We Who Belong to the New Covenant
Hebrews 9:22-28
Hallelujah! May the grace of the Lenten season, poured out through the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, be with you all.
Last week, I shared with you why the Son of God had to become a man. The reason is found in Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
All people must face death. But because they do not know what awaits after death, they live according to their own desires rather than according to the will of God. The result of such a life is eternal destruction.
To save us from this fate, Jesus took on human flesh and experienced death—the very death every human being must face. But He rose again, opening the way for those who believe to enter eternal rest.
Today, I want to share the message we receive through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Is the Reality of the New Covenant
Jesus died because He took on the same human body as ours. Yet He had no sin, and therefore death and decay had no power to hold Him. Since death could not bind Him, He rose again. This shows that death is not the end of life. For us who believe, it gives a living hope that we too will be clothed with an incorruptible resurrection body.
But to participate in the glory of this resurrection body, we must be without sin, just as Jesus was.
So how can our sins be removed? No human effort can ever wash away sin. Only God, our Creator, can do that. Through Moses, God established the sacrificial system and taught that sin could be atoned for through the blood of a spotless animal. But although the people offered sacrifices, they remained enslaved to sin. Why? Because the blood of animals offered in ritual sacrifice could never truly remove sin.
That’s why, through the Psalms and the Prophets, God declared: “I do not delight in sacrifice and offering,” but rather, “I have come to do Your will, O God.” These words were a prophecy of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Since the sacrifices of the Law could never bring complete atonement, God Himself would come to fulfill His will completely. Jesus Christ came to do God’s will and offered Himself once for all, securing eternal redemption.
Hebrews clearly tells us that the covenant established through Moses, with its sacrifices, was a shadow that could not take away sin. The new covenant, established by God’s will, is the reality behind that shadow. That reality is Jesus—the Son of God who created all things—who became man, tasted death, and removed our sins.
Now that God has established the new covenant, the old covenant through Moses has been set aside. Therefore, we no longer need to sacrifice burnt offerings, sin offerings, or peace offerings to remove sin. In fact, killing animals for sacrifice is detestable to God.
God’s way was not to kill animals, but to send His Son as the true Lamb of God. By shedding His blood and dying on the cross, Jesus fulfilled all the sacrifices—burnt offering, sin offering, and peace offering—once and for all. He completed this work on the cross.
Thus, the animal sacrifices were only a shadow that pointed us to the true atonement through Jesus Christ crucified. What God now requires of us is to believe in this mercy and give thanks with all our hearts.
- It is God’s will that those who believe in the grace of atonement be set free from the bondage of sin.
To make this possible, God has allowed the Holy Spirit to dwell within those who believe in the grace of atonement.
The Lord promised to those who believe in His atoning grace and come to Him: “I will put my laws into their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
This is essentially a promise that God will pour out His Spirit upon them.
Even more, since He has completely removed every sin committed by each of us, the Lord declares: “I will remember their sins no more.”
Therefore, we come to our High Priest Jesus in faith, believing in the grace of atonement.
The Lord has promised, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
As our High Priest, Jesus sprinkles His own blood on the hearts of those who come to Him, cleansing their consciences, and pours out the Holy Spirit so they may serve God.
Thus, the grace of atonement is God’s way of preparing us to receive the Holy Spirit.
When we repent of our sins, believe in the atoning grace of Jesus Christ, and receive baptism, God pours out the Holy Spirit as a gift.
Therefore, beloved brothers and sisters, let us reaffirm that in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must be those who have believed in the grace of atonement and have received baptism. Amen.
- Those of us who have this faith must live the rest of our lives in holiness and godliness, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in light of the hope of the resurrection.
For us, what remains is the day when we will be clothed with our resurrection bodies and enter the kingdom of God.
Therefore, our mission as people of this faith is to live each day, especially as the Day draws near, being led by the Holy Spirit and living according to God’s will.
However, many Christians, though they have heard they must live according to God’s will, continue to live by their own desires.
Why is that? It is because they do not take death seriously, nor do they realize how precious the grace of atonement truly is.
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is appointed for all people to die once, and then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
This means that the day of death will surely come for each of us, and it may come at a time we least expect.
Have you ever truly reflected on your own death?
People who never thought of death before suddenly begin to when they are diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer.
We try to live according to our own will, yet God teaches us through sleep and death that not everything is under our control.
Fasting is something we can choose, but sleep is not—when it comes, we must surrender to it.
Death is just like that.
Sleep and death are God’s way of teaching us that there are areas of life we cannot govern by our own will.
Therefore, each time we awaken from sleep, we must practice living according to God’s will, even in how we eat and live.
To do this, we must continuously pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit by trusting in the Lord’s atoning grace.
So, if you woke up this morning and are still in this world, then long to live this day in holiness and godliness, fulfilling the mission God has given you.
And one day, you will hear the voice of Jesus calling your name, saying, “Arise!”
That day will be one of indescribable joy and glory.
Because of this, I pray that you will always remember: for those who walk with the Lord each day, death is not the end, but rather the moment when we take off this earthly body and are clothed with an incorruptible body — a gift of God’s grace.
Now, let us bring today’s message to a close.
During this Lenten season, let us all prepare for the Day of Resurrection when we will be clothed with a spiritual body, by relying on the grace of atonement and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us now pray with sincere hearts.
God gave us the grace of atonement so that He might pour His Spirit into our hearts.
When the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts daily, one day when we awaken — whether from sleep or at the final trumpet — we will stand before the Lord and be reunited with our beloved brothers and sisters.
Therefore, while we remain in this world, let us joyfully pray that the Holy Spirit may dwell within us as we rely on the grace of atonement to live according to God’s will.
Let us give thanks and praise to God in all things, and let us not give up meeting together.
And when we gather, let us encourage one another in love and good deeds, walking in righteousness and justice.
Then, we will be able to joyfully welcome our Lord when He comes.
Amen! Let us pray.