...that we have already received eternal redemption, and that the conscience (yours and mine) has already been cleaned by the blood of Jesus.
From Hebrews chapter 9:
6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11When 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. 12He 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. 13The 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. 14How 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!
So, what I see is this:
He died ONCE FOR ALL v.12
OBTAINED eternal redemption for us v.12
SANCTIFIED us v.13
CLEANSED our consciences v.14
(look at all the past tense verbs used)
...SO THAT (in order to)...serve the living God! v.14
What do YOU see?..thoughts anyone?
I love the reference in Hebrews 9: 12, he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
ReplyDeleteI also love your blog. It is very orderly and beautiful, not to mention inspiring.
The thought of Christ as God entering the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood stirs my soul, in a good way. There are probably not two people that have ever existed that totally agree on things and yet we are all one because of the One. Even if one's view is trinitarian and another's view is deist and yet another is polytheist, there is still oneness among them because the ever existing God who was and is and is to come established a blood bond once for all.
We view this as happening in time and space, as we perceive time and space to be, at the event of Jesus death, burial and resurrection on this earth. One of the most beautiful proclamations of Paul is that this happened at the foundation of the world.
It is easier for the human mind to grasp the abstract idea of God, eternity and oneness now than it has ever been. Much of science has been devoted to abstract ideas like closed time curves, string theory, quantum mechanics, nano technology and so on. Some of the brief informational readings that tell me about these ideas at a regular person's level give more insight to the viability of the ' once for all ' work of God being capable of reaching beyond time and space as we know it. And it would not even matter if Jesus was just a human without any connection to being God, although I personally believe he is God, the work that was done still represents what had already been established before there were people on this planet.
John says that Jesus is the Word that was with God and was God. What is important about this is to hear what God said through the life of this Jesus. Again, even if this Jesus was only a god or just a regular man, the message being sent is the same.
It does seem to me that the events of Jesus life on earth happened to fulfill what earlier humans had said would happen. I don't know if God did these things because humans demanded that it be done by proclaiming it would happen with their words or if the prophets were revealing what was going to happen in the future by some mystic revelation. I am just glad that if it had to happen, then it did.
There is no denial of what that set of events has done to improve the conditions of our world and still there are many who are not yet awake to this magnificent work. I feel that we are all One in a very Godlike way. There is much to say about that idea and it is also true that the thought of being One with God is not complete for me. The desire of God's heart for this to be known among humans is clear to me from the Bible and in my spirit. But I am still rubbing the sleep from my own eyes with this.
I keep your family in prayerful thought. Blessings for all in every way.
To Anonymous...really glad to see you here and for taking the time to put down some of your words so that everyone can read them. Thank you.
ReplyDelete...and thanks for the prayers for the family.
Happy to hear that you like the blog...come back soon. Peace.