Lesson 29


The Epistle to the Hebrews

World English Bible translation

 Today's Scripture

9:11 But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 9:12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?


Today's Lesson   

There were two tabernacles. Moses was given the dimensions and specification to build a tabernacle that the Israelites carried with them from place to place in their wilderness wanderings. In this tabernacle Aaron, the first high priest, offered gifts and sacrifices to God in the name of the people. The priest of Israel, Sons of Levi, came into the Holy place and daily offered sacrifices for the people. On the Day of Atonement Aaron would enter the Holy of Holies. The first time he would offer the blood of a bull for his own sins and the sins of his family. The second time he would offer the blood of a goat for the sins of the people.

 

This tabernacle was patterned after another. In the wilderness, the wind blew, peppering the cloth of the tabernacle with the dirt and the grime of the road. The sun beat down upon it and faded the material. But this tabernacle was only a shadow of the tabernacle that was the greater and more perfect tabernacle that God had made. It was in this perfect tabernacle that Christ entered after he had offered up His own blood.

 

Christ entered the Holy Place of the heavenly tabernacle after He had obtained redemption. He did not enter this tabernacle to offer a sacrifice. His sacrifice had already been offered to God and accepted by Him. Christ entered into the Holy of Holies, into the very throne of God, and instead of offering a sacrifice there He sat down. Jesus had died accused by the Law. But, after being raised by the power of God, He entered the Most Holy Place and sat down in a position of power and authority. In this manner God showed that the sacrifice of His blood and His life was completely accepted and completely effective against sin.

 

By the blood of bulls and goats God covered sin under the Law of Moses. God cleansed the flesh through these ordinances, but they had to be repeated over and over. The flesh is weak and repeatedly succumbs to sin. But the blood of Christ cleanses the sinner completely. The blood of Christ cleanses the conscience because Christ offers complete forgiveness. By one sacrifice, all sin is forgiven. By His one sacrifice Jesus cleaned all those who will be saved. We do not need to return over and over to ask forgiveness for our sin. Christ offers complete forgiveness once and for all time.

 

The sacrifice that Jesus offered is more effective than the sacrifice of bulls and goats because the One that was offered up is more precious to God than any bull or goat could ever be. This was the very Son of God. This was the Lamb that God had provided. It was a Lamb without blemish. A perfect sacrifice.

 

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in history. We cannot overemphasize it. We cannot rely on it too much. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a mystery that we will never be able to completely explore. It can only be accepted by faith. Only through the power of the Spirit can it be confirmed in the life of those that God has chosen.

 

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