9/9/22

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:11-15‬.

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.

Paul writes that the former system of sacrifices has been replaced by the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We are told “Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God” (v. 14). Christ died and was raised that we might be made clean again to enter the presence of God.

The difference between ceremonial sacrifice and that of Jesus is that He had a choice. While He prayed that God might spare Him the suffering of the cross, His prayer ended with “Thy will be done”. Jesus made a conscious decision to obey and laid down His life for us.

Every day we must make the decision to take up our cross and follow Him. Because God gave us free will to choose for ourselves, we are not forced to obey, but invited to join together as forgiven and eternal souls. The blood of Jesus has cleansed us from sin, now we are blessed to be heirs of the kingdom along with Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our savior, Jesus Christ. May we become the people You intend, sharing the love You have shown us with everyone. Amen.

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