Titled: "CHRIST, THE PRIEST."
My many and grateful thanks to both the author and the Publisher, for this book. (John B).
THE GREATEST THEME IN THE HOLY BIBLE IS, JESUS CHRIST AND WHAT'S HE'S DONE FOR EACH ONE OF US!
Note (JB): In fact if we remove each and every reference to Jesus, all we'd have would be Jewish history Book, period!
Perhaps many ask, "Well what's He done, for me?" What about His and the Father's Divine Plan to separate us all from our sins, so all will be worthy for eternal life as The Father's Sons and Daughters? We must never forget, the wages of sin, is death, and Jesus died that death in Y O U RS and mine place!
Never forget, that it is our sins, that makes each unworthy for Heaven, therefore, we must either accept Jesus and His gift of Salvation, OR die for our sins, ourselves, ..........simple , right? Now to the story:
What a wonderful Savior, right? What an immeasurable depth of His love, agree? How thrilling is this story as the Salvation story as unfolding in the Sanctuary. In this chapter, we'll take a look at the Heavenly Sanctuary, not made by hands, and learn that Jesus is our forever, High Priest, whose Blood was shed on the Cross,as THE LAMB OF GOD.
1 Peter 1:19-20 " But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,"
Symbolically, Christ takes His very own blood into the Heavenly Sanctuary making it possible for Him, as our High Priest,, to separate us from our sins, just as in the olden times, the sins were "transferred" to the Sacrifice, and Jesus is the each one's personal Sacrifice! Thus giving Him the ability, within our willing hearts,
[remember Heaven uses only Truth and love, Satan never will, but he uses all others including murder] to remove our sins to Himself. And then presents us to The Father-God, as though we have never even sinned!
Note(JB) After that, The Father only looks at Christ's righteousness,, as we are then "Symbolically cover by Jesus' righteous blood"! Thus no Jesus in our hearts, NO HEAVEN in our futures! Because, Satan already "owns" Y O U , then, just as he owns the earth, for now! It is Satan that causes all these so-called "Natural Disasters" , Not God, that's insurance companies' cop-out!
Take a look at this from Hebrews:
Hebrews 9:8-15 "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
Note(JB): A fully flesh man, is not able to do this, it must be done by He whom is the Creative instrument of The Father [ John1:1-3,14]
Is this not a wonderful method? This means that each person, who is willing, can be in Heaven with Jesus for ever! Praise God, right? This means that NONE of us have to face the Second death! We can be resurrected and instantly transfigured {1 Corinthians 15:50-55] into a non-corruptible body, as Jesus now has, also. Thus live i n joy, peace, and total happiness forever, to explore other worlds!
How wondrously beautiful, is it to know that at this very moment, Jesus Christ is in th4e Heavenly Sanctuary where he is appearing before God the Father in our behalf?
"The Great Controversy" pg. 489 by Ellen G. White. " The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the Sanctuary above, is as essential to the plan of salvation, as was His death on the Cross!" Praise God The Father, and God the Son, for the Cross, for it's very horrible nature, forces us to accept just how bad sin is. We all should praise The Godhead, members, that this truth is taught within the Seventh-day Adventist Churches, a message which reveals how the merits, of God's Grace, upon the Cross, can and shall be applied to the individual with faith in Christ. It was and still is a work, that is as needed as the Cross for our Salvation!
Hebrews 4:10-16 "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
So, why our need for such a High Priest, today?
Hebrews 8:2-6 "A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 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. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."
Please note, the TWO reasons for our deeding Jesus as our High Priest. First, He was to offer gifts. And secondly, He was to offer sacrifices. Now we know all about gifts, for we have been given, and received gifts, in skills and knowledge. But what about a sacrifice? What is a sacrifice for? Again the Bible gives answer:
Hebrews 5:1-2 " For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity."
Can you not see, what the Sacrifices were for? Our SINS!
Suppose, that under the Old Testament's sanctuary system,, that I had sinned, and brought my offering for a sacrifice. I cannot enter this place, as God welt there, and as a sinner I would be instantly destroyed, should I appear before God. So, away must be found for my gift and my sacrifice to be carried into the sanctuary before the very presence of God that I may be accepted. These facts are of a great importance because....
"The correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary is the very foundation of our faith."
Evangelism, p. 221.
So let's review how an individual is to secure eternal forgiveness for their sins. Man was to bring a lamb as a sacrifice for his sin. He was then to place his hands on th4e lamb's head and confess his sin (s), over th43e substitute lamb. In this way the sin was then transferred to the sacrifice. Now the man is to slay the sacrifice by his own hand, {JB, that's done by the cutting of the lamb's throat, and for most people this was as a family's pet!]. Now, there's nothing more that he could do, but his sacrifice is incomplete. This is why he needs a priest. Now note what the priest can do for him. The priest takes the shed blood and carries it within the Sanctuary; for this is absolutely necessary to bring justification to the sinner. If we are to be forgiven, justified and redeemed, we should understand what the priest is doing with the blood.......
