Now we move on to chapter nine.
CHAPTER NINE
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Keep in mind the reason that Saint Paul assembled this sermon was to disuade Jewish Christians from apostasy. The preacher gives a concise description of the worship of the Old Testament. The various components of the Old Covenant Tabernacle foreshadowed the the coming New Covenant that was coming. But the preacher points out that the foreshadow is inferior to the thing foreshadowed. The priests of the Tabernacle and the Temple that followed it are not allowed into the Holiest of Holies in the course of their ministry. Only the high priest could enter, and then only once per year, to bring in the blood of the sacrificial lamb to atone for sin.
On the other hand, the New Covenant has only one priest, the High Priest, Jesus Christ, and everyone can enter into the Holiest of Holies in Heaven through Him. The difference is profound. Also the sacrifice of a lamb every year is no longer required because the High Priest is the Lamb of God, and He sacrificed Himself once for all time. This means the New Covenant is already complete in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and by His ascension, Jesus has the ear of God the Father continually.
Do you find yourself looking for ways to earn your salvation by doing things in a religious way or following some religious formula external to the Gospel of Christ? Perhaps you are trying to prove yourself more worthy of salvation than some sinners you have seen. Don’t kid yourself. You aren’t fooling God. The only thing required of the saved is love. And none of us are worthy of salvation. It is the mercy and grace of God that imparts to us the worthiness of Jesus Himself that makes us able to be saved. If you resist that salvation, what other way can there be to salvation, seeing that God made only One Way, Truth and Life.
I ask with the preacher: For if the blood of bulls and of goats [...] sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Shouldn’t we all be purged?
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