Read Hebrews 9:22-28. What does this passage say about the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary? The idea that the heavenly sanctuary needs cleansing makes sense in the context of the Old Testament sanctuary. The sanctuary is a symbol of God’s government (1 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 6:2), and the way God deals with the sin of … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 7:27 and Hebrews 10:10. How is Jesus’ sacrifice described in these passages? The Levitical priests — who were “many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office” (Hebrews 7:23, ESV) — are contrasted with Jesus, who lives forever and has an eternal priesthood (Hebrews 7:24-25). Levitical priests “daily” (Hebrews 7:27) and “every year” (Hebrews 9:25) offered gifts and sacrifices … Continue reading –>
Jesus’ death provided forgiveness, or remission, for our sins. The remission of our sins, however, involves much more than the cancellation of the penalty for our transgression of the covenant. It involves other elements as important. That is why the Israelite sacrificial system had five different kinds of sacrifices. Each was necessary to express the … Continue reading –>
Hebrews 9:15 explains that the death of Jesus as a sacrifice had the purpose of providing “redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant,” in order that the people of God might “receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (NASB). In the ancient Near East, a covenant between two persons or nations was a … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 9:15, Genesis 15:6–21, Jeremiah 34:8–22, Ephesians 3:14–19, Heb.7:27, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 9:22–28. Memory Text: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14, NKJV). The idea that a man found guilty and executed on a cross should be worshiped as God was offensive to the ancient mind. Sparse reference … Continue reading –>
Sabbath or Scholarship? By Andrew McChesney It was an offer that the Seventh-day Adventist girl could not refuse: a full scholarship to study at a private non-Christian school. Malevelev, who grew up in an Adventist home, had been taught since she was young to remember God in all her decisions. The girl had planned to … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him, … Continue reading –>
Compare the new covenant promises of Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:26-27. How are they related? The first covenant document was written by God on tablets of stone and was deposited in the ark of the covenant as an important witness of God’s covenant with His people (Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 10:1-4). Documents written in stone, however, could be broken; and scrolls, as … Continue reading –>
We may be tempted to think that the new covenant has “better promises” in the sense that it has greater rewards than the old covenant had (a heavenly homeland, eternal life, etc.). The truth is that God offered the same rewards to Old Testament believers as He has offered us (read Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 11:13-16). In Hebrews 8:6, the … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 8:1-6. Why is Jesus a better Mediator of the covenant? The Greek term mesites (mediator) derives from mesos (“middle”) and denotes the one who walks or stands in the middle. It was a technical term that referred to a person who fulfilled one or more of the following functions: (1) an arbiter between two or more parties, (2) … Continue reading –>
