Christian Daily

Pastor Tullian Tchividjian,Jesus + Nothing = Everything, p. 192

J. Gresham Machen

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Matthew 18:21-22; “²¹ Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Dear Lord, as look more at the Gospel, Jesus who died for us to save us from sin, please hear our prayer and meet us in front of our computers or on our phones. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and bless us, changing our hearts by the acceptance of this reading, in Christ’s name, Amen.

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In the previous note, we established that we as humankind needed a mediator so that we could reach God as a result of the separation caused by our sins. The old sacrificial system taught us this, but it failed to show us the way into God’s presence as only one man (the High Priest) could be in it and only once a year. Now Paul explains this further and shows us the way into God’s presence.

“The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 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. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order”. Hebrews 9:8-10

The old covenant and the sacrifices of the tabernacle (which later became the temple) were incomplete because they “were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper.” These sacrifices did not truly cleanse anyone from sin. They simply made the person “clean” to participate in ritual worship services. These involved outward things like food and drink and different washings. These were external things that could not cleanse or change one’s heart. The forgiveness of sins found in these sacrifices were granted “on credit” based on the future death of Christ.

Not only were these sacrifices incomplete in cleansing power, they were temporary as well. It was “an illustration for the present time.” (v. 9) The way to God’s pure presence was finally revealed when Christ was on the cross and the veil tore from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). At this point the gap was officially bridged. In the same way the High Priest had to carry blood into the Most Holy Place once a year, now we have free access to God’s throne because we are covered by Christ’s blood. We carry it into the Most Holy Place every time we pray and approach the Father.

We now live under this new covenant enjoying the freedom of living post-Crucifixion. With this in mind, Paul wrote in verse 9 that the old sacrificial system was symbolic pointing to the time we live in now, where we have free access to the Father because Christ, by dying for us, serves as our complete and permanent Mediator. Hallelujah to God for this great and perfect Sacrifice for a filthy sinner like me! Praise, honor, and glory be to Him forever and ever for all He has given me freely, even though I am the least deserving. I love You too Lord, from the bottom of my heart. Have me, it’s the least I can give to repay You. May this sacrifice and effort not be wasted in my life. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Do you share this praise and prayer? Feel free to express your love to God right now, out loud or in a comment or post or in your heart. Either way, give God this moment, this day, and your entire life. Blessings!

Source: MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary (1995).

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, show us who You are in Your holy Word, and show us who we are and who we should be in You. Feed us with a Word or words, a sustaining, life-giving word that will bless all who read this, in Christ’s name, Amen.

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In the previous note, we looked at the furniture of the earthly sanctuary as we saw Paul trying to prove how the new covenant in Christ is better that the old covenant which was based on the law and the promises of man. Now, after describing the sacrificial system based on the old covenant, Paul now compares this system to the new covenant that stands on Christ’s sacrifice. Instead of comparing Christ’s sacrifice to every offering, he chooses the most important one; the Day of Atonement when the sins of the people are annually removed from the temple, which bore them after the regular sacrifices were performed throughout the year.

6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. Hebrews 9:6-8, NIV

The outer room of the tabernacle is essentially the office in which the priests carried out their daily work. Only priests were allowed in this room. people had to wait outside while the priests did their work of offerings and sacrifices. The case was even more special for the Most Holy Place, the inner room of the sanctuary. MacDonald describes it interestingly, that one man in the world, from one race, out of one tribe, from one family, on one day of the year could enter it. It was the High Priest. Furthermore, he could only enter with blood as an offering for himself and the people for sins they committed out of ignorance. All of this is specifically outlined in God’s law and it is so because it is all specially designed to communicate a specific message to us.

The Holy Spirit is teaching us that sin has created a separation between God and man, thus making a mediator necessary. However, the way to God’s presence (symbolized by the Most Holy Place) was not revealed in this system. As long as the first tabernacle was standing, meaning as long as the old covenant was in effect, worshippers would not yet know the way into God’s pure presence.

Sacrificing animals and carrying blood was just as insufficient as us trying to save ourselves by works. We needed a Mediator, Sacrifice, and High Priest. We found all of that in Jesus Christ.

Source: MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary (1995).

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, every day we need Your presence and Word more and more. May we follow in Christ’s footsteps on this earth and live by every Word that comes from You. May Your Word in this lesson consume and and change us, desires, actions, and thoughts, into Your likeness. We thank You in advance for victory!  In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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In the previous study (which was a long time ago—sorry), we looked at Hebrews 8:3-6 and concluded that the new covenant which saves us in Christ is better than the old one which was based on the law because it was “founded on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). The old covenant could only demand righteousness from us, but the new one is better in that it can provide righteousness for us in Christ. In verse 7 and 8, Paul continues to explain the differences between the old and new covenants by explaining why we need the new covenant and how it affects us.

“7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said:
  “The time is coming, declares the Lord,
  when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
  and with the house of Judah.” Hebrews 8:7-8, NIV

In verse 7 Paul points out that God would not institute a new covenant if there wasn’t a problem with the first one. In verse 8 Paul explains that the problem was not with the covenant itself but with the people with whom God ratified it. It says “God found fault with the people.” The old covenant was conditional based on the obedience of Israel to the law. It failed because it rested on man’s promise to obey the law, which he repeatedly broke. In comparison, the new covenant is based on God’s promise of what He will do, which He outlines in verses 8-12. The old covenant failed because it was based on the action of man, which resulted in him swiftly breaking it. The new covenant is the opposite. It’s based on what God will do, and seeing as He never lies and always fulfills His promises, it is infinitely more sure and secure!

This means that you do not need to lie awake at night in fear for your life on earth or your eternal salvation. The guarantee is not dependent on your weak, unreliable humanity, but it rests in God’s unchanging, perfect, ever-truthful character. We are assured of our salvation in Christ! The new covenant is as permanent as God is eternal! It is 1,000,000% guaranteed!

Source: MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary (1995).