2023/08/25 - Hebrews 9: The Earthly and Heavenly Sanctuaries
Jerry Starling
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Reading: Hebrews 9 – The Earthly and Heavenly Sanctuaries
Verse for Today:
When Christ came as a high priest, through the greater and perfect tabernacle not made with hands, He entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, thus attaining eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11-12)
Daily Devo
The First Tabernacle/Temple
The first tabernacle was erected in the wilderness. This is the tabernacle Moses built when he was told, "Make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain” (Hebrews 8:5). On the mountain, God had shown Moses heaven’s sanctuary.
In this tabernacle/temple, the Levitical priests entered daily with sacrifices. One day in each year, the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place with blood for his sins and the people’s sins. “This is a symbol of the present time, while sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food, drink, and various baptisms, imposed until the time to set things right.”
The Blood of the Savior
When Jesus died, was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended to Heaven,
He entered Heaven’s sanctuary bringing, not blood of animals but His own blood, thus making eternal redemption.
“If the blood of goats and bulls, sanctifies those defiled so their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!”
Mediating the New Covenant
Being the perfect man, He makes a new covenant with God so those called will receive the promised eternal inheritance. “A death has occurred the redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.” In human affairs, when a will is made, it must be proved that the one who made it is dead. Then it is executed.
After Moses had read the Law to Israel and they affirmed they would live by it, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and blood, sprinkled the scroll, and the people. He said, “This is the blood of the covenant God has ordained. He sprinkled both the tabernacle and all its instruments. Under the Law, everything is purified with blood, and without shedding blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
Christ’s Sacrifice Takes Away Sin
Why is there “No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)? Why is there but one baptism? It is because there is a better sacrifice than under the Law.
The heavenly sanctuary needed better sacrifices than those under the Law. Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of heavenly things. “He entered heaven itself to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”
He does not offer Himself repeatedly, as the High Priest enters the Holy Place yearly, but not with his own blood. “Christ appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Just as men die once and then comes judgment, Christ will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
God’s eternal plan for salvation was executed. Jesus accepted the Father’s will and was crucified for our sins. Do you care daily?
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Pray for Your Self:
Father, I praise You for Your Wisdom and Jesus for His humility before You. In His name I pray, AMEN!
My Prayer for You (and for me)
Father, I offer this prayer for all who read these words. I pray that each one of us will bring our gratitude to You and to Your Son for the salvation we receive through His blood. This is my prayer, in His name, AMEN!
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Updates for Central
Our Potluck Fellowship will be this Sunday. Bring a dish to share, invite your family, friends, and neighbors, and come find good fellowship, food, and love.
Son Quest is September 1-3. If you are going, get ready for three days of fun mixed with some great Bible teaching. Come back fired up for Jesus!
The Wednesday morning Ladies’ Class will resume at 10:00 am on September 6. All ladies are invited to participate.
Our Eastern European Mission “Million Dollar Sunday” contribution will be on September 24. Our entire contribution that day will go to EEM to provide Bibles for the former Soviet bloc nations. Last year, EEM distributed almost two million Bibles, up 24% from 2021. They hope for more this year.
PRAYER NEEDS
Nancy Gray has been diagnosed as having Covid. Please pray for her as she recovers.
Joan Berry, Joanna Turner’s Mother, needs our prayers.
Belinda Pate is at home and doing much better.
Carol Grandey, Brenda Schmidt’s sister, is home and ready to enter rehab. Keep her in your prayers.
Jesse Matthews, Sr. Ruth said on Saturday he is in rehab. Their daughter is also still recuperating from a broken ankle. She needs prayers as does the whole family.
Kristi Holder was well enough to be at mid-week study on the 16th. It set her back a little, but Jerry says she improves daily – bit by bit.
Joy Bland found she has a broken bone in her foot that requires a boot to help it heal. She will have it for about six weeks, with an MRI (hopefully) coming soon. She recently told me she really needs our prayers to help her through.
Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers.
Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers.
Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.