3. So, How Is the Conscience Purged?
By thinking! (tracking truth, not feelings)
• About the parallels accomplished in Christ’s work
– Minister of the Sanctuary
– Mediator of the Covenant
4. Bringing Together the Two Functions of Christ
(Andrew Murray, The Holiest of All, 311)
• Minister of the Holy Places
– 8:2 / (9:12, 24)
– In heaven – 8:1 / 9:24
– The more perfect tent – 9:11
• Not made with hands
• Not of this creation
– The true tent that the Lord set up, not man – 8:2
– To God (for us) – 9:14 (cf. 6:20)
• Mediator of the New Covenant Because of what?– 9:12
– 9:15 / (8:6 – where these two functions are paralleled)
– In our hearts – 8:10 (soul – 6:19 / conscience – 9:9, 14)
– To us (for God) – cf. 6:13-20 / cf. 7:18-22
5. So, How Is the Conscience Purged?
By thinking!
• About the parallels accomplished in Christ’s work
• About the purposes accomplished in Christ’s work
– Perfection of Christ
– Perfection of Man
6. That those who are “Called” might “Receive”
(2 extremes of experience in Christian life)
• Call
– To call by name, invite
– Initiatory (i.e., at the beginning)
• Receive
– To take hold of, bring into control, possess, obtain
– Conclusive (i.e., at the end)
7. That those who are “Called” might “Receive”
(2 extremes of experience in Christian life)
Rom 8:28-30
And we know that for those who love God all things
work together for good, for those who are called
according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he
foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to
the image of his Son, in order that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom
he predestined he also called, and those whom he
called he also justified, and those whom he justified
he also glorified.
Ties in with author’s theme of “perfection”
8. Perfection in Hebrews
(taken from David A. DeSilva, Perseverance in Gratitude, 194-207)
With regard to Christ
– 2:10 – Pioneer of Salv. made perfect through suffering
• Passed thru suffering on the way to His exaltation
• Marks the completion of His task, as well as His personal destiny
– 5:9 – Source of Eternal Salv. learned obed. thru suffering
• “Being made perfect” contrasted w/ “the days of his flesh”
• Signals completion of the rite of passage; brought to divine goal
– 7:26-28 – High priest of Salv…exalted…made perfect
• The law appoints men in their weakness
• The oath appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever
• This High Priest has broken thru to the other side (w/o weakness)
9. Perfection in Hebrews
(taken from David A. DeSilva, Perseverance in Gratitude, 194-207)
With regard to Believers
– 5:14/6:1 – Arriving at the appointed goal
• cf. 3:14 & 6:11 – “to the end”
• Marks the completion of both a task and a destiny (cf. 12:23)
– 7:19 – Process by which person enabled to draw near to God
• Cf. 9:9 & 10:14
• Cleansing – restores one to normal state of being clean
• Consecration – moves from profane to marked state of holiness
– 10:14-18 – Erasure of the defiling memory of sin
• Purges minds of believers to serve the living God (9:14/10:16, 22)
• Purges mind of God to accept believers who draw near (10:17)
10. So, How Is the Conscience Purged?
By thinking!
• About the parallels accomplished in Christ’s work
• About the purposes accomplished in Christ’s work
• About the pictures accomplished in Christ’s work
– Substitutionary atonement
– Legal inheritance
11. The Old Covenant Satisfied
A death (think “Curse” – cf. Gen 3 / Deut 28) has
occurred that redeems (“sets free,” “liberates”) them
from the transgressions committed under the first
covenant.
Col 2:13-14
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together
with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by
canceling the record of debt that stood against us
with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to
the cross.
12. The New Covenant Ratified
The promise of an “eternal inheritance” – a one-sided “covenant”
1 Pet 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! According to his great mercy, he has
caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, 4 to an inheritance that is
imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being
guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time.
13. So, How Is the Conscience Purged?
By thinking!
• About the parallels accomplished in Christ’s work
• About the purposes accomplished in Christ’s work
• About the pictures accomplished in Christ’s work
• About the process accomplished in Christ’s work
– “The blood of the covenant” – Ceremonial sprinkling
– “Without blood, no forgiveness” – Actual cleansing
14. The gaining of Manhood by God
provided the Human sacrifice
whereby Heaven might be gained by man
And with it,
the cleansing that fits him (today!)
for God’s presence
