The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1968 kc 12-4

Is it not amazing therefore that many Christian
claim a "physical temple" must be built in Jerusalem
before Messiah returns?

Let us now return to Paul's comparison of the Old and New Covenants where he now gives us a summation of the ordinances of divine service mentioned in verse one:

Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
All the priests were permitted to enter into the first tabernacle, called the sanctuary,
wherein was the candlestick, the table and the shewbread (vs. 2).

However, only the high priest could enter into the holiest place, the holy of holies,
and then only once a year to make atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people.

Thank God our Eternal High Priest who is without sin is always in the Holy of Holies
and we do not have to wait a year to have our sins atoned for.

[7] But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
We learned earlier that the earthy sanctuary which is only symbolic of the heavenly
was ministered to by sinful, fallible man,
meaning that the high priest was also a sinner who needed forgiveness for his own sins and shortcomings.

That is one reason why it is so important that we not put our trust and faith in men
but rather in Him who is perfect and without sin.

You see, man will eventually let you down but Jesus Christ will never let you down.

And so it was according to the law that no one could enter behind the veil into the Holy of Holies except the high priest,
and then only once a year.

And though the earthly high priest was a mortal and sinful man like everyone else,
he was nevertheless used as a figure, a shadow,
to teach us about the true High Priest who would enter into the true Holy of Holies once and for all time.

Note: The Greek word for "errors" in verse seven is "agnoema" which means "not (ag) to know or understand (noema)". In other words it means ignorances (see Lev. 4:2).

[8] The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Can you "see" how the Holy Spirit made it plain (deloo), as in declared by this shadow (example),
that as long as the first tabernacle was yet standing, which also meant the Old Covenant was still in effect,
the way into the true tabernacle was not yet made available?

What does that mean?

It means that salvation had not yet come!

It means that the eternal remission and forgiveness of sins, i.e. eternal redemption (vs. 12),
was not possible until the eternal High Priest entered in with His blood,
the One whom God promised by His sworn oath to come after the order of Melchisedec.

So all that was done under the Old Covenant was a figure (the Greek word is #3850 "parabole", meaning similitude)
until the appointed time when Yeshua, the perfect Lamb of God full of grace and mercy,
would come and pay the price for the remission of our sins and iniquities
that they may be remembered no more!

Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."

[9] Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Again, these things were only symbolic which they had to be because you "see",
the offering of gifts and the sacrifice of animals cannot purify the soul and cleanse our conscience,
our hearts and minds, whereby we can enter into His rest and have true peace of mind!

Only Jesus Christ is able to cleanse us and grant us "life"!

Therefore, all those laws contained in ordinances requiring gifts and sacrifices and ritual cleansings were only
"temporary coverings" until the time of the New Covenant
which we have seen was promised time and again in the Old Testament!

That's right, the promise of the New Covenant was contained in, as in was part of, the Old Covenant.

[10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
"Imposed on them" doesn't mean "crammed down their necks"!

It simply means to "cover them" as a "cloak" until the time of redemption,
i.e. to cloth them temporarily until Christ would come
and we could put on those spiritual white linen garments of His righteousness.

You may recall that the LORD took the skins of animals
and covered the "nakedness" of Adam and Eve who needed "covered" after that they had sinned.

You see, sin causes spiritual nakedness!

[11] But Christ being come an 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;
How much plainer can it be said that the true tabernacle is NOT a building?

In fact, the true tabernacle, the temple of God, is not even of this world,
i.e. this cosmos (Jn. 8:23).

Is it not amazing therefore that many Christians claim a "physical temple"
must be built in Jerusalem before Messiah returns?

In verse 11, all the "good things to come" which our High Priest made possible by His shed blood
begin with the attainment of eternal redemption (next verse, vs. 12)!

How blessed we are indeed to be made free in Christ our Lord
and not have to be bound under the law of sacrifices and ordinances!

He completely did away with ALL of them when He shed His blood on the cross.

Again, make sure to read and thoroughly understand the second chapter of Colossians.

Col. 2:14-17 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
So much for religion and the keeping of certain days and the performing of ritual ceremonies, etc. etc.
Christianity is not a religion of shadows!

Christianity is the reality of all those things, which is Jesus Christ, the Word of God!

"Believe" in Him and you shall not perish (Jn. 3:16) for the second death,
the death of the soul in the lake of fire, shall have no power over you!

So "harden not your heart", but rather turn to Him... "To Day"...
and be a partaker and inheritor of the "good things to come (Heb. 9:11)"!

Rev. 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:
on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,
and shall reign with him a thousand years."

And they shall "walk straight up and down" in His ways
and carry the authority of His rod with which He shall rule all nations (Rev. 12:5)!

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtainedeternal redemption for us.
Jesus Christ is our Passover! Jesus Christ is our eternal High Priest! Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God!
[13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Neither the keeping of days, nor the giving of gifts, nor the sacrificing of animals,
nor the performing of cleansing rituals, nor the services of any high priest of man,
can purge one's conscience or grant eternal redemption!

Only by His perfect sacrifice and His eternal Spirit returning unto us
can our sins be forgiven and our souls be completely cleansed from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In our next study we will see how the death of Christ made it possible for us to claim the promises of our Father's Will, which is His testament.
 
 

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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