Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Remember Jesus, who made purification for sins

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High 
Hebrews 1:3b

For us, these words aren't nearly as jarring as they were to the Hebrews. Modern Jews recently celebrated Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Early Christians were all too familiar with this day - the high priest would atone for the sins of all the people by entering into God's presence through ritual and sacrifice. It happened once a year, every year. Jesus, on the other hand, made purification for sins once, and the one time stands for all of time.

Let's take a look at the progressions.

Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. Leviticus 16:15-16 

As priest, Aaron gave a bloody sacrifice for the sins of the people. And yet, there was a foreshadow of something better -

He will again have compassion on us, he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 

Micah prophesied that God would take our sin and cast it into nothingness, it would be completely removed from our sight.

Hebrews 9 is worth reading in its entirety, as a beautiful telling of Christ's fulfillment of foreshadows, but I have a few selections here.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for al into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12 

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Hebrews 9:24 

Jesus has already died for your sin. You are good to go. There is now no condemnation and nothing in all creation and can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. You are right with God - thanks be to God who gives the victory in Christ Jesus!


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