HEBREWS Chapter 12 The Father’s Correction

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Father brings correction as a beloved child of God.

---

Hebrews 12:1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” is called the great cloud of witnesses!  May I remind you the of one of the closing verses of chapter 11?

Hebrews 11:40  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

The hall of faith could not be made perfect without us!  We are people of faith; the  covenant we have been birthed in operates in the faith realm!  God has made a greater provision for us!  Our provision is completely founded in the work of Jesus Christ!  We are called to lay aside the weight and sin that so easily ensnares us.  The how is LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH! 

Jesus is the Author of our faith!  Jesus is the Finisher of our faith!  He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion!  You are the joy that was set before Him!  Jesus endured the cross bearing the guilt shame and punishment with the end result in mind; our reconciliation to God!

Hebrews 12:3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  4  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Consider Jesus is a theme of all of Hebrews.  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin!  Only Jesus could pour out His own soul for an offering for our sin!  Consider Jesus Christ and the cross.   He faced the ridicule, the mocking, the scourging, the crown of thorns, the spear in His side, and the blood ran down!  Jesus took the punishment of sin and bore it all!  The Father  poured out His wrath for the sin of the world upon Jesus!  Jesus strived against sin and won the victory!

Hebrews 12:5  And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;  6  For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.“ 

The rebuke of God is for our healing and benefit!  The Father’s love for us is the motive for the correction.  The Father never corrects His children outside of His love!  The Father’s correction never includes His wrath.  Jesus already faced His wrath!

Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  9  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

This is the good news of the gospel, the believer will not face the Father’s wrath because of the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him! 

Hebrews 12:7  If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Submitting to the  chastening of the Father proves we are sons!  Those who can live in sin comfortable are illegitimate children; the Father corrects those who belong to Him!

Hebrews 12:9  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?  10  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

Do not miss the point of submitting to the Father of spirits!  We get connected to God Spirit to spirit!  The Father’s correction is for our profit.  God is wants His children to fully partake of the provisions Jesus Christ made!  We were created in true righteousness and holiness!

Ephesians 4:22  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

When we were born again we were created in true righteousness and holiness!  Holiness is not reforming the old man.  We died to the old man at salvation.  Holiness and righteousness is the state we were created in.  We are new creation in Christ Jesus!  We need to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God!

Hebrews 12:11  Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  12  Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,  13  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 

When God rebukes us it does indeed have a joyful outcome!  God correction always comes with solution.  If we will yield it will have the peaceable fruit of righteousness.  God word will train us!  You strengthen the hands which hang down and the feeble knees.  Make straight paths for your feet.  Practically speaking we can straighten the path by getting in agreement with the word of God. 

James 1:21  Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Allowing the word to be implanted brings salvation to our souls.  When our mind is renewed our soul prospers and is in line with our spirit. 

Hebrews 12:14  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

When we pursue peace by surrender to the word of God we can open the door for others to see the holiness of God.  Lay hold to the goodness found in the grace of God!  Running from the Father’s correction can bring us bitterness of soul; many can become defiled by it.  Bitterness of soul can be witnessed by what comes out of ones mouth.  Complaint in our mouth spurns the correction of God and justifies the disobedience.

Hebrews 12:16  lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.  17  For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Esau gave up His birthright for a bowl of bean soup!  The words and action following were from the bitterness of soul.  He promised he would kill his brother.  His action of bitterness of soul caused him to take ungodly wives to spite his parents!

Hebrews 12:18  For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,  19  and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.

Mount Sinai is not your mount!  Too many Christian are in turmoil because they are trying to live from the wrong mount. 

Hebrews 12:20  (For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.“  21  And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.")

Mount Sinai was unapproachable!  The law came and made sin exceedingly sinful!  Men trying to achieve right relation with God by performance have come to Mount Sinai for righteousness.  Since righteousness depended upon man’s good performance the law could offer no life; it could  expose sin and show man their need for God.

Hebrews 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,  23  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

You have been brought to Mount Zion!  Mount Zion represent the grace you and I have been birthed into!  The law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ!  You have been brought to the city of the living God!  We are indeed citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem!  This is the place where an innumerable company of angels minister to those who inherit salvation!  God is on the side of the one who has come by faith in Jesus Christ!  You are a part of the church of the firstborn!  Firstborn status is granted by Jesus making us co-heirs with Him!  Every believer is registered in heaven.  It is in this covenant of grace that the spirits of just men have been made perfect.  What a covenant!  This is the covenant where righteousness is imputed to those who have exclusively place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:24  to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

The blood from beginning has spoken.  Abel was the first man murdered and his blood cried out to God for justice.  Jesus brought justice by His blood.  From the murder of Abel to every sin to the end of the age Jesus paid for it.  He is the lamb that takes away the sin of the world!  Jesus' blood is still speaking.  The saints of God have coined the term to plead the blood of Jesus.  This passage is the justification for that pleading!  Jesus' blood is still speaking!

