Freedom and Cleansing Through Christ's Sacrifice

The longing to be clean is something we all know, whether it’s the physical grime of a hard day’s work or the deeper, more troubling sense of moral defilement that comes from guilt and shame. We’ve all had moments when we felt so weighed down by our failures that we wondered if anyone truly knew us, they’d turn away. Yet, the good news is that God, in His love, has provided a way for us to be cleansed—not just on the outside, but in the deepest places of our hearts. Through the book of Hebrews, we see that Jesus, our great High Priest, entered not an earthly tabernacle, but the very presence of God, offering His own blood to secure eternal redemption for us.

The old sacrificial system, with its rituals and offerings, could only cleanse the outside. It allowed people to return to worship, but it could not reach the conscience or remove the stain of sin from the heart. Jesus’ sacrifice is far greater. His blood cleanses our conscience, freeing us from dead works so that we can serve the living God. This is not a physical ritual, but a spiritual reality: when we trust in the power of Jesus’ blood, our sins are truly forgiven, and we are made right with God.

This freedom is not just for the moment of salvation, but for every day. When we sin, we confess, we seek forgiveness, and we trust that Jesus’ blood has separated our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. We are called to walk in the light, to serve God with a clean conscience, and to live in the freedom Christ has purchased for us. Yet, many still carry guilt and shame, doubting whether they are truly forgiven. The answer is not to look inward, but to look to the cross and trust that Jesus’ sacrifice is enough.

We are also given an eternal inheritance—life with God forever—secured by the blood of Christ. This removes the fear of eternity and assures us that our future is safe in His hands. Finally, this great salvation should fill us with gratitude, not just in eternity, but now. There is no other way we could be saved; the only response is to live daily in thankfulness for the wonder-working power of the blood of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Deepest Cleansing: True cleansing is not just about outward appearance or ritual purity, but about the transformation of the heart and conscience. Jesus’ blood reaches where no earthly sacrifice could, removing the guilt and shame that weigh us down and giving us a new identity as forgiven children of God. [45:34]
• 2. Freedom from Guilt and Shame: Many believers continue to carry burdens of past sins, even after confessing them. The call is to trust fully in the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice—when we lay our sins at His feet, they are covered, and we are free to walk in the light, no longer defined by our failures but by His redemption. [57:38]
• 3. Assurance of Eternal Inheritance: The promise of eternal life is not based on our feelings or performance, but on the finished work of Christ. Even when we fear the unknowns of eternity or doubt our place in God’s family, we are called to rest in the security of Jesus’ blood, which has purchased our inheritance once and for all. [63:27]
• 4. Grateful Living Begins Now: Eternal gratitude is not just a future reality in heaven, but a present calling. Recognizing that there is no other way to be saved except through Jesus’ sacrifice should move us to daily thankfulness, shaping our attitudes, worship, and service. [67:53]
• 5. Faith Over Feelings: Like William Cooper, we may struggle with persistent feelings of guilt, shame, or even depression. Yet, our confidence is not in our emotions, but in the objective truth of Christ’s atoning blood. Even when our hearts condemn us, God’s promise stands: the blood of Jesus is powerful enough to cleanse us completely. [70:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:30] - Opening Prayer and Heart Preparation
• [30:12] - Introduction: The Need to Be Clean
• [32:50] - Personal Stories of Feeling Dirty
• [35:18] - The Weight of Internal Guilt
• [36:37] - Jesus Cleanses the Heart
• [37:19] - Reading Hebrews 9:11-22
• [39:50] - The Power of the Everlasting Covenant
• [41:10] - Old vs. New Covenant: The Superiority of Christ
• [44:59] - Outward vs. Inward Cleansing
• [46:19] - How Jesus Accomplished Eternal Redemption
• [49:48] - The Power of the Blood Explained
• [53:44] - Living in Freedom from Condemnation
• [57:38] - Trusting Christ with Our Guilt
• [60:54] - Eternal Inheritance and Freedom from Fear
• [64:41] - Gratefulness for the Sacrifice of Christ
• [68:30] - Examining Our Trust in the Blood
• [69:08] - The Story of William Cooper
• [71:06] - Faith Over Feelings: The Power of the Blood
• [72:35] - Invitation to Respond and Closing Remarks

Bible Reading

Hebrews 9:11-22 (ESV) —
> 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 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. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Observation Questions

1. According to Hebrews 9:13-14, what is the difference between the cleansing provided by the old sacrifices and the cleansing provided by Jesus’ blood?
2. In the sermon, what examples did the pastor give to help us understand the feeling of being “dirty” or in need of cleansing? [[32:50]]
3. What does the passage say is required for forgiveness of sins? (See verse 22)
4. What does the author of Hebrews say Jesus accomplished by entering the “greater and more perfect tabernacle”? [[37:19]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the author of Hebrews emphasize that Jesus’ sacrifice cleanses our conscience, not just our outward actions? How does this relate to our experience of guilt and shame? [[45:34]]
2. The sermon mentions that many believers still carry guilt and shame even after confessing their sins. What might be the reason for this, according to the message? [[57:38]]
3. How does the promise of an “eternal inheritance” through Jesus’ blood affect the way a believer views their future and eternity? [[01:03:27]]
4. The story of William Cooper was shared as an example. What does his life teach us about the difference between feelings and the truth of Christ’s sacrifice? [[01:10:27]]

Application Questions

1. The pastor described times when he felt physically dirty and just wanted to be clean. Can you think of a time when you felt “dirty” on the inside—burdened by guilt or shame? How did you try to deal with it? [[35:18]]
2. When you confess your sins, do you find it hard to believe that you are truly forgiven? What keeps you from fully trusting that Jesus’ blood has covered your sin? [[57:38]]
3. Are there specific sins or failures from your past that you still feel ashamed of, even though you have brought them to God? What would it look like to “lay them at Jesus’ feet” and walk in freedom? [[58:56]]
4. The sermon says that our freedom in Christ is not just for the moment of salvation, but for every day. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself daily that you are cleansed and free to serve God? [[55:38]]
5. The message challenges us to live with daily gratitude for what Jesus has done. What is one way you can express thankfulness to God this week—in your prayers, your attitude, or your actions? [[01:07:53]]
6. If you struggle with fear about eternity or doubt your place in God’s family, what steps can you take to rest in the security of Jesus’ finished work? [[01:03:27]]
7. The story of William Cooper shows that feelings of guilt or depression do not change the truth of Christ’s sacrifice. How can you encourage yourself or someone else to trust God’s promise over their feelings? [[01:10:27]]