The Blood Of The Everlasting Covenant

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will." (1)

To many it has been a mystery why so many sacrificial offerings were required in the old Testament, why so many bleeding victims were led to the altar. The great truth that was kept before men, and imprinted on the mind and heart, was this, "without shedding of blood there is no remission." (2) In every bleeding sacrifice was typified "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (3) "So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." (4)

Christ Himself was the originator of the Jewish system of worship, in which, by types and symbols, were shadowed spiritual and heavenly truths. Many did not understand the true significance of these offerings; and the great truth that they pointed forward to the promised Messiah through whom alone is forgiveness of sin. The sacrificial offerings, the blood of bulls, goats and lambs could not take away sin.

A lesson was embodied in every sacrifice, impressed in every ceremony, solemnly preached by the priest in his holy office, and taught by frequent repetitions, that through the blood of the Messiah alone is there forgiveness of sins.

Anciently believers were saved by the same Saviour as we are now, but it was veiled. They saw God's mercy in figures. Christ's sacrifice is the glorious fulfillment of all the Jewish religious ordinances. When Jesus bowed His head and died, when by unseen hand the veil of the temple was rent in two (5), a new and living way was opened for all mankind. Everyone can now approach God through the merits of Christ. It is because the veil has been rent, signifying the end of the sacramental services, that men can draw near to God individually and directly. They need not depend on priest or ceremonial sacrifice. Liberty is given for all to go directly to God through their personal friend and Saviour, His beloved Son.

We are saved by "the blood of the everlasting covenant" offered up by the Son of God on behalf of all the human race. (6)

1. Hebrews 13:20, 21.
2. Hebrews 9:22.
3. John 1:29.
4. Hebrews 9:28.
5. Matthew 27:51.
6. Adapted from "God's Amazing Grace", p. 155.