Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Marsha's Musings: The Only Answer to This Madness (Hebrews 9:1-10 ESV)

In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13 ESV)
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent 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. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 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. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 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. 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 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:1-10 ESV)

This is a description of how things worked when the tabernacle and temple were still standing.

The last paragraph (verse 10) is the key to this whole section.  None of the rituals, either past or present in any religious system, be it so-called Christian, Catholic, Mormon, Hindu, Buddist or any other religion, can perfect or wipe clean the consciences of the worshippers.  It is all hopeless ritual done over and over again and serves as little else but a bandaide to make people feel good that they have done some meritorious work to earn them the good graces of God.

The only answer to this madness is here:

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. (Hebrews 9:14 ESV)

Sad so many people miss this and continue on in their dead works thinking it will change their eternal destiny when in fact it does them no good whatsoever.

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