Hebrews 8:1-4 " 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; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:"
In chapter 2, we discussed that Christ represented the Lamb, which man must have for his sacrifice. The scriptures also teach that it is equally important that the priest have something to present before God The Father. The fact is---Christ is now our High Priest and He is also the SACRIFICE! Now to help us explain and understand this greatest of truths, Paul further shows us: .....
Hebrews 8:4-6 " For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 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. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."
Please know that these words were written, while the Jewish Temple was still standing, intact, and the priests were daily carrying out these tasks. However, Paul tells us, that now that Jesus is in Heaven, He is now our High Priest "Who serve unto (US) the example and shadow of heavenly things." Hebrews 8:5.
The word "Shadow" means that the work of the priest was but a shadowy outline of the movements of our great High Priest Jesus Christ, in the Heavenly Sanctuary
Allow me to illustrate. I was once a summer youth camp, counselor, in which there was a problem child under my care. Now during the rest period every child was expected to lie on his cot and sleep.. But this child decided to slip out of his cot and get into some mischief. He made sure to stay behind the building so I could not see him. But, he forgot all about his shadow, and just as we study what went on in the sanctuary, the earthly one, we can understand the importance of what Christ is doing for us , today, in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
Leviticus 4:32-34 "And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:"
The man has now done all that he can do, and the priest takes over. The blood of the SUBSTITUTE was brought into the Sanctuary, in one of two ways. Either the priest ate a designated portion of the sin offering, and in this way he carried in his person into the sanctuary as described....
Leviticus 4:4-7 "And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the Vail of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
God instructed Moses in all this, in the "CEREMONIAL LAW," that was placed NEXT to the Ark.
NOTE(JB) It was THIS LAW, and this law only. . . that was "NAILED TO HIS CROSS" Colossians 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Many say we are NOT under the law, but under Grace, which makes His Grace a DISGRACE! Just as the "Once saved, always saved," is right from Satan's mouth!
Leviticus 6:1-7 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein."
NOTE(JB) Please know, that we on earth have some 43,000 different "Christian Denominations", all from the One Word, the Holy Bible. Who fails to see, the many deceptions man hears from the "Pulpits" of the worldly today? Matthew 24, has three direct quotes from Jesus.... "Let no man deceive by any means," plus two other references, about meeting a false Jesus in the wilderness, or in the upper rooms! Plus 2nd Thess. 2: 1-12 also tells us the why! "They have not the love for the truth...that they should believe a lie.."
Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"
The very same principle applies to us yet today: First we go to our Heavenly High Priest, in prayer, and HE ".....sends the Holy Spirit to bring us to repentance." ! Selected Messages. p. 393.
Note(JB): Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
God does! Yet He knows what we need, and what each can do on their powers, most are in need of the Holy Spirit's urgings, and no that's NOT the human conscience speaking!
We MUST ALSO, make amends, to those we have wronged, thus showing not only our desire to be forgiven, but also to forsake our sinful ways. In other wards we are to freely give our sins to Jesus as our sin-bearer......
Matthew 5:22-25 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."
Once a sinner has done all this, his part [JB, remember the "Ceremonial laws nailed to His Cross? the Blood sacrifice,is one of them, for Christ is our Blood sacrifice.] then the Blood that Jesus has shed, can and will be applied in his behalf by the Priest for his atonement.
Now here's a QUESTION: "What does the blood represent?" Read this carefully and memorize it....
Leviticus 17:10-12 "And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood."
What a truth! For the life of the flesh, is in the blood. Thus blood represents the life, thus Christ's blood represents HIS LIFE!
Now look this, If Y O U cut your Jugular vein, and do nothing about it, you will within minutes bleed out and be dead.
May I ask Y O U, a very personal Question? "Have Y O U not ever trembled in fear at the thought that someday you must approach God's throne and stand in judgment for your words, and yes even your very thoughts, and deeds? Just read this:.....
The Great Controversy, P482. "Every man's work passes i n review before God, and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the Book of Heaven is entered with terrible exactness every work, every selfish act, {Excuse me (JB) but is not an abortion a selfish act?], every unfulfilled duty, every secret sin, with every artful dissembling, Heaven sent warnings of reproof, neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil with its far reaching results. All are chronicled by the recording angel, for the law of God is the standard by which the character and the lives of humans will be tested in the judgment, says the wise man. "Fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment." Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
Again, have Y O U ever been troubled in fear at the very thought that someday you must stand before God in His Judgment? If YOU are right with God, and have surrendered to His will and invited the Holy Spirit into your heart each day, and have repented and asking for forgiveness in your confessions, you have no need to fear His Judgment! For YOUR High Priest, Jesus Christ will go in before The Father-God, to represent you! Wonder of Wonders, HE's the Son of God and He knows The Father, and He has already died for your sins and mine!
Allow me to ask yet another question: "Have Y O U made it possible for Jesus, as your Personal Savior, to appear before T%he Father-God, in Your place?We are all sinners, as the Bible tells us. Plus we are in desperate need of His external help. WHY?
Jeremiah 13:23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
Note(JB): Yes we can somewhat modify our behavior, but we need a character change, to become more like Jesus. This we need Heaven's help!
