and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption, (9:12).
After explaining the absolute need for His New Covenant that is dependent solely on His finished work, then confirming this in the prophecy revealed to Jeremiah, the writer of Hebrews continues by contrasting the Old and New Covenants.
In the Greek language of that day, the word, “covenant,” was used in reference to God’s declaration of His unconditional promise to designated recipients, as well as when speaking of a last will, the legal document with instructions on the distribution of one’s resources after death.
Covenant: “1242. διαθήκη diathḗkē; gen. diathḗkēs, fem. noun from diatíthēmi (1303), to set out in order, to dispose in a certain order. Testament, covenant. In Class. Gr. it always meant the disposition which a person makes of his property in prospect of death, i.e., his testament…” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
And the case is laid out that a “last will” is only valid after the person dies. And because Jesus died, He guarantees our inheritance and He Obtained Eternal Redemption.
While some versions translates this Greek word as “covenant” consistently throughout this passage, other versions use both “covenant” and “will” to illustrate the writer’s intent.
From NIV Study Bible:
Note on 9:16 will. Translates the same Greek word as that for covenant (v. 15), but here and in v. 17 used in the sense of a last will and testament. (Verse 18 returns to the concept of covenant.) Beneficiaries have no claim on the benefits assigned to them in a will until the testator dies (v.17). Since Christ’s death has been duly attested, “the promised eternal inheritance” (v.15) is available to his beneficiaries.”
Therefore, He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living. 18 That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood, (9:15-18 CHSB).
And as it was in the Old, so it is in His New Covenant. Blood was required for the forgiveness of sins.
According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, (9:22).
So while the provisions for forgiveness still required the shedding of blood, the place and practice of the sacrificial offering had changed. This offering would not be brought to a man-made temple, this High Priest would not offer blood that was not His own, and this offering would not be repeated yearly. This offering would culminate in His finished work of bringing salvation and removing sin, as He offered Himself as the sacrifice for sin.
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, (9:24-26).
And today, the emphasis of “the better things” in Christ is placed on His “better” offering that would accomplish what no other offering ever did or ever could; for by His “better” offering, He Obtained Eternal Redemption.
Consider Him Who Obtained Eternal Redemption
- He Obtained Eternal Redemption through the better offering of His own blood.
- But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption, (9:11-12).
- He Obtained Eternal Redemption through the better offering that would cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
- For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (9:13-14).
- He Obtained Eternal Redemption through the better offering that secured the promise of our eternal inheritance.
- For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, (9:15).
- He Obtained Eternal Redemption through the better offering that shed His blood to cleanse and provide forgiveness of our sins.
- And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, (9:21-22).
- He Obtained Eternal Redemption through the better offering that purchased us out of the bondage of sin and continually sustains us until He comes again to save and deliver us out of a world plagued by sin, death, mourning, crying, and pain.
- so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him, (9:28).
- “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away,” (Revelation 21:4).
How do we respond to Him Who Obtained Eternal Redemption?
The main point continues. He Obtained Eternal Redemption. We did not. And we can rest by faith in His Eternal Redemption because of the “better” offering through the price He paid. And when we believe the message of the gospel and trust in Him Who Obtained Eternal Redemption, we are sealed with His Holy Spirit Who guarantees our Eternal Inheritance.
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory, (Ephesians 1:13-14).
The day is coming when every one of us will face His judgment.
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, (9:27).
Oh, may we never stand before Him, to be judged by the ways we kept the Law or by the works of our flesh and blood. It is only as we place our faith in Him Who Obtained Eternal Redemption that we will inherit the kingdom of God.
Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable, (1 Corinthians 15:50).
Such a great and marvelous salvation! How can we possibly keep this to ourselves? Let us live in unceasing thanks and praise, for He has been so very good to us. Oh, that we would be so filled with gratitude that we couldn’t help but overflow and share with others how we have been redeemed by Him Who Obtained Eternal Redemption.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, (Psalm 107:1-2).