Sermon Date: September 24th, 2023

Reflections on Sunday’s Sermon

Below is a reference to the section of the New City Catechism that we went over on Sunday:

The New City Catechism

Lord’s Day 39

With What Attitude Should We Pray?
With love, perseverance, and gratefulness; in humble submission to God’s will, knowing that, for the sake of Christ, he always hears our prayers. (Philippians 4:6)

Scripture

Hebrews 9:15-22 - (English Standard Version)

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Understanding and Applying

1. One Plan: Who does Jesus save given that he is the mediator of the new covenant (v. 15; Revelation 13:8)?

• How does your answer help you understand the purpose of the Mosaic Covenant and how Old Testament saints were saved (Hebrews 4:2, 11:1)?

2. A Will: What is essential for the new covenant promises (Hebrews 8:10-12) to be made available to those who are called (vv. 16-18)?

   
   

• Assurance: Why can you be confident that these promises are yours forevermore—not potentially but absolutely (John 6:47, 19:34; Hebrews 9:12)?

• Inconsistent: What are some things that we say or do that suggest that we are relying on other means, as opposed to Christ’s blood alone, to obtain these promises?