WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.320 Good morning. If y'all will, go ahead and turn with me to Hebrews chapter 9. 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:18.000 I often feel like when I'm preaching in the winter or the spring or the summer, I don't really need to introduce myself because I feel like I've gotten to know everybody. 00:00:18.200 --> 00:00:22.720 But in the fall, when the influx of all the new college students, I feel like I should. 00:00:22.900 --> 00:00:27.140 So for those of y'all that don't know me, I'm Caleb Waters, a follower of Christ. 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:31.560 I'm a husband. I'm a member of our church here, and I have been for about six years now. 00:00:31.559 --> 00:00:38.179 Now, my wife, Margaret, and I both teach in Forsyth, and we've kind of become some of the college students that never left. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:42.560 So that's us. But yeah, y'all are stuck with me this morning. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.420 And so we'll begin in Hebrews 9. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:51.280 We're going to be looking at the second half, verses 15 through 29. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:58.500 But before we get into that, just a little bit of context and a little bit of reminders from last week. 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:02.859 So remember last week, Nathan preached on penal substitutionary atonement, right? 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:06.159 Big words that are hard to say so that we remember them, right? 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.180 But to put that in plain language, right? 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:14.519 Christ took the punishment that was due our sin on the cross so that we don't have to bear it, right? 00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:17.599 He exhausted the wrath of God, which was due us. 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:21.140 The old covenant was totally inadequate to save. 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:23.659 We needed the perfect sacrifice of Christ. 00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:28.099 Christ, him taking our sins away from us, him giving us his righteousness. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.379 He who knew no sin became sin so that in him we could become the righteousness of God, right? 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:34.179 Okay. 00:01:34.340 --> 00:01:35.259 So a lot about that. 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:38.000 We learned that the old covenant is just totally insufficient. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:45.159 Think about the parallels of it, too, of the unknowing animals who didn't understand what was going on were just sacrificed there. 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:58.640 But then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Lord of the universe, fully God, fully man, totally understanding what was going on, totally understanding the plan of salvation, knowing that this was not a plan B. 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:03.739 This was how God had planned to save his people even before the fall, right? 00:02:03.739 --> 00:02:10.879 This Savior, our Savior, fully understanding, fully knowing that plan of salvation, him dying willingly for our sins. 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:20.879 The sins that we actively see ourselves doing, the sins that we may not realize until later, all those sins, him dying for those. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:34.840 But yet he still chose, still chose to come, still chose to be that perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world for us. 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:42.680 And those sins now being forgiven and our Lord being our constant mediator, constantly making intercession for us. 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:49.319 He chose the Father that his blood was shed for us and he covers our sins so that we have forgiveness. 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:54.979 So let's look at verses 11 through 14, just right before where our text is. 00:02:55.639 --> 00:03:00.019 I think that would be best for us to start there to get the full context of our passage here this morning. 00:03:00.459 --> 00:03:03.079 So I'd like to pick up in verse 11 of Hebrews chapter 9. 00:03:04.079 --> 00:03:04.579 It says, 00:03:04.579 --> 00:03:12.599 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:22.959 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by the means of the blood of goats and calves, but by the means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:30.960 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:37.780 how much more will the blood of Christ, which through the eternal spirit offered himself without blemish to God, 00:03:38.020 --> 00:03:41.480 purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:50.099 So our Lord has shed his own blood on our behalf and has secured for us once and for all, right, like we've already mentioned, like Jordan mentioned, 00:03:50.179 --> 00:03:53.699 for all the forgiveness of sins and a clean conscience. 00:03:54.399 --> 00:04:00.280 His sacrifice truly secured an eternal redemption, not a temporary covering, an eternal redemption, 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:04.919 and a redemption where we can truly live with a clean conscience. 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:06.019 Something incredible. 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:13.240 So from the sins that we mentioned earlier that we acknowledge, even while we're doing them, the ones we choose, 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:22.980 even as we feel our spirit longing to go against them, to all the other sins, all of these are forgiven and they're remembered no more. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:27.000 And so it's in that context that we find ourselves this morning. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:30.139 And so let's pick up in verse 15 and go ahead and read our text. 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:31.819 We'll be reading all the way to the end of the chapter. 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:33.980 So pick it up in verse 15. 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:34.960 It says, 00:04:34.959 --> 00:05:04.939 It says, 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:34.959 00:05:34.959 --> 00:06:04.959 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:21.779 So a few things to note out of this passage that I think just jump off the page immediately. 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:25.740 Because there is blood mentioned everywhere in this passage. 00:06:26.099 --> 00:06:26.500 Everywhere. 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:33.879 In fact, only two of these verses, if you look through it, do not either say the words blood or death. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:34.579 Only two of them. 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:35.839 So there's lots of blood. 00:06:36.980 --> 00:06:41.480 Secondly, there's a lot of continued talk of what we've been talking about for a while now, right? 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:44.019 The talk about the old covenant and the new covenant. 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:44.819 Right? 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:48.839 Last week, Nathan talked about how much better the new is than the old. 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:49.319 Right? 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:51.800 And we're going to see that a bit more again this morning. 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:52.319 Okay? 00:06:52.599 --> 00:06:58.099 So with that in mind, lots of blood, lots of sin, lots of talk of Christ and covenants. 00:06:58.379 --> 00:07:01.699 Let me explain a bit of just how we're going to stretch our outline this morning. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:03.839 We're going to have four main sections. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:04.579 They're really simple. 00:07:05.539 --> 00:07:07.519 Firstly, will be our sin. 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:10.180 So first, our sin. 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:13.920 Secondly, I want to talk about our sin's effect. 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:15.340 So our sin's effect. 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:18.900 Thirdly, will be Christ's sacrifice. 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:21.579 Christ's sacrifice. 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:26.079 And lastly, it's hard to say, Christ's sacrifice's effect. 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:29.399 So lastly, Christ's sacrifice's effect. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.920 So first, let's talk a bit about our sin. 