Audio Sermons

Renewing Our Strength in the Lord:

The Atonement – Foreshadowed and Fulfilled

Life B-P Church Worship Service, 6^th July 2025

Text: Hebrews 9:1-14

• The writer now shows how the Day of Atonement ritual was completely fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
• It was the holiest day of the year, when a complete atonement was made for all sins in the past year that had not been individually atoned for.
• The atonement that Jesus made for us was foreshadowed here in at least three ways:

1. The Place Where Atonement Was Made (vv.1-5)

• The Tabernacle was divided into ‘the Sanctuary’ (the Holy Place) and ‘the Holiest of all’ (the Holiest Place), with the Holiest Place representing the presence of God.

The Fulfilment: It showed that sinful people could only approach a holy God through a mediator, who is the Lord Jesus Christ (Cf. John 14:6; 8:12; 6:35).

• The Second Veil, separating the Holy Place from the Holiest Place, foreshadowed the body of Christ. (Cf. 10:19,20)
• When Jesus died, this veil was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15:38), signifying that His body was broken to give us free access to God and intimate fellowship.

2. The Priest Who Made Atonement (vv.6-7,11-12)

• Only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holiest Place, and only on the Day of Atonement, performing the entire ritual himself.
• For himself: He sacrificed a bull for his own sins, sprinkling its blood on the Mercy Seat (the lid of the Ark) inside the Holiest Place.
• For the people: He then sacrificed one of two goats provided by the people, sprinkling its blood on the Mercy Seat.
• The scapegoat: The nation’s sins were confessed over the other goat, and it was chased into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sin. (Cf. Leviticus 16:10,21,22; Psalm 103:12)
  

The Fulfilment: Christ’s atonement was made in the greater and more perfect tabernacle, once and for all, and with His own blood. (vv.11-12)

3. The Power of Atonement to Remove Sin (vv.13-14, 8-10)

• Blood is a symbol of life. (Cf. Genesis 4:9,10; 9:4; Leviticus 17:11)
• It makes atonement for souls, with the animal’s death serving as a substitute for human death.
• But the blood of animals was only symbolic, sanctifying only ‘to the purifying of the flesh.’ (v.13)
• Only man’s blood can atone for man’s sin. Each Day of atonement left no one with any access to God except the High priest. (vv.8,9)

The Fulfilment:  The animal sacrifices pointed to the coming sacrifice which Jesus made on the cross of Calvary.

• His blood has infinite value, and is therefore more than sufficient to atone for every sin of every believer.
• It results in the inward cleansing we need, our eternal redemption and eternal life. (vv.12,14)

Our Response:

- Stop all attempts to atone for your own sins.

- Deal with your guilty conscience by confessing your sins and trusting that they are all forgiven through Christ’s atonement. (Cf. 1 John 1:9)

- Focus your efforts on serving the living God. (v.14, Romans 12:1)

Questions for Personal Reflection:

1. What does Christ’s atonement tell you about God’s love for sinners?

2. How has Christ’s atonement impacted your life and relationship with God?

3. How will you make use of your free access to God and serve Him?