Scripture

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Observation

When someone leaves a will, it is effective only after the person dies. For this reason, the first covenant was put into operation with the blood of an animal.

When Moses read the commandments, he sprinkled the book of the law and the people with the blood of calves and goats. in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and everything used for worship. There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.

The Tabernacle, and everything in it, had to be purified with the blood of animals. But the real Tabernacle in heaven was purified with a far better sacrifice.

Application

Our salvation was purchased by the shed blood of Christ.

This is something that we can tend to forget in our nice, clean, sanitised worship. Even the celebration of communion, in which we specifically remember the body and blood of our Lord, is very well mannered.

We speak the words of atonement, but the reality rarely affects us.

Jesus Christ died for sinners. He died in a barbaric way, agonising, tortured to death.

The blood of Christ brings us forgiveness because of who He is, and not because we are in any way deserving.

Because of that death, the blood poured out for us, we are now forgiven.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, what suffering you endured for me. Thank you for laying down your life so that I can live for ever. Amen

Scripture

By the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Observation

Christ is now the High Priest over all the good things that come from the covenant. He is in the perfect heavenly Tabernacle. He offered His own blood and now lives in the Tabernacle forever.

Under the old covenant, the blood of various animals could cleanse a person from various sins. But Christ has offered His own blood, a perfect sacrifice for all sins.

Christ now mediates a perfect covenant in which we receive an eternal inheritance.

Application

Under the old covenant, a sacrifice was required to cover various sins, even various natural occurrences which made a person “unclean.”

When a person sinned again, a new sacrifice was required because the blood of animals had a limited effectiveness.

But now Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, has offered His own blood to pay for our sins.

Because He is God and is perfectly good, His blood covers every sin. We don’t need to come back to God with a new sacrifice every time we transgress the law. The blood of Jesus covers it all.

While the blood of Christ has the ability to cover every person, we have to apply it to our own lives. If people want to live apart from God, and continue in their own selfish ways, God gives them that option.

To everybody who comes to Him with a repentant heart Jesus grants total forgiveness.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for paying for my sins. Your death on the cross has set me free from the penalty of sin. Amen.

Scripture

By these regulations, the Holy Spirit revealed that the entry to the Most Holy Place was not truly open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.

Observation

In the first covenant, there were regulations for worship and for a place of worship. The tabernacle had two rooms. In the Holy Place there were a lamp-stand, a table, and sacred bread.

In the Most Holy Place, there were a gold altar and the Ark of the Covenant.

The priests regularly entered the first room, but the Most Holy Place could only be entered on one day of the year by the High Priest. This was to show that the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle remained.

Application

Under the old covenant, worship was, in many ways, determined by regulation. in particular, only priests could offer sacrifices in the holy place. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies on just one day of the year. Even then, he first had to offer sacrifices for his own sins and for those of the nation.

On the other hand, we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, and we have free access to God’s presence all the time. Worship springs from our hearts and not just according to the law.

More importantly, we don’t come into the presence of God. The presence of God, the Holy Spirit, is in us. He leads us, equips us, and transforms us to be more like Jesus.

The new covenant, which has been mediated for us by Jesus, is far superior to the old covenant with its rules and regulations.

Prayer

Thank you Father for the privilege of worshipping you and fellowshipping with you daily. Amen.