Cleansed Conscience

Intro:

TS: This letter was written by God:

To Hebrews in a Christian Church were many were having a hard time letting go of their old Jewish faith. The Hebrews Temple was likely still there in Jerusalem when this Letter to the Hebrews was written; and so, the Jewish Faith was still facing those Hebrew Christians, tempting them, perhaps even being ridiculed by their relatives and friends!

RS: As we grow in out Christian faith today, how are we doing in letting go of the old ways and becoming more and more like Jesus Christ? What are some of the “old ways” that we are still faced with and tempted everyday? Are we being pressured to conform to this world?

Read along with me and learn to grow to be more like Christ

Hebrews 9:1–14 ESV

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

The Limitations of Old Worship

v1-7: Old Covenant had regulations for worship and a place (tabernacle/sanctuary) for worship:

50 chapters of the OT detail the tabernacle and the service to be offered there.

Here, the author gives a quick overview to remind them of the past and set up the contrast.

- v. 2 the Holy Place

-v 3 Most Holy Place

- the Most holy Place contains many of the sacred things from God

alter of incense

although it is outside at the entrance to the Most Holy Place, the author links it here to the it due to the connection to the use on the Day of Atonement

The alter and the cloud of incense from it marked the transition between Holy Place and Most Holy Place

ark of the covenant

Contents:

Jar of Mana

Aaron’s staff which budded (demonstrating he was the chosen priest during a rebellion in the wilderness.)

Tablets of the Covenant

10 commandments

Cherubim of glory overshadowing

6-7 Ministry of priests

v. 6 Holy Place

Priests went regularly

Daily work to be done tending lamp, offering incense and weekly changing bread

v. 7 Most Holy Place

Only the High Priest could annually enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifice for the people’s sins of the last year.

He carried blood to offer for himself and for the people.

The Limitations on Worship

The Limitations on Worship

Hebrews 9:8–10 ESV

By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Not everyone could go into the Most Holy Place to meet with God, a High Priest was needed!

The whole Levitical system taught of sin and its consequences.

However, it was limited and couldn’t perfect the conscience of the worshipper

It was inadequate.

It was a picture of what was to come, but was only regulations imposed for a season.

Not everyone could go into the Most Holy Place to meet with God, a High Priest was needed!

The Opening of the New Way

Hebrews 9:11–13 ESV

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,

Hebrews 9:11–14 ESV

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

…..

The Messiah Jesus Christ came to earth:

The Messiah Jesus Christ came to earth:

v11a: to be High Priest of all good things

eternal redemption He accomplished

This was His purpose in coming to Earth

This is why we celebrate Christmas!

v11b: came from a Holy Place not man made – heaven!

HE didn’t enter the Holy or Most Holy Place on Earth which were symbols or pictures

HE entered the True Holiest of all Places, Heaven

v12-13: His Sacrifice

He did not offer the book of bulls and goats

He offered the sacrifice of His own blood

His life was offered to give us life.

so that total spiritual cleansing and eternal life becomes available!

v. 14 to Truly cleanse the worshipper

The Cleansing of the worshipper

The old system could not bring real cleansing

Heb 9:14

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Our conscience has been purified

Now, our conscience has been purified

Consciences cleansed? – other English translations…

other English translations…

KJV…. purge your conscience from dead works to serve…..

HCSB…. cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve…..

Jesus Christ came to cleanse, purge, and purify our consciences from dead works!

Dead works cannot save us

Why did God do that for us through Jesus Christ according to v14??

Faith in Christ alone saves us

Heed His call to repent.

We will stop here for now and focus on this thought about serving God.

Conclusion:

The old is fulfilled and finished.

It accomplished its purpose

Pictured our need and the price of atonement

The New Way is open.

There are a number of

Christ has come and gone back to heaven offering Himself as the ultimate and final sacrifice.

Now, all who repent and have faith in Him have eternal redemption.

1. Truths we should always note about God!

a. God is Holy (sin can not be associated with God)!

b. God desires an intimate relationship with people:

- God provides a way for cleansing of sins

- God calls for proper worship (a communion with a Holy God!)

c. God has a perfect plan which He shares to everyone but does not force it anyone!

2. The Old Covenant with God’s chosen People Israel prepares the way for all people to have a perfect relationship with God through Jesus Christ (the New and everlasting Covenant)!

Whatever our old faith was or if we never actually believed in anything, now is the time to believe and receive the New Covenant, an eternal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ! Why is it important to be in the New covenant of Jesus Christ right now??

-18….

When people die, they will immediately face the judgment of God and no one really knows when their lives can end! Jesus will also return soon to earth to judge the living and the dead; many people will be caught by God not forgiven of their sins and they will be eternally judged to be with all demons!

3. Memorize …. learn it and do it everyday!

People do and want to do much more God but if we do not have our conscience pure first with God, all our works is still be useless!

Let us make sure our conscience are always pure through Christ, then we can serve God wherever He calls us!

And so, if it is the work of Jesus Christ to cleanse our consciences from dead works, how do we make sure that our consciences are pure??

We must always yield to our Triune God! We grieve God when we have unconfessed sins!