 Hello and welcome everyone. Thank you for connecting to today's class. Let's pray and get into God's word. I'll just say a word of prayer as we begin. Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you are in our lives strengthening us Lord and leading us in your ways. Father, even today as we study a word help us Lord to be grounded and rooted in it and Lord as we do that we believe that we will bear fruit Lord. Lord, much fruit that brings honour and glory to your name. Father, we commit every single student, every single faculty and Lord we ask for much grace Father God to continue being. Lord, good students of your word. We thank you Lord. We thank you for this opportunity. We thank you for this time. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. So we are supposed to continue in Hebrews chapter 9 but before that we can take up some questions. If there are any questions from the book of Hebrews, whatever we have discussed so far please feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer. I just read the book of Hebrews yesterday so I have a few questions. When even I'll just read the verse in Hebrews chapter 2, I think verse 3 it says, how shall we escape with the netlets so great a salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord. So I was reading in the amplified where it says that it was spoken at first by the Lord. So it says the message of salvation was spoken by the Lord first. So I don't know who spoke the message of gospel first though. So what it actually does it signify to Jesus that he said the gospel first or in that case I don't think so even the Gabriel said the gospel first at the good news. So what it means by the law, the gospel was first spoken by the Lord. Yes, so Jaffina is referring to Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 3 it says, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him. From what I have written here on the basis of what I've studied so great a salvation spoken by the Lord is I've written here how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord. I've written it was spoken by Jesus. He was the one who came and he spoke about going up to the cross and his redemptive work. It was spoken by him is what I have written over here. So your doubt was, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think that's what it means. That's what it means because everyone else who spoke the gospel had a reference to it but you know salvation through Jesus Christ that understanding we got from Jesus only right. So he was the one who said I'll go up to the cross and he started talking about it. So when we say devil had the power of death, I think in verse, in the same chapter in verse 14 it says devil had the power of death. So what we actually mean by it, is it a physical death or it's a spiritual death and if he's powerless, what devil is actually doing right now, why do we still think like devil is the king of the world and all this. Thank you Trefina for that. So now we are at Hebrews 2 and verse 14 and it says inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death. That is the devil. Okay, so it very plainly puts it this way that Jesus has partaken in humanity. Okay that is clear right, he's partaken in humanity. Why did he do that so that so that he can become a suitable substitute on our behalf and that he could excuse me. He could die in our place and notice it says who had. Okay, had is in the past tense. So before Jesus gained victory on him through that perfect sacrifice, he had the power of death because you see this world got corrupted with sin and then we know right like the wages of sin is death. So he was the one who was propagating death but once Jesus brought us salvation, what do we have now the gift of God is eternal life. So now those who believe we can have eternal life by believing in the cross but that cross was the turning point before that it says who had the power of death. He had before now no longer because when we believe we are granted that promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus. So right now as you asked, it says he had the power of death is the devil so powerful. The fact is no, he is a defeated enemy. This very passage says destroy him who had the power of death meaning Satan is defeated Satan is destroyed and he no longer has that power of death because Jesus has conquered. So in our minds as believers, we should not consider Satan powerful. Yes, some follow up questions like in a chapter one where it says sit at my right hand until I make your enemies of food still for your feed. So we know that Jesus is right now sitting at the right hand of the Father. So does it mean that devil is I mean I understand that devil is destroyed so what does it mean that for what God is still waiting like to make a food still for your enemies. Like it's what are the things that devil still has and that's that's what I just want to understand like he's defeated that I understand. So does it mean not everything is under the food still yet or is there something else yet to be done. And I know there is this we learn in eschatology like in the future there's going to be a complete where we're going to throw satan at the lake of fire. Does it go or go parallel with that? Yeah, sure. So thanks Stefina for that question while we are saying that Satan is destroyed. Okay, your question is that why in Hebrews one God is saying okay you sit here till I destroy it. It seems like it's not yet done and some more has to go. So the way we understand this is see when in Hebrews 14 it is saying he might destroy him who had the power of death in some translations it says rendered powerless. So Satan was made powerless through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't know which translation it exactly is but he Satan was made powerless. So on the basis of that we say Satan is defeated Satan is destroyed Satan is expelled. I remember believers authority we talked about what the work of the cross