Jesus Blood: The Only Real Way
“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” -Hebrews 9:11–14
In the book of Hebrews, the author contrasts the old covenant, mediated by Moses and centered on the sacrifices of animals, with the new covenant, mediated by Jesus Christ and centered on his once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. In Hebrews 9:11-14, the author specifically highlights the exclusivity of Jesus' sacrifice, arguing that it is far superior to the sacrifices of the old covenant.
The Limitations of the Old Covenant
The old covenant sacrifices were only able to provide temporary cleansing for sin. They could not remove the guilt of sin or bring about a perfect reconciliation between God and man. This is because the blood of animals is not the same as the blood of a human being. As the author of Hebrews says, "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4).
The Superiority of Jesus' Sacrifice
In contrast, Jesus' sacrifice was able to provide a permanent cleansing for sin. Because Jesus is the Son of God, his blood is infinitely more valuable than the blood of animals. When Jesus died on the cross, he paid the penalty for our sins and satisfied God's justice. As the author of Hebrews says, "Christ, having offered himself once for all, has put away sin by the sacrifice of his body" (Hebrews 10:12).
The Exclusivity of Jesus
The author of Hebrews also emphasizes the exclusivity of Jesus' sacrifice. He says that Jesus "entered once for all into the holy place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12). This means that there is no other sacrifice that can save us from our sins. Only Jesus' sacrifice is sufficient.
The Implications for Us
The exclusivity of Jesus' sacrifice has several implications for us. First, it means that we should not trust in our own works or merits to save us. We can only be saved by God's grace, which is received through faith in Jesus Christ. Second, it means that we should not look to other religions or philosophies to find salvation. Jesus is the only way to God. Third, it means that we should not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should be bold in proclaiming his good news to the world.
Conclusion
The exclusivity of Jesus is a central teaching of the Reformed faith. We believe that Jesus is the only Savior and that his sacrifice is the only way to be saved from our sins. We should be grateful for this great gift and share it with others.
I hope this blog post has been helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Pastor Tim
