Hebrews 9:15 - Why can we "receive the promised eternal inheritance"? Because "a death has occurred that redeems" us.
Hebrews 9:22 - How serious is sin? "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins". Note, he makes no distinction between sins, only that forgiveness is not possible without blood. We like to think that they aren't that bad, but we're wrong, they are that bad.
Hebrews 9:24 - "For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf" As I read this, I had the image of Jesus, still dripping with the blood of the cross, entering the throne room of God to present Himself to the Father on our behalf, and it brought tears to my eyes.
I feel like the soldier, aged, at the end of Saving Private Ryan, standing at the graves of those who sacrificed on his behalf asking, "Was it worth it?" Here's the thing, those men in that fictional story didn't know what would become of the life they strove to save. But God, seeing all of time before Him, did know. He knew those he chose to save would lie, cheat and steal and that they'd act in their own interests instead of His. He knew that we'd corrupt His church and forget our first love. He knew the abuse we'd inflict on each other and the hurt that we'd cause, even in His name.
As I heard Jared Wilson say when he was here in Columbus, "Seeing us at our absolute worst, God said 'I want that guy.'"
Disciple of Jesus, if that doesn't move you, read it again and again until it does.
Hebrews 9:28 - "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." Do you long for His coming? If you understand your own depravity, you do.
