<\/p>\n
Hebrews 8:1-10:39<\/strong><\/span> Hebrews chapter 8 is awesome in that it dives into some verses we read recently in the book of Jeremiah about the new covenant!\u00a0 Verse 3 stands out: \u201cAnd since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What was the offering Christ made for our sins? Verse 13 stands out too: \u201cWhen God speaks of a new covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Something I learned recently \u2013 the old \/ first covenant referred to in this chapter is the \u201cSinaitic\u201d covenant and not the Abrahamic covenant \u2013 the difference being not the promise to Abraham that his descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky and God will be our God and we his people (the Abrahamic covenant) \u2013 but the \u201cSinaitic\u201d covenant are the laws given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and in the desert for how the Israelites were to live \u2013 including how priests would make sacrifices for sin.\u00a0 \u00a0The Abrahamic covenant still stands today \u2013 the Sinaitic covenant is now out of date and ready to be put aside because it was completed by the new covenant of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Our High Priest who offered His life for our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n Hebrews chapter 9 is a fairly brief reading today on the Old Covenant rules for approaching God.\u00a0 We also read today about the ark of the covenant. <\/span>Below are a couple of good images of the tabernacle, which you\u2019ll recall details about from our readings in Exodus chapters 26 & 27 earlier this year:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n One thing that stands out in my mind when reading this chapter today is that just after Jesus dies on the cross there is an earthquake, which shakes the Temple in Jerusalem where the Most Holy Place was located at the time of Jesus\u2019 death.\u00a0 The curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple is torn in two.\u00a0 This is incredible imagery that shows that no longer is the Most Holy Place and an earthly high priest the only way to God.\u00a0 Jesus has torn that veil in two and Jesus is our new and eternal High Priest ushering in the New Covenant!<\/span><\/p>\n Hebrews chapter 9 verses 27 & 28 today teaches us: \u201cAnd just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This stands in stark contrast to the old covenant where the High Priest had to atone for the people\u2019s sins over and over and over again.\u00a0 With faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven all at once \u2013 for eternity \u2013 and Christ does not need to forgive us of our sins over and over and over again.\u00a0 Faith in Christ is the one and only thing that matters.\u00a0 Do you believe this?<\/span><\/p>\n Hebrews chapter 10 is powerful today!\u00a0 I did come across a great learning, which I hadn\u2019t really picked up before.\u00a0 In verse 9 we read this about Jesus: \u201cHe cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 At first glance you might think, wow, the old \/ first covenant is over.\u00a0 Things like the Ten Commandments don\u2019t matter anymore.\u00a0 Well, not so fast!\u00a0 Tyndale\u2019s One Year Bible companion tells us that this verse refers to the doing away (canceling) of the system of sacrifices contained in the ceremonial<\/strong> law.\u00a0 However, this does not mean canceling \/ eliminating God\u2019s moral<\/strong> law (the Ten Commandments).\u00a0 Only through faith in Christ we can fulfill the moral law, as Jesus lives in us.\u00a0 Good to know, eh?\u00a0 I\u2019d never really picked up this distinction before of Jesus canceling the ceremonial law but not the moral law.\u00a0 Do you see this distinction?\u00a0 As I\u2019ve done some more reading on this, I realize this is a bit of a contentious point for many Christians.\u00a0 Check out this great overview of the Mosaic Law in light of Jesus\u2019 life, death, and resurrection \u2013 including a disagreement on my point above about the moral law \u2013 <\/span>at bible.org at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Hebrews chapter 10 today is amazing!\u00a0 In verse 22 we read: \u201cLet us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ\u2019s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Great stuff!\u00a0 The last few words of this verse remind me of the blessing of Baptism \u2013 as an outward sign of our inner transformation and faith in Christ. Verse 24<\/strong> is just pure joy & goodness: \u201cThink of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.\u201d <\/em>Outbursts of love & good deeds indeed!\u00a0 Who are you encouraging these days to outbursts of love and good deeds?\u00a0 Can you think of some ways to do this?\u00a0 And verse 25<\/strong> reminds me of the importance of finding a church community to do life with together: \u201cAnd let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you meet together with others in a local church?\u00a0 Have you found a small group, community group, or prayer group that you can spend some quality time with outside of regular church services?\u00a0 A group where you can encourage, warn, and pray for each other? Verse 26<\/strong> and the following verses are strong reminders of the one option we have for our faith \u2013 the one true God to follow: \u201cDear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Is there another sacrifice besides Jesus\u2019 sacrifice on the cross that will cover our sins?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in Hebrews reminded me of Matthew West\u2019s song \u201cSave a Place for me:\u201d!<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n