Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22 ESV)
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Hebrews 9:24 ESV)
I really like how this book looks to tie the old and new testaments and go through the differences and promises of each covenant. It just ties it in so well for me when talking about the bloodshed required for the forgiveness of sins and the temporary job that the old sacrifices did and what Christ giving his life did for us. I think it also does the really important job in verse 24 of giving us a better understanding of what it really means for Jesus to intercede on our behalf.
so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28 ESV)
This last verse was a good reminder for me that when he comes again will be a day of judgement. He already made the sacrifice of taking away our sins. That isn't what will happen then but instead, he will come to judge.
I really enjoy being able to share this from Joshua 1:9
ReplyDelete[Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.]
If you remember the Carnival Triumph cruise ship that was tugged to Mobile, AL after spending 5 days unable to sail at sea, a passenger was being interviewed and she shared this passage on the news. I believe that this is something we all need to be reminded of every once in a while. It's so easy to get caught up in the worries and fears of this world that we often forget who is master and is in control.
Another verse that comes to mind is Psalm 55:22 which says "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you: he will never permit the righteous to be moved." Often we fall on to either two extremes, doing too much (legalism) and not doing enough (liberalism). Knowing that God is with you and that He will sustain you in order that you might do the work that He wants you to do is how best to live.
This passage really impressed on me the truth of how sacred God is. Not many things in this world are sacred anymore. In the media, and the world at large, fewer things are off limits and everything is slowly decaying. This is the price of sin: death. Nothing in this world can last, it is all a shadow of its heavenly nature. Even the more revered artifacts of the Tabernacle did not hold the same fullness as they do in Heaven.
ReplyDelete"For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." Hebrews 9:24
Then in comparison, we have the perfect savior. Jesus goes before God's presence in Heaven and is able to fully atone for our sins. In a world where so few things are sacred, this is really a very amazing act. I hope this serves as a reminder for how grave our sin is and how steep the cost of atonement, but also how great is our Savior.
"Just as it is appointed that human beings doe once, and after this the judgement, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him." Hebrews 9:27-28
ReplyDeleteWhen Christ comes again, he will bring salvation tho all those who early await him. He already died to take away sin, but when he appears a second time, he will be coming to unite himself with his bride, the Church. The church of all of those who await him. How eagerly do we await God? How much are we interested in his return as opposed to how much we are trying to continue on in our day to day lives inconvenience free? I pray that we grow toward Christ constantly because if we are growing toward the truth, we are pursuing Christ and if we are pursuing Him, there is no better way to be awaiting Him.
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. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
ReplyDelete(Hebrews 9:15-17 ESV)
I love this passage because it clearly states Christ's will for us is to be forgiven our sins. This was his deathbed wish! As such for his will to become reality, he had to die. God is good that he loves us so much!
For Christ has entered, not into holy places hmade with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
ReplyDelete- Hebrews 9:24-28 -
I feel like this comes up over and over again throughout Hebrews, emphasizing the importance of this concept that we are free from this bondage from sin because of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. I think this is why it is so important for us to realize that it is through God's mercy we are saved not through our works. And it is so assuring to know that, if we obey His words, His commandments, His will, and His love, we are to be rewarded with unimaginable amount of blessings: the eternal Heaven. And again, it doesn't matter how much work we do or what we do, but Christ will come again and He will save those who are faithful. This should encourage us to live life full of Christ not full of ourselves.
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.
ReplyDeleteChrist only had to come once. For all of humanity in all of history, he only had to come once. And his one sacrifice bought him eternal entrance into the holy of holies. And bought it for us too.