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:36.860 There's a lot of talk about transgressions here. 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:37.840 Lots and lots. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:40.379 Lots of talk about things being purified by blood. 00:07:41.419 --> 00:07:41.560 Right? 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:45.259 Lots of talk about no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. 00:07:46.179 --> 00:07:48.279 We must remember at this point that this is a letter. 00:07:48.479 --> 00:07:48.659 Right? 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:56.199 It would have likely been read in a much quicker form than just looking at a few verses once a week on a Sunday morning. 00:07:56.479 --> 00:07:56.739 Right? 00:07:56.739 --> 00:08:03.339 So this Hebrew church, likely a small crew who had been through lots of suffering, lots of persecution for the faith. 00:08:03.479 --> 00:08:03.599 Right? 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:08.160 Are likely going to be much more familiar with the earlier content of the letter. 00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:09.040 Right? 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:11.680 And much more familiar because of where they were at. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:11.900 Right? 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:13.460 With the sacrificial system. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:19.140 And if we're honest with ourselves, probably a lot more familiar with the concept of sin in general than we are. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:20.160 Right? 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:23.100 We've seen the concept of sin all throughout this letter. 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:29.100 A place that we have seen it and we've referred back to again and again is Hebrews chapter 3. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:32.420 So if y'all will, flip back just a few pages to chapter 3. 00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:50.399 So I'd like to look at a passage we've referred to a lot here where it is in verses 12 through 15. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:53.419 Let's just look here for a second. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.620 So pick it up in verse 12. 00:08:54.620 --> 00:09:24.600 It says, 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:26.600 Think deceitful. 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:26.960 Right? 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:27.300 Think sneaky. 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:27.980 Think sinister. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:42.560 Think sneaking in when we don't realize it. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:42.840 Right? 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:44.240 Sin is deceitful. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:45.100 Right? 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:49.379 So we need to be careful lest we are tempted to fall away from the faith. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:51.940 Just like these Hebrews were being tempted here. 00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:52.180 Right? 00:09:52.420 --> 00:09:54.460 These Greek speaking Jews who the letter was written to. 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:54.940 Right? 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:58.100 Were so tempted because of their context even more. 00:09:58.180 --> 00:09:58.480 Right? 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:02.759 As they were being actively challenged and persecuted for their faith. 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:06.259 So the writer of Hebrews here is encouraging them to not fall back. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:06.500 Right? 00:10:06.560 --> 00:10:07.259 To stay. 00:10:07.800 --> 00:10:09.399 Keep strong in the faith. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:09.980 Make sure. 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:10.940 Help each other. 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:11.440 Right? 00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:13.440 To be sure that you're not led away. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:14.379 To not leave your faith. 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:17.419 And it says constantly as long as it is called today. 00:10:17.580 --> 00:10:18.539 So always. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:19.080 Right? 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:20.439 Encourage each other. 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:21.399 Exhort one another. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:21.899 Right? 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:24.200 To hold on to the faith. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:30.179 Now I'd wager to say that probably the vast majority of us here in this room. 00:10:30.919 --> 00:10:31.159 Right? 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:32.299 Would call ourselves Christians. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:34.819 I think that's a pretty safe assumption. 00:10:35.579 --> 00:10:38.439 And I hope that the majority of us can say that we are found in Christ. 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:40.479 We've been covered by his blood. 00:10:40.579 --> 00:10:42.659 We're counted as part of his beloved. 00:10:44.319 --> 00:10:49.620 But I think if we're honest with ourselves, all of us are at times tempted to take an easier route. 00:10:51.359 --> 00:10:52.159 Very often. 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:52.419 Right? 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:53.939 To run away from the faith. 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:55.559 To think, oh, it would be much easier. 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:56.819 Right? 00:10:56.820 --> 00:11:04.240 To run away from a situation when if we're going to follow Christ and do as he would have done, we would press into. 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:10.080 To not press into a time when we should be around a brother or sister and simply hide away from ourselves. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.700 Or to act out in lust. 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:16.540 Because we want something that the Lord has not granted us. 00:11:17.300 --> 00:11:18.660 Or to simply run away. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:19.320 Right? 00:11:20.040 --> 00:11:23.300 Simply be worried about everything that's going on around us. 00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:24.780 To fight anxiety. 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.020 Constantly. 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:30.620 Note that those are both sins of omission. 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:31.340 Right? 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:34.240 Things that we should be doing but we're not. 00:11:34.520 --> 00:11:35.780 Or sins of commission. 00:11:36.060 --> 00:11:37.520 Doing things that we shouldn't be doing. 00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:37.879 Right? 00:11:37.920 --> 00:11:39.720 They fall into one of those two categories. 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:42.820 And both are dangerous. 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:43.420 Right? 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:47.640 Both are so dangerous to remove ourselves from things we should be doing. 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:51.040 Or to actively participate in things we shouldn't be. 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:52.640 And those are so dangerous. 00:11:52.640 --> 00:11:55.800 And they can ultimately lead us to fall away from the faith. 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:58.939 Proving that we were never truly a part of it to begin with. 00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:04.500 But let's talk about sin a bit more in general. 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:07.740 Rather than just from the believer's perspective. 00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:12.320 Think about the passage that we've been looking at with the kids in Alethea Way a lot. 00:12:12.400 --> 00:12:13.000 Ephesians 2. 00:12:13.140 --> 00:12:13.880 Go ahead and turn there. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:19.240 This is one of the most clear passages about that state I think. 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:19.680 Ephesians 2. 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:27.279 So Ephesians 2. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:29.840 And it might kill us. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.720 But we're going to end on verse 3 for right now. 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:35.480 Alright. 00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:36.060 So verse 3. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:37.299 Or excuse me. 