Sermon Synopsis
Hebrews 9:1–14 contrasts the limitations of the Old Testament tabernacle system with the perfect and finished work of Jesus Christ. The tabernacle, its furnishings, and its restricted access all pointed forward to Christ, the true High Priest who entered once for all into the heavenly sanctuary by His own blood. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant, Christ’s sacrifice secures eternal redemption and purifies the believer’s conscience completely. As those who now have direct access to God through Christ, believers are called not merely to rejoice in forgiveness but to serve the living God faithfully, reverently, and wholeheartedly.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
Jesus Is Better
Hebrews 9:1–14
The Purging of Our Conscience
Opening Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that we can come this morning and be reminded of the immense love and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ—the great faithfulness that has been demonstrated to us, the mercy, the grace, and the love that have been showered upon us.
And now, Father, as we continue to read Thy Word and meditate upon it, we pray that Thou wilt speak to us, refresh our minds as we think about the lovely person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and challenge us as we consider the implications of the full and complete work that He has done on our behalf.
We pray and ask all these things in the Lord Jesus’ name. Amen.
Introduction
Thank you to the brothers and sisters who have texted me and spoken to me, saying that you have been praying for me for this morning’s ministry. It is much appreciated. Thank you also to the saints for your prayers for me and my family over the past many months. The Lord has been good, and we continue to wait upon Him.
This morning, we return to our Jesus Is Better series after a short break of two weeks. We now come to Hebrews chapter 9.
Before the break, our brother Nathaniel took us through Hebrews 8. We considered how the Lord ministers to us as our heavenly High Priest, and we meditated upon Him as the One who introduced the New Covenant, which supersedes and renders the Old Covenant obsolete.
The application from Hebrews 8 was that the assurance of a direct relationship with God and the complete forgiveness of sins should serve as a foundation and motivation for our obedience and spiritual growth.
As we continue in Hebrews, we will be introduced in greater detail to the tabernacle—the Old Testament place of meeting where God dwelt among His people. We will see references to its furnishings and arrangements, and we will draw thoughts from the symbolism and typology that point us to Christ.
I encourage all of us to read and study these matters further in our own time.
Over the next four weeks, including today, we will consider:
This morning we turn to Hebrews 9:1–14.
The key verse is verse 14:
“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
There is a call to action in this verse. There is a response required from us as we meditate upon the finished work of Christ.
The phrase “how much more” invites comparison. It links us back to everything that has come before in the chapter. Therefore, to appreciate verse 14, we must understand the context.
This morning we will consider the passage in three sections:
Where did the tabernacle come from?
Hebrews 9:1 tells us that the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.
To understand its origin, we must return to Exodus 25–40.
In Exodus 25:8–9, the Lord said to Moses:
“Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”
The word “sanctuary” refers to a sacred or holy place.
Notice that the tabernacle did not originate because man desired to reach God. Rather, it originated because God desired to dwell among His people.
Verse 9 continues:
“Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.”
The tabernacle was designed according to God’s explicit instructions—down to its dimensions, furnishings, and materials.
It was God’s dwelling place among His earthly people.
We are told repeatedly in Scripture that Moses made the tabernacle according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain. This reminds us that Scripture is inspired by God.
The tabernacle was not Moses’ brilliant idea. It was not human creativity. It came directly from God.
As we conclude this section, let us think of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:14 says:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
The word “dwelt” carries the idea of “tabernacled.”
Just as God dwelt among His people through the tabernacle, God dwelt among men through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:23 reminds us that He is Emmanuel—God with us.
John 1:18 tells us:
“No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.”
The glory of God has been declared to mankind through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 9 draws our attention to particular pieces of furniture.
In the Most Holy Place stood the Ark of the Covenant.
Exodus 25:10–16 tells us that it was made of acacia wood and overlaid inside and outside with pure gold.
Within the Ark were placed the testimonies that God gave to His people.
Above the Ark was the Mercy Seat.
Unlike the Ark, which combined acacia wood and gold, the Mercy Seat was made entirely of pure gold.
The Ark reminds us of the perfect balance of Christ’s humanity and deity.
The Mercy Seat reminds us of divine glory and holiness.
Exodus 25:22 says:
“There I will meet with you.”
It was there that God would commune with the high priest.
Outside the veil, in the Holy Place, stood the table of showbread and the golden lampstand.
There are many rich symbols and types associated with these furnishings. Time does not permit us to examine them all, but I encourage you to study Exodus 25, 26, 27, and 30 for yourselves.
In our Sunday School class, as we study the Messianic Psalms, it has been encouraging to see how Scripture points to Christ. As we trace these references, we are reminded that the whole Bible is divinely inspired and beautifully presents the Lord Jesus Christ.
May we likewise search the Scriptures for ourselves and discover afresh the glory of Christ.
Exodus 25:2–7 tells us that the tabernacle was constructed from the willing offerings of the children of Israel.
The list is remarkable:
Remember where Israel had come from.