Hebrews 12:25  See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,  26  whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven."

Woe to the man who refuses to hear the blood of Jesus speaking.  For those who receive, it brings healing to those who refuse it will bring sure judgment.

Hebrews 12:27  Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.  28  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29  For our God is a consuming fire.

When you hear what the blood of Jesus speaks you are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken!  The power of the blood is the word of correction from the Father that yields right results.  Let us have grace by which we may serve God!

Hebrews 11 The Faith of The Saints

Faith is, faith does, and faith rewards.

---

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  2  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

When this verse begin with now, it is a conjunction word.  Some erroneous teachings have called this now the present tense like right now.  It is two different Greek words.   Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hope is the eyesight of faith!  Hope makes you see what has not yet manifested.  This is not the world kind of hope like wishful thinking hope.  This is a confident expectation in the word of God.  It is not blind faith it is sees the word of God fulfilled through the eyes of  hope!  It is the hope that anchors our soul!  Faith is the substance of what we hope for; faith is the evidence of things not seen.  Faith transcends covenant; it has always been faith that pleased God.  As we shall well see in this chapter.

Hebrews 11:3  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith starts at the beginning!  We believe the word of God framed the worlds together!

Hebrews 11:4  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

The difference between Abel’s offering and Cain’s offering was Abel offered his by faith!  That which is offered by faith will bring a testimony!  That which is offered by faith lives beyond the man’s life.  Faith makes deposits into the eternal!

Hebrews 11:5  By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

By faith Enoch was taken away; it is a veiled reference to our faith will have us ready for the catching away of the saints.  Enoch had faith and he pleased God.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We are privileged to be in the covenant of grace and truth which operates with the just living by faith.  There is no pleasing God without faith.  You must believe that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him!  God is the great reward and He is the one who rewards!  The object of our faith must ever be in God.  Have faith in God!

Hebrews 11:7  By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Noah faith in God’s word brought salvation to his household and he became the heir of righteousness!

Hebrews 11:8  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  9  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;  10  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

God’s word was enough to cause Abraham to step out in faith.  He did not have to have all the answers first; He heard God and obeyed.  Abraham waited for the city whose builder  and maker is God. 

Hebrews 11:11  By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.  12  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude; innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 

Do you know the story of Sarah?  She at first laughed at the promise of God.  But God had spoken a word and the word became so powerful she counted her God faithful!  Count Him as faithful and it will give you strength to conceive and bring forth the promise!  Hear the word and judge your God as faithful to bring it to pass!

Hebrews 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

In this one verse is some of the keys to faiths progression!  1 receive the promise.  2 let your heart be assured of the promise.  3 embrace the promise!  4 confess the promise.  Put the promise in your mouth!  Leave the complaint and allow faiths progression to live!  Receive, assured, embraced, and confessed, it will indeed come to pass!

Hebrews 11:14  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.  15  And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.  16  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 

Like our forefathers of the faith we are looking for the city whose builder and maker is God.  We want to live with the kingdom of God mentality!  This world is not our home; home land security is an God idea!  As the hall of faith continues I want you to take time to meditate on each set of  verses.  Oh, how we need to learn to meditate on the word of God!  See how faith kept the eyes of men off the circumstances and turned their eyes upon the God of promise!

Hebrews 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  18  of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,“  19  concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 

Hebrews 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  18  of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,“  19  concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 

Hebrews 11:20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  21  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.  22  By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel , and gave instructions concerning his bones. 

Hebrews 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.  24  By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,  25  choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,  26  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.  27  By faith he forsook Egypt , not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.  29  By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

Hebrews 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.  31  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Hebrews 11:32  And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:  33  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Hebrews 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.  36  Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  37  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  38  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 

Hebrews 11:39  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,  40  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

The great hall of faith should not be made perfect apart from us!  God having provided something better for us!  Say it!  God has provided something better for us!  Jesus is the One that makes the difference!

Hebrews 10 The New and Living Way!

The new and living way; Jesus' atoning work has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

---

Hebrews 10:1  For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.  2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.  3  But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Hebrews continues to build on comparing and contrasting the law of Moses to the grace and truth found in Jesus Christ.  By showing what the law could not do it prepares us to receive the fullness of the truth of what the new covenant can and has done.  In chapter 9 we have already learned that by the blood of Jesus we can be free from the consciousness of sin.  The blood of bulls and goats could never take away the consciousness of sin.  Jesus took our sin away by the sacrifice of Himself!  We no longer have a reminder of sin; our High Priest looks good on us!