is all about. So does Satan still do the works of deceiving accusing intimidating tempting you know yeah he does he does. So how do we understand this? On the one hand we are saying Satan is powerless. On the other hand we are saying Satan is still working and then God is promising Jesus that I'm going to fully get rid of him later. And we know in eschatology that the time will come when he will be bound and thrown into the bottomless pit. And at a time even in the ministry of Jesus demons they cry out and they say hey our time has not yet come. So there is a time at which they will be fully removed. So now the point that I'm trying to make is see he is existing on the earth with his demons and doing his wicked works. But the fact is he's powerless. See if he had the power don't you think he would just destroy us in a second? How if any of us see an enemy like this is war language. If there's an enemy before a person in war they want to kill finish them right now. We don't want to play a game and you know chase them and everything. So the because he is powerless he cannot destroy us. You understood. That is why he's playing all these side games temptation this and that because he knows the only way he can defeat us is through our minds. Through our agreement to his lies. Okay. So is he powerless? Absolutely powerless. That's why he's not doing if he could he would destroy us. He cannot. Jesus has already destroyed him. But then what is God telling Jesus you know he will be I will make him make your enemies the footstool. So even this time period where Satan is playing his gorilla tactics that will also come to an end. And that's what we are referring to in Hebrews chapter one. Okay. Because there's a timeline. God doesn't do things happens at least very systematic. And so there is a process till such time Satan will be active. But him being active does not mean that he is powerful. He's not. Yeah. And you know how you know the scriptures tell us right that my people perish because of lack of knowledge. So as believers for us I'll give you that reference for lack of knowledge. Hosea four and verse six. Now God says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. As believers we don't understand the complete victory of the cross somewhere we think oh Satan must be having some power. That's why he's troubling us so much. He has no power. But it's when we don't understand that he's powerless that he can play these mind games with us. Okay. So we have to get the knowledge of believers authority and be established in it. Okay. I hope that settles it for you. Great. Yeah. Good questions. Thanks. Anything else? I do have one more question. Yeah. I think in Hebrews chapter six verse 19 like in verse 20 we saw that Jesus was the former runner where he went ahead of us to heaven and he's there as a high priest. So when it says in verse 90 which enters the presence behind the veil. So what does it signify to? Is it as far as my understanding I'm thinking is it that the Holy of Holies that we saw it's behind the veil or I just want to know what the term means in verse 90. Yeah, sure. So we are talking about Hebrews six verse 90. Is it six? Yeah. Okay. So Jeffyna's question is with regard to Hebrews six verse 19 where it says this hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast and which enters the presence behind the veil where the forerunner has entered for us even Jesus having become high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. So it's in the simplest understanding of what this is saying is it's talking about the responsibility of the high priest. Now we know that on the day of atonement once a year what we saw in Hebrews nine the high priest was permitted to enter into the Holy of Holies. So Jesus the forerunner has entered for us means as a high priest in the heaven that same symbol Holy of Holies in heaven or the throne of God the throne room of God Jesus has entered directly. He is the one it says forerunner because he's the first person that he could enter up until then a high priest had to do all the cleansing sacrifices and only then allowed to enter. Okay. So yeah so the context is clear right Jesus is the first person apart from those high priests who's entered into the real Holy of Holies which is presence behind the veil. Yeah, yeah because in the initial part of what the writer is saying he has not yet explained about the real tabernacle. We talked about it later only like I think Hebrews eight Hebrews nine we talked about the real tabernacle and how God asked Moses to make isn't it the earthly tabernacle. So here when we read enters the presence behind the veil we may keep thinking it's the earthly one but he's actually talking about the heavenly one. Okay. Great. Great. Any any other questions. Okay that's that's really wonderful. I appreciate you taking the time to study and ask these questions. We'll proceed from where we had stopped yesterday and if there are questions about other topics that we have covered please feel free you can always ask. So now we'll go to Hebrews chapter nine and verse 13 was 13 to 15. Could someone please pick it up and read read. So we are reading Hebrews verse by verse. We may not do this for other books. Okay. The reason why we are doing it for Hebrews is there's all these small little things details that we have to focus on. But when we move on to books like James and all I'll just present a summary. That will be easier for us to understand. So we won't have to read it if you're thinking oh my goodness. Madam is making us read every word. No, you won't be reading every word. Don't worry about that. Okay. Yes. So right now we are at Hebrews nine verses 13 to 15. Yeah. Hebrews chapter nine was 13 to 15 for the blood of bulls and goats and ashes of he first sprinkling the unclean sanctifices for purifying of the flesh. How much more shall the blood of Christ through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to word cleans