What a sacrifice (part 2)

The Book of Hebrews chapters 9 & 10 contrasts the perfection of Jesus’ sacrifice with the inadequacy of the Old Testament rituals.  Jesus himself is termed ‘our great high priest', and his blood shed at Calvary, in the sense of his atoning work, mirrors the blood of bulls and goats.  However, unlike the Old Testament priesthood, the sinless Jesus did not have to make a sacrifice for any sins of his own.

However, through his own blood Jesus effected eternal redemption for the New Covenant Children of God, be they Jew or Gentile:

Hebrews 9: 11 &12;  ''But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building [creation];  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood entered in once into the holy place [Most Holy Place], having obtained eternal redemption for us.''

These two verses present the essentials in operating the New Covenant - a superior sanctuary and an infinitely superior sacrifice.  Jesus has opened the inner sanctuary (Most Holy Place) of the heavenly tabernacle - what a contrast to the closed sanctuary of the man made earthly versions (tabernacle and temple).  As the earthly high priest used the blood of bulls and goats to cleanse the holy of holies, Jesus the eternal high priest, entered heaven to purify it by ''his own blood''.

The Book of Hebrews points out that Levitical offerings could only effect the purification of the flesh.  They ceremonially cleansed the sinner, but could not bring about the inward cleansing, the prerequisite for fellowship with God.  The offerings served as a prototype and a prophecy of Jesus, who, through a better sacrifice "cleanses the conscience from dead works",(the inward cleansing):

Hebrews 9: 13 & 14;  ''For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth [sets apart] to the purifying of the flesh:  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot [blemish] to God, purge [cleanse] your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?''

In the time of the Old Testament both the Tabernacle and later the Temple were designed, in part, to teach Israel that sin hindered direct access and fellowship with God.  Only the high priest, and he only once a year, could enter the holy of holies:

Hebrews 9:7;  ''But into the second [Most Holy Place] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people''.

Jesus however has entered heaven itself, the true holy of holies - the Most Holy Place - where he lives to make intercession for his people. The believer need not stand afar off, as did the Israelite of old, but now, through Jesus, may approach the very throne of grace:

 

Hebrews 9: 24;  ''For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures [copies] of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.''

In The Book of Hebrews we are reminded that the flesh of the sin offering of the Day of Atonement was burnt outside the camp of Israel:

Hebrews 13: 11 & 12; ’’For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify [set apart] the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.''

Jesus, also, suffered outside (without) the city walls of Jerusalem so that he might redeem his people from sin.

The symbolism that Christ is our Passover lamb is familiar in the New Testament:

1 Corinthians 5: 7; ’’Purge [Clean out] therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:''

 The Book of Ephesians (below) explains that due to the shedding of the blood of Jesus at Passover and his glorious victory over death he has been able to send us the Holy Spirit so he can dwell within us - just as he said he would in The Gospel of John:

John 14: 26; ''But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance, whithersoever I have said unto you."

Ephesians 1: 13 & 14; ’’In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit.  That [Spirit] is the guarantee of the our inheritance [the first fruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and  our acquiring [complete] possession of it - to the praise of His glory.''

The infilling of the long promised Holy Spirit also leaves a stamp, a mark - that is a ''seal'' - which sets the believer apart - not just for God's protection from death in this world  - but also for an everlasting personal relationship with God in the next.  

Why is this important?  Well, one day, just as happened when God released His plagues to punish Pharaoh in Egypt, God will release his final dreadful, violent and rapid punishment upon the earth:

Revelations 16: 1 & 2;  ''And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of wrath upon the earth.  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome [loathsome] and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.''

For those who choose not to follow God, and have the mark of the beast, they will face a most dreadful future.

But, Revelations 22 points out that those who are Spirit filled will have a distinguishing mark on or in, their foreheads.  It is this mark that sets apart  - or puts a difference - between those people who are Gods' and those who are not! 

Revelations 22: 3, 4 & 5; ’’And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in [on] their foreheads.  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle [lamp], neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign forever and ever."

It means that in the 'Final Punishment' those Spirit filled people of God will be recognized - "his name shall be in their foreheads" - and will be passed over by God's forces doling out His wrath and destruction upon this earth.  So we will be spared, just like those Israelites in Egypt who had the blood of the Passover lamb on their door posts, and can live and serve God - in His presence - from everlasting to everlasting.