[Linux4christians] B7 - Monday - Hebrews 9

Sun Apr 22 23:36:12 EDT 2012

    Monday

      Hebrews 9

The Arrangement and Ritual of the Earthly Sanctuary

9:1 Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its 
earthly sanctuary. 9:2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which 
contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; 
this is called the holy place. 9:3 And after the second curtain there 
was a tent called the holy of holies. 9:4 It contained the golden altar 
of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In 
this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron's rod that 
budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 9:5 And above the ark 
were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the 
time to speak of these things in detail. 9:6 So with these things 
prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as 
they perform their duties. 9:7 But only the high priest enters once a 
year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for 
himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

9:8 The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had 
not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.

9:9 This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and 
sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the 
worshiper. 9:10 They served only for matters of food and drink and 
various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new 
order came.

Christ's Service in the Heavenly Sanctuary

9:11 But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to 
come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with 
hands, that is, not of this creation,

9:12 and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the 
blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself 
secured eternal redemption.

9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow 
sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual 
purity, 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the 
eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our 
consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

9:15 And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are 
called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he 
died to set them free from the violations committed under the first 
covenant.

9:16 For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be 
proven.

9:17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force 
while the one who made it is alive. 9:18 So even the first covenant was 
inaugurated with blood.

9:19 For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people according 
to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet 
wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 
9:20 and said, "/*This is the blood of the covenant that God has 
commanded you to keep*/." 9:21 And both the tabernacle and all the 
utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood.

9:22 Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with 
blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

9:23 So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be 
purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves 
required better sacrifices than these.

9:24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands -- the 
representation of the true sanctuary -- but into heaven itself, and he 
appears now in God's presence for us.

9:25 And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the 
high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not 
his own, 9:26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since 
the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the 
consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.

9:27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face 
judgment,

9:28 so also, after Christ was offered once to /bear the sins of many/, 
to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear 
sin but to bring salvation.

      Prayer

Lord, Your sacrifice was more powerful than the millions of sacrifices 
of millions of Israelites for hundreds of years, and those whose names 
are in Your Book of Life will welcome Your return to make-complete the 
salvation You have brought. May I be faithful to tell Your story so that 
many will choose to share in the Gospel promise of salvation.

      Summary & Commentary

Hebrews documented the need for The Christ "...gifts and sacrifices were 
offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. 9:10 
They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; 
they are external regulations imposed until the new order came."

The sacrifice of Jesus the Christ was unique "For Christ did not enter a 
sanctuary made with hands -- the representation of the true sanctuary -- 
but into heaven itself,"

And His work while "finished" (in the sense that the sin-death mandate 
had been broken) is not done "... and he appears now in God's presence 
for us."

Our Lord Jesus the Christ "... has appeared once for all at the 
consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice."

"Christ was offered once to /bear the sins of many/, to those who 
eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to 
bring salvation."

      Interaction

        Consider

Therepeated message of Hebrews was that "... the law perfected nothing", 
here rephrased "... gifts and sacrifices ... could not perfect the 
conscience of the worshiper."

        Discuss

What are some practical ways that one might describe the contrast 
between the OT sacrificial system and the provision of Christ, and His 
unique capacity to "... purify our consciences from dead works to 
worship the living God."?

        Reflect

Take note of the volitional aspect of both actions; Jesus the Christ as 
"... the mediator of a new covenant", replacing the temporary blood of 
the old covenant with his own "... once to bear the sins of many, to 
those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear 
sin but to bring salvation." -- Christ voluntarily sacrificing for 
others, and those who will be saved first being in a receptive state 
"... eagerly await".

        Share

When have you observed an example in your own life, or in that of 
someone whom you know, moving from "... dead works to worship the living 
God." because of a newfound understanding of this text?

      Faith in Action

        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an opportunity to share this text 
with someone who is still trapped in works-righteousness

        Action:

Today I will describe to them the contrast between the OT sacrificial 
system and the provision of Christ, and His unique capacity to "... 
purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God." who 
alone can "... bring salvation."

        Be Specific ______________________________________________________

    Tuesday's text will be:

      Hebrews 10:1-18

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
Have an Ultrafidian.com Day!
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Bible Resources: bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Personal Site: bibleseven.com
I don't google I SEARCH! ddg.gg
1Cor. 15:22 "For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive."
Savannah-Statesboro needs a Bible College/Seminary!
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