Persevere in Jesus LESSON XVI

REVIEW Let Us Persevere in Christ – Three main questions 1.Christ – Who is He? – Who is He not? 2.Us – What is our relation to Christ and God? – What should we do? 3.Persevere! – What does that look like?

REVIEW God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJ)

Remember our Jewish Authorities We have noticed in Hebrews that Jesus is the Word of God, and is greater than: – The Angels – Moses – Aaron – Joshua are messengers is a prophet is a priest is a judge What about Jesus?

So Far... We’ve seen how Christ is superior to all of the Old Testament figures and Jewish authorities. As of Chapter 7 – the focus moves away from what Christ is not and who or what Christ is better than – to Who Christ really is and What He really does. In Chapter 8 – the author introduces the New Covenant to show fulfillment of the prophesy through Jeremiah to show its better promises But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6 NKJ)

Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience-- 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:1-14 NKJ)

The First Tabernacle The Covenantal service begins with a special place God commanded that Moses create it according to the pattern shown him on the mountain (ch. 8). There are Three places: 1.The Courtyard 2.The Holy Place 3.The Holy of Holies (the Holiest) Three Kinds of Metals – bronze – silver – gold Cosmological Figure – Teaches the structure of reality – God teaches that He has made a connection between The Highest Heaven and Earth Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Picture: JCSM.org JCSM.org See Also:

The Service of the First Tabernacle This is the covenantal service Notice the increasingly limited access – We have a holiness-handicap – The tabernacle is like a ramp: we can see our way up, but we don’t have the strength to get there and there’s no one to push us.... yet. – Now it seems kind of sad when we think of it this way: but we’re looking at it backwards. Remember in the context of the Torah, after Genesis 3, the problem is exile: TOTAL disconnectedness from God. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience-- 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. Picture: JCSM.org

The Service of the Real Tabernacle What does Christ not do? – He does NOT offer the blood of goats and calves. Where does Christ not do that? – He does NOT do that in the earthly tabernacle, INSTEAD – He offers His own blood in the true Holy of Holies Remember that Old Covenant regs were mostly outward ordinances – but the New Covenant would pertain to having the Law directly on our hearts – and having our sins forgiven (Jeremiah) 11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Picture: JCSM.org

The New Covenant Service We have been looking at Covenantal service (9:1; 6-7; 14) Notice that in the Old Covenant most of the work was done by the priests – 1 Peter tells us that we are a “royal priesthood” NKJ 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Pe 2:9 NKJ) Jesus Christ is the difference, the Elevator and not just the ramp that Gets us to God so that we are able to serve Him. 1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Picture: JCSM.org

Homework Re-read Chapter 9 & 10. Check a couple different translations if you can