“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” -Hebrews 9:14
Now that the weather has turned a bit warmer and we’re working outside, it’s easy to get sweaty. We have lots of memories of saying to our kids, “Why don’t you jump in the shower and quickly rinse off.” But most of the time, after having been outside running or working for hours, they (we) need much more than just a quick rinse…We need a deep-cleaning shower!
As we continue in our study of Hebrews 9 this week, we will discover that the old covenant laws of cleansing after a time of getting spiritually dirty provided just a quick rinse; it wasn’t a deep-down cleaning. Our passage will remind us that people needed to be fully cleansed from lives of sin, something which the blood of bulls and goats could never do.
The Old Testament law included ceremonial practices of washing to be clean. But the cleaning was never complete. People would get dirty again. What the old laws pointed to was someone who could provide a full, deep cleaning; someone who lived a life that was unblemished by sin. That someone is Jesus Christ, whose death for our sake provided purification once and for all. He is the mediator of a new and better covenant.
May we experience the life-changing, life-giving work of Jesus Christ, who cleanses us and makes atonement for our sins. May that knowledge move us to become “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” And may it cause us to live in anticipation of his second return, “Not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:28)
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron
Now that the weather has turned a bit warmer and we’re working outside, it’s easy to get sweaty. We have lots of memories of saying to our kids, “Why don’t you jump in the shower and quickly rinse off.” But most of the time, after having been outside running or working for hours, they (we) need much more than just a quick rinse…We need a deep-cleaning shower!
As we continue in our study of Hebrews 9 this week, we will discover that the old covenant laws of cleansing after a time of getting spiritually dirty provided just a quick rinse; it wasn’t a deep-down cleaning. Our passage will remind us that people needed to be fully cleansed from lives of sin, something which the blood of bulls and goats could never do.
The Old Testament law included ceremonial practices of washing to be clean. But the cleaning was never complete. People would get dirty again. What the old laws pointed to was someone who could provide a full, deep cleaning; someone who lived a life that was unblemished by sin. That someone is Jesus Christ, whose death for our sake provided purification once and for all. He is the mediator of a new and better covenant.
May we experience the life-changing, life-giving work of Jesus Christ, who cleanses us and makes atonement for our sins. May that knowledge move us to become “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” And may it cause us to live in anticipation of his second return, “Not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:28)
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Aaron
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