Topic: Jesus Makes the Difference [Wednesday April 15, 2015]
Text: Hebrews 9:1-10
Key Verse: “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” (Hebrews 9:8).
Today’s reading clearly establishes a world of difference between life without Christ and life with Him as the Dispenser of grace. It is the difference between the old covenant God had with the children of Israel and the new one He has established with those washed by the Blood of Jesus through repentance and faith in His Son.
The first covenant had “ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary… in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make (the priest) that did the service perfect…” (Hebrews 9:1,9). Whereas the high priest was strictly forbidden to enter the holy of holies (the presence of God) except in the yearly Day of Atonement, Christ’s death and resurrection have opened up unimpeded access to the throne of grace.
Why there was restricted access to God then was to prepare the minds of worshippers for the fulfillment of the promise of the better covenant that was to come through our Lord Jesus Christ. This was accomplished when Jesus Christ died as the final Sacrifice for sin. This is the import of the Cross at Calvary which symbolizes the new covenant. The first one was a shadow of what believers in Jesus Christ are enjoying today. Now we have unhindered access to the throne of grace, not because of our work or ability to keep the law to God’s satisfaction but by the great work accomplished by God through Jesus on the tree of Calvary.
The marvel here is this, long before God unveils any programme, He would first cast its shadow so that the discerning followers of His works would have an orderly and perfect understanding of His ways. God is a God of order who does nothing haphazardly. There are no coincidences with Him. He plans and watches over His works for a full and perfect implementation (Jeremiah 1:12).
Bible in One Year: Psalm 85-88
Thought for The Day: You must have Christ to stand out from the crowd.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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