Hebrews 9:11-28
11 But [that appointed time came] when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and
are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not
made with [human] hands, that is, not a part of this material creation,
12
He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by
virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation
between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).
13 For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and
defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a
burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body, [Lev. 16:6,
16; Num. 19:9, 17, 18.]
14
How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His]
eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered
Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from
dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?
15 [Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance–since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.
16 For where there is a [last] will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established,
17 For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.
18 So even the [old] first covenant (God's will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of blood.
19
For when every command of the Law had been read out by Moses to all the
people, he took the blood of slain calves and goats, together with
water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled both
the Book (the roll of the Law and covenant) itself and all the people,
20 Saying these words: This is the blood that seals and ratifies the agreement (the testament, the covenant) which God commanded [me to deliver to] you. [Exod. 24:6-8.]
21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the [sacred] vessels and appliances used in [divine] worship.
22
[In fact] under the Law almost everything is purified by means of
blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from
sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.
23
By such means, therefore, it was necessary for the [earthly] copies of
the heavenly things to be purified, but the actual heavenly things
themselves [required far] better and nobler sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence of God on our behalf.
25
Nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary to] offer Himself
regularly again and again, as the high priest enters the [Holy of]
Holies every year with blood not his own.
26
For then would He often have had to suffer [over and over again] since
the foundation of the world. But as it now is, He has once for all at
the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself].
27 And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment,
28 Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.
Devotional
From Rascal to Righteous
by Kenneth Copeland
“He is not ashamed to call [us] brethren.” Hebrews 2:11
All
of us struggle with habits at some time or another. We work at them and
work at them to change. There may be some things in your life today
that are a little slow in coming around. You will have to resist the
devil in those areas. But you can stand against him. You can take the
Word of God and put him out.
In the meantime, do not allow
yourself to be subjected to harassment or condemnation, whether it be
physical or spiritual. It’s dangerous.
Don’t let yourself or
anyone else say things like, “I’m so unworthy. I’m so bad. I’m so
worthless.” That’s against the Word of God. If Jesus walked through the
door and stood right there for the next 20 years preaching every minute
of every day, He would never call you unworthy. It’s proven in Hebrews
2.
Jesus is not ashamed of you...therefore, you don’t have any business being ashamed of yourself!
So
stop it and start believing what the Bible says. Believe that you’re
God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Start confessing that.
Instead of talking about what a messed-up rascal you are, start agreeing
with the Word and calling yourself the righteousness of God in Christ
Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). Practice seeing yourself that way. Practice
seeing yourself operating in the victory. After all, Jesus has already
won it for you. So receive that victory by faith!
Speak the Word
“Jesus is not ashamed of me, therefore I am not ashamed.” —Hebrews 2:11
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