Hebrews 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
‘For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies.’ For if these carnal rites and ceremonies set the body apart and ceremonially purify the flesh of defilement giving it re-admission to public worship and freedom from temporal punishments of the law, how much more shall the blood of Christ through the Holy Spirit purge your conscience from sin and make you inwardly holy before God (9:13-15)?
‘Purifying of the flesh’ The rituals of the law only cleansed the body – the flesh. The blood of Christ cleanses the soul and spirit and reconciles one to God (9:14-15; Col. 1:14-22; 1Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5).
‘Eternal Spirit’ – The Holy Spirit is eternal (1Jn. 5:7).
‘Spirit offered himself without spot to God.’ Through the Spirit: Christ was begotten (Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35). Christ was trained (Isa. 50:4; Luke 2:40, 52). Christ was tested (Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1). Christ worked (Matt. 12:28; Luke 4:14-21; Acts 10:38; Isa. 11:1-2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2). Christ offered himself as a sacrifice (Heb. 9:14). Christ was resurrected (Rom. 8:11). Christ was justified (1Tim. 3:16).
‘Dead works’ – [Greek: ‘nekra’ and ‘erga’] It refers to the works of the old nature which deserve death and cause death in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-8; Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 1:21-32; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Col. 3:5-10; Mark 7:19-21).
Living the Word 