Hebrews 9:1-10 talks all about the old covenant and what the high priest and the people had to do to have remission of sins. What they had to do over and over and over again because NOTHING could completely forgive them of their sins. Last night, Brother Andrew took us to the book of Leviticus 16 where the Lord gave all the instructions that the high priest had to complete every year on Yom Kippor (Day of Atonement) so the people could be forgiven of their sins for one more year. This chapter goes into great detail and it made complete sense the way he explained it and how Jesus is the perfect example of fulfilling all the steps that the high priest had to perform, but Jesus took it a step further – He made it complete FOREVER!!
I will break it down for you like Brother Andrew did for us last night:
Leviticus 16:3-9 “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 6 “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.7 Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting.He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering.10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.
First, Aaron had to put on linen garments and he had to be completely physically clean before he could even put the garments on. Then he had to offer a bull for his OWN sin offering and that of his household before he could do anything for the peoples’ sins. Then he has to take 2 more goats and present them before the Lord – one for a sin offering for the people and one as a scapegoat.
Leviticus 16:11-14 “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain.13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.
These verses go into detail on all the steps he was to follow to make atonement for himself and his household. It is very detailed and everything had to be followed precisely so he wouldn’t die.
Leviticus 16:15-17 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it.16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness.17 No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.
Notice here that he has to repeat the process for the removal of sins from the people, but it is also for the cleansing of the Most Holy Place because it had been made unclean because of the rebellion of the Israelites.
Leviticus 16:18-22 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task.22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
After he makes atonement for everyone and everything, he then brings forward the scapegoat. He puts his hands on the head of the goat and transfers all the sins, wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites onto the goat. An appointed person then takes the goat out into the wilderness to release him to run away with all of their sins – therefore, removing their sins from them for another year. They had to repeat this ritual year after year after year. Also, take note here that the people didn’t have to do anything – they simply had to rest in what the high priest was doing FOR them.
Hebrews 9:11-14 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
We no longer have to go through the rituals every year to be cleansed from our sins. Jesus did it once for all – ALL of our sins are forgiven, past, present and future FOREVER. That means as a believer in Christ we no longer have to be sin-conscious, we are the righteousness of Christ. When God looks at us – all He sees is Christ blood, Christ righteousness. How awesome is that?! We no longer have to strive to keep the law, or feel guilty and condemned if we “mess up.” The accuser, Satan, is the one that tries to make us feel condemned, but Christ says in Romans 8:1-3 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.
I know many of you have already heard this before. I had heard this before, but this was the first time I really HEARD it! Do you get what I’m saying? I don’t have to be “perfect”. I don’t have to be “good” all the time and do everything “right.” Jesus ALREADY paid the price for my sins (notice that is plural) once and for all. Just like it says in Hebrews 9:26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
He doesn’t have to repeatedly die on the cross over and over again for my sins…He already did it!! That means I am no longer a sinner, I am covered with His grace. That is freeing to me! I don’t have to keep all the laws and feel guilty if I mess up. Does that mean I can just sin and sin and there is no consequence. Absolutely not! But when you truly grab a hold of this you don’t want to sin all the time. In fact, when you truly grab a hold of it, you are no longer sin conscious. You are no longer focusing on keeping the law and a list of do’s and don’ts. You are just resting in the finished work of Christ and you stop striving and you FINALLY have peace! That is the gospel! That is what Paul preached! This is what NEEDS to be preached TODAY! People need THIS message – they don’t need all their sins and flaws pointed out to them. Just like the woman that was caught in adultery. Jesus said, “Those who are without sin, cast the first stone.” Everyone walked away. Jesus said to the woman, “Has no one condemned you?” She says, “No.” Then He says, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” (paraphrased) Notice He didn’t say clean up your act first, then you’re forgiven. He forgave her FIRST, then said, go and sin no more. People need to know that they don’t have to be perfect to be forgiven. They need to know that Jesus loves them and has already forgiven them, all they have to do is BELIEVE! Yes, it really is that simple!!
For too many years I went to churches that made me feel incomplete and like I still had to do something to “earn” my salvation, or to keep God “happy” with me. I was striving to be perfect and keep the law and I was NEVER free! I didn’t understand how when the Word said that those in Christ were free indeed, because I didn’t feel free. I felt trapped, and condemned, and l like I wasn’t good enough. How many of you feel like that? How many of you are still striving to be “good” and keep the law? You don’t have to do that anymore. That isn’t the life Christ has called me to live. That isn’t the life he wants you to live. That isn’t the life that He died for. He died so we could be FREE. He died so we don’t have to focus on our sins year after year after year. He has set us free – you are no longer under the law – you are under GRACE. Thank You Jesus! So to wrap this up, all I have to say is, “STOP striving, START believing and just rest in the finished work of Christ! That is why as He hung on the cross His last words were, ‘It is FINISHED!’” AMEN!!!
transformednotconformed 