“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which
are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now
TO
APPEAR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR US”
(Hebrews 9:24). Jesus had to appear
before God the Father with the shed blood. This is why He told Mary not to touch Him when He arose from the dead. “Jesus saith unto her,
TOUCH
ME NOT;
FOR I AM NOT YET ASCENDED TO MY FATHER:
but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your
Father; and to my God, and your God”
(John 20:17).
If Mary had touched Jesus, the blood sacrifice would have been tainted with corruption. Jesus was heading towards heaven with the blood which needed to be applied to the mercy seat in Heaven. “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an HIGH PRIEST, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Hebrews 8:1). Jesus is our High Priest! “Seeing then that we have a great HIGH PRIEST, that is passed into the heavens, JESUS THE SON OF GOD…” (Hebrews 4:14). Jesus’ tabernacle is in Heaven, not on earth, “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:2).
The Heavenly Mercy Seat
The Mercyseat is located within this tabernacle in Heaven, just as it was in the Old Testament tabernacle. God had required for the Jewish High Priest to perform a ceremonial sacrifice once per year to atone for the sins of the Israelite people. The sacrifice pictured the coming Messiah Who would someday die on the cross for the sins of all people. This ceremonial event ceased when Christ died on the cross because the shadow of things to come was now obsolete, Jesus had fulfilled the prophecy.
The Old Testament tabernacle, priests, holy of holies and mercyseat were all a shadow (or replica) of the Tabernacle and in Heaven. “Who serve unto the EXAMPLE AND SHADOW OF HEAVENLY THINGS, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Hebrews 5:8).
The Old Testament tabernacle was a mirror image of the tabernacle in
Heaven where Christ would someday make the ultimate sacrifice with His shed blood. Jesus used His own blood
to pay for our
sins. Christ’s blood was applied
to the Mercyseat in Heaven. For
anyone to teach that Jesus’ blood has no redeeming power is a false prophet. To diminish the necessity of
Christ's blood sacrifice is an
abomination unto God.
Just as the Jewish high priest was required to enter into the holy of holies once a year, likewise Christ had to enter into the Holy of Holies to appear before God. The Old Testament tabernacle was divided into three parts: the outer court, the inner court and then the holy of holies. Only certain priests who followed certain cleansing rituals were allowed into the inner court. Absolutely no one could enter into the holy of holies except a certain high priest once a year. Disobeying certain rules meant death.
For example, if the high priest entered into the holy of holies without the lamb’s blood, God would have killed him. The blood atonement was sacred to God. Christ's blood is a serious matter to God. We must not make light of something that God holds dear. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1st Peter 1:18,19). Jesus is precious! Jesus’ blood is precious!
Carefully note that the word “atonement” is an Old Testament word which means “to cover.” Jesus DIDN'T merely cover our sins, He took them away forever with His blood. Amen! This is why, when speaking of Christ's work of redemption, I refer to His “blood sacrifice” instead of using the word “atonement.”
What a wonderful and loving God, that He would provide salvation to us through His own suffering and sacrifice. Surely there is no greater love than this. Do you fail to see God’s love toward mankind? If so, it is only because of your sinful unbelief. Believe my friend and let God have His way with your heart.
Jesus' Blood Washes Our Sins Away
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22). As believers, We are not to live with guilt over the past. We are to sprinkle our past sins and mistakes with the blood of Jesus. What this means is that you must realize in your mind that Christ’s blood has washed your sins away and they are gone forever. “...Unto him that loved us, and WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD” (Revelation 1:5).
Have your sins been forgiven? Jesus has made the provision for your forgiveness. All you have to do is say “yes” to He Who knocks at the door of your heart and invite Him in, “Behold, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Is Jesus knocking at the door to your heart? Let Him in. By the way, you can’t invite Him in twice. Would you invite someone into your house who has already entered? Of course not! The same is true with salvation—If saved, always saved. Once Jesus Christ comes in, He never leaves. You can’t throw Him out either! You might stick Him in a closet and forget He’s there, just like any other old stuff in the attic or closet, but He’s still there. You absolutely CANNOT lose your salvation. Whether or not you have ever been saved is another story. Many folks who think they are saved are NOT! Only Jesus, trust in Him.
Christ Atoned Once For ALL
“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did ONCE, when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:27). This is important to understand, Jesus died and atoned for our sins ONCE. Jesus is not still hanging on a cross as Catholicism portray Him. The Catholic religion teaches that when you take the Lord’s Supper (Holy Eucharist) that the bread and juice literally become the blood and body of Jesus Christ when digested. They believe this is necessary for renewed spiritual life. This of course is as ridiculous as it is totally unscriptural. The bread and juice simply remind us of what Christ has done for us to redeem us unto Himself, no more.
There is NO magic power in partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus does NOT die every time. Catholicism teaches that Jesus dies over and over again. This is NOT what the Bible teaches. Jesus died ONCE, He shed His blood ONCE, He applied the Blood ONCE—it is finished. “So Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28). “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Jesus did NOT stay on the cross bless God, He did NOT remain in the grave, He arose triumphant over death and is alive forever more. Thanks be to His name.
