Hebrews 9:15–28

What makes it possible for sinful people to approach a holy God?

Hebrews 9 answers with a clear and glorious message: Jesus Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, and His sacrifice accomplished what the old covenant could only foreshadow. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, those who trust in Him receive eternal redemption, forgiveness, and the promise of an eternal inheritance.

Jesus is the Mediator of a New Covenant

Hebrews 9:15 says that Christ is “the mediator of a new covenant.” The old covenant pointed forward to something greater, but it could not provide final cleansing from sin. Its sacrifices had to be repeated, and its rituals could not permanently purify the conscience.

Jesus came as the fulfillment of God’s promise. He did not come merely as a teacher, example, or earthly conqueror. He came to conquer sin and death.

Those who lived under the old covenant were saved by faith in God’s promise. Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness, and the faithful looked forward to the promised Messiah. At the cross, Jesus paid the debt that stood behind God’s promise from the beginning.

Salvation has always been through Jesus.

A Will Requires A Death

Hebrews explains that a will or testament takes effect only when the one who made it dies. In the same way, the promised inheritance of the new covenant was established through the death of Christ.

Jesus’ death was not an accident or a tragic interruption of His mission. It was the necessary fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. His death opened the way for sinners to receive the inheritance God promised: forgiveness, reconciliation, eternal life, and fellowship with Him.

The cross reveals that our salvation does not rest on our performance. It rests on the completed work of Christ.

Forgiveness Requires Blood

Hebrews reminds us that the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. Under the law, sacrifices demonstrated the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).

This is not because God is cruel, but because God is perfectly holy and perfectly just. Sin brings death, and justice requires that sin’s penalty be paid.

The sacrifices of the old covenant were copies and shadows. They pointed to the better sacrifice that was to come. Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, offered Himself for sinners. At the Last Supper, He spoke of His blood as “the blood of the covenant,” poured out for the forgiveness of sins.

His blood does what animal sacrifices never could: it cleanses the conscience and provides complete redemption.

Jesus Is Our Substitute

God’s perfect judgment demands that sin be answered. Someone must bear the penalty. That is the heart of substitutionary atonement: Jesus took the place of sinners.

We cannot approach God by presenting our goodness, religious activity, morality, or accomplishments. Self-justification cannot save us.

Jesus illustrated this in Luke 18 through the contrast between a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee trusted in his own righteousness. The tax collector recognized his sin and cried out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Jesus said that the tax collector went home justified.

The gospel begins when we stop defending ourselves and trust in Christ. We come to Him as repentant sinners, confessing that we have nothing to offer. Then Jesus, our mediator and advocate, presents us to the Father clothed in His righteousness.

Our hope is not that we are good enough for God. Our hope is that Jesus is righteous enough for us.

Once For All

Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, Jesus offered Himself “once for all.” His work is complete. He does not need to return to the cross, and He does not need to repeat His sacrifice.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He declared that the price for redemption had been paid in full.

Because Christ’s sacrifice is complete, those who belong to Him do not need to live under the burden of trying to earn God’s acceptance. We are called to repent, remember, trust, and rest in the finished work of Christ.

Communion does not repeat Jesus’ sacrifice. It remembers and proclaims what He has already accomplished.

He Is Coming Again

Hebrews 9:28 gives believers a final promise: Christ will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.

Jesus has already dealt with the sin problem at the cross. His return will fulfill the covenant and bring His people home.

For those who trust in Christ, His return is not something to fear. It is the hope we eagerly anticipate. Our confidence is not found in ourselves but in Jesus, our mediator, redeemer, advocate, and substitute.

One day, Christ will stand before the Father on behalf of His people and say, in effect, “This one is with Me.”

Where is your Hope?

Hebrews 9 calls us to examine where we are placing our confidence.

Are we trusting in Christ’s finished work, or are we quietly relying on self-justification? Are we resting in the righteousness of Jesus, or are we trying to prove that we are worthy? Are we eagerly awaiting Christ’s return, or have we become distracted by the temporary things of this world?

Now is the time to turn again to Jesus.

Ask Him to cleanse your heart and conscience. Confess anything that has come between you and God. Rest in the truth that Christ has offered Himself once for all.

Our hope does not lie in us.

Our hope lies in Jesus.

Scripture Focus

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
— Hebrews 9:28

Reflection Questions

Am I trusting in Christ’s righteousness or my own performance?
Is there sin I need to confess and bring before the Lord?
Do I genuinely long for Christ’s return?
How does Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice change the way I approach God in prayer and worship?

It Is Finished: Resting in Christ’s Finished Work