Worship in the earthly sanctuary1Under the former system, regulations were given for the ordering of worship and of the earthly sanctuary.2A meeting place was set up. The first room was called the holy place, and the lampstand, table and consecrated bread were placed there.3There was a second curtain behind which was the Holy of holies.4There the golden incense altar was placed, together with the Ark of the Covenant that was covered with gold. In this Ark was the gold jar containing some of the manna God provided to feed His people in the desert, Aaron's staff that had budded and the stone tablets containing the law of the old covenant.5The cherubim, glorious heavenly beings, were above the ark. However this is not the time to describe these things in detail.6When everything had been arranged in the right way, the priests entered the outer room regularly to perform their duties.7Only the high priest was allowed to enter the inner room, the Holy of holies, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement. He had to carry an offering of blood to plead for forgiveness for himself and for the sins of the people, even those committed in ignorance of God's will.8This was the Holy Spirit's way of showing that entrance into the Holy of holies for everyone had not yet been established, neither could it be while the former tabernacle was in operation.9We can see now that the old system was not effective, for the gifts and sacrifices offered there were not able to cleanse the guilt out of the consciences of those who worshipped.10The regulations concerning food and drink, the various ceremonial washings and the other external rules would only apply until God established the new order.The blood of Christ11This He did when Christ came as High Priest, initiating the good things that we believers are able to enjoy already. He passed through to the Holy of holies in a more perfect tabernacle, to the heavenly throne itself. This is not a man-made tent or building; it is not even part of this earthly creation.12And when He entered into the eternal Holy of holies He did not carry with Him an offering of the blood of goats and calves. No, He entered into the Holy of holies only once, with the offering of His own blood. And by that blood He made it possible for us to be one with God eternally. He literally bought us with the price of His own blood!13The only thing that could be accomplished by the continual offering of the blood of goats and bulls and by sprinkling the ashes of a heifer on those considered to be ceremonially unclean, was to give them an external cleansing. People only had an outward holiness.14The offering of Christ's blood accomplished so much more. In the power of God's eternal Spirit, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God, making it possible for us to have an inner cleansing from all the sinful acts that lead to spiritual death. We can now have consciences clear of all guilt and we are able to serve God as a truly holy people!15In this way, Christ established a new covenant. Those who were called to be part of this new relationship with God received the promise of an eternal inheritance. He literally gave His life as a ransom to set people free from all the sins committed under the former system.16A will only comes into effect when the death of the one who made it has been proved.17Until his death that will has no meaning, for it cannot be enforced while he is alive.18In the same way, the original agreement could not come into effect without the shedding of blood, even though in that case it was only the death of animals that took place.19-20When Moses proclaimed to the people all the commandments of the law that God have given him, he took calf's blood, scarlet wool and hyssop branches and sprinkled the scroll and all the people with the blood saying: "This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep."21In similar fashion, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the articles used in the ceremonies that took place there.22Under the law nearly everything was cleansed and made holy with the use of blood. There could be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood.23Now if it was necessary for these copies of the heavenly things to be made holy with the sacrifices of animals, the heavenly things themselves would be established with much greater sacrifices.24You see, Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself and now stands in God's presence on our behalf.25In heaven He does not need to keep offering Himself again and again in sacrifice. The earthly high priest has to enter the Holy of holies every year and repeat the offering of the blood of animals. He never offers his own blood.26If Christ was like those high priests he would have to repeat the sacrifice of Himself over and over again. Instead, He has already entered heaven itself, victorious over sin through the one sacrifice of Himself that need never be repeated. The effects of this one sacrifice will last until the end of time.27Listen, you will only die once and then have to face the Judgment.28So Christ only had to die once, but His sacrifice has taken away our sins so we do not have to fear the Judgment. When He comes again, it will not be to sacrifice Himself again. No, He will bring eternal salvation