Single Superior Sacrifice

How can we be sure Jesus has paid for our sins? How can we know that the Father has accepted the sacrifice of His Son on our behalf, or, better, on my behalf? How can i know that the things i did yesterday won't (justly) condemn me forever? We can know. The solid logic of Hebrews 9:11-13 tells us that Jesus is the single, superior sacrifice who brings forgiveness of sins and a cleansed conscience. Do you want to be free from guilt? You can be! Do you want to feel free from condemnation? You can do. Let’s see how.

First of all, Jesus entered the real tent, the greater and perfect tent as verse 11 tells us. He wasn’t entering an earthly copy with bells around his clothes and a rope on His ankle. He was in Heaven, He was in the real thing. It’s one thing to have a picture of the fake Eiffel tower at Kings Dominion, how much better is it to have been to the real thing! Jesus can clean our conscience because He entered the real sanctuary, not made with hands, but made by God. The son of Levi ministered in the copy, and it gave the Hebrews some assurance, but Jesus is in the real sanctuary, not made with hands. Look and look until you see and are assured. 

Secondly, Jesus can cleanse our conscience because He has shed His own blood. If God took the blood of a goat as a covering, then there is no way He will reject the blood of His own Son! No way. That animal blood was a picture, Jesus is the reality. That picture gave some assurance to the Hebrews. When the scapegoat ran off into the wilderness, they could see that God had a way of removing their sins, when the priest shed the blood of the lamb, they could see that God had a way of paying for their sins. When we sin, we’re tempted to do something to pay for that sin aren’t we? I lied to my parents so I’ll get up half an hour earlier tomorrow to read the Bible. We’re tempted to do that. But we don’t need to. What covers our sin? What makes us whole again? Nothing but the blood, and that blood has been shed for us. We have nothing to fear, because we are covered by Him.

Finally, Jesus blood can cleanse our conscience because He works on the inside, not the outside. Verse 13 teaches us the blood and ashes of a heifer purified the flesh. But only the flesh. The old sacrifices never changed anyone’s heart, never cleaned a conscience. The new one can, and does.

The application is right there in verse 14. We are now free to serve God with all our hearts. There is nothing holding you back from giving your life to God’s will, nothing stopping you from doing whatever He wants you to do. Is there? Why should sin stop you, your sin has been dealt with. Why should guilt stop you, Jesus has cleansed your conscience. Why should what you did yesterday stop you from what God wants you to do tomorrow? It shouldn’t!