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:37.779 Verse 1. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:38.680 We'll stop at verse 3. 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:39.620 It says, 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:43.179 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked. 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.799 Following the course of this world. 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:47.019 Following the prince of the power of the air. 00:12:47.359 --> 00:12:50.039 The spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:53.299 Among whom we all once lived in in the passions of our flesh. 00:12:53.599 --> 00:12:56.039 Carrying out the desires of the body and the mind. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:59.339 And were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:00.759 Alright. 00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:01.439 We're going to stop there. 00:13:02.199 --> 00:13:03.939 So note a few things. 00:13:04.800 --> 00:13:06.560 First, the spiritual deadness. 00:13:06.660 --> 00:13:06.720 Right. 00:13:06.760 --> 00:13:06.920 It says, 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.860 And we were dead. 00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:10.200 Unable to do anything spiritually good. 00:13:10.660 --> 00:13:12.540 Stuck in those trespasses and sins. 00:13:12.920 --> 00:13:13.180 Right. 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:15.140 And we were following something. 00:13:15.400 --> 00:13:15.560 Right. 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:17.780 It says that we were following the course of this world. 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:19.540 Following the prince of the power of the air. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:19.780 Right. 00:13:19.880 --> 00:13:20.220 Satan. 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.920 The spirit that is now at work. 00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:24.660 And all those that are stuck in that disobedience. 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:25.660 Right. 00:13:26.260 --> 00:13:30.020 And then Paul says something where he reminds us that that's like everybody else. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:30.380 Right. 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:32.120 Everybody is stuck in that. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:32.240 Right. 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:34.200 All of us were children of wrath. 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:34.620 Right. 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:36.320 All of us were stuck in sin. 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:37.179 Right. 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:38.960 Just like everybody else. 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:41.659 All following a spirit of disobedience. 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:44.860 But what are we being disobedient of? 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:47.360 What are we choosing to disobey? 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.740 Well, remember the character of our Lord. 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:54.899 Remember that the Lord has called us to be holy as he is holy. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:59.440 Remember the Jesus who reminded us in the Sermon on the Mount that if we're even angry in our heart. 00:13:59.560 --> 00:13:59.980 Right. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.879 We've committed murder. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:04.320 If we've looked at someone in lust, we've committed adultery. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.360 He calls us to love our enemies. 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:08.580 Calls us to pray for those who persecute us. 00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:11.000 Just those four things right there. 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:13.539 I think we could all say that, okay, we are guilty. 00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:14.080 Right. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.620 We are guilty of this sin. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:19.059 Probably takes all of us out at that point. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:19.559 Right. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.080 We probably even could say in the last week that we're all guilty of that. 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:26.080 So, yeah, we've been disobedient to the Lord. 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:26.840 We could go elsewhere. 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.060 We could go to the Ten Commandments. 00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:32.060 We could go to all the lists of sins and the letters that Paul writes to all the churches. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:32.759 Right. 00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.920 Warning against them. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.200 Right. 00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:36.420 But I don't think we need to go any further. 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:38.379 I think we've condemned ourselves already. 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:39.100 Right. 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:39.620 We're guilty. 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:42.460 Now, think back to Exodus. 00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:42.820 Right. 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:46.300 We've been referring back to it a lot throughout our study of Hebrews. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.500 And think about when the Lord had given Moses the law on the tablets. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.379 Then the golden calf happened. 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:52.660 Right. 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:56.100 The people decided to worship something that they had made rather than God. 00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:58.879 And when Moses saw it, he was so angry. 00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.460 Right. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:01.320 That he threw them down and he broke them. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:02.620 Right. 00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:07.280 Then after that, the Lord calls Moses to go up on top of the mountain. 00:15:07.280 --> 00:15:09.920 And he starts, you know, making the new ones. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.459 So the Lord tells Moses to make those new tablets. 00:15:12.599 --> 00:15:12.819 Right. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.939 He goes up to the mountain. 00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:17.039 And the first thing out of the Lord's mouth is this. 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:19.719 This is Exodus 34, 6 and 7. 00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:21.039 If you want to write it down. 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:35.599 It's the Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:38.360 But who by no means clear the guilty. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.399 And he goes on to explain. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.519 The implications for all of that. 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:44.439 But from those, I just want to highlight a few things. 00:15:44.579 --> 00:15:46.740 Note all the like early descriptions. 00:15:47.219 --> 00:15:47.379 Right. 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:58.039 It says that he's merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. 00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.919 And the gears change a little bit. 00:15:59.959 --> 00:16:00.159 Right. 00:16:00.959 --> 00:16:03.899 But who will by no means clear the guilty. 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:08.559 But who will by no means clear the guilty. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:12.199 So this first aspects, I think, are what we think of. 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:12.799 Right. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:12.839 Right. 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:18.359 In the American church culture at large, like we constantly are focused on God's love. 00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:18.539 Right. 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.299 His forgiveness. 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:20.879 His steadfast love for thousands. 00:16:21.079 --> 00:16:21.279 Right. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.359 And they really should be close on our minds. 00:16:23.719 --> 00:16:23.979 Right. 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:27.519 But I think we so often forget. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.379 Maybe not all of us, but a lot of us. 00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:35.940 Can sometimes forget the idea of God's holiness, that he will by no means clear the guilty. 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:42.080 The Lord himself, when talking to Moses, right, says it right here, that he will by no means clear the guilty. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.200 And that idea brings us to our next point. 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.000 This is our sin's effect. 00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:49.000 Our sin's effect. 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:52.840 So looking back in our passage in Hebrews 9. 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:54.340 Sorry, I'm going to make y'all flip around a lot. 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:56.060 But back in Hebrews 9. 00:16:56.059 --> 00:17:00.339 Note a few things here. 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:06.639 Remember earlier that we said that there is blood everywhere throughout this passage. 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.079 Everywhere. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:12.159 So look at verse 18, and then we'll read on for a while here. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:15.039 Picking up in verse 18, it says, 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:19.960 Therefore, even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:25.279 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.860 he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop 00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:32.120 and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:35.180 This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you. 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:40.120 And in the same way, he sprinkled with blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:43.680 Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood. 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:47.400 And without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. 00:17:48.340 --> 00:17:49.840 All this talk about blood. 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:55.100 And the old system, the blood of these calves and goats, was sprinkled on the book, right? 00:17:55.579 --> 00:18:00.440 All the people, the tent, all the different things used in worship, right? 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.160 Everything was messy. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.960 Everything was covered in blood, right? 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:09.019 It says in verse 22 that almost everything is purified with blood. 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:14.980 The only offering that was not was when people couldn't afford the offering that did require blood. 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:15.880 Right? 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:18.400 So almost everything, right? 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:24.820 And then in this very last verse that we read here, there's a very, very key phrase for understanding this morning. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:31.460 The last part of verse 22 says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. 00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:35.600 So without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:38.560 That's why there's all this blood, right? 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:41.500 The old sacrificial system, it points to this, right? 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:45.039 Constantly, like blood was flowing out of the temple, right? 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:47.200 Remember what we've talked about in weeks before. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.359 The priests never sat down. 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:51.440 They were constantly working on their shifts, making sacrifices. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.039 There was no break, right? 00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:57.859 And because of this, blood constantly, constantly flowed out of the temple. 00:18:57.859 --> 00:19:02.899 Those sacrifices were constantly being made because people were constantly sinning, right? 00:19:03.439 --> 00:19:04.679 Just as we are today. 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:09.339 The sacrifices screamed out for justice, right? 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:14.479 They screamed that there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:21.500 I guess about six, seven years ago, I was a freshman at North Georgia. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.720 And I had made some friends on my hall. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.599 And there was this one guy. 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:30.120 And he very much claimed to be an agnostic. 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:35.740 But really what he meant by that was he didn't like Christians and he leaned towards Buddhism. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:46.220 And it was the first time I really tried to communicate Christianity to somebody who was very, very different in his outlook. 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:50.240 And I tried to explain sin to him, but he did not get it. 00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:53.259 He didn't take his sin seriously at all. 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.960 He saw them as little mistakes. 00:19:55.380 --> 00:20:01.279 And he had an attitude that he just didn't see what he was doing or what anybody else around him was doing as a big deal. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:11.139 He wondered why if we had a God so loving and so merciful like we always claimed, why wouldn't he just say, oh, yeah, you're forgiven. 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:11.859 Like, we're good. 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.180 You're fine. 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:20.059 I think he was honestly really confused about why Christ's sacrifice was necessary. 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:25.299 He wondered why God had to send his own son to die a death that we deserved. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:28.099 And he wondered why we deserve that death. 00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.539 Right. 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:31.319 No concept of the sin. 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:38.779 He thought it odd for God to have some strange fixation on someone having to die for what he often called the little mistakes. 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.240 Right. 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:41.839 That we call sin against the holy God. 00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:45.779 And I wish I'd done a better job explaining at this point. 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:50.939 I don't think I'd made sure to have a reasonable defense as well as I should have. 00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:53.480 Let's think about it for a moment. 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:59.220 The Lord's character came right out of his mouth right there when he was talking to Moses. 00:20:59.400 --> 00:20:59.519 Right. 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:03.019 Says that he will by no means clear the guilty. 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:05.839 And think about the standard he sets. 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:09.360 Think about what we mentioned earlier from the Sermon on the Mount. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:09.680 Right. 00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:15.880 If we even have anger in our hearts towards someone or if we even look at someone with lustful intent, we are guilty. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.940 We all deserve death. 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:24.180 Paul says it well when he quotes from some Psalms and some Proverbs and a part in Isaiah and Romans 3 when he says, 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.200 None is righteous. 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.519 No, not one. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.440 No one understands. 00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:28.700 No one seeks for God. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.500 All have turned aside. 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:32.140 Together they have become worthless. 00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.160 No one does good. 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.980 Not even one. 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.580 Their throat is an open grave. 