From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Wed, Feb 23, 2022 at 5:37 AM
Subject: 2-23-22 THOUGHTS
2-23-22 THOUGHTS
The words of Hebrews 10:1-19 are some of the most powerful in the Bible! They are words about Jesus giving us access to God! The Message Bible is worth a look and says some things in a way that will help our thinking. Verse 14 says “It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people.” Wow! We can now—without hesitation— walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place."
Heb 10:1-19 Message Bible The old plan was only a hint of the good things in the new plan. Since that old "law plan" wasn’t complete in itself, it couldn’t complete those who followed it. No matter how many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution. 2 If they had, the worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins. 3 But instead of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over they actually heightened awareness and guilt. 4 The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin. 5 That is what is meant by this prophecy, put in the mouth of Christ: You don’t want sacrifices and offerings year after year; you’ve prepared a body for me for a sacrifice. 6 It’s not fragrance and smoke from the altar that whet your appetite. 7 So I said, "I’m here to do it your way, O God, the way it’s described in your Book." 8 When he said, "You don’t want sacrifices and offerings," he was referring to practices according to the old plan. 9 When he added, "I’m here to do it your way," he set aside the first in order to enact the new plan— 10 God’s way— by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. 11 Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. 12 As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God 13 and waited for his enemies to cave in. 14 It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. 15 The Holy Spirit confirms this: 16 This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This time "I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts." 17 He concludes, I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins. 18 Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them. 19 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation— walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God’s presence is his body.
Heb 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
My Prayer:
O God, thank you for grace and mercy and love in Christ Jesus. Give us seeking hearts, that we may absorb your word in order to possess a full and current knowledge of You at all times. Keep us in your Holy Place O Lord. Help us understand the power in that thinking.
In the name of Jesus, Amen