Clearing the Conscience of the Worshiper

This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. (Hebrews 9:9)

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. (Hebrews 10:1,2)

The Book of Hebrews states that the new covenant is superior to the old covenant, to the Law of Moses. It often is expressed that the new covenant is superior because it includes a better forgiveness. Although under the Law of Moses the worshiper supposedly was forgiven through the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats, in actuality the forgiveness of the old covenant merely lo oked forward to Calvary. Now, however, under the new covenant, we really are forgiven, it is claimed.



Thus the Christian salvation often is perceived as a perfect, eternal forgiveness unrelated to the behavior of the believer. We believe this viewpoint proceeds from an incorrect interpretation of the Book of Hebrews.

The two passages above could very well lead the investigator to perceive the new covenant as a means of removing guilt from the conscience of the believer, whereas under the Law of Moses the providing of the animal sacrifice did not remove guilt from the conscience.

Based on this conclusion, the several instances in Hebrews where it is claimed the new covenant takes away our sins, whereas the old covenant did not take away our sins, must mean the reference is to the guilt of our sin. The blood of bulls and goats did not take away the guilt of our sins. However, the blood of the Lord Jesus actually removes the guilt of our sins, it is thought .

It only is one short step, then, to view the Christian salvation as a perpetual, eternal forgiveness issued by Divine sovereignty that brings us to Heaven apart from a radical change in our behavior. We just keep believing the doctrine of eternal forgiveness and even though we are leading a careless Christian life, even though we are continuing in the deeds of the sinful nature, there is no need to be disturbed.

Because we have been eternally forgiven, saved by unmerited favor, there is no reason to be overly concerned about living victoriously over worldliness, lust, and self-will.

While such a conclusion is understandable, it is incorrect. We know it is incorrect because of the warnings issued by the Apostle Paul concerning the spiritual death that will result from our living in the sins of the flesh.

It must be we are misunderstanding the writer of the Book of Hebrews. In fact, the entire Book of Hebrews is one long warning to seasoned Christ ians about the disastrous results of not pressing forward into the rest of God. If the Christian salvation were an eternal forgiveness unrelated to our behavior, then the warnings of the Book of Hebrews would be so much unnecessary nonsense.


The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands-'" (Leviticus 4:1,2)

I have yet to see a commentator treat the text of Hebrews in a straightforward manner. This is because the standard view of Christianity is that it is a perpetual forgiveness given to us by a benevolent God, who does not see our behavior because we have "accepted Jesus as our personal Savior."

Before we attempt to explain what the writer of the Book of Hebrews is talking about in Chapters Eight through Ten, let us first impress on the reader that sins actually were forgiven through the atonement made by the blood of bulls and goats.

To begin with, we must understand clearly that there was no atonement possible under the Law of Moses for deliberate sinning, nor is there under the new covenant.

Sometimes Christian people take the attitude they can do something they know is wrong, and th en ask Jesus to forgive them. This is extremely dangerous. If the Lord views their action as being a game they are playing with Him, they are liable to lose their salvation altogether. Because of today's false teaching, the Christian people usually do not have enough of the fear of God in them. They are deluded concerning the actual severity of which God is capable.

We never, never, never are to sin deliberately. If we do, the consequences can be fatal.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, But only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26,27)

Numerous Christian teachers of our day claim the above passage could not possibly apply to a believer, to a Christian. Flee from such teachers for they are deceived and are deceiving others.

Now let us examine a few statements that prove the believer was indee d forgiven under the Law of Moses. Where we are going with this is, of course, to show that the superiority of the new covenant is not that it actually provides forgiveness. The Law of Moses provided forgiveness!

And do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:20)

"And they will be forgiven."

He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man's sin, and he will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:26)

"He will be forgiven."

He shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:31)

"He will be forgiven."

The teaching that people were not actually forgiven by the blood of bulls and goats goes against the Scripture. It is a deduction proceeding from the idea that the writer of the Book of Hebrews maintained the old covenant did not clear the conscience of the worshiper.

We are going to have to look deeper than this until our conclusion fits the tenor of the Book of Hebrews as well as the text of the entire New Testament.

To be continued.

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