Hebrews 9
Scripture
Vs 11 … when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come …
Vs 12 he entered once for all into the holy places by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Vs 14 … how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Vs 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance
Vs 24 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.
Vs 26 … he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Observation
The author is clearly hammering home the beautiful significance of the Temple.
But as beautiful as the Temple is, it is not of ultimate significance.
There is something greater … or Someone.
Of all the details the author writes of the temple, and there are many, he emphasizes that Christ is the greater, better, perfect version of each of the temple details.
The Holy Place … Christ is now the Holy Place.
The High Priest … Christ is now the High Priest.
The Blood … Christ is now the blood.
The presence of God … Christ is now the Presence of God.
Application
Fortunately, the author doesn’t just list all the “facts” of Christ being the actual better version of Temple elements.
The author also gives the reader the “effect” of Christ being Who he is!
Because of Christ actually living out all the acts of the temple, I now have …
A “secure eternal redemption”!
A “purified conscience”!
A “promised eternal inheritance”!
A “presence of God”!
And “sin put away”!
It doesn’t get better than this.
So the question becomes … Am I living like these things are a reality?
Do I worry about “doing enough” day to day? … or Am I secure in my eternal redemption?
Do I perform “religious habits” out of obligation? … or Is my conscience pure to serve the Lord?
Do I crave “more” of something today? … Or Can I rest in pleasant anticipation of an eternal inheritance?
Do I get either “bored” or “anxious” in the day to day monotony? … Or can I see ever growing beauty in “the presence of the Lord”?
Are there sins I continue to fight? … Or Do I live knowing that my “sin is put away”?
I have much to continually celebrate that Christ has come and what Christ has done!
Prayer
Thank You, God, for Your Word!
Help me see You in it every day
Help me live out the Truth that it is
Help me spirit be grateful for Christ always
In Jesus name,
Amen