Lately, I have been reading Hebrews and chapter 9 has got me all fired up and passionate!
In the beginning, it talks about the Earthly Sanctuary.
- This was a copy of the real sanctuary.
- There were regulations for worship.
- It was law-based.
- It consisted of an outer room (The Holy Place).
- It also had an inner room (The Most Holy Place).
In the outer room…priests entered regularly and carried on with their minsitry.
In the inner room…only the high priest entered, entrance was once a year and never without blood.
The Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle (the earthly one) was still standing.
The Blood of Christ:
Christ, the High Priest, went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is NOT man-made.
He entered ONCE for ALL, by his own blood, and obtained eternal redemption.
The blood of animlas, used in the earthly tabernacle, only made one outwardly clean.
The blood of Jesus cleansed our consciences…our innermost being. (So we could serve God)
We have been set free through his death, so we can receive the promised eternal inheritance.
(So not only are we redeemed and forgiven, we get eternal life, AND an inheritance that will last forever!)
This part also rocked me:
-A will is in force ONLY when somebody has died, and there must be proof of death (blood).
So when one says Your will be done….
It’s not just (God whatever you think is best), but His actual “will” through the blood of Jesus….the promise of an eternal inheritance. (This is so awesome!)
Jesus came to FULFILL the law.
The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Christ did not enter the man-made copy.
He entered Heaven itself, to appear for us in God’s presence.
This is why he told his disciples:
John 16:7
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
It was better for us, not only because he gave us the Holy Spirit, but so he could intercede on our behalf in the presence of God.
He has appeared ONCE for ALL at the end of the ages, to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Just like we die once and then face judgement…
He died once (bearing our sins).
He will appear a second time, this time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
AMEN!