So let me suggest what all should do, in your mind's eye, go to the foot of the Cross, and with prayer ask for help, to live life with His approval! After "SEEING" Jesus die for YOU, you can't remain the same, especially, with your asking for the Holy Spirit to rule your heart/mind, why?
Matthew 7:8-11 " For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Note(JB) Asking in faith?trust! How do we gain faith? Romans 10:17 " So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"
Reading and study, are two very different methods, my I suggest a good Bible Concordance, that translates all but the shortest of words, into the three Bible's languages, Plus if one takes a word, say faith, and looks up and reads all these verses, Y O U will know what the Bible means with the word Faith!....
Isaiah 28:9-10 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little::
The word LINE, should have been translated as CORD, do we not tie things together with a cord?
Then, follow Hi m, by faith, as He rises from the dead and returns to heaven.
Follow Him by fai5th, as He enters the Heavenly Sanctuary, and to the very presence of The Father-God. There, He will offer His blood for Y O U!. If you'll do this, it will fill your heart with assurance. If you are right with God you never need, fear the coming Judgment, but welcome it, as a conformation of your faith.
Because Christ is....Hebrews 7:25-26 " Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;"
Now you should be able to understand why Christ is able to present Y O U as faultless before the Throne!
May I ask another question? "What kind of blood is it that is sprinkled in the Sanctuary before God, The Father?
A: This is the blood of the Sin-bearer, divine blood, shed on Calvary! This is very important, as it blood that that in the which flows the life force.
Now, dear reader, may I make this personal?
If...if I have repented of all known sins,j my sins have been transferred to Christ, the Substitute, for all. So, as Christ goes before The Father-God, bearing my sins in His blood they are then transferred to the alter by figuratively sprinkling His blood. Now you are ready for an astounding truth?
There is now NO MORE sin within me! My sins have been transferred into the Sanctuary. Mt sins have been separated from me. What a blessed thought! What a great and wonderful truth!
So, have Y O U transferred your sin (s) to the Lamb of God, thus permitting Him to transfer them to the Sanctuary in Heaven?
Sadly, so few true Christians seem to actually understand that their sins have been separated from them through Christ's work in the Sanctuary service., yet we have this promise....
2 Timothy 3:15-17 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
NOTE(JB): Remember, John3 :16? John 3:15-16 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Why cam all people fully accept this, at face value?
John 3:17 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
Can Y O U, dear reader, not see the greatest love, for Y O U, and ALL others, that is in the Father-God's heart? You, who are Mother could you see self giving up the life of YOUR child, for the good of mankind? Your Heavenly Father did just that, for YOU and me! What more can He do to receive your love?
You know deep within, that true love can't be forced nor commanded, that's the reason God uses only LOVE and TRUTH! Yet Satan led men, distort and pervert His word, to no end! Even wars of prosecutions, such as the 100 year war, and the 30 year war, and the War of the Roses, in th3e dark ages of Europe, as The Vatican used only force, with her Secret Societies, led by the Jesuits and backed up by ten other organizations. Google "Secret Societies,: or in Wikipedia Find Eric Phelps book " Vatican Assassins" or, D'Aubique's work, "The History of the Reformation.".
Yes both are "HARD READS", that speaks the truth, which is in very short supply in the Vatican.
As The Holy Bible will testify to in 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-15, and Revelation 13:2 and Daniel 7th chapter. Please know.....
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
All i n Christ, ate Spiritual Israel, thus sons of Abraham and Jacob!
Titus 1:2 " In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"
Sadly Satan and those who he leads, can a nd do lie, even from the very beginning! Many of these art sadly behind the Pulpits and write many books! Many are the Secular T.V. as the ' prosperity preachers'! Not all print is truth, not all who teach the Bible are of Christ! How can one tell?.....
Isaiah 8:20 " To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
Exodus 20:8-11 " Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
Exodus 31:14-17 " Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
W
Note(JB): Many a person, holds that every day is Holy! If so when can they work? Note the underlined above, and tell me that God is not serious about this sign, of Seventh day Sabbath worships? It is HIS MEMORIAL TO US, for His CREATION Events! He knew full well that Satan would give birth to evolution in Greek Mythology, that5 Darwin and many others swallowed hook, line and sinker! But true scientists know better, they know that DNA, is a protein, and carries information, the body needs from conception, to death, chemicals can't store, nor carry information, and ANY information requires an intelligent source! Time and random chance, holds no information, period! Thus evolution is a Satanic lie, that the Vatican calls Genesis 1 but an allegory, after God created life evolution took hold!Yet they expect ALL others to accept their words that they believe the rest of the Bible! DUH!!!!!!
1 John 1:9-10 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
Acts 3:19 "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
Thanking Y O U for your time. Questions? Comments? John at5 servant@frontier.com
NEXT: Chapter 4: Christ the Mathematician.
Want/Need more? Visit your Seventh-day Adventist Church,j and Saturday/Sabbath, you just may be glad that you did!
Other sites: www.servant@frontier.com Bonesinstones.blogspot.com blbn.org aftv.org itiswritten.com
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