They had just emerged from years of bondage and slavery in Egypt.
Yet God had blessed them with such abundance that they not only survived but were able to contribute generously toward the construction of His dwelling place.
This reminds us that the Lord who redeemed us from the slave market of sin has also provided, equipped, and enabled us to serve Him.
All that is required is a willing response.
May we be faithful stewards, willing to offer back to God what He has first given to us.
The tabernacle was designed to teach Israel that access to God is governed by His holiness.
There was order.
There were requirements.
There was a prescribed way.
Interestingly, when we read Exodus 25–40, God describes the tabernacle from the inside outward.
Human beings tend to think from the outside in.
God begins with the Most Holy Place.
Why?
Because God Himself is central.
The focus is not man approaching God on his own terms. The focus is God revealing how He may be approached.
This area was accessible to Israelites who were ceremonially clean.
They could bring sacrifices and offerings.
This area was accessible only to consecrated priests—the descendants of Aaron.
They entered daily to tend the lampstand, burn incense, and replace the showbread.
This area was accessible only to the high priest.
Even then, he could enter only once a year on the Day of Atonement.
A thick veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
This veil constantly reminded Israel that access to God was restricted.
Approach to God required:
Anyone who approached God in another way faced judgment.
We think of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10, who offered strange fire before the Lord and were consumed.
The lesson is clear:
God had established His requirements, and man was expected to obey.
The high priest entered the Most Holy Place only after extensive preparation.
He had to offer sacrifices for himself.
He had to offer sacrifices for the people.
Blood had to be shed.
A bull was offered for his own sin.
Goats were offered for the congregation.
The blood was sprinkled before the Mercy Seat.
Everything emphasized the seriousness of approaching a holy God.
As we think about this, we cannot help but ask:
Do we take our access to God for granted?
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes blood.
Why?
Leviticus 17:11 tells us:
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood.”
Blood represents life given.
Blood represents sacrifice.
Blood represents atonement.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.
This truth echoes throughout Scripture:
The blood reminds us that life must be given in order for sin to be dealt with.
The Day of Atonement had to be repeated every year.
Again and again sacrifices were offered.
Again and again sins were remembered.
Hebrews 10 tells us that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
The worshipper never enjoyed complete rest.
The conscience was never fully cleansed.
The sacrifices served as continual reminders of sin.
This prepares us for the glorious contrast in verses 11–14.
III. Christ and the Purging of Our Conscience (Hebrews 9:11–14)
Verse 11 begins with a wonderful word:
“But…”
A contrast is being made.
Christ has appeared as the High Priest of good things to come.
He is superior to the Old Testament priesthood.
Hebrews 7 has already shown us that:
Most importantly, He offered Himself once for all.
Not the blood of goats.
Not the blood of calves.
His own blood.
And through that sacrifice He secured eternal redemption.
No repetition is needed.
No further offering is required.
Christ has perfectly fulfilled the requirements of God.
When Christ died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom.
The way into God’s presence was opened.
Every believer now has access to God.
Not merely into the Holy Place.
Not merely near the veil.
But into the very presence of God.
1 Peter 2:9 declares that we are a royal priesthood.
Hebrews 10:19 says that we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.
Dear saints, we have been given access through the perfect work of Christ.
Verse 14 tells us that Christ purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
We are not merely forgiven.
We are cleansed and commissioned.
We are purified in order that we might serve.
The writer then reflects on the three items mentioned in Hebrews 9:4.
Israel grumbled in the wilderness.
Yet God faithfully provided manna.
The preserved manna reminded future generations of God’s provision.
Likewise, despite our failures and shortcomings, God remains faithful.
He continues to sustain us through His Word and through Christ, the true Bread from Heaven.
May we feed upon Christ daily and be strengthened in our walk, work, and witness.
Aaron’s rod was a testimony against rebellion.
It reminded Israel that God had chosen His priest.
Christ is our greater High Priest.
Therefore, may we rest in His finished work.
But let us also ask ourselves:
What are we doing with the priesthood that Christ has given us?
Korah desired that privilege and perished in rebellion.
We have received it by grace.
May we live in a manner worthy of that calling.
The tablets reminded Israel of God’s holy law.
They also reminded Israel of failure, rebellion, and disobedience.
Yet our salvation is not secured by law-keeping.
Ephesians 2:8 reminds us that salvation is by grace through faith.
At the same time, we must never forget that our God remains holy, righteous, and just.
Hebrews 12:28 and Deuteronomy 4:24 describe Him as a consuming fire.
May we therefore serve Him with reverence and godly fear.
Conclusion
As we close, we are reminded of the words of the hymn:
“When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within…”
We return to Hebrews 9:14.
Christ has purged our conscience.
We look upward and see Him there—the One who made an end of all our sins.
Because the sinless Saviour died, our sinful souls are counted free.
God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon us.
May it be said of us, as it was said of the Thessalonians, that we have turned from idols to serve the living and true God.
Amen.