Letter to the Hebrews Volume 93

 The Amazing Greatness of Jesus Christ's Sacrifice Part 2

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

It is very true of each and every one of us human beings that we received from Adam (our great great grandfather times a very big number) a corrupt, crooked, and callous nature that cannot be accepted into the presence of Almighty God, therefore, we need Someone whose power is above that of human to first wash us and cleanse us from within and to give us a second nature from Himself that is just the opposite of the first nature. Here is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church @ Rome concerning this very fact, "Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. Sin was in the world before the Law came. But no record of sin was kept, because there was no Law. Yet death still had power over all who lived from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. This happened, though not everyone disobeyed a direct command from God, as Adam did. In some ways Adam is like Christ who came later. But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people. There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to Him, even though we have sinned many times. Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and He has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings. Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life. Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed Him and will make many people acceptable to God. The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God's kindness was even more powerful. Sin ruled by means of death. But God's kindness now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life." (Romans 5:12-21) (CEV).

However, this is not the end but just the beginning, for from that point forward those two natures are at war with one another for dominance or control in our every day lives as pilgrims and sojourners on the earth, therefore, we need this same Someone to be our powerful intercessor (a negotiator who acts as a link between parties) with God the Father and to also be our advocate in the presence of God the Father for us when we sin, as the Apostle John declared with these words, "My children, I am writing this so that you won't sin. But if you do sin, Jesus Christ always does the right thing, and He will speak (be our advocate) to the Father for us. Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world's people. When we obey God, we are sure that we know Him. But if we claim to know Him and don't obey Him, we are lying and the truth isn't in our hearts. We truly love God only when we obey Him as we should, and then we know that we belong to Him. If we say we are His, we must follow the example of Christ." (1 John 2:1-6) (CEV). These truths are why we now find the writer of Hebrews declaring these words to the then Hebrew converts to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:" (Hebrews 9:24) (KJV). The English phrase 'the holy places' is translated by the Greek word hagion meaning a sacred thing (that is, spot): - holiest (of all), holy place, sanctuary. The English phrase 'made with hands' is translated by the Greek word cheiropoiētos meaning manufactured, that is, of human construction. The English phrase 'which are the figures' is translated by the Greek word antitupon meaning corresponding ('antitype'), that is, a representative, counterpart. Here is what Vincent's Word Studies has to say of this, "Under the Old Covenant, the bloodshedding was symbolical: the death of the institutor was by proxy. In the ratification of the New Covenant, Christ Himself was the covenant-victim, and a real cleansing power attaches to His Blood as the offering of His Eternal Spirit."

The True Tabernacle was then and is now located in Heaven where the Throne of God the Father actually resides (as we declared in the last study/commentary Volume 92), however, God the Father gave to Moses a model or an example of the True to construct down here on the earth for the Hebrew people to worship Him in, for it was a mere counterpart or type of the real, but it was necessary according to the will and command of Almighty God. Then came our Lord Jesus Christ who is the True Tabernacle, that is, His Mystical Body is now where every redeemed sinner worships God and gives Him alone all glory and our Lord Jesus Christ is in Heaven at the Right Hand of God the Father constantly advocating and interceeding for everyone of us who have come to Him at the Cross on Calvary because we are continually accused by our enemy the devil until his ultimate and final demise comes to pass as it is written for us by the Apostle John with these words, "Then I heard a voice from heaven shout, 'Our God has shown His saving power, and His kingdom has come! God's own Chosen One has shown His authority. Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and night. Now he has been thrown out!" (Revelation 12:10) (CEV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 9:24, "He is not gone into the holy of holies of the tabernacle or temple, as the Jewish high priest does once in the year with the blood of the victim, to sprinkle it before the mercy-seat there; but into heaven itself, which He has thus opened to all believers, having made the propitiatory offering by which both He and those whom He represents are entitled to enter and enjoy eternal blessedness. And hence we may consider that Christ, appearing in His crucified body before the throne, is a real offering of Himself to the Divine justice in behalf of man; and that there He continues in the constant act of being offered, so that every penitent and believer, coming unto God through Him, find Him their ever ready and available sacrifice, officiating as the High Priest of mankind in the presence of God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…