Hebrews 9 ~ According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper (why Jesus became our Savior)

We all would like to be the eyes who have beheld the wonders of the Bible. In the Arch of Titus we see the carved mosaics of the Temple Tools (minus the Ark which Jeremiah hid on Mt. Nebo in Macabees). This is the closest thing we have to a photo of the Second Temple during the time of Jesus Christ.
 


Hebrews 9


9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent^[tabernacle] was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.


11 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) 12 he entered once for all 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. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.


The last time we looked at the ninth chapter of Hebrews, it was a detailed look at the whole chapter.

Hebrews 9 ~ He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself - once and for all

We begin at the top (the Heavens and worship), a God Plan and move to the most holy objects. Judeo-Christians today and at the time Hebrews was written - have something in common - we all would like nothing more than to find Benjamin Netanyahu was right in asking the Vatican - does the Vatican hold one of the Temple Tools from the First Temple. (And it is not going to be the Ark because Maccabees tells us Jeremiah hid the Ark at Mount Nebo and the Arch of Titus does not record the Ark being recovered.)

During the first Exodus, The LORD, The Almighty invited Aaron into the Holy of Holies for the first time when his sons died imperfectly and selfishly offering sacrifices. God invited Aaron in to sprinkle blood around for the first time. Why? To say we can come into God's home and we will never be as Holy as He is. And yet He gives us the invitation to be in relationship with Him.

I've recently heard two different ministers speak about desire to sin. The evil one would tell us, that desire to sin condemns us.  Jesus makes us right with our Father, taking our thoughts and making them pleasing and acceptable to Him.

Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Matthew 8:3
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Isaiah 43:19
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.


2 Corinthians 10:5
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ

This passage tells us guilt offers can just be guilt offerings. Jesus came to offer us worship in our hearts.  He tells us His Sacrifice is the one that makes us clean enough. Jesus told us that what comes out of us is the problem, and He calls us to make our lives more holy.  We need a Savior. Jesus calls us so clean we should purify our conscience and come into a Loving relationship with HIM.    

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

For our sake he opened his arms on the cross; he put an end to death and revealed the resurrection. In this he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people.

Romans 11:29
for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Our lives are not a photo to Father God. When Gideon was called the LORD knew Gideon had flaws. When Jesus saw his disciples run away,  He did not return & say to them, on the beach, "Father God send different people."  Instead He sat and offered them breakfast.


Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.




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