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.100 They use their tongues to deceive. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.440 The venom of asp is under their lips. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:42.640 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:46.920 Their feet are swift to shed blood and their paths are ruin and misery. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:49.340 In the way of peace they have not known. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.920 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:54.259 We are all guilty. 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:56.460 We are all guilty of sin in the eyes of the Lord. 00:21:57.100 --> 00:22:01.120 And without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.880 Our sin deserves death. 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.259 Right. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.880 And God will by no means clear the guilty. 00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:14.580 But it also right before that, right, says he is forgiving and loving and full of steadfast love. 00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:18.259 And then we have this such great hope. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.220 Right. 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.320 We have such great hope. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:23.759 It's scattered throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament alike. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:27.759 If you read the Psalms, there's such great hope in the Lord redeeming situations. 00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:28.779 Right. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:34.559 But blood must be shed in order to forgive sins. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:40.500 And I don't think any of us see these sacrificial systems still going on. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:43.019 But we have such great hope. 00:22:43.139 --> 00:22:44.579 And we all know what this hope is. 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:50.539 But one spot I want to look before we talk so much about that hope is Psalm 130. 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:54.500 It's a psalm just full of this hope that we have. 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.379 And so turn with me there. 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.079 Psalm 130. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.159 Psalm 130. 00:22:56.159 --> 00:22:56.159 00:22:56.159 --> 00:22:56.159 00:22:56.159 --> 00:22:56.159 00:22:56.159 --> 00:23:04.539 Psalm 130. 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:13.680 Psalm 130. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.500 I'd like to read the whole psalm. 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.200 It says, 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:20.819 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. 00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.660 O Lord, hear my voice. 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:25.680 Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:30.539 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:33.740 But with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.500 I wait for the Lord. 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.359 My soul waits. 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.599 And in his word I hope. 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:41.420 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:43.220 More than watchmen for the morning. 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:45.839 O Israel, hope in the Lord. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:49.200 For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:52.100 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:54.299 Check out that hope. 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.240 Right? 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.359 This crying to the Lord. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:59.819 This asking the Lord to hear the pleas for mercy. 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:05.419 He says that if the Lord really, truly counted our iniquities, right? 00:24:05.459 --> 00:24:06.939 No one could stand. 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:09.779 But he says there's forgiveness. 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:12.700 He calls Israel to hope in the Lord. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.480 Look to his steadfast love. 00:24:15.580 --> 00:24:19.620 But how is that even possible when we're all sinful, all deserving this death? 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.000 How? 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.860 And the New Testament writers had this hope as well. 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:24.559 And we begin to see that hope. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:24.900 Right? 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.160 We're all hopeful. 00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:26.519 Right? 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.600 I hope here this morning that we're all hopeful to not get wiped out by God's wrath. 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:32.440 Otherwise there's no point in us being here. 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.519 Right? 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:39.680 But that leads us to what we all know and what we're all hoping and what our passage is talking about right here in Hebrews 9. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.660 And that's Christ's sacrifice. 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.400 Christ's sacrifice. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:51.819 So we talked about last week that old covenant not being truly sufficient to forgive sins. 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.359 Instead it was a shadow. 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:55.940 It was pointing to something. 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:59.119 Verse 12 that we looked at last week of chapter 9 says, 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:04.699 He entered once for all into the holy places not by the means of the blood of goats and calves, 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:09.419 but by the means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 00:25:10.979 --> 00:25:12.859 So Christ took up the needed sacrifice. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:17.500 Since ultimately the blood of bulls and goats could not forgive sins. 00:25:18.219 --> 00:25:18.619 Right? 00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:19.939 He shed his own blood. 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.459 He took his own life. 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:23.279 Gave it up freely for us. 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:25.819 Thinking back to 2 Corinthians 5. 00:25:25.959 --> 00:25:26.079 Right? 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:29.819 He who knew no sin became sin so that in him we could become the righteousness of God. 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:35.619 Verse 15 here in our text says that Christ has become the mediator of a new covenant. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.259 Right? 00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:41.059 In fact, his death has redeemed them from the transgressions that occurred during the first covenant. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.079 Right? 00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:46.220 So not only were the future sins like those that we commit. 00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:46.619 Right? 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.079 Forgiven. 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.139 But check it out. 00:25:48.179 --> 00:25:49.980 It redeems those from before. 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.359 Right? 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:52.799 It retroactively applied to them. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:58.980 So those under the old covenant, as they expressed that faith in God, that he had a plan for redemption. 00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.339 Right? 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:02.339 Are being forgiven and redeemed even through Christ's blood themselves. 00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:03.059 Right? 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:08.139 And note that all of this has begun by Christ's death. 00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:09.579 Right? 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:12.619 The writer of Hebrews is kind of reminding us of how wills work. 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:12.859 Right? 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:17.659 They're not activated until the after the death of the one who is the author. