Purposes of Christ's Death: Hebrews 9:15

This is another reposting from a series of posts examining the statements of purpose that scripture gives us regarding the death of Christ. You can find the other posts from this series by clicking on the purposes of Christ’s death label at the end of this post.

Next up in our list of purpose statements is the one in Hebrews 9:15:

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were {committed} under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (NASB)

This verse is similar to the text we looked at in the post on Galatians 3:13-14, and I considered grouping the two texts together, but since I think there are a couple of new things added here, I decided this text is worthy of it’s own post.

So what is the purpose statement in this verse? When we see the phrase “For this reason,” we automatically think this must be pointing out a purpose statement. However, there is a real possibility that this phrase is looking backward rather than forward, showing the connection between this verse and the one before it. If so, then “for this reason” means “because of this” instead of “for this purpose,” and it is saying that because of the death of Christ mentioned in the previous verse, Christ is the mediator of the new covenant. The ESV translates to show the connection this way.

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.

But even if we don’t take “for this reason” to be a purpose statement, there is still a purpose statement here: so that…those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Christ is the mediator of a new covenant through His death, so that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

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Belated Yet Again

Yesterday was Youngest Daughter’s birthday, so I’m wishing her blog birthday greetings. True to form, they are belated greetings, although I was not so negligent in real life. Real life just got away from me yesterday, and the blog was neglected, but the girl wasn’t.

 

Here she is at four. She had just discovered the game of Candy Land. Every day, right after her nap, she would carefully set up her Candy Land game on the chest she’s sitting on in the photo. Then as soon as her father walked in the door after his day’s work, she would rope him into a game. How could he say no? If you’ve ever played Candy Land, though, you know how much he’d have preferred to do anything else.

 

Recently I had a conversation about coddled kids whose parents have never let them lose at anything, so they have skewed expectations for how things ought to go for them in life. In our house, teaching the child to lose at games was their father’s job. Here’s a little word of free advice to dads who want to follow his example: When you pick a game to use to teach your little one the skill of losing, choose checkers, or Chinese checkers, or Jenga, or pick-up sticks.  Never, ever, choose Candy Land.  At least if you want to keep your sanity.

 

So here are belated twenty-third birthday greeting to Youngest Daughter, the sweet little girl who drove her dad crazy with her Candy Land game.

Appetizers All Around

This month’s recipe roundup will be held at Hiraeth.  Kim says,

… in May we’re calling for easy, delicious (and possibly impressive) appetizers. (The best appetizers are easy, delicious, AND impressive, right?)

Here are a few of the details, but you should read the whole spiel:

• Date of Appetizer Round Up:  Wednesday, May 16
• Deadline for entries:  For inclusion in the first draft of the round up, have your recipe in to Kim before 8AM CDT May 16.  However, entries are accepted throughout the day until the final draft at 8PM CDT May 16.
• Recipe eligibility:  Any recipe that fits the appetizer category is eligible—old post, new post, someone else’s post.  Even unbloggers can enter!
• How you can help:  First, spread the word of the round up to the readers of your blog, and then make sure to contribute a recipe when the time comes.  And finally, you might consider offering to host a future recipe round up.
  

Isn’t this fun?