your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. And for this reason he's the mediator of the new covenant by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Thank you, Jeffina. We'll try and understand these verses. So in verse 13 we see that the blood of bulls and goats and ashes of a high first sprinkling the unclean sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh. So it tells us that there was a work which the blood of these animals did. It's not like, oh, it's useless before the sacrifice of Jesus. That's what people depended on that is what cleansed the sins of man and God had given them these instructions so that the cleansing can take place. So there was a purifying through the blood of these animals. And then we move on to verse 14 says how much more shall the blood of Christ. So everything is about an upgrade. We've been talking about this old covenant to new covenant and literally like a replacement also in many places. So now the shadow of the blood of Jesus where the blood of these animals and the writer is saying how much more if the blood of animals can cleanse our sins. Imagine the power of the blood of Jesus and how it can wash us. Do you remember that passage that was from Hebrews 7 25? You know, he saves to the atom most for he makes intercession for all those who come to him. So to a great extent an amazing work of cleansing, forgiving the blood of Jesus has the power to do that. So that's what we are told right now and we just need to take that in that the power of the blood of Jesus is immense to cleanse us. Let's continue and it says who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. So it talks about the substitutionary work. See for us to understand the work of Jesus on the cross, you have to go back to Christology and you've got to go back to many such things like identification, substitution. So all that was presented through the temple practices. There was a lamb that would be sacrificed and Jesus became that lamb for us. In the place of men, the lamb was sacrificed. In our place, the lamb of God was sacrificed. The way John the Baptist said, here comes our substitute. Here comes our redeemer. Here comes the one who can save us. Here comes the one through him. Our relationship with God will be restored and all the blessings will again be directed towards us. The work of Jesus on the cross and it says without spot to God. So remember how the perfect lamb had to be chosen to be sacrificed. Jesus became that spotless blemishless lamb as a human being. So that whole thing, even though it's a small part over there, there is so much in it and we can understand it from the temple practices of a lamb being offered. And we move on to understanding the power of the blood. It again says the blood of Jesus cleans your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. So that means that the precious blood of Jesus also has the power. We said cleanses from our sins, but here's the other part. Cleanses or purifies our conscience from dead works. So cleansing our conscience from dead works means, you know, any form of attachment that we have with fleshly things or ungodly patterns of thinking, actions, behavior, lifestyle. As believers, we may make excuses and say, I feel powerless or I feel out of control. I'm not able to, I want to, but I'm not able to this kind of language. When you look at what verse 14 is saying here, it's telling us about the victory in the blood of Jesus. Firstly, it's cleansing us from all sins, immense power, how much more the blood of Jesus. Secondly, it cleanses our conscience from dead works. So evil patterns that I may have some connection to, maybe, you know, I have a lot of anger issues or I have all these emotional problems because my family has emotional problems. We can't make excuses because you see, the power of the blood of Jesus is so much that it can break any of these attachments in our conscience. So I can walk free. I can walk victorious. And when I walk like that, is it possible to serve God well? You know, absolutely. We can serve God really well. So it says, cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Meaning, it gives us that appetite. Sometimes we place a lot of emphasis on, you know, flesh, sin, sin. But can I have a conscience that naturally desires and has an appetite for God, has an appetite to serve God where I love to serve God. I want to serve God. I desire to serve God. I feel rewarded by serving God. Yes, all that is possible now because the blood has the power to cleanse my conscience from dead works so that I can serve the living God. You know, again, living God, you can write sermons on living God, but we won't try to write a sermon right now. We'll just move on. And when we talk about conscience, there's a lot about the conscience. Conscience is very important. You know, conscience can be like how we speak of the renewed mind for a believer. Our conscience also is important because it helps us identify what is of the Lord and what is not of the Lord. And conscience can be trained, if you will, or become sensitive to the things of God. So if we guard our conscience, it will be so sensitive to God that it will help us to live for God. But if we are not careful, then our conscience can get polluted or corrupted. You know, how sometimes we see people, they're so untouched even when they see evil before happening in front of them. Their conscience doesn't prick them or they don't mind. They are like, okay, fine, let it happen. And then you wonder how can people let evil happen? And it never really affects them because the conscience has become, the Bible uses different terminology, things like seared conscience, defiled conscience, evil conscience. So you see, the conscience can get polluted. And if it becomes polluted, then it won't respond correctly to, like decision-wise, we won't be able to make choices and decisions aligned to the truth of God's word. So conscience has to be guarded and conscience has to be