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:17.940 Right? 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:22.200 So the first covenant, the old covenant, was not inaugurated without blood. 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:30.640 And in the same way, just as our new covenant, right, was inaugurated, was started, right, with Christ's death. 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:31.720 Right? 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:37.700 We would have no inheritance without Christ's death because the will would not be put into effect. 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.460 Right? 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:40.759 So it started with Christ's death. 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:43.980 Also note the other parallels here. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.180 Right? 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:50.240 All the things that were sprinkled with blood in the old system, Christ's blood served as a sacrifice, a true sacrifice. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.039 Right? 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:55.660 That takes not into account just all those things that were pictures. 00:26:56.080 --> 00:26:56.279 Right? 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:58.060 But it's the real thing. 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:58.640 Right? 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:04.539 His sacrifice is, right, the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world. 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.720 Right? 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:09.299 He was what all of the old covenant sacrifices pointed to. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.920 Check out our passage. 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.200 Let's look at verse 23. 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:14.080 Verse 23. 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:15.200 It said, 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.500 Right? 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:42.539 Right? 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.799 Let's stop there for a second. 00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:44.400 Right? 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:47.599 Notice the copies were purified with the sacrifice in the old covenant. 00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:51.160 But now Christ is not just doing that. 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.859 He has entered heaven itself. 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.059 Right? 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:56.019 He's in the presence of God right there. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.460 Right? 00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:57.680 On our behalf. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.299 He's with the Father interceding for us. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:02.000 Remember Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25. 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.400 Right? 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.680 That we've referenced a lot. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:03.920 It says, 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.480 Consequently, 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:11.360 He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them. 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:11.740 Right? 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:15.300 He's right there making intercession for us constantly. 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:18.740 So Christ is not just a picture anymore. 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:20.279 He's the real thing. 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:25.899 Not just a copy of things that were intended to point to the things to come. 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:28.619 But He is the thing that was coming and has come. 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:33.000 Also notice that as we started to get into verse 25. 00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:34.419 Right? 00:28:34.479 --> 00:28:38.739 The high priests were constantly at work year after year to offer those sacrifices. 00:28:38.739 --> 00:28:40.079 Because they were just pictures. 00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:41.839 Just pictures. 00:28:41.979 --> 00:28:42.119 Right? 00:28:42.179 --> 00:28:42.899 They were just shadows. 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.979 They were simply pointing. 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.159 Right? 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:48.719 But now that Christ has done the work. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.879 It's finished. 00:28:49.959 --> 00:28:51.000 He's the real thing. 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.099 Right? 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.459 And so it's done. 00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:57.339 Look at the second half of verse 26. 00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.559 Where it says, 00:28:58.619 --> 00:29:06.719 But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 00:29:08.479 --> 00:29:11.519 And the next passage continues on on that idea. 00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:13.799 So I'm not going to steal a bunch of Reese's stuff. 00:29:14.699 --> 00:29:15.599 But it is done. 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.599 It is finished. 00:29:16.699 --> 00:29:18.479 The work once and for all. 00:29:18.739 --> 00:29:19.619 Put away sin. 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:23.579 We got His righteousness and He took our sins away. 00:29:24.239 --> 00:29:25.939 God didn't just overlook sins. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.159 Right? 00:29:26.219 --> 00:29:28.519 Because it says He will by no means. 00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:29.479 Clear the guilty. 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:32.619 Our sins will be punished. 00:29:32.719 --> 00:29:34.839 And for those of us in Christ, that should be in past sins. 00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:35.099 Right? 00:29:35.419 --> 00:29:37.119 Our sins were punished. 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.779 They were punished in Christ. 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:40.039 And so that work is done. 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:45.059 We no longer carry around that guilt and that shame of our sins. 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:47.220 And so often we try to pick it right back up. 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:50.019 But our sins were punished in Christ. 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:53.740 Because our Lord doesn't simply clear the guilty. 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:54.819 Right? 00:29:56.359 --> 00:30:01.679 Our Lord Jesus took the wrath of God on Himself that was due our sins. 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:03.620 He exhausted it. 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.340 Right? 00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.539 He's... 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.700 The Lord's not just saying, 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:09.940 Oh, your sin's not that big of a deal. 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:10.680 You're forgiven. 00:30:11.080 --> 00:30:12.340 Our sin is a big deal. 00:30:12.560 --> 00:30:12.720 Right? 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:15.980 Our Lord and Savior bled and died for it. 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:19.360 So Christ's sacrifice is so important. 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:24.179 And yesterday as I was writing this part of this, 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:28.559 I found it very difficult to talk about Christ's sacrifice 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:33.099 without already jumping into a lot of the effects of Christ's sacrifice. 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:36.119 And so I know we've hit a lot of that already. 00:30:36.479 --> 00:30:41.139 But lastly, I'd like to talk about some more of Christ's sacrifice's effects. 00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:41.259 Yes. 00:30:44.540 --> 00:30:50.080 So it would be impossible, I think, this morning for me to cover everything that Christ's sacrifice has earned us. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:53.060 We could write books upon books upon books about that. 00:30:54.080 --> 00:30:57.240 But notice in verse 15, it says, 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:59.440 Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:05.040 so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:08.720 Mediator of a new covenant, the new will. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.200 Right? 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:11.440 The covenant that was inaugurated by His death, 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:13.380 so that those of us who are called, 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:16.160 those of us who have been bought by His precious blood, 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:19.160 may receive the promised eternal inheritance. 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:24.480 And this inheritance, right, looking through our text, is so precious. 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.360 It includes so much. 00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:32.079 And our text was so clear to point out that all of it hinges upon Christ's death. 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.360 Right? 00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:37.079 None of this is possible without the forgiveness of sins, 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:39.199 which is not possible without the shedding of blood, 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:42.240 which was Christ's blood shed on our behalf. 00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:45.599 And so that's the first thing I'd like to point out, 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:49.099 is that we have the forgiveness of sins. 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:52.119 Remember God's holiness, right? 00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:53.619 That sin must be punished. 00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:55.579 There's no way around that. 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:58.460 And our sins were taken from us, 00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.019 punished in Christ, 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:01.879 and they are remembered no more. 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:07.240 We truly, truly, when the Lord sees us, 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:08.420 He sees Christ. 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:11.400 He sees our sins being covered by His blood. 00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:13.220 We are washed in and are clean. 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.619 And because of that, 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:17.440 because we have forgiveness of sins, 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.900 secondly and similarly, 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:21.559 we can have a clean conscience. 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:22.519 Right? 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.740 We can have a clean conscience. 00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:27.119 Because God does not hold our sins against us, 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:29.659 we should not hold our sins against ourselves. 00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:31.939 So often we try to do that. 00:32:32.239 --> 00:32:34.939 We're so frustrated with ourselves at times about our sin, 00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.579 that we just hang on to it, 00:32:36.739 --> 00:32:37.479 and hang on to it, 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.639 hang on to that guilt, 00:32:39.239 --> 00:32:40.359 hang on to that shame, 00:32:40.979 --> 00:32:43.579 that has been taken away. 00:32:44.699 --> 00:32:44.939 Right? 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.000 It's not left. 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.539 We should not dwell on it anymore, 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:50.359 because our sins have been punished in Christ. 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:52.119 Our debt was paid. 00:32:54.159 --> 00:32:56.799 Colossians 2 has a lot to say about that topic. 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:59.519 Verses 13 and 14 there say, 00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:02.699 And you who are dead in your trespasses 00:33:02.699 --> 00:33:04.619 and the uncircumcision of your flesh, 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:06.859 God made alive together with Him, 00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:09.299 having forgiven us all our trespasses 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:11.559 by canceling the record of debt 00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:13.879 that stood against us with its legal demands. 00:33:14.739 --> 00:33:15.859 This He set aside, 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.879 He's taken away, 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:18.659 nailing it to the cross. 00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:21.379 He disarmed the rulers and authorities 00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:23.199 and put them to open shame 00:33:23.199 --> 00:33:26.219 by triumphing over them in Him. 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.539 He has canceled that record of debt. 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.880 Sure, if we were guilty, 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:31.579 right, 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.460 we were dead, 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.519 we have done awful things, 00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.600 and so often still, 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:36.559 we struggle to put off the flesh. 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.880 But the Lord has taken away 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:40.759 all the ammunition of the accuser. 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:44.380 We have no need to stand in guilt 00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:45.200 and in shame, 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:48.019 because the Lord has nailed that to the cross. 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:49.880 Right? 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:50.940 It's done. 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:51.740 It's finished. 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:53.300 Thirdly, 00:33:53.340 --> 00:33:54.600 that I'd like to mention 00:33:54.600 --> 00:33:56.820 is that just about killed me earlier 00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:58.620 to stop at verse 3 of Ephesians 2. 00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:00.880 So join back there. 00:34:01.760 --> 00:34:03.640 You all are getting your thumb 00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:04.840 and finger workout for the day. 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:10.119 And what I'd like to point out here 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:12.079 is that we can walk 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.720 in newness of life. 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:15.119 Right? 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:18.039 Thanks to Christ's sacrifice. 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.339 So, 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.659 let's look at the first 10 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:21.599 instead of the first 3. 00:34:23.219 --> 00:34:23.719 It says, 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.419 And you were dead 00:34:24.419 --> 00:34:25.759 in the trespasses and sins 00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.779 in which you once walked, 00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:28.719 following the course of this world, 00:34:28.859 --> 00:34:29.519 following the prince 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.480 of the power of the air, 00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:32.039 the spirit that is now at work 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:33.759 in the sons of disobedience, 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:35.859 among whom we all once lived 00:34:35.859 --> 00:34:37.000 in the passions of our flesh, 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:38.179 carrying out the desires 00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:39.399 of the body and the mind, 00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:41.679 and were by nature children of wrath, 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.819 like the rest of mankind. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.259 But God, 00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:45.459 being rich in mercy, 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.939 because of the great love 00:34:46.939 --> 00:34:47.879 with which he loved us, 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:49.359 even when we were dead 00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:50.179 in our trespasses, 00:34:50.319 --> 00:34:52.099 made us alive together with Christ. 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:54.819 By grace you have been saved, 00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:56.119 and raised us up with him, 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.960 and seated us with him 00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.839 in the heavenly places 00:34:58.839 --> 00:34:59.619 in Christ Jesus, 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:01.259 so that in the coming ages 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:01.839 he might show 00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:03.000 the immeasurable riches 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:04.679 of his grace and kindness 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:06.159 towards us in Christ Jesus. 00:35:06.799 --> 00:35:08.079 For by grace you have been saved 00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:08.679 through faith, 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:10.619 and this is not your own doing. 00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.819 It is the gift of God, 00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.880 not a result of works, 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.199 so that no one may boast. 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:16.099 For we are his workmanship, 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.440 created in Christ Jesus 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.159 for good works, 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:19.639 which God prepared beforehand 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:21.259 that we should walk in them. 00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:23.400 So the Lord has shown us 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:24.440 such great love and mercy, 00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:25.519 even when we were dead 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:25.960 in our sins, 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:27.440 when we couldn't do anything good, 00:35:28.380 --> 00:35:29.239 when we had not 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:30.119 and could not 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:31.159 earn his favor. 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.259 But we are shown 00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:34.339 such great kindness, 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.980 something that is undeserved 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:37.819 by our Lord. 00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:38.279 And then, 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.059 look towards the end of this. 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.719 We are given the ability 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:44.019 to do good things now. 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.039 Look at verse 10. 00:35:45.659 --> 00:35:46.119 It says that, 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:47.259 For we are his workmanship, 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.259 created in Christ Jesus 00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:48.980 for good works, 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.519 which God prepared beforehand 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:52.500 that we should walk in them. 00:35:53.159 --> 00:35:54.059 So we were dead, 00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:55.159 not being able to do anything, 00:35:55.339 --> 00:35:56.699 but God has made us alive 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.659 together with Christ, 00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:58.000 right? 00:35:58.339 --> 00:35:59.099 And now, 00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.519 we get to participate 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.380 in the work 00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:03.099 that he is giving us. 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.299 How great of a joy 00:36:05.299 --> 00:36:05.880 that should be 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:06.639 to participate 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.440 in the work 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.619 of the Lord of the universe. 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:09.779 Right? 00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:11.199 And he's given us 00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:11.739 that ability. 00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.920 And where we'll end today, 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:15.539 I think this is one 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.680 of the most precious. 00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:17.240 So, 00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.960 fourthly of the effects, 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:21.680 because of Christ's sacrifice, 00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:23.360 we have reconciliation. 00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:24.579 So, 00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:25.980 because of his sacrifice, 00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.780 we have reconciliation. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.059 Right? 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.680 Christ could have chosen 00:36:30.680 --> 00:36:31.820 just to forgive us 00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:33.099 and then leave us alone. 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:34.240 Right? 00:36:34.280 --> 00:36:36.000 To not deal with us anymore, 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:37.159 to not have a relationship 00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:37.820 with us. 00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:39.039 But he didn't. 00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:41.760 Looking back in Hebrews 9, 00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:43.079 our last verse here, 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:46.619 says, 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:46.800 So, 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:47.180 Christ, 00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:48.519 having been offered once 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.559 for the sins of many, 00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:51.800 will appear a second time, 00:36:52.240 --> 00:36:53.579 not to deal with sin, 00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:55.519 but to save those 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:57.700 who earnestly wait for him. 00:36:59.220 --> 00:36:59.659 So, 00:36:59.700 --> 00:37:00.780 our Lord is going to return 00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:02.420 and whether we are still here 00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.320 when he does or not, 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.940 we will live eternally with him. 00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:08.579 We have become part of his family 00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:10.180 and for eternity, 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:12.639 we will forever be with our Lord. 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:13.940 So, 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.980 despite our failings, 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:16.239 despite our sin, 00:37:16.759 --> 00:37:17.379 when we were dead, 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.379 when we could do nothing good, 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:19.960 when we could do nothing else but sin, 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.379 when we were headed for death. 00:37:22.299 --> 00:37:22.599 Right? 00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:24.039 Thinking about the song, 00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:25.579 our gracious Lord really did 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:27.019 incline his ear. 00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:28.000 Right? 00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:28.900 And we found 00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:30.379 the fountain 00:37:30.379 --> 00:37:31.980 that is filled with his blood, 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.379 that's thrown from his veins. 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:34.579 Right? 00:37:34.819 --> 00:37:35.960 And we've truly 00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:37.179 been washed in it 00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:37.699 and are clean. 00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:40.699 So let's pray this morning. 00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:40.939 Let's pray. 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939 00:37:40.939 --> 00:37:40.939