HEBREWS 18


     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 9:9 "Which [was] a figure
for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and
sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as
pertaining to the conscience;"

     We have been, in the last few lessons, comparing the earthly
Tabernacle with the Tabernacle in heaven. We also, have been comparing
the earthly high priest, with our eternal High Priest. The sacrifice
and the shedding of animal blood could never do away with sin, but the
precious Blood of the Lamb of God {Jesus Christ} defeated sin on the
cross for all time for everyone who will accept it. I Peter 3:21 "The
like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

     Hebrews 9:10 "[Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of
reformation."

     These washings and ordinances here, remind me very much of the
formality in many of the churches. Christianity is not a ritual you
perform once a week, but Christianity is of the heart. If you are
truly saved, you are in love with Jesus Christ. Church is not some
formal thing you do. You love to go to church, and talk about Jesus,
all the time. The person, sold out to Jesus, looks forward to
fellowshiping with other Christians. Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished
in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in
ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making
peace;" God wants you to desire in your heart to please Him, not to
keep a bunch of rituals. Salvation is of the heart. If you believe in
your heart the Lord Jesus, and confess that He rose from the grave you
will be saved.  Let us look at one more Scripture on how to please
God. I Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight
in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the
LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken
than the fat of rams."  You are, what your heart is. Reformation just
means,  Jesus came and reformed the law into grace. Ephesians 2:8 "For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it
is] the gift of God:"

     Hebrews 9:11 "But Christ being come an high priest of good things
to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this building;"

      Here are 2 Scriptures that should let us know that what God has
in heaven is greater than any Tabernacle we might build here on the
earth.  Acts 17:24 "God that made the world and all things therein,
seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples
made with hands;" Acts 17:25 "Neither is worshipped with men's hands,
as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and
breath, and all things;"  God can not be housed in a building of this
earth. All heaven and earth can not really contain Him. He is
omnipresent {everywhere all the time}. He can dwell in your heart and
still be at the right hand of the Father all at the same time. God is
a Spirit. If we are to truly know Him, it must be in our spirit. The
only reason the Word {Jesus Christ} took on the body of man, was so
that He could save us. John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."  The very reason
Jesus did not come in Spirit alone, was so He might relate better to
our problems in the flesh. The high priest {to be a good one} must be
able to know and understand the problems of his people. Jesus, not
only relates to us, but has prepared for our time of separation from
this old tabernacle of flesh that we will discard at our death.
II Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of [this]
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

     Hebrews 9:12 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by
his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption [for us]."

     Galatians 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the
law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every
one that hangeth on a tree:" We have touched on this before, but it
bears repeating. The only thing the blood of the animal could do was
cover the sin. The blood of the perfect Lamb {Jesus Christ} wiped all
of our sins away as if they had never been there. Sin for the true
believer died on the cross. We have been washed in His precious blood
and made every whit whole {white as snow}. Though our sins had been
crimson red, now we are white as snow. Revelation 7:14 "And I said
unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb."

     Hebrews 9:13 "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the
ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the
purifying of the flesh:" Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood
of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot
to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God?"

     I Peter 1:18 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation
[received] by tradition from your fathers;" I Peter 1:19 "But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:" I Peter 1:20 "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation
of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you," I Peter
1:21 "Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead,
and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."  This
is stating even more emphatically that the blood of animals could not
save your soul and give you a clear conscience. Jesus did not just
cover our sin with His precious blood, He paid the penalty for our sin
with His precious blood and we have a full pardon. We no longer have
those sins, they are washed away in the blood of the Lamb.

     Hebrews 9:15 "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new
testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are
called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

     The New Testament is actually the last will and testament of
Jesus Christ. We are the inheritors of the things He has promised us
in the will. A will is not activated until the one that drew it up
dies. Now we can lay claim to our inheritance in Jesus Christ if we
live up to the requirements of the will. I Peter 1:3 "Blessed [be] the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," I Peter 1:4 "To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you," An inheritance is not something you work
to get, it is a gift from the writer of the will. We just believe, and
receive. Titus 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be
made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

     Hebrews 9:16 "For where a testament [is], there must also of
necessity be the death of the testator." Hebrews 9:17 "For a testament
[is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at
all while the testator liveth."

     Jesus is the Testator above. The only time you can lay claim to
your inheritance is after the Writer of the will has died. Grace is a
free gift {our inheritance}.

























                             Questions 18

1.  In verse 9 of Hebrews chapter 9 we find that the blood of animals
    could not clear the _________.
2.  What two Tabernacles have we been comparing in these lessons?
3.  Which high priests have we been comparing?
4.  What does 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 21 tell us baptism does for us?
5.  What things were imposed on the followers of God before the
    reformation?
6.  Christianity is not a ritual to be performed, it is what?
7.  In Ephesians chapter 2 verse 15 we learn that Jesus abolished in
    His flesh what?
8.  Where do we find the Scripture that says, to obey is better than
    sacrifice?
9.  For by grace are ye saved through _____.
10. The tabernacle that Jesus builds is not made with _____.
11. We find in Acts chapter 17 verse 24 that He is Lord where?
12. What does omnipresent mean?
13. Why did Jesus take on the form of flesh?
14. Where do we find the Scripture that says, The Word was made flesh?
15. What must a high priest do, to be a good high priest?
16. If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
    building of ___.
17. Jesus purchased our redemption, not with the blood of goats, but
    by what?
18. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the ___.
19. What was the difference in the results of the blood of the goat
    being offered, and the blood of the Lamb of God being offered?
20. Though our sins were crimson red, now are they white as _____.
21. In Revelation chapter 7 verse 14, they had washed their robes in
    what, and made them white?
22. What 3 things sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh?
23. What purges our conscience from dead works?
24. what 2 things are called corruptible in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse
    18?
25. From when had Jesus been foreordained to cleanse us from our
    unrighteousness with His shed blood?
26. Who is the mediator of the New Testament?
27. When is a will activated?
28. What hope does the resurrection of Jesus bring the Christian?
29. Describe this inheritance from 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 4.
30. How do we collect our inheritance [two words]?
31. How are we justified?
32. Who is the Testator in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 16?