For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)
"To set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."
At first thought we might interpolate the word "guilt" so the text reads: "To set them free from the guilt of the sins committed under the first covenant." This is the manner in which it would be read by many teachers today.
However, this change in the text does not fit the theme of the Book of Hebrews, which is that of pressing forward into the rest of God and bearing the fruit of righteousness. It is true that when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are forgiven our sins. But this is only as we then live in obedience to the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and turn aside from our sinful nature. (Romans 8:4)
I f we follow the Holy Spirit we will be set free from sin, not just from the guilt of sin but from the power of the sin itself.
Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)
Ordinarily we would interpret this to mean Christ has appeared once for all to do away with the guilt of sin. But this is not what the text states. It is one matter to do away with the guilt of sin, but quite a different affair to do away with the sin itself.
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27,28)
Christ was sacrificed to take away the sins of many people. May we suggest the appearing me ntioned above is not that of His second coming in the clouds of glory, but a prior coming in the Spirit to remove the sin of those who have been forgiven. This would follow the statements in the thirteenth chapter of the Book of Matthew concerning the time of the end when the angels remove the tares from the Kingdom of God. First the sin is removed from the believers. Then the believers themselves are removed if they refuse to be separated from their sins.
It is my point of view that the program of removing the tares from the Kingdom of God has begun, and this is why we may be able to have a clearer understanding of the Book of Hebrews than was true previously.
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. (Hebrews 10:1)
"Make perfect those who draw near to worship." It is our point of view that forgiving our sins does not make us perfect. If we are to be perfect in God's sight we must be reconciled to Him not only in the legal sense of having our sins forgiven, but also in the actual sense of having become a new creation. The new righteous creation must come forth. Every aspect of the old sinful nature must be removed. All things in our personality must be made new and all must be of God, if we are to be perfect in His sight.
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. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:2-4)
Why was the Apostle Paul, as expressed in the seventh chapter of the Book of Romans, still distressed concerning his sinful nature? Not because he did not believe his sin was forgiven when the priest made the atonement with the animal sacrifice, but because sin was still present with him. Therefore the Law of Moses was causing the sin to become apparent, and Paul in his conscience experienced the death of guilt and separation from God.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (Hebrews 10:11)
Sins were forgiven through the Old Testament sacrifices, but the sins themselves were not taken away by the Law of Moses.
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, (Hebrews 10:12,13)
The Lord Jesus Christ was offered on the cross of Calvary on behalf of the sins of the whole world. Since that time numerous people have reached up by faith and have gained the benefits offered through that blood atonement.
However, the enemies of God still reside in those who have been forgiven. Now the Father is empowering the Lord Jesus to make His enemies in His people His footstool. We have come to such an hour.
To be continued.
Copyright © 2014 Trumpet Ministries Inc.
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