Bridging the Distance: Hebrews 9:1-14

• Intro: How far did you come to get here this morning? What’s the furthest away that you have traveled on this planet? Or How far have you come (has God brought you)? – One thing the Hebrews understood was the Separating Distance btwn man and a holy God. – How could we ever bridge that gap? Read passage & pray

• In Hebrews, we are in a section of…

Continued Contrasting the Old Covenant and the New:

• More specifically in these three short paragraphs in the first half of Heb. 9, what is demonstrated, in contrasting the two, is movement…

From Material Structure and External Service to a Savior Who Bridges the Separation and Secures Eternal Redemption

• True worship – Not about material structure or even external service (as the deepest and most important aspect) but to believe on and follow a Savior who bridges the separation btwn us and God, who has secured the necessary redemption (which is itself an immaterial reality). – Instead of outward displays of worship that demonstrate our distance from God, Christ provides the purity we need for sincere internal worship in the very presence of God.

Structure (vv. 1-5)

• Brief intro sentence gives overview of vv.1-10: regulations = righteous requirements; and physical place of holiness to “house” the presence of God = the sanctuary, the structure itself à Then takes each one in chiastic arrangement, common literary device (says to things then takes the second one first in further description)
• [As an aside and context for this discussion, recall that…] Worship is not primarily external but internal – our emphasis in chapter 8. – Similarly, the description of the worship location and process moves from outer to inner as well… [image credit ESV study bible]
  • o And I believe he talks about the tabernacles instead of the temple to get in nearest proximity to the original covenant and commands God had given.
  • o There was also a courtyard around this tabernacle, but it isn’t mentioned bc it isn’t important here.
  • o What is described first is the Holy Place, the outer room of the tent, which housed (three items are mentioned):
    • “The lampstand was made of pure gold, having six flowered branches extending from its sides, three to a side.” (Guthrie) It stood on the south side and the stem and each branch held a lamp.
    • The table, made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, was situated on the north side and was for the ‘consecrated bread.’ This was presented before the Lord and “consisted of twelve loaves of bread, baked of fine flour, that were placed fresh on the table every sabbath day.” (O’Brien)
  • o Behind a second curtain, and further inward, was the Most Holy Place (lit. holy of holies).
    • While associated with entrance into the most holy place, the altar of incense was described in the OT as being just before the curtain. The cloud of incense generated by the golden altar provided a means of approach to the ark of the covenant (inside the holy of holies, and only for the high priest, and only once a year, v. 7)… so that the priest could approach the mercy seat on top of the ark and not die (Lev. 16:13).
    • The author throws us another curveball with his wording that describes the ark as housing not only the stone tablets (of the covenant, given to Moses), but also the jar of manna and Aaron’s staff that miraculously budded. Both of these are described elsewhere as being just in front of the ark.
    • The ark, a chest made of acacia would and overlaid with gold, had above it a covering called the mercy seat, which is the earthly representational reminder that it was ever by the mercy of God that he had chosen them to be his people and that they were not consumed in their sinfulness by his holiness. Two angelic figures, the cherubim of glory, overshadowed the lid to the ark.
  • Why did God have them make a “place” for worship? It was to be a reminder of his presence, where God said he would choose to manifest his presence. God provided first a temporary, imperfect way for worship, that pointed ahead to Christ.
  • v. 5b With all these specifics, and more details could be listed, we don’t want to get sidetracked – The tabernacle provided context for priestly ministry, which is the discussion that follows. [but before we move on, start application now so your eyes don’t glaze over…]

1. What replaces an earthly place of holiness?

– True holiness that allows direct access into the very presence of God

• You can put as much bling and pomp in a tent or church building as you want, and it may be a neat and perhaps even healthy reflection of respect for God, but it will never even remotely be a true representation of God’s glory nor does it have any value in improving true worship.
• You can be a native in the jungle of Venezuela, who frankly has poor hygiene and ratty clothing, and a paltry little church or no building at all… and still be transformed in purity by the sacrificial death of Jesus to be a man or woman who worships in the very presence of God!

Service (vv. 6-10)

