

II. The Superior Sanctuary (vv. 11–12a)

A. "But when Christ appeared" signals the turning point — from old to new

1. His coming has been a central theme throughout Hebrews: made like us in every way, the final revelation of God, our high priest after the order of Melchizedek
2. He comes as a high priest "of the good things that have come" (or, in some manuscripts, "to come") — the inbreaking of future realities already begun B. Christ enters through "the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation"
3. This refers to the heavenly tabernacle — the archetype to which the earthly always pointed
4. Hebrews 4:14 is recalled: Christ "passed through the heavens," corresponding to passing through the outer court into the most holy place
5. The heavens Christ ascends through are compared to the outer court; the throne of God is the true most holy place C. He entered "once for all" into the holy places
6. The earthly priests repeated their work endlessly — there was no seat for them because their work was never finished
7. Christ sits down (cf. Hebrews 1:3) — his priestly work carries a permanence and completion the earthly priesthood never could
8. His priesthood in the order of Melchizedek is permanent and does not pass away

III. The Superior Sacrifice (vv. 12b–14)

A. The contrast of means: not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood

1. The old sacrificial system displayed the cost of sin — death — but could not finally pay it
2. The penalty for sin declared in the garden was death (Genesis 2:17); God's just wrath must be satisfied
3. Only the blood of Christ satisfies that wrath B. How Christ could offer his own blood: through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14)
4. The Spirit sustained Christ throughout his ministry, keeping him the unblemished Lamb
5. The Spirit strengthened him to persevere through the cross and applied his blood to the accounts of God's elect
6. Comfort for believers: that same Spirit now dwells in us, aiding sanctification and the battle against sin C. The first result: eternal redemption (v. 12)
7. The blood of Christ has purchasing power — redemption from sin, guilt, and death
8. Acts 20:28: God obtained the church "with his own blood"
9. 1 Peter 1:18-19: ransomed "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ"
10. Once for all — no repetition is needed D. The second result: purification and perfecting of the conscience (v. 14)
11. The conscience communicates what we truly are before God; it can be suppressed but not silenced
12. The old sacrificial system cleaned only the outside — the conscience (the inside) remained defiled
13. Christ's blood purifies the conscience "from dead works to serve the living God"
14. The word for "serve" carries the sense of priestly ministry — believers are brought before God to minister to him by their lives
15. True worship is impossible where the conscience is overburdened with guilt; the blood of Christ makes true worship possible E. The practical application of the blood of Christ
16. Without Christ, the conscience tells us what we are; the blood of Christ tells us what God thinks of us in Christ
17. Our works toward salvation are as filthy rags, but by the blood of Christ we are reconciled and our service to God flows from justification
18. All of creation's renewal and hope rests on the shed blood of Christ (cf. Romans 8:19-22)