WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2025

THE COVENANT OF BETTER THINGS

Author: CAC, Christian Education Department

MEMORISE: “To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24)

READ: Hebrews 9:18-24 (NKJV)

[18] Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. [19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, [20] saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” [21] Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. [22] And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. [23] Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

INTRODUCTION: GOD’S VALUE SYSTEM

All things—living and non-living, seen and unseen—are for God and from God (Colossians 1:16; Romans 11:36). While God is not parochial and there is no favoritism in Him concerning persons (Acts 10:34), His creation is ordered by a profound value system rooted in His holiness and eternal purpose. He sits in heaven and does what pleases Him, and certain spiritual principles are immutably fixed by His will.

One of those things that God places an immeasurably high, eternal value on is the blood of Jesus Christ, His Lamb who took away the sin of the world. The Bible declares an essential, non-negotiable principle: “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). This biological truth is the foundation of a greater spiritual truth: life is required to pay for death. Because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), the removal of sin requires the shedding of life—the shedding of blood.

The central drama of human existence is the search for a permanent, perfect atonement—a satisfactory payment for sin. The high value God places on Christ’s blood is the divine answer to this search. It is the hinge upon which eternal destiny turns. We must not take this sacrifice lightly; we must understand the depth of its value.

I. THE IMPERFECTION OF THE FIRST COVENANT (THE SHADOW)

The book of Hebrews meticulously draws a contrast between the Old Covenant, administered through Moses and the Aaronic priesthood, and the New Covenant, mediated by Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant served a crucial purpose: to teach Israel the gravity of sin and the necessity of sacrifice.

A. The Indispensable Principle: Blood for Remission

Our text confirms the foundational requirement of the Law: “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22).

This verse underscores the non-negotiable nature of God’s holiness. Sin creates a debt, and that debt must be paid with life. The Old Covenant was fundamentally a covenant of blood. Its ratification involved the sprinkling of the blood of calves and goats upon the scroll of the law, the people, the tabernacle, and all the vessels of ministry (Hebrews 9:19-21). This meant that everything—the covenant itself, the worshippers, and the place of worship—was set apart and made functional only through the application of blood.

B. The Limitation of Animal Blood

While the Old Covenant rituals were ordained by God, they were inherently limited. They were merely a shadow pointing to a greater reality (Hebrews 10:1).

Repetition: The sacrifices had to be performed continually, year after year, especially on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), indicating that the blood did not perfectly remove sin, but only covered it temporarily (Hebrews 10:3-4). The constant repetition served as a continual reminder of sin, not its final removal.

Impersonality: The blood of bulls and goats could never truly atone for the sin of a human soul because the animal was not a moral, spiritual being. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4).

External Cleansing: Animal blood purified the flesh externally, allowing access to the earthly sanctuary, but it could not purify the conscience—the inner spiritual core of the worshipper. The worshipper still felt the guilt and burden of sin.

The system was beautiful, solemn, and essential, but it was incomplete. It was a promissory note that only the blood of the Son of God could finally pay. This sets the stage for God’s ultimate value proposition: the blood of His own Son.

II. THE ULTIMATE VALUE: THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

God placed high value on Jesus’ blood because it was not the blood of an animal, or a prophet, or an angel. It was the pure, holy, eternal life of the Son of God.

A. The Perfection of the Sacrifice

The superiority of Christ’s blood rests on three foundational truths:

Spotlessness of the Victim (Hebrews 9:14): The Old Testament required a sacrifice without blemish. Jesus Christ, as the eternal Son of God who lived a sinless life, was the only human who could meet this requirement perfectly. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). His blood is without spot—it is incorruptible, perfect, and utterly holy.

Eternity of the Spirit: Christ offered Himself “through the eternal Spirit.” The power of His sacrifice is not limited by time or history. It is an everlasting sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12). It never loses its efficacy; it never needs to be repeated. It is The One Sacrifice for all time.

Purging of the Conscience: Unlike animal blood, which only dealt with external defilement, the blood of Jesus has the power to purge your conscience from dead works. It removes the sense of guilt, the psychological burden, and the condemnation that paralyze a soul. By trusting in this blood, we find peace with God.

This single, perfect act of atonement elevates the blood of Jesus far above all created value.

B. The Covenant of Better Things

The climax of the value placed on Christ’s blood is found in our memory verse (Hebrews 12:24), which places it in direct contrast with the blood of the first martyr:

“…and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”

Abel’s Blood (The Cry of Retribution): When Cain murdered his brother Abel, the Bible says, “The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10). Abel’s blood, being the blood of an innocent victim, cried out to God for justice, vengeance, and retribution. It spoke of sin unpunished and demanded a reckoning.

Jesus’ Blood (The Voice of Reconciliation): The blood of sprinkling from Jesus speaks “better things.” When the Father looks upon the blood of His Son, He hears a voice crying out for:

- Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
- Peace: It declares the debt is paid and the war between God and man is over (Colossians 1:20).
- Access: It speaks of an open door into God’s presence.
- Mercy: It continually intercedes for grace and pardon.

