The Difference It Makes: Part 1
Read Hebrews 4:16. What promise is there for us? What are we admonished to do? What hopes does this offer us? How can you apply what is here to your own life?
Do those who know Jesus as Savior and High Priest have a spiritual advantage over others who know Him only as Savior? We will deal with the question in two lessons, but perhaps we can begin by noting the contribution of Hebrews 9 to the issue, in general:
There are, of course, several ways to read the chapter. One is to take a strictly exegetical and linguistic approach to it, defining the meaning of words and phrases, and squeezing out the significance of the verses from a purely academic point of view. But another way, equally valid, essentially bypasses all that. Without ignoring the results of the first approach, it simply reads the chapter and observes what it says. When we do that, here is what we find, as it relates to the basic question before us:
1. What happened under the first covenant (the Old Testament sanctuary services) was provisional only. Fundamentally inadequate to bring about internal change, the offerings and ceremonies pointed beyond themselves to something bigger.
2. That bigger something now has happened. Christ has come. He is the real high priest (Heb. 9:11). His entrance into the heavenly sanctuary was not through "the blood of goats and calves; but . . . once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" (vs. 12, NIV).
3. The offerings under the old system achieved external results (vs. 13), but could not effect internal change. But the blood of Christ reaches to our inner being, cleansing "our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (vs. 14, NIV).
4. Christ shed His blood once, on our behalf; and now He appears for us in the presence of God as our high priest. (vs. 24-28).
Read over Hebrews 9. What is the essential message it is giving us? What promises are found in there that you especially find encouraging for yourself?
No comments:
Post a Comment