A HIGH PRIEST OF GOOD THINGS TO COME
HEBREWS 9:11-28
Introduction:
Jesus is our great High Priest of good things to come. The future holds some good things for those who have trusted Jesus as Savior.
We have a great Savior who has accomplished our salvation and has promised to return for His people. In the mean time we have the privilege of sharing the gospel with those who don’t know these great blessings.
I. A GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE.
A. The Old Tabernacle.
1. Moses set up the old Tabernacle in the wilderness according to God’s plan.
2. Solomon built the first Temple that took the place of the Tabernacle, which was a tent.
3. These were but shadows of better things to come, Hebrews 8:5, “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
B. The New Tabernacle.
1. “Not made with hands,” Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;”
2. “Not of this building,” Hebrews 9:24, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”
II. A BETTER SACRIFICE.
A. The Old Offerings.
1. For the purifying of the flesh, Hebrews 9:13, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:”
2. However, they could not take away sins, Hebrews 10:4, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
B. The New Offering.
1. Jesus, by His own blood, Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
a. The blood of animals was insufficient to take away our sins.
b. However, Jesus Christ obtained eternal redemption for us” by offering His own blood. Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
III. THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
A. God takes away the first to establish the second, Hebrews 10:9, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”
1. That first covenant was the Mosaic Covenant, which God established with Israel after they were redeemed out of Egypt.
2. The Second covenant is the New Testament, Hebrews 9:15, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
B. In the old system the high priest was the mediator.
1. The high priest was a sinner, Leviticus 16:5-6, “And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6-And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.”
2. The mediation done was imperfect because the mediator was imperfect.
C. In the New Testament the mediator is perfect, Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
1. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Testament, Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
2. He entered not into the Tabernacle made by man, Hebrews 9:24, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”
3. He has entered into the Holy of Holies in the very presence of God for us.
CONCLUSION
Jesus Christ has entered into the presence of God in Heaven on our behalf as our offering for sin. Now we look for His soon return which He promised, Hebrews 9:28, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”