May 20, 2002
BaptistWay Bible Study for Texas lesson for June 30
Christ has provided us a new relationship with God
___By Gerald Aalbers
___Hebrews 9:11-15, 24-10:4, 19-25
___9:11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
___15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. ...
___24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
___10:4 ... Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ...
___19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
___As I write this, I am in the process of moving. During a break, I glanced across the street to see my wife trimming her rose bushes. I thought to myself, now that is dedication. Then it dawned on me that just two days ago I trimmed the pom-pom juniper bushes in the front yard.
___Those bushes are part of a professional landscape at the parsonage of First Baptist Church in Claude which was acquired during my tenure by good stewardship. Our oldest son has a magna cum laude degree in horticulture with an emphasis in landscape architecture. He designed our landscape.
___A church member's brother acquired and delivered the plants at his dealer wholesale cost. Volunteers installed them. What could have been a $3,000 bill for the improvement actually cost the church about $400. The "curb appeal" of the parsonage was dramatically improved, and the house's value was correspondingly increased. Predictably, the uninformed thought we were spending too much money.
___So why are we still taking care of bushes when we will be moving soon anyway? Simply this: We like to take good care of what has been entrusted to us. Even though we have the guarantee that our present dwelling is soon to be history, at least for us, we still are the stewards of the place.
___The old covenant is like that. Even though it was merely a copy of things to come, those involved with it were required to take special care of the things of God. Even though it was temporary, as our house for us was, it had its purpose.
___Our lesson, covering Hebrews 9-10, shows we have a much better, thoroughly perfect way before us, and we should live in a new relationship with God. Because thoughts are interwoven throughout the passage, I must approach this lesson thematically.
___A shadow of better things to come
___Access to God and God's presence has always been important. The tabernacle stood for the presence and the dwelling of God among his people. However, that earthly (9:1), temporary structure was only a shadow, a copy of things to come (8:5; 9:24; 10:1).
___It was "earthly" because it was built of deteriorating materials from this world. A brief description of the Old Testament tabernacle is found in 9:1-5. If a more thorough study is desired, please see Exodus 25-31 and 35-40.
___The true sanctuary (8:2) is permanent--it is literally heaven itself. It is not man-made, nor is it a part of this creation, and it is therefore greater and more perfect (9:11, 24).
___Access to God under the old covenant was, at its very best, very limited and highly restricted. Everyone could enter the outer courtyard. But from that point on, you had to have the proper credentials. From among the priests, one man would be selected (Luke 1:9) who would enter the Holy Place daily (9:6).
___But the Holy of Holies could only be entered once a year (9:7), and that access was limited only to the high priest, who could only perform very specific duties while he was there (Leviticus 16). While there, smoke would conceal the mercy seat so he would not die (Leviticus 16:13). In the Holy of Holies, God was concealed from the one person who on the one day of the year could come before him.
___By contrast, when Jesus died, he did not enter a temporary dwelling. He went to heaven itself (9:24). When Jesus died, the veil separating the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was torn in two (Luke 23:45) giving open access to God.
___When we are in Christ Jesus, we are spiritually already in God's presence. Jesus took us with him into the inner sanctuary, and it is not a symbolic presence of God. We are actually seated in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). Therefore, we don't need to cower in God's presence, but we can approach the throne of grace with confidence (4:16). That's the ministry of Jesus.
___The need for a better, perfect sacrifice
___God's word is clear: "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (9:22).
___The old covenant had an elaborate sacrificial system (see Exodus 20--Numbers 36). Unfortunately, it was not adequate, for "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (10:4). Those sacrifices could not clear the conscience of the worshipper (9:9) and people still felt guilty (10:2). Even though they were repeated endlessly (9:25; 10:1), day after day, again and again (10:11), they just served as a reminder of sins (10:3) for which they could not atone (10:11).
___Even the most casual reading of Leviticus will clearly show that blood ran deep. Our writer even cites Psalm 40:6-8 (10:5-7) to prove God did not desire an animal sacrifice, nor was he pleased with burnt and sin offerings. They were merely external cleansings (9:10). Something more was needed to cleanse the conscience.
___John was right when he said, "Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). Jesus shed his own blood to obtain an eternal redemption for you and me (9:12). His death, which brought our atonement, is able to cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death (9:14).
___Is there any doubt whatsoever that the ministry of Jesus is far superior (8:6)? Jesus has become the mediator of a new covenant (9:15) that grants an eternal inheritance to us. There is not even a hint that inheritance could be here today and gone tomorrow. It's eternal. You have eternal security in Jesus. That new covenant is one God wrote upon our hearts (10:16).
___There also is finality to Jesus' sacrifice. He doesn't have to do it again and again (9:25). He sacrificed his life "once for all time" (9:26; 10:12) and he "sat down" at the right hand of God indicating atonement for sin has been completed (10:12). When sin has been forgiven, as it has, then "there is no longer any sacrifice for sin" (10:18).
___In doing that for us, Jesus died to "set them free" (9:15). To be sure, "It is for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1). We may dwell here on this earth, but "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). We are actually seated in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).___
___So what's the big deal?
___Because of what Jesus did for us by his blood (10:19), we have confidence in God's presence. Jesus opened the way to God for us through the curtain that was his very own body (10:20). After all, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Since Jesus is our high priest, there are some things we ought to be doing.
___First, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (10:22). We can know we are saved and the blood of Jesus guarantees our redemption.
___Then we should hold unswervingly to the hope we profess (10:23). There should not be any wavering on our part. Our Lord suffered for us. Our eternal security is guaranteed. Regardless of what life may throw at us, we should hang on to Jesus, "because he who promised is faithful" (10:23). The Apostle Paul put it this way, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12). It's trite, but when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on to Jesus.
___Furthermore, let's spur one another on to love and good deeds (10:24). After all, we were saved by grace to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Additionally, "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).
___If we are going to err, let us do it on the side of love, forgiveness and generosity. Jesus said, "If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Matthew 5:40-41). There are far too many horror stories that have caused irreparable harm to the church because of perceived lack of love, an unforgiving spirit and outright stinginess.
___We also are to encourage one another. This twice repeated refrain in Hebrews (3:13; 10:25) is a gift of the Spirit (Romans 12:8). Encouragement can be as simple as a smile or as involved as a handwritten note to tell someone you are praying for them and you are proud of their service.
___Finally, "let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing" (10:25). Regular faithful attendance at church is biblical. By your attendance, you add to the glow and warmth of the fire that is God's love. By your absence, you take away more than just your log on the fire. After all, since our Lord Jesus has done so much for us, isn't it totally fitting and proper for us to gather for a time, on his day, in his house, and praise him for it? Quite often I'm given an excuse for why someone will not be in church. It's strange, but no one has ever offered an excuse to not do something he really wanted to do.
Questions for thought and discussion
___Suggestion: Assign ahead of time to have various class members report on the tabernacle (Exodus 25-31; 36-40), the different sacrifices (Leviticus 1-10); the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) and even the application of the required sacrifices (Numbers 28-29). Ask that they briefly report on the significance of those old covenant elements in light of our need to be holy, believer priests in God's service.
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