Hebrews 10:5  Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.  6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.  7  Then I said, 'Behold, I have come; In the volume of the book it is written of Me; To do Your will, O God.'“8  Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law),

Here is intimacy between Jesus and the Father.  “A body you have prepared for Me.”  Jesus was rehearsing the Word of God to the Father!  What a beautiful picture!  Jesus declared that He came exclusively to do the will of the Father.  God had no pleasure in the sacrifices and offering that were offered under the law.  However the sacrifice of Jesus Christ appeased God!

Hebrews 10:9  then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second.  10  By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus declaring the word of God is declaring His own purpose.  We would be wise to follow in our Savior’s example!  Jesus takes away the first (Moses law) that the new covenant might be established.  What the covenant of the law of Moses could not accomplish, Jesus Christ did!  It is by the very will of God we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

Hebrews 10:11  And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  12  But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,  13  from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.  14  For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Jesus came to take away sin!  Repeated sacrifices have a reminder of sin.  A once for all sacrifice takes away sin consciousness!  Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice in heaven taking away our sin!  Jesus' sacrifice is so great He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified!  Will you believe in the grace message that says Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified!

Hebrews 10:15  But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,  16  "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD : I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,“  17  then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.“  18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 

This covenant is between the individual believer and God!  This covenant invites you into the Most Holy Place .  It is a supernatural experience!  God makes you a newly created being; and because of the perfected spirit there is power to walk the abundant life every day!  We are the perfected ones to whom God is not accounting sins and lawless deed!

Romans 4:7  "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;  8  Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

We are the blessed ones to whom the LORD shall not impute sin! 

Hebrews 10:19  Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  21  and having a High Priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Because of the truths shared we can have boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.  The blood of Jesus is still speaking if you are in covenant with Him!  God has called us to approach by the new and living way!  And there   It is this new and living way that brings us a confident expectation in the goodness of God!  It is this new and living way to approach God with boldness.

Romans 6:10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  13  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Jesus died to sin once for all and now He lives unto God!  Likewise, reckon yourself dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God!  Present your members as instruments of righteousness!

Hebrews 10:23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,  25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 

We have this new and living way to approach God; the new and living way is how we live for God!  The most precious thing we possess is our confession of faith in Jesus.  Hold fast to it; it is the source of our hope and faith.  Encourage one another in this new and living way that gives us access, with boldness, even in our greatest hour of need. The day is approaching our fellowship should be Christ centered more than ever!

Hebrews 10:26  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  27  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.  28  Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 

As we will see shortly, sinning willfully is not the sin we do on purpose.  Salvation is a surrender of our will, making Jesus our Savior and Lord.  Willful sin is taking back that will by denying the covenant which has given the new birth.  Lets use the bible itself to define this for us!

Hebrews 10:29  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?  30  For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people.“  31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is trampling the Son of God underfoot.  It is the opposite of what brought you into the kingdom.  It is  a rejection of Jesus Christ.  This one will count the blood of Jesus as unholy; no longer seeing the blood as precious but just a common thing!  It is a rejection of the covenant of grace!  We are not talking about an act of sin or even entrapped by sin!  We are talking about the object of your faith no longer being in Jesus Christ the Son of the living God!  This is not being weak in the faith; this is an out right rejection of the atoning blood.  Salvation is an confession of the mouth along with a belief in your heart that Jesus is the Messiah.  This is the opposite; it is a denial of the Messiah with a heart change to unbelief.  It is what the Greek language would call the apostate man.

Hebrews 10:32  But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:  33  partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;  34  for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

We have not come this far in faith to turn back.  All that we faced will be worth it if we will hold on to the confession of our faith.

Hebrews 10:35  Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  36  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:  37  "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.  38  Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.“  39  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Do not cast away your confidence in your Messiah, which has great reward! The tarrying is about over, Jesus is coming soon!  Walk with endurance that you may receive the promise.  We are of those who believe to the saving of the soul!  We are the justified ones who are living by faith!!

Hebrews Lesson 9 “The Blood In Heaven”

The blood in heaven has done an eternal work for those who will surrender to the greater covenant Jesus came with.

---

Hebrews 9 “The Blood In Heaven”

Hebrews 9:1  Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.  2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;  3  and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,  4  which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;  5  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

The earthly sanctuary and the heavenly sanctuary are compared once again.  As we have seen through out the book of Hebrews, the comparing of the covenant of the law and the covenant of grace and truth show the superior covenant to be the Jesus Christ brought as our Lamb of God, High Priest, and heavenly sanctuary!  The earthly tabernacle has the Holy Place and the Most Holy place.  The Holy place had the lamp stand showing Jesus is the light of the world, it had the showbread on the table showing Jesus is the bread of life, and it had the golden censer which the aroma would rise to the heaven. Jesus is the sweet smelling aroma the Father is pleased with.  Then in the Most Holy Place was the ark of the covenant.  The mercy seat was on top of the ark.  In the ark itself was the ten commandment written on stone, Aaron rod that budded and the golden pot that had the manna God provided.  The mercy seat was above the provision of manna, the mercy seat was above the symbolic rod that budded representing the Levite Priesthood, and the mercy seat was above the ten commandments.  The heart of God has always been demonstrated with His heart of mercy even under the law.

