"To Boldly Go" December 6 Readings: Hebrews 9-10

Today's Reading -  Hebrews 9-10

Background

There is no doctrine more precious or abused than that of the love of God. It is glorious beyond words that God loves me and has acted by his grace to save me. Praise God! But the doctrine is twisted and perverted as well into the idea that God has no standards, that he doesn't care about our sin. God's love does not abrogate his holy standards. In fact, God's love properly understood exalts both God's love and his holiness.

There are two facts we must never forget. First of all, someone has to pay for our sins. God will not, by his holy nature he cannot simply look the other way and ignore our sins. His righteousness cries out against sin and demands payment, demands atonement. "The wages of sin is death," Paul said in Romans. Here, the author of Hebrews makes a bold assertion.

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22

Because of sin, blood had to be shed. The Old Testament sacrificial system required that offerings be made. It is not that God is cruel, but that sin is such an offense, such a violation of God's creation, of God's holy character, that a sacrifice must be made. But the Old Testament sacrifices never completely conquered sin. They had to be offered repeatedly and did not eternally cover sin.

But Jesus offered "better sacrifices than these" which permanently and eternally paid for our sins. That is the second fact, "Jesus paid it all." His one sacrifice did what all the Levitical sacrifices in Israelite history could not do, he completely atoned for all our sins.

That is how the love of God is demonstrated. God doesn't just ignore our sin - because of his holiness, he cannot do that. But he loved us so much he sacrificed his Son to pay for our sins. No greater love has ever been seen in this world.

Yesterday we read about Jesus as a better priest but today we see that he offers a better sacrifice - one that can actually satisfy God's wrath and pay once and for all for the sins of the world. This passage is powerful, deep, and glorious.

Devotional - Boldly to God

 It was hard to get to God in the Old Testament era. One had to travel to Jerusalem (or wherever the tabernacle was in the pre-temple days) and secure a sacrifice. That sacrifice was taken by the priests and put on the altar. But to enter the Holy of Holies - that was even more difficult. No one could go there, where the presence of God dwelt; no one except the high priest and then only once a year. On that day he would enter the holiest place on earth to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat and make intercession for the sins of all Israel.

But that all changed one day on a hill just outside the gates of Jerusalem, where a man hung on a cross. He was not just a high priest, but a Great High Priest. Having shed his blood, he ascended and went through the heavenly curtain to make final intercession for us, purchasing our redemption and atoning for our sins.

But he did something else that day. He opened a new path to heaven, to the presence of God.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,  and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22.

Now, because of Christ, it is no longer difficult to enter the presence of God. We can walk through the curtain boldly in the name of Christ into the heavenly Holy of Holies. We have a new and living way to God. 

And we are enjoined, in verse 22, to take advantage of this, to draw near to God in faith, knowing that it is opened to those who are in Christ. The redeemed must choose daily to take advantage of this blessing God has granted us, and walk boldly through the curtain, drawing near to him. 

Father, what a shame that your Son opened this new and living way into your presence and yet so often I fail to seek you with full assurance. Today, I draw near to you because of Christ. 

Think and Pray

Do you regularly approach the throne that Jesus died and rose to give you access to? Are you making use of the blessings that are yours in Christ?