Introduction
In this session, Hebrews chapter 9: 11-28, we understand that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice because he shed his blood once and for all to purify the worshippers once and for all. He is our perfect high priest who entered heaven itself, not a human tabernacle.
Objectives
By the end of this session, the learner will have:
- Appreciated ministering under the New covenant, which is superior to the old covenant
- Committed to never going back to worshiping God through the old covenant regulations, which God declared obsolete
- Gained confidence to preach Jesus as the superior High Priest within a culture that is returning to ancestral worship or mixing both new and old covenant regulations and forms of worship
- Adopted blood-centered services to God and humanity. (Stay under the blood of Jesus, serve under the blood of Jesus)
Outline
- The new and old sanctuary
- The blood of the new covenant
- Superiority of Jesus’ priesthood
- Preaching in the new covenant
Group Study Time
Hebrews 9: 11-28
Connecting
- Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
- Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
- Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
- Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.
Comprehending
- Read Hebrews 6: 11-17. State at least 5 truths about Jesus Christ in the New Covenant that make him superior.
- What do you note as ‘ the power in the blood’ both in the old covenant and the new covenant, Hebrews 9: 18-28.
- Why are men returning to the ancestral worship after having tested Jesus Christ? Discuss?
- What three truths would you share with believers who are turning to ancestral worship or mixing faith in the 21st century?
Committing
- Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
- List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
- Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
- Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
- Sin to confess
- Promise to claim
- Attitude to change
- Command to keep
- Error to change
- Prayer to make
- Example to copy
- Truth to obey and
- Something praiseworthy
Communicating
- Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
- Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
- Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.
Post Lesson Teaching Summary
Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!
Christ is the perfect sacrifice
Hebrews 9: 11-28
Audio Summary
Hebrews 9:11-28
Context
- Compares Old Testament sacrifices, ministry, tabernacle, priests, and blood covenant with the superior New Covenant through Jesus, who fulfills and embodies the law as perfect sacrifice.
- God instituted animal sacrifices after Adam’s sin (Genesis 3), slaying an animal to cover Adam and Eve, promising Satan’s defeat through woman’s seed (Jesus)—Old as shadow/copy prefiguring Jesus’ perfect work.
Superiority of Christ’s Sacrifice and Ministry (Hebrews 9:11-28)
- Jesus’ Entry into Heavenly Tabernacle: As high priest of good things now here, entered greater, perfect tabernacle (not man-made, heavenly) once through His blood, securing eternal redemption—not like goat/calf blood for temporary cleansing.
- Cleansing Conscience: If animal blood/ashes ceremonially cleansed externally, how much more Jesus’ blood—through eternal Spirit, offered unblemished—cleanses conscience from dead works to serve living God.
- Mediator of New Covenant: Christ’s death redeems transgressions under first covenant, enabling called ones to receive promised eternal inheritance.
- Will Effective After Death: Covenant like a will—effective only after maker’s death; proves person dead, not while alive; Christ’s death activates will/desires for beneficiaries.
- Inauguration with Blood: First covenant put into effect with animal blood (Moses sprinkled book, people, tabernacle, items with calf/goat blood, water, hyssop, scarlet wool); nearly everything purified with blood—without shedding, no forgiveness.
- Heavenly Purification: Earthly copies purified by animal blood, but heavenly realities by better sacrifice; Christ entered heaven itself to appear before God on our behalf—not offering Himself repeatedly like earthly high priest’s yearly entry with foreign blood.
- Once-for-All Sacrifice: If repeated, Christ would suffer/die since world’s foundation; appeared once at end of ages to remove sin by His sacrifice—like humans die once then face judgment, Christ offered once to bear many’s sins.
- Second Coming: Christ will appear second time, not for sin, but to bring salvation to those eagerly waiting.
- Purpose: Old temporary, external; New permanent, internal—Jesus’ blood redeems eternally, cleanses fully; don’t revert to old animal sacrifices, as Christ’s once-for-all death defeats sin, activates inheritance.
Application
- Trust Jesus’ superior blood for complete forgiveness and cleansed conscience; await His return for salvation, rejecting outdated ancestral/animal sacrifices since His work is finished and better.