Hebrews 9:6  Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.  7  But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;  8  the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.

The high priest of the earthly tabernacle performed daily the Holy Place , and only yearly in the Most Holy Place !  On the day of atonement at the sacrifice for sin the earthly priest first had to offer sacrifice for himself before offering for the people.  The priesthood from the law of Moses had sinful man as priest and at best could offer a temporal offering for their sin.  Don’t miss verse 8, the Holy Spirit was indicating that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was standing.  About two years after the prophetic writing of this passage the earthly tabernacle was destroyed without one brick being left upon another, just as Jesus declared.  Now that the earthly tabernacle is down the way into the heavenly tabernacle is now revealed by the fullness of Jesus grace.

Hebrews 9:9  It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience;        10  concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The earthly tabernacle could not bring perfection to conscience.  Man was enslaved to a sin conscience after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil!  The practices of the priesthood under the law were imposed until the time of reformation!  When the time of reformation came the law of Moses was no longer being imposed.  There was the greater more perfect covenant found in the coming of Jesus Christ.   

Hebrews 9:11  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 

Jesus Christ is the reformation that came!  Jesus came and ministered at the greater more perfect tabernacle not made with hands of men!  Jesus did not come with a temporal offering of blood of goats and bulls, but with His own blood.  With His own blood, Jesus entered into the heavenly sanctuary.  He went into the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption!  The earthly covenant offered only temporal solutions.  The blood that went into the heavenly sanctuary is the blood of Christ Himself.  His blood brings eternal redemption!  The reformation has come and we are not under law but under grace!

Hebrews 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,  14  how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The blood of bulls and goats did a temporal purifying of the flesh only.  However, by the blood of Jesus a much more truth is revealed; by the eternal Spirit Jesus offered to God His blood for the purification to cleanse our conscience from dead works.  Where does a cleansed conscience come from?  The offering of the blood of Jesus in heaven itself!  Your cleansed conscience does not come from your perfect obedience; but it came from Jesus Christ perfect obedience.  Jesus did this through the eternal Spirit; this is a supernatural transaction in heaven!  The law could not purge a conscience; the grace and truth found in Jesus Christ can and does!

Hebrews 9:15  And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.  16  For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  17  For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

Not only did Jesus come with a better covenant He made way for all under law to come to better covenant.  God’s desire is for us to walk in the promise of eternal inheritance.  Eternal salvation brings us to partake in eternal inheritance.  Let this revelation hit you between the eyes.  A will of inheritance is only enforceable at the death of the testator!  Our Testator has died; you can be a partaker of the inheritance God intended.  It is God’s desire to establish you by the Word of His grace in order to make you a partaker of the inheritance of the saints.  Peter said we were begotten into a living hope!

Hebrews 9:18  Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.  19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,  20  saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.“  21  Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.  22  And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin; Christ has shed His blood and in Him alone there is repentance and remission of sin! 

Hebrews 9:23  Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  24  For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;  25  not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another;  26  He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

The blood of heaven has provision beyond compare!  The heavenly sanctuary is where Jesus brought His blood; Jesus' work at the cross produced eternal results that makes us partakers of kingdom of God .  Jesus made an appearance in the presence of God for us!  He did not have to offer for the sin of Himself!  No, it was for you and me He put away sin!

Ephesians 1:7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The forgiveness of sins is through the blood of Jesus.  We are brought near to God by the blood of Jesus.  Don’t let the law or it’s ministry convenience you that you are far away.  Jesus' blood at the cross brought eternal results.  You are near by His blood!

Colossians 1:19  For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 

20  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Peace has been made by the blood of Jesus at the cross!  You have abiding peace and living hope based on the strength of Jesus sacrifice.

1 Peter 1:18  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,  19  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Heaven’s highest commodity bought you; the blood of Jesus did a finishing work!

Matthew 26:27  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  28  "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Jesus Himself, declared the truth of the new covenant; men who want to live under the law of Moses walk away from the greater covenant established by the blood of the new covenant!

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,  28  so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Jesus faced the judgment for sin.  Jesus bore the sins of many.  To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin and for salvation!

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,  12  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  13  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  14  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Jesus purified for Himself His own special people!  Keep looking for the blessed hope knowing our Savior is soon to return.  We are partakers by His blood applied in heaven!