sensitive. You remember, even earlier we talked so much about, if you hear his voice today. Okay, so be sensitive, respond quickly, respond quickly and don't allow the conscience to become insensitive to God. Now, basically, the essence of these two verses that we just read, verse 13 and 14 is, the blood of Jesus is powerful to cleanse us or wash us and the blood of Jesus is powerful to set our conscience free from any evil patterns so that we can have a godly appetite to serve the Lord. So that is the essence of what we have learned. Okay, just feel free to come in any time if you want clarification, but I will just keep moving forward. Verse 15, I'll read it and it says, And for this reason, he is the mediator of the new covenant by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. So it says that Jesus, he refers to Jesus, he himself shed his blood. Okay, and he shed his blood and thereby it says he became the mediator of the covenant. All right, who was the mediator of the earlier covenant, the old covenant? Yes, Moses. Moses was the mediator of the old covenant, but right now Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant and the uniqueness about our new mediator is he shed his own blood. He himself died to make this covenant happen and it says new covenant. Remember, we said Nios is one word, Kainos is another word. So Kainos is not just new as far as time is concerned, but as far as the quality is concerned. Something greater, something better, something more valuable, precious covenant that God has given us by means of death for the redemption of the transgression under the first covenant. So Jesus died. That's what it means. And we won't go into the details of the old covenant and why the death of someone was required for redemption and all that. But we do understand that under the first covenant, there were many laws given. But what did that first covenant prove when we go to the book of Romans? We understand that, right? People were not able to keep it. So even though God gave them the New Testament and the first covenant, there were many transgressions. And with transgressions, obviously, we cannot have a relationship with God. And so you have all these sacrifices and everything. So all that happened. And then it says, now, because of what Jesus has done, we can be saved. These transgressions can be forgiven and we can have eternal inheritance. Meaning, if you want to just summarize it and bring out the essence, Jesus has qualified us for salvation, right? Because he did the work. He made the New Covenant. His blood forgives us. So now we are justified. We are positioned to receive salvation, life, eternal inheritance, it says. Which obviously was not possible under the old covenant. Okay. Now let's continue. We'll go with the verses 16 to 22. Would someone please pick it up and read? For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force. After men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore, not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water, scarlet wool and hissob and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people. Saying, this is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you. Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood and without shedding of blood, there is no remission. Okay. Amen. Thank you, Rosen. So it continues to speak about the blood of Jesus. And there is one more point here. That point is that for the testament to take effect, the testator or the person like that person has the testator, when he is alive, it's not in effect. Okay. So regarding the testament or we can use another word covenant, a covenant. For that to take effect, Jesus died and because he died and he sealed it, we know that the testament or the covenant is now in effect. So that's the other point over here. The remaining points are all about the blood of Jesus. So what are the remaining points? The covenant has to be dedicated with the blood and is a new covenant dedicated with the blood? Yes, because Jesus shed his own blood. Was the old covenant dedicated with blood? Yes. As the passage described, Moses used the blood of animals to dedicate the old covenant with blood. So there is the shedding of blood which is needed for the testament to be sort of made. So that is okay. Now the second thing about the blood is the blood cleanses the objects or the vessels of ministry, it says. So sprinkled with blood, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. Now that again was something that was followed under the old covenant where they purified all the items of worship that they used. Now when we look at the new covenant, obviously Jesus has done it through his own blood and we are talking about the heavenly tabernacle. So in a sense that is accomplished because Jesus shed his own blood and he did the work of cleansing and purification as well. And it's just talking about the importance of the shedding of blood. In the book of Leviticus, I forget where, I'll just quickly try to find that scripture for us. Yeah, Leviticus 17 and verse 11. So there is a scripture. Yes. So it says, for the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. So when we think of why God is talking about the blood, why is the blood so important? Way back, God has already revealed that the life is in the blood and God has sort of given that blood or I don't know how to put it. I'm not getting the right words. I don't want to be inaccurate. But it says for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. So there is something about the blood. It could have been anything else. Why the blood? Because that's how God has instructed. That's how God has put things in order. There's something about the blood which makes atonement for the soul. So there's got to be shedding of the blood. If there's no shedding of the blood, then there's no remission for sins. And the Bible clearly tells us that why I don't have the answer for that. But what that we can always state, there is an importance in the blood. That's what verse 22 it says, without shedding of blood, there is no remission. So that's the only way. That is the reason we also may ask the question. Why did Jesus have to die? Why did we have to shed the blood? You see, everything that God has instituted under the Old Covenant, the fulfillment is happening. There was a need in the Old Covenant. You see the shedding of blood. So Jesus had to shed blood. If he doesn't shed blood, then it's not moving according to what God has already instituted or spoken. So then it had to be done and pray, thank God for his great love towards us that he did shed his blood. Because it says, it's a condition. Without that condition, forget about salvation. Forget about forgiveness. It has to be done. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. So thank God that he did it. So that there is remission. So we've talked about so many things. We talked about the testament in action because the testator has died. Then we talked about the blood that forgives the blood that lenses and the need for the shedding of blood. Let's now look at the next passage here. Okay. Yeah, someone has a question. Yes. Yes, please. Can we just explain the testament and testate that part? Like what it actually means and especially in 17 it says, for a testament is enforced after a man died since it has no power at all by the testators. I'm just confused, I think. Don't just, you can reiterate it. Sure. So see, it's something like in our current day legal setting, we have something known as the will. So how does it work out? I'm just helping us understand. I'm not saying the will is the way the promises were made in the Bible. But see, how does it work? A person may decide that, okay, my property, whatever I possess, my possessions would go to so and so and all that. But it usually happens after the person dies. So there is a time at which it will take effect. Isn't it? So that is what we must consider. So even in the case of this testament that is being spoken of, there was a right way of making it active, which was the death of Jesus. It was required for it to become active and that Jesus has done. See, and Jeffina, for this, no, we can actually sit, we can go and we can start digging of all the Old Testament passages and we will surely find a lot of references. So I know I am not giving you scripture verses over here, but just in a gist, I've shared what it means. Is that okay? Okay, fine. Okay, good, good, good questions. Shall we proceed? We have only five minutes. I'm just wondering whether we'll be able to do justice, but let's read. We can read the next section from verse 23 to 28. Yeah. Verse 23 to 28. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heaven should be purified with these. But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. So Christ has not entered the holy place made with hands, which are copies of the truth, but it to heaven itself. Now to appear in the presence of God for us. Not that he should offer himself often as the high priest enters the holy place every year with the blood of another. He then would have had to suffer out since the foundation of the life. But now, once at the end of the ages, he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this, the judgment. Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many to those who eagerly wait for him. He will appear a second time a path from sin for salvation. Thank you, Jafina. Let's at least look at verse 23, 24. And then we can close. So it says therefore it was necessary that the copies of the earthly of the things in the heaven should be purified with these. But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. So once again, on the earth, the earthly instruments of worship are purified with imperfect sacrifices. But with the blood of Jesus, the heaven, it's already, I mean, it's already pure. But then we are also kind of just making a comparison to the power of the blood of Jesus and saying that there was a more perfect sacrifice that that worked in heaven. Okay. And verse 24, for Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true but into heaven itself. Now to appear in the presence of God for us. So same thing. We are saying Jesus is in the real tabernacle in the presence of God. Why is he in the presence of God? Because he's a high priest. He's a great high priest. He's a eternal high priest. High priest forever. So many things about his high priestly ministry that we know as a high priest. He is our intercessor. Right. And he's in the presence of God. So with his own blood, he entered with his own blood, which is so much more better. He has purified right and the things of worship in the heavenly tabernacle. And with his blood, we've seen how he has cleansed us for giving us, bought us redemption. So let's stop here and then we will pick up from the following verses in the next class. So right now we are going to pray and close and I invite anyone of us to lead in prayer. Yes, let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I thank you for this day. Thank you for this time of learning and the works that you have did or beyond imagination. Jesus, help us to understand this love that you have for us, that you were willing to lay down your life for us, Jesus. Right now you are there in the heavenly realms at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Who can love us like this? God, may your love empower us, Jesus, and help us understand that the devil is powerless and to get our flesh nailed on the cross so that we can move powerfully for your kingdom, Jesus. May your truth dominate our minds, our heart, our thoughts, our actions and our words so that we can shine for your kingdom. We love you. We thank you for everything. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Jefina. Thank you, everyone. God bless you. So we wrap up the class for now. Bye. Take care. Have a good week ahead. Thank you. Thank you, Pastor. Thank you so much.