Hebrews 9:1 The Simplicity of Christian Ritual. The simplicity of worship in the Christian Church is a sign of spiritual advancement I. Inasmuch as it arises, in some measure, from the fact that the Gospel rites are commemorative, whilst those of the former dispensation were anticipative. II. In... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:1 Worship in Spirit and Truth. I. Apart from revelation men have not the idea of God as Lord, Spirit, Father; and even after the light of Scripture has appeared, God is to many only an abstract word, by which they designate a complex of perfections rather than a real, living, loving, eve... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:4 The Holy Chest. "Of which we cannot now speak particularly," said the author of the epistle. If he had gone into particulars further exposition would have been needless. What was the lesson taught by this wonderful article of tabernacle furniture? Are we not to look upon it as a pictur... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:7 Christ entered in by His own blood. We who believe that Christ has entered by His own blood into the holy of holies have thereby received a fourfold assurance. I. The redemption which Christ has obtained is eternal. Christ's precious blood can never lose its power till all the chosen... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:9 Love in the Ordinance of Sacrifice. I. In order to be acceptable to God, self-sacrifice must be unreserved and complete. It must be the perfect rendering up of the will to His will, of the being to His disposal, of the energies to His obedience. No reserve can be for an instant thought... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:13 Self-oblation the true idea of Obedience. I. St. Paul here tells us that Christ "offered up Himself," from which we may learn (1) that the act of offering was His own act, and (2) that the oblation was Himself. He was both Priest and Sacrifice; or, in a word, the atoning oblation was H... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:14 These words refer to, perhaps, the most remarkable of all the typical ordinances of the Old Testament. One of the chief defilements contracted under the law was that caused by contact with a dead body. So rigid was the law that the priests were forbidden to take part in funeral rites, e... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:24 I. and II. The sacrifice and intercession of Christ are, of course, distinct in idea; but, in fact, are so united that it is more convenient to consider them together. Sacrifice is intercession, not in word, but in act. It makes atonement for man with God, that is, sets God and man at o... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:24 The Threefold Manifestation of the Redeemer. I. The Redeemer's first appearance in the world was His Incarnation in the fulness of time as a member of the human race, to endure the death appointed to sinners, and to obtain for us eternal redemption. II. The Ascension entrance into the... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 9:27 I. It is appointed unto man once to die, but after that they are still men. No affection, no principle of human nature, is lost. The form of man is not lost. Before death, men are covered with the opaque earth-form, and therefore they cannot be judged. Death removes the earthly mask, a... [ Continue Reading ]