THE BLOOD THAT SPEAKS OF BETTER THINGS
Heb. 12:24
Morning Meditation 8/31/2012
Verse 24 says, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
The words “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” is a part of the description of praise that is being made for the New Covenant and it’s glorious benefits in contrast to the First Covenant and it’s unyielding condemnation. Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant as Moses was of the old. The words “ . . . and to the blood of sprinkling . . .” is referring to the blood of Christ that not only cleanses from past sins, but present and future sins, and even goes so far as to cleanse the conscience. Then he says, “ . . . that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” The word “speaketh” is a present active participle. This means that the blood of Christ continuously speaks to us of those better things than Abel’s. God’s Word (the Bible) is as applicable to us in the present tense of our lives as it was to those saved Jews to whom it was originally written. The “better things” are in contrast to Abel’s sacrifice and its benefits and Christ’s sacrifice and its benefit. Abel’s sacrifice pictured our redemption through Christ in prospect. Christ’s sacrifice is the fulfillment. Abel’s sacrifice saved on credit, Christ’s sacrifice picked up the tab and paid it in full. What are some of the better things of which Christ’s blood speaks? It speaks of,
A PRICE PAID
Paul says in Hebrews 10:4, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” If it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins, then why offer them? Because these sacrifices were intended to teach the nation of Israel, and all who watched (Rom. 3:19), that the innocent had to die in the place of the guilty (1 Pet. 3:18). God has made it clear from the beginning that the innocent must be sacrificed in the place of the guilty for the sinner to be set free. This is pictured in Genesis 3:21 where God Himself took the life of an innocent animal and clothed Adam and Eve in the skins of the slain sacrifice. 2 Cor. 5:21 answers to this, “For he (God the Father) hath made him (God the Son) to be sin for us, who (God the Son) knew no sin; that we (who believe in Him) might be made the righteousness of God in him (Christ).” (Parentheses added for emphasis).
The blood identifies the price paid. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” The words “ye know” translate a perfect active participle. This means that those to whom Peter is writing had prior knowledge of this, and they had this settled knowledge at the time they were reading this epistle. The words “ye were redeemed” translate “lutroo” which means “to release on receipt of ransom.” It is an aorist passive indicative verb. The aorist tense means it was done in a once-for-all act and the passive voice means that they were receivers of redemption not the cause of it. We learn from what has just been said that they were already redeemed. The negative “not” states what they were not redeemed with, i.e., “silver and gold.” The word “but” is a conjunction of contrast and states the price of the ransom paid: “. . . with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” The price of our redemption is the blood of Christ. There is no other price that will satisfy the holiness and justice of God. It is either Christ’s blood or no redemption. Then next, the blood of Christ speaks of,
PEACE PROVIDED
Man has every right to fear God. First of all, God is the Judge of the world and requires that man ultimately give an account for sin both in thought and deed. Romans 2:16 says, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” If God has the power to bring up the secret things that men have done, He is to be feared. If He is able to cast one into hell as the ultimate payment for his sins, He is to be feared. Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The Bible teaches us that sin has made us enemies of God. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
We have as enemies been reconciled to God. The result of reconciliation is peace. Paul says in Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” The words “having made peace” translates “eirenopoieo” and means, “to make peace, establish harmony.” It is an aorist active participle. The aorist tense refers to at a once-for-all act at a point of time in the past. The active voice means that Jesus Christ or the Father is the One who acted to do this, i.e., salvation is of the Lord not man. This peace has already been obtained for the believer at the cost of the cross. For the unbeliever it is potential and waiting to be received by faith. For the believer it is peace enjoyed. Then the blood of Christ speaks of,
ACCESS GAINED
Hebrews 10:19 says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Our access into the holiest is by the blood of Jesus. The holiest is the place of refuge. It is the place of communion. It is the place of comfort. It is the place of worship. Unless we can enter here there is no answer to prayer.
I can just hear someone say to God in prayer, “Lord, I have been living for you. I have given up a lot for you. I could have been rich but I refused to make money the wrong way. Now my wife is sick. I deserve this answer to prayer. I am expecting an answer because I have not asked much of you and I believe I deserve to be heard.” You may not like what I am about to say. The fact is you deserve nothing but hell. And praying like that will not get you into the holiest. If we enter the holiest we will do it with the blood of Jesus. There is where the merit is. When God sees the blood, He is totally available. Then the blood of Christ speaks of,
A GUILT FREE CONSCIENCE
Hebrews 10:22 says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” A conscience that is spoiled by the leaven of sin will not allow a person to have assurance of salvation or faith by which to walk. It shuts the flow of joy off from the saved soul.
I believe a clear conscience is essential for the walk of faith. A person can be saved and have a guilty conscience. However, without a clear conscience he will lack the assurance that is needed to get answers to prayer. Lets notice a few verses where faith is connected with a pure conscience.1 Timothy 1:5 says, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” Again in 1 Timothy 1:19 it says, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.” Then in 1 Timothy 3:9, “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Then in Hebrews 9:14 we find how a pure conscience is obtained: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” How do we serve God? By faith.
Hebrews 10:2 teaches that the conscience is cleared by the sacrifice of Christ: “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.” The blood of Jesus does purge the conscience. The believer can walk before God with a pure conscience because he has confidence that the sacrifice of Christ has completely done away with his sins and not just covered them over.
“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” The blood of Jesus truly speaks of better things than that of Abel. The sacrifice that Abel offered did not pay the price for sin. The blood of a sacrificial animal never paid for sin. The blood of Jesus does. The sacrifice that Abel offered did not obtain peace. It had no power to reconcile Abel to God. The blood of Jesus does. The sacrifice that Abel offered did not gain him access into the holiest. The blood of an animal could never do that. The blood of Jesus does. The sacrifice of Abel could never clear the conscience because it could never atone for sin. But the blood of Jesus does.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
