9:14 Who is the "eternal spirit" referred to here?
9:14 Who is the "eternal spirit" referred to here?
Most Christians believe this is the Holy Spirit, but there are also many who believe it refers to Christ's own "eternal spirit" (in the sense of an endless life (CP 7:16)).
They believe that this contrasts with the transitory life of the animal sacrifices which, having no will of their own, were not able to agree with the act of sacrifice, whereas Christ offered Himself with His own consent, assisting and empowering the sacrifice.
That is why His blood is more efficacious for sinners than the blood of animal sacrifices. And that may be so, but the real point of He 9:14 is the efficacy of Christ's blood, not through which spirit it was offered, and that should be all that concerns us.
God's justice was satisfied and His righteousness vindicated only by Christ's sacrificial death and the shedding of His blood (CP Ac 13:38-39; Ro 5:1-2).
Only Christ's blood can purge the conscience from dead works. Dead works refer to acts not done out of love for God in the repentant sinners old way of life, hence they are fruitless and sinful (CP Ro 6:23; He 6:1).