July 19 - Christ, the Sacrifice

July 19 - Hebrews 9:11-15 - Christ the Sacrifice

In the Tabernacle/Temple system, there was no sacrifice that would ever be able to wholly cleanse the people from their sin due to the limited access to the Most Holy Place. It was as if the people were always behind the 8-ball, trying to cover over the multitude of sins that had happened in the previous year. No matter what they did, it would never be enough.

But, Jesus was the great high priest. He didn't bother with the man-made Tabernacle/Temple. He didn't bother with the blood of goats and calves. He did it all Himself. As the Son of God, He was able to enter the true Most Holy Place and offer the sacrifice of Himself. It wasn't an earthly copy, it wasn't a part of creation, it wasn't manmade. He was able to stand before the Creator and offer the one sacrifice that would cleanse every sin from creation - Himself. (Hebrews 9:11-12)

Hebrews 9:13 describes the fact that the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of the heifer are sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean, but that only cleanses them outwardly. Christ's sacrifice goes so much deeper than that. He is able to cleanse our consciences. (Hebrews 9:14)

And why does He do this? So that we may serve the living God!

For THIS reason, Christ mediates the New Covenant. We have been set free from sin. Set free from sin! That is an incredible declaration. We are free from the sins that bind us and enslave us to this earth. It is a choice that we must make - to allow ourselves to live in that freedom, but Christ made the sacrifice so that we can be alive! And when we are ALIVE, we can serve the living God.

We are set free from sin!