Better Promises : WK 4 - WED
Hebrews 9:11-28
So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect.
That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Trying to be healthy is a constant struggle. I have battled with my weight all my life. The rollercoaster of losing and gaining weight has never stopped running in my life. The victory over my appetite has never been gained.
I have tried so many approaches and even my greatest success hasn’t been easy or permanent. To this day, it is a fight to stay healthy. Don’t you wish that our greatest scientific minds would finally figure out why it is so hard to say no to unhealthy food and say yes to exercise? That they would get together with the funding of all the governments of the world and invent the magic pill or the perfect diet that would stop obesity once and for all. What a glorious day that would be. (I won’t hold my breath, unless I’m walking by a donut shop.)
In the old sacrificial system in the tabernacle it was necessary to constantly make animal sacrifices. To pay for sins it was necessary for an animal to die.
“For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22
That was the only solution. Until Jesus decided to give his life. Now, because of the power of the blood of Christ, there is no need for more animal sacrifices. The Lamb of God gave his perfect blood “once for all time.” The ultimate sacrifice that makes any future sacrifices unnecessary.
So there may never be a solution for the weight problem, but there is a solution to the sin problem. Praise the Lord!
So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect.
That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.
For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Trying to be healthy is a constant struggle. I have battled with my weight all my life. The rollercoaster of losing and gaining weight has never stopped running in my life. The victory over my appetite has never been gained.
I have tried so many approaches and even my greatest success hasn’t been easy or permanent. To this day, it is a fight to stay healthy. Don’t you wish that our greatest scientific minds would finally figure out why it is so hard to say no to unhealthy food and say yes to exercise? That they would get together with the funding of all the governments of the world and invent the magic pill or the perfect diet that would stop obesity once and for all. What a glorious day that would be. (I won’t hold my breath, unless I’m walking by a donut shop.)
In the old sacrificial system in the tabernacle it was necessary to constantly make animal sacrifices. To pay for sins it was necessary for an animal to die.
“For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22
That was the only solution. Until Jesus decided to give his life. Now, because of the power of the blood of Christ, there is no need for more animal sacrifices. The Lamb of God gave his perfect blood “once for all time.” The ultimate sacrifice that makes any future sacrifices unnecessary.
So there may never be a solution for the weight problem, but there is a solution to the sin problem. Praise the Lord!
- What is a problem you seem to face consistently?
- Jesus was willing to give his life to solve the sin problem for you. What feelings does that evoke?
- Take some time to imagine Jesus on the cross. Take a moment of prayer to thank him for His sacrifice for you.
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