October 27, 2019 – Hebrews 9

Lesson Date: October 27, 2019

Focal Scripture Passage: Hebrews 9:1-28

AIM: To lead students to discover three important facts about Jesus Christ’s superior sacrifice, and to give any who have never trusted Him for salvation the opportunity to do so.

Before class: Read the notes on Hebrews 9:1-28 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Find a picture of the Old Testament Tabernacle (in a Bible dictionary or on the Internet) to bring to class.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Tell the students that most people in America today have some sort of debt.  Most of us have a mortgage on our home, a car loan, student loans, or credit card debt.  Ask: “Do you agree that most people owe a debt for something?”  We make payments on those debts every month.

Ask the students to imagine for a moment that a wealthy benefactor came forward and paid off every one of their debts.  He paid off their house, cars, and all their other debts.  Not only that, he made it possible for them to never owe another debt again for the rest of their life.

Ask: “If such a wonderful thing happened to you, would you continue to make your mortgage payment every month?” (no).  Ask: “Would you continue to make a monthly payment on your car or other debts?” (no).  Ask: “Why not?” (because the debts would be completely paid off – you would no longer owe anything so there would be nothing for you to pay).

Tell the class today’s lesson is about Christ’s superior sacrifice, which forever paid the sin debt of those who have trusted Him for salvation.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Tell the class this is our ninth lesson from the book of Hebrews, which is about the supremacy of Jesus Christ.
   • Ask: “What are some things Christ is superior to?” (allow time for responses).
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Christ’s superior sanctuary and superior covenant).
   • Ask if any volunteers would recite last week’s memory verse (Heb. 8:6).
2. The Old Testament Sacrifices Foreshadowed Christ’s Superior Sacrifice.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 9:1-5.
   • Tell the class these verses describe the Old Testament sacrificial system God established for the Jews.
   • Direct the class’ attention to the picture of the Old Testament Tabernacle.
   • Explain that the earthly sanctuary consisted of two compartments, the Holy Place (described in verse 2), and the Holy of Holies (described in verses 3-5).
   • Read Hebrews 9:6-7.
   • Ask: “According to verse 6, where did the priests minister?” (in the first compartment – the Holy Place; show this in the picture).
   • Show the students the location of the second compartment (the Holy of Holies) and the veil (heavy curtain) separating the two compartments.
   • Ask: “According to verse 7, who went into the second compartment?” (the high priest).
   • Ask: “How often did he do this?” (once a year).
   • Ask: “What did he take with him?” (blood to offer for his sins and the sins of the people).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 9:8-10.
   • Tell the class all of the ancient Jewish offerings and rituals were “a figure for the time then present” (verse 9).
   • Ask: “Could the Old Testament sacrifices make anyone perfect (righteous, redeemed, free from the penalty of sin)?” (no).
   • Write “The Old Testament Sacrifices Foreshadowed Christ’s Superior Sacrifice” on the marker board or chalkboard
   • Summarize: God established the Old Testament sacrificial system to foreshadow the final and superior sacrifice Jesus would later make.
3. Christ’s Superior Sacrifice Purchased Our Eternal Redemption.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 9:11-12.
   • Ask: “How does verse 11 describe Jesus Christ?” (a high priest of good things to come, who ministered in a greater tabernacle).
   • Remind the students that we learned in last week’s lesson that the earthly Tabernacle was merely a representation or copy of the true Tabernacle in heaven. Christ ministered in the heavenly Tabernacle.
   • Ask: “According to verse 12, did Jesus bring animal blood into the heavenly Tabernacle?” (no).
   • Ask: “Whose blood did He bring?” (His own).
   • Ask: “How many times did He do this?” (once).
   • Ask: “What did He obtain for us?” (eternal redemption).
   • Tell the class when Jesus died on the cross He went into the heavenly Tabernacle and sprinkled His blood on the mercy seat, purchasing our eternal redemption.
   • Write “Christ’s Superior Sacrifice Purchased our Eternal Redemption” on the board.
   • Ask: “How long does eternal redemption last? Can you lose it?” (it lasts forever and can never be lost).
   • Read Hebrews 9:13-14.
   • Explain that Christ’s blood is far superior to animal blood. Tell the students “dead works” means trying to earn our own salvation by doing good things.
   • Read Hebrews 9:15-17.
   • Tell the class these verses remind us that a testament (such as a will) is not in force until the one making it dies.
   • Read Hebrews 9:18-22.
   • Ask: “What must be shed for sin to be paid for and purged?” (blood).
   • Summarize: Jesus Christ is our great high priest, who shed His sinless blood to purchase our eternal redemption.
4. Christ’s Superior Sacrifice Never Needs to be Repeated.
   • Tell the class verse 23 says the earthly Tabernacle was purified with animal blood, but the heavenly Tabernacle required a better sacrifice.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 9:24.
   • Ask: “That verse says Christ did not enter into the earthly Tabernacle. Where did He go?” (into heaven to the very presence of God).
   • Ask: “Why did Jesus Christ do that?” (He did it for us).
   • Tell the students once again that Christ took His blood into heaven and offered it in the heavenly Tabernacle.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 9:25-26. Ask: “Did Christ offer Himself often?” (no).
   • Ask: “How many times did Jesus sacrifice Himself?” (once).
   • Ask: “What did His sacrifice accomplish?” (it put away our sin – paid for it so we no longer owe a debt).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Hebrews 9:27-28.
   • Tell the class verse 27 is very well known and often quoted.
   • Ask: “How many times will you die?” (once).
   • Ask: “According to verse 28, how many times did Jesus die to pay for our sins?” (once).
   • Write “Christ’s Superior Sacrifice Never Needs to be Repeated” on the board.
   • Summarize: Christ’s superior sacrifice was a one-time event that never needs to be repeated.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Review the three important facts about Christ’s superior sacrifice by reading the statements written on the board.

Remind everyone of the hypothetical situation about someone paying off all of their debts.  If someone did that for them, it would be silly to continue making payments.  In the same way, Christ died on the cross once to pay the complete sin debt for everyone who comes to Him by faith.  Since Jesus Christ has done this once and forever, it is silly and pointless to continue to try to pay our sin debt for ourselves.

Say: “If you have never trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, then His one-time and complete payment has not been applied to your sin debt.  You still owe it and nothing you can ever do will pay it off.  Jesus is the only one who can take pay off your sin debt.”

Stress the fact that sin separates us from God – we can never be right with God as long as there is still a sin debt on our account.  Ask: “Do you want your sin debt removed so you can be in fellowship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ?”

Explain to the students that if they want Christ’s superior sacrifice to pay for their sin, that is because the Lord is drawing them to salvation.  Tell them they should confess their sin to God, admit that they can’t pay off their sin debt, and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive them and give them eternal life.  Urge any who have never done that to do it right now.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Ask them to confess their sin and ask Christ to save them.  Voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Urge any who have trusted Christ for salvation to make that public this morning.  Ask everyone to memorize Hebrews 9:12.