RPG Adults
THE MEANING OF THE SACRIFICE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
Hebrews 9:1-10
1 John 1:5-9
“… and the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
THE MEANING OF THE SACRIFICE
The writer deemed it fit to repeat the specifications of the old covenant for this was what his readers were familiar with and they needed to understand its spiritual significance. It was a demanding duty and its specifications had to be observed accurately. Albert Barnes (Notes on the Bible) gives a summary of this chapter in these words,
“The general design of this chapter Heb. 9 is the same as the two preceding, to show that Christ as high priest is superior to the Jewish high priest. This the apostle had already shown to be true in regard to his rank, and to the dispensation of which he was the ‘mediator’. He proceeds now to show that this was also true in reference to the efficacy of the sacrifice which he made; and in order to this, he gives an account of the ancient Jewish sacrifices, and compares them with that made by the Redeemer. The essential point is, that the former dispensation was mere shadow, type, or figure, and that the latter was real and efficacious.”
Hebrews 9:9 says that it was a figure of the present time. This is an indication that it had a symbolic meaning and an interpretation that made it meaningful. The Hebrews presented offerings wherein they gave another life in place of their own. These substitutes pointed to another ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for the sins of all people. Those offered by the priests could not make them perfect. The sacrificial system included meats, drinks and diverse washings and carnal ordinances. The text indicates the need of giving proper meaning to these sacrifices in a time of reformation. That time of reformation had already come for Christ had already fulfilled all that the law signified and there was no longer a need to observe those sacrifices.
THOUGHT: Everyone needs to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
PRAYER: Father, may my faith be in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.