The blood of Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant—a covenant built on the promise of grace and forgiveness, where sins are remembered no more (Hebrews 8:12). This is why God places such a high value on it: It is the only thing that justifies His mercy while upholding His justice.

III. THE HIGH PRIEST AND THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

The book of Hebrews reveals that Christ’s blood not only accomplished atonement on Earth, but it was also the instrument for His inauguration into His eternal ministry in Heaven.

A. Earthly Copy vs. Heavenly Original

The writer of Hebrews explains that the earthly Tabernacle and its rituals were merely “copies of the true” (Hebrews 9:23).

The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year with the blood of animals (Hebrews 9:7).
Christ, our Great High Priest, entered “heaven itself” (the true Holy of Holies) once and for all with His own blood (Hebrews 9:24).

The purification of the earthly copies (tabernacle, vessels) required the blood of animals. But the purification of “the heavenly things themselves”—the heavenly sanctuary and, by extension, the souls entering it—required a “better sacrifice.”

B. Christ Appears in God’s Presence for Us

“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;” (Hebrews 9:24).

This is the eternal, ongoing value of the blood. Christ did not just die; He rose and ascended to Heaven to take up the permanent role of our Intercessor and Advocate. When He appears in the presence of God the Father, He appears for us. He does not need to offer His blood again; the one offering is eternally effective. His very presence in Heaven, bearing the marks of His sacrifice, is the perpetual demonstration and application of the blood’s power.

This means the believer always has a guarantee, an eternal security, secured by the greatest sacrifice in the universe. If God highly values that blood, the believer is eternally safe within the boundaries of that covenant.

IV. ACTIVATING THE POWER OF THE BLOOD TODAY

The knowledge of the blood’s value is not merely academic; it must translate into active, faith-filled practice in our daily lives.

A. Remission and Cleansing (1 John 1:7)

The most immediate value of the blood is constant cleansing. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).

To “walk in the light” means living honestly before God, immediately confessing known sins. The moment a believer falls and immediately confesses (1 John 1:9), the blood of Jesus is applied, and the cleansing is instantaneous and total. It does not just forgive; it cleanses—it removes the impurity and the guilt, making the soul pure again.

Hymn Stanza 1: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! This is the confession of our utter dependence on its cleansing flow.

B. Victory Over the Accuser (Revelation 12:11)

The devil is called “the accuser of our brethren… which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10). His primary weapon against the believer is guilt and condemnation.

Our victory over this accuser is directly tied to the blood: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11).

When the enemy whispers accusations of past failures, the believer answers with the testimony of the blood: “I am forgiven. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all sin. My debt is paid.” The blood silences every charge.

C. Bold Access to God (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Under the Old Covenant, the Holy of Holies was shrouded in darkness and accessible only by the High Priest once a year. The blood of Jesus has torn the veil (Matthew 27:51), granting every believer full, confident access to God:

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.”

This means we can approach God’s throne of grace for mercy and help at any time (Hebrews 4:16). We do not need a human intermediary; the blood is our constant, confident pass. This boldness is not based on our worthiness, but on God’s value of the blood.

CONCLUSION: TRUSTING IN THE ETERNAL FLOW

God highly values the blood of His Son. This is not just a theological concept; it is the source of all our peace, pardon, and purpose. The blood is the ultimate expression of God’s love and the final testament to the efficacy of the cross.

Every believer is called to trust in Jesus‘ blood and find peace with God. This peace is not fragile; it is secured by the everlasting covenant ratified on Calvary. Do not look to your own efforts, good works, or religious rituals for justification—they are nought. Look only to the divine value placed on the life of Christ.

Hymn Stanza 4: This is all my hope and peace—Nothing but the blood of Jesus! This is all my righteousness—Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Let us therefore live in the light of this great sacrifice, continually praising God for the Lamb and His great and everlasting sacrifice. Let us confidently approach the throne, knowing that the blood of sprinkling continually speaks better things—eternal life, freedom, and reconciliation—over our lives.

PRAYER POINTS

Thank God for Jesus’ great and everlasting sacrifice. Lift up your voice and worship the Father for the perfection of Christ’s offering, which requires no repetition.

Lord Jesus, thank You for shedding Your holy blood on the Cross to redeem humanity. Declare the power of the blood over your life, your family, and your circumstances.

Pray for CAC Babalola Memorial International Miracle Camp, Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, the Camp Manager and the staff as led by the Spirit of God. Pray for divine covering, power, and the manifestation of God’s presence in every service and gathering, all secured by the blood of the Lamb.

SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY: CAC GHB: 494

7 8 7 8 7

What can wash away my sin?Nothing but the blood of Jesus!What can make me whole again?Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Chorus:

Oh precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow!

No other fount I know;

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

For my cleansing this I see—Nothing but the blood of Jesus!For my pardon this my plea—Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Nothing can for sin atone—Nothing but the blood of Jesus!Nought of good that I have done—Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my hope and peace—Nothing but the blood of Jesu!This is all my righteousnessNothing but the blood of Jesus!

Amen.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:

Acts 17—18:18

Stay blessed and fruitful for the glory of God.