• The word here for ritual means their practical service of worship as was described and commanded of them. Again, regulations (v. 10) are the things righteously required of them.
  • o The priests did this service (lighting lamps, changing bread) regularly, meaning day after day, week after week, year after year.
  • o And only the high priest, and only once a year, would sacrifice an offering of bull’s blood his own sins and the sins of his household so that he could then be a mediator to also offer a sacrifice of goat’s blood for the sins of the people. (OT describes sins committed in ignorance, as opposed to deliberately, rebelliously)
  • o This only took place on the Day of Atonement, when the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on the cover of the ark and in front of it.
  • o I’ll mention here that sometimes I think we get a little sidetracked and misguided with the significance of blood. Blood is symbolic of what is so integral and necessary for living animals (and people). Therefore the blood is representative of sacrificial death. What might help bring this in perspective is to realize that blood, without the death of the sacrifice, would have meant nothing. The shedding of blood as atonement for sin means that it pays the wage of sin, which is death. – But again, these sacrifices here are partial and temporary, pointing to what is needed, the permanent and complete sacrifice of Christ’s own life.
• Which is why the author mentions that God the Holy Spirit is symbolically demonstrating with all this God’s inaccessibility to sinful man. A way was not yet opened, not revealed, not made known. If the sections and the curtains and the regulations and systems still stand, then we remain far from God. – We don’t need external ritual, we need internal transformation.
  • o That’s what it means when it says that these gifts and sacrifices can’t perfect the conscience of the worshipper.
  • o Conscience means we are beings who are conscious of sin. So the conscience is the seat of that internal struggle in us to determine and deal with right from wrong. Well, the law makes us particularly conscious of sin, and therefore these kind of sacrifices can’t make consciences clean, bc we aren’t really being purified from our unholiness.
  • o They may provide specific regulations imposed to help us try to manage the degree of our sinful passions, and so on. But the age of regulations was a holding place until the age of true reformation, of truly rectifying the relationship btwn God and man.
• It is that age which has now come in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the description which just begins in our final verses for today. [but first…]

2. What replaces regulations and rituals?

– Restoration and Relationship

• What the structure and service gave was a picture of the holiness and glory of God and the guilt of men.
• The requirements make one thing clear: God cannot abide sinners in his presence.
  • o It presented an insurmountable problem, rendering God inaccessible. What prevented humanity from direct access to God? God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness (God is glory in its fullness and man is short on glory, Rom. 3:23)
  • o You need a way for your sin to be dealt with.
  • o Which is also why, even as believers made new and made whole through the restoring redemption of Jesus, sin isn’t something we just shrug off. (Heb. 12:1&4*)

Savior (vv. 11-14)

• Vv. 1-10 described limitations and obstacles to unhindered access in the presence of God
• By contrast, Jesus ushered in a new age with a new covenant to offer a better “place” of worship and a better means of atonement for sin because of what he accomplished once for all.
• That also means that those who are his have consciences purified from dead works to serve the living God in a living way. [let me explain both of those parts a little more in the verses]
  • o Better tent – not of this world, but the very presence of God. The greater and more perfect tent is the presence of God.
  • o Better blood or better sacrifice – once for all (all sin, all time), securing eternal redemption (to buy back out of slavery to sin and the guilt of the law), and instead of temporary washing away for ritual uncleanness (merely external), Christ’s sacrifice can wash away the very stain of guilt (guilt which is completely justified bc of sin). But then the recipient of Jesus’ atonement is justified (declared righteous instead of guilty) by faith in Him.
  • o That also means he purifies our consciences from dead works to worship God in spirit and in truth. He’s saying, that means you don’t need to keep practicing this old way to try to placate your conscience. Your conscience should be free from ritual and legalism to serve God from the place of restoration and relationship to him. You can now draw near and serve him from of place of personal relationship and growing intimacy with him!

3. What replaces temporary sacrifices and incomplete offerings?

– A Savior who gave himself as a permanent and perfect sacrifice (Eternal, complete)

• Everything that we are and have is fading away… except this one thing. Our souls, which are a reflection of the image of God… (and what’s more, as his saved, called out ones, his church) were are redeemed souls that reflect his glory and goodness forever and ever.
• Apart from this work of Christ in us, we remain INcomplete. What we cannot possibly do, he has done completely. And in restoring us to God, he makes us whole.

4. What is expected of the worshipper now? [with the atonement for sin made, and the new way opened]

– Accept the atonement to enter through the only means to access God directly—Jesus Christ. (Rom. 10:9-10)

• What God has accomplished in Jesus must be appropriated by the worshipper through Jesus
• Believe the bridge is true. In faith, walk on it. (obedience of faith – proves your belief) 10:14, 11:6

5. Christian, do you behave like an external worshipper or one who values knowing God and nearness to Him?

• The contrast here is without a doubt btwn that which earthly and that which is heavenly. Our plans, our words, our behaviors, our prayers…
• [closing slide]

Bridging the Distance – Hebrews 9:1-14

Continued Contrasting the Old Covenant and the New: From Material Structure and External Service to a Savior Who Bridges the Separation and Secures Eternal Redemption

Structure (vv. 1-5)

1. What replaces an earthly place of holiness?

Service (vv. 6-10)

2. What replaces regulations and rituals?

Savior (vv. 11-14)

3. What replaces temporary sacrifices and incomplete offerings?

4. What is expected of the worshipper now?

5. Christian, do you behave like an external worshipper or one who values knowing God and nearness to Him?