Setting Captives Free
We must get used to tying our consciences in to the blood of Jesus, not allowing them to be tied to our sin. We do this by always “finishing our sentences” with gospel truth. Friend, never leave a dangling sentence, a half-sentence, an incomplete sentence or a half-truth. Always finish your sentences!
So, we saw from Hebrews 9:11-14 the fulfillment of the cleansing part of Jeremiah 33:7-8; that Jesus Christ came to the cross for the purpose of cleansing us so deeply that even our consciences would be clean.
Let’s continue reading in Hebrews 9 to see how Jesus’ death on the cross sets the captives free:
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.
Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)
Question 7. According to Hebrews 9:15, why did Jesus die as a ransom?
A ransom is a price paid to recover someone taken captive. So, if the price is paid the captive is released.
Please stand together with me as together we face the cross of Jesus Christ. Look up - tell me what you see. Do you see blood pouring from the wounds of Jesus? He is paying the ransom price, paying with His own blood, purchasing you back from the kingdom of darkness.
And do you see Jesus hanging there having given up His Spirit for you? He has died as a ransom to set you free from all sins committed under the Law. Whatever Old Covenant laws (any of the 10 commandments) you have broken, Jesus has paid for them all with His very life’s blood, the purpose of which is to set you free!
And if we were to go to Jesus’ tomb early Sunday morning, we would see that it is empty. Just as death had no power over Him and He left it behind, sin no longer has power over us, and we can leave it behind.
The fountain was opened to cleanse us from sin and impurity, and the ransom price was paid to set us free! This is the importance of Washing at the cross, it sets captives free.
Understand this, friend, your sin was defiling and destroying your life; but when Jesus cleanses you and sets you free, He also restores, heals and makes new (read about it in Isaiah 61:1-4 NIV). We will talk more about this in later lessons.