15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
My Life Application Bible says this about today's verse...
People in Old Testament times were saved through Christ's sacrifice,although that sacrifice had not yet happened. In offering unblemished animal sacrifices, they were anticipating Christ's coming and his death for sin. There was no point in returning to the sacrificial system now that Christ had come and had become the final, perfect sacrifice.
Christ's sacrificial death is what qualified Him to become the mediator of the new and better covenant.
The Old Testament saints were granted forgiveness "on credit" so to speak. God forgave them, knowing that Christ would be the perfect sacrifice. In the past, God saved them knowing Christ would bear their sins in the future. Now God saves us knowing Christ bore our sins in the past.
According to MacArthur, OT saints went to Sheol when they died (because Jesus had not died yet), and according to Ephesians 4:8,9 after Jesus' death He gathered those saints from Sheol and brought them into the presence of God. That's also what v15 is referring to here.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Hebrews 9:16-22
1 comment:
Interesting.
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