“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance”–Hebrews 9:15.
Several very important truths are taught in this one verse of Holy Scripture. (1) Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the Mediator of the new testament, the new covenant. Sinners need someone who can rightfully approach God in their behalf. A lawyer, one who will stand between God and men and plead their cause. ‘There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus’ (1 Tim. 2:5). (2) Also, in Hebrews 9:15, we see that the saints who were under the first testament, the old covenant, were redeemed the same way that new testament saints are redeemed; by the death of Jesus Christ. God’s elect, who were under the old covenant, knew that the blood of animals could never take away their sins. By God-given faith they saw that the animal sacrifices pointed to the coming Messiah, the Lamb of God. They looked forward to that day when the fountain for sin and uncleanness would be opened (Zech. 13:1). (3) Moreover, in the verse listed above, the promise of eternal inheritance is mentioned. This inheritance is in Christ, because all the promises of God are in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). It could be said, and rightfully so, that Christ Himself is our inheritance. David said, in Psalm 16:5, ‘The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance ..’. Jesus Christ is Jehovah God, the Lord Who is the inheritance of all His people. And everything in Christ and heaven above is included in this inheritance. (4) This inheritance is eternal, reaching back to old eternity, showing us that the eternal God predestinated it (Eph. 1:11); and reaching forward to all eternity to come because it will never fade away (1 Peter 1:4). (5) In addition, our text above teaches us that this inheritance is a promise that God Himself made, and God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18). (6) But only those who are called according to God’s eternal purpose will receive this inheritance(Rom. 8:28-30). How do I know if God has called me? If you believe the gospel, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures, God has called you. And the Lord Jesus Christ, whose voice we MUST hear, a voice that speaks to the heart, will make sure that ALL for whom He died does know!