What does Hebrews 9:22 reveal about God's holiness and justice? Setting the Verse in Context Hebrews 9:22: “According to the law, nearly everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The Holiness of God Highlighted • Holiness means absolute moral purity. • Sin cannot stand in His presence (Habakkuk 1:13). • The repeated need for blood in the Old Covenant underscores how serious even one sin is before a perfectly holy God (Isaiah 6:3; Leviticus 11:44). The Justice of God Upheld • Justice demands that wrongdoing be paid for (Romans 6:23). • “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” shows that pardon is never casual or cheap. • God’s justice requires a life-for-life payment; blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11). The Necessity of Bloodshed • Blood sacrifices throughout the Old Testament—lambs, bulls, goats—pointed to sin’s cost (Exodus 12:13; Leviticus 16:15-16). • These sacrifices were temporary, teaching tools until the ultimate sacrifice arrived (Hebrews 10:1-4). • The principle: sin merits death, so only death can satisfy divine justice. Christ’s Fulfillment of the Requirement • Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, offered His own blood once for all (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:12). • At the cross, holiness and justice met perfectly—sin was punished, sinners were offered mercy (Romans 3:25-26). • His resurrection confirms the payment was accepted (Romans 4:25). Practical Implications for Believers • Confidence: forgiveness rests on Christ’s finished work, not personal effort (Ephesians 1:7). • Worship: recognizing the cost of salvation inspires reverence and gratitude (1 Peter 1:18-19). • Purity: those cleansed by such precious blood pursue holy living (1 John 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24). |
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