Heb. 9: 11-28
THE NEW ORDER
“When Christ came…. he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is….not part of this creation…”.[1] He did not enter the Most Holy place of the earthly tabernacle, He entered the more perfect Tabernacle – the Heavenly Sanctuary [2]. His “entrance” was not an annual event, [3] His sacrifice was perfect and completely effective – and it will never be repeated. He entered with His own blood, having obtained our eternal redemption; He entered the eternal, heavenly sanctuary. “The blood of goats and bulls…”[4] the old ordinance was only an external washing and offered no inner cleansing from sin, the individual’s sin was only covered for a time. “How much more…will the blood of Christ, cleanse our consciences… “[5], Christ offered Himself as our unblemished sacrifice and His blood cleanses our conscience from rituals and sinful acts that lead to eternal death [6] “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant..” [7], the old Mosaic covenant was replaced because it was inadequate and the new covenant is superior because it provides a better remedy for sin. [8] The new covenant has become a reality to those who are “called” by God since Christ gave Himself as our ransom to set us tree from our guilt of sin.[9]
“This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood” [10] The blood of the sacrifice indicated death, and for a will (the original word for “will” is the same as for “covenant”) to be effective the death of the “testator” must be proven. Christ’s death has been “attested” or proven; therefore, the promised inheritance is available to all who believe in Him. “This is the blood of the covenant. … “, the Mosaic covenant was made effective by the blood of the sacrifice and without the blood there was no forgiveness of sin, consequently the people and almost everything in the Tabernacle was cleansed by the blood of the sacrifice.[11]
“It was necessary….[for] the heavenly things to be purified… with better sacrifices…” [12] The earthly sanctuary was a copy of the heavenly sanctuary and as the earthly sanctuary had to be cleansed, so the heavenly sanctuary had to be cleansed with the better sacrifice of Christ [13], therefore, “… Christ… entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.” The high priest entered the Most Holy Place, one each year, with the blood of the sacrifice to intercede for the people and similarly Christ has entered heaven itself, the heavenly sanctuary, where He intercedes on our behalf. [14] “…he has appeared once for all…”; the high priest entered the Most Holy Place annually, but Christ has made only one entry into the heavenly sanctuary – once for all! “…at the end of the ages…” His first appearance (advent) was to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself and ushered in the great messianic era, and in contrast to the former days of the old covenant, the messianic age of fulfilment has arrived [15].
“… Christ was sacrificed once to take away sins of many people… “ Since mankind is destined to die once as a consequence for sin, and will then face the judgment of a righteous God for unforgiven sin,[16] so Christ died once for the sins of many people (the world ), and “…he will appear a second time… to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” In view of the fact that mankind dies once and then faces judgment, so Christ after His death, will appear a second time to bring our salvation to its fullness.[17] Under the old order the Israelites waited for the high priest to emerge from the Most Holy Place on the day of Atonement, now those who have believed in Christ also await His return from the Heavenly Sanctuary [18]
Our Great High Priest will one day make His second appearance [Advent] from the Heavenly Sanctuary, to all those who wait expectantly for Him.
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Scripture References: [1] Heb. 9:11; [2] Heb. 9:24; 8:2; [3] Heb.9:12; [4] Heb. 9:13; [5] Heb. 9:14; Isa. 53:9; 1 Pet.2:22; 2 Cor. 5:21; [6] Eph. 5:2; Titus 2:14; Heb. 10:22; [7] Heb. 9:15; 8:6; Ex. 24:7-8; Gal. 3:10-11; [8] Heb. 12:24; 1 Tim.2:5; Heb. 7:22; 8:13; Jer. 31:31-34; [9] Rom. 8:28-39; Mk. 10:45; [10] Heb. 9:16-18; [11] Heb. 9:19-22; Ex. 24:4-8; Lev. 8:10, 19, 30; [12] Heb. 9:23; [13] Heb. 8:5; [14] Heb. 9:24; 7:25; 1 Jn. 2:1; [15] Heb.9:25-26; 1 Pet.1:20; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 1:2; [16] Heb. 9:27-28; Rom. 5:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; [17] Rom. 8:29-30; Phil.3:20-21; 1 Jn. 3:2-3; [18] Lev. 16:2; 2 Tim. 4:8; Titus 2:13; Acts 1:9-11