Hebrews 9:11-15 NKJV “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
V11 “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.” Note the word “but” which means on the other hand. It is a contrast between the earthly tabernacle and its priesthood with the heavenly on and its priesthood. The Greek word for “came” is (G3854) παραγίνομαι paragínomai, which means to come to some place, arrive. Jesus arrived on earth. It is His first coming to be born of the virgin and to minister on earth. The Greek word for “to come” is (G3195) μέλλω méllō, which means something imminent, impending. The future sense comes from something that will happen. The time factor must be obtained by the context. Compare Matthew 2:13, Luke 19:4, Colossians 2:17, and Revelation 10:4. It is used 10 times in Hebrews. The “good things to come” refer to the blessings of the New Covenant to the church (believers), to Israel (the blessings on earth when Messiah rules from Jerusalem (Millennium)), and heaven (eternity). The reason the heavenly Temple is greater for it is 1) built by God, 2) in heaven so there is no defilement of the Temple either with the materials or actions in the Temple, and 3) God’s presence is permanently there. The earthly Tabernacle (tent) was made according to the pattern of the heavenly one.
V12 “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” The whole universe is cursed because of Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12). Thus, all animals no matter how spotless are cursed as well. Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15), and so His blood is sinless. His sinless blood was offered sinlessly in the Heavenly Temple by Jesus. His High Priesthood is superior, because of God’s special call. Jesus’s blood is superior to any animal blood and is accepted as an atoning sacrifice for all people and applied when one believes in Jesus for salvation.
V13 “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh…” It cannot purify the conscience. All the sacrifices of the Old Covenant only covered sin and restored the covenantal relationship with God. Jesus’s blood paid the penalty required by human sin.
V14 “…how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Our conscience is clean because of the blood of Jesus, applied because of our faith, and result in the new creation of the soul and spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). Baptism is our testimony of our changed life and identity with Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Our outward baptism is a symbol of our regeneration (Romans 6:3-7). See also 1 Corinthians 12:13 and John 3:5. Now that our conscience is cured, we are able and expected to serve God, bearing spiritual fruit to glorify God (Matthew 5:16).
V15 “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Because of the Lord Jesus and His sinless, complete work of redemption, He, and He alone, is the mediator of the New Covenant. To be “in Christ” is the result of regeneration, which was done by the Holy Spirit when someone believes the Gospel. Being “in Christ” is to be saved and part of Jesus’s flock of sheep.
“What Does It Mean to be “IN CHRIST”?
Mankind can be divided into two groups:
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- those outside of Christ (Col.4:5; 1 Thess. 4:12); 2) those who are “IN CHRIST” (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:1).
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- In connection with man’s first birth he is “IN ADAM” (1 Cor. 15:22) and he is part of the old creation that was spoiled by the fall. In connection with man’s second birth (John 3) he is “IN CHRIST” (1 Cor. 15:22) and part of the new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
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- Key passages: 1) 2 Corinthians 5:17 (my new position); 2) Ephesians 1:3 (my spiritual blessings); 3) 1 Corinthians 1:5 (my abundant wealth).
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- How did I get to be “IN CHRIST”? How did this happen to me? How did this come about?
MAN’S PART = FAITH (GALATIANS 3:26)
GOD’S PART= BAPTISM (GALATIANS 3:27).
WHEN I WAS SAVED GOD BAPTIZED ME (IMMERSED ME) INTO JESUS CHRIST.
This baptism is not water baptism. It is a real baptism (Spirit Baptism) that happened the moment I was saved as God immersed me or placed me into His Son, thus IDENTIFYING me with Christ. This is my POSITION, and my STANDING.”
Source (I cannot vouch for everything on this website) http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/christia/inchrist.PDF