Hebrews 9:11-28

v11-14: Rejoice in the effectiveness of the blood of Christ. “It is sufficient to cleanse the conscience from dead works.” It can reach the very soul defiled with sin and remove the guilt that separates us from God. It is also “sufficient to enable us to serve the living God” because it “sanctifies and renews the soul through the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, purchased by Christ for this purpose.”

v15-17: Christ is the mediator of a new covenant or will, and to make this effective, “it was necessary for Christ to die,” because the legacy is only given or can take effect “when the person who made the will dies.” By dying, Christ has not only redeemed His people “from their transgressions committed against the law,” He has qualified them to “receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.”

v18-22: Moses sprinkled the book of the law and covenant and the people with the blood of bulls and goats “as types of the blood of Christ.” This was to show that the covenant of grace is made effective by the blood of Christ and that it will be of “no advantage to us unless it is applied to us.”

v23-25: “Christ’s sacrifice, though offered on earth, was taken by him up to heaven, and is presented there by way of daily intercession, for he appears in the presence of God for us.” Christ’s presence in heaven is not only to enjoy rest after completing the work of salvation, and to receive the honour He deserves. He is heaven for us, “to present our persons and our actions, to answer and rebuke our adversary and accuser, to protect our interests, to perfect all our affairs, and to prepare a place for us.”

v26-28: “This is the unalterable decree of God about humanity - people must die, and they must be judged.” It is comforting to know that because Christ was offered up to take away our sins, when this judgment comes at His second coming, we won’t be swept up in the sudden destruction that is coming upon the world. Instead, our salvation will be complete, and so we can “wait in hope” for Jesus to return.