Thursday, November 8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2018

"When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.  But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.  The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.  This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.  They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order." (Hebrews 9:6-10)

The author of Hebrews explains in this mid-section about the nature of the earthly sacrificial system and that of the New Covenant.  He highlights the insufficiency of the priests and the system they follow:  its inability to "clear the conscience of the worshiper."  In short, this system only temporarily addressed the sins of the people, whereas Christ appeared once and brought lasting cleansing from sin.

Why could Jesus have brought about this effective salvation?  Because He served not in the earthly tabernacle, but in the heavenly one.  Hebrews 9:23-26 rounds out our understanding:  "It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.  Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.  Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself."

For us, these words may lack the depth of meaning for the original readers.  We may have grown up in a Christian environment, where we might take these truths for granted.  Yet, the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ for sins that we absolutely committed, motivated by a love for us, who had rejected and despised Him, is nothing short of amazing.  This reflection has led to great praise among people on this earth, and its choruses will ring in heaven forever.

This chapter of Hebrews emphasizes the all-sufficiency of Christ's salvation.  So often, we desire to add onto God's plan with our own prescriptions.  Instead, however, it appears that focusing on Christ's all-sufficiency leads to a heart ready to worship God, to live in gratitude, to love other people, and to share this awesome message.  How much have you embraced this Gospel?  What difference will it make in your life today?

Lord God, thank You for the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ.  Thank You for pointing so clearly to the reality of the New Covenant and for allowing us to participate in it.  Help us to reflect on all Your goodness to us and to avoid adding non-Biblical concepts to Christ's sacrifice.  Conform our lives to Your will and transform our hearts and minds so that we may be better able to love You, to love people, and to make disciples.  Raise up workers for Your harvest field in Stamford and its surrounding communities.  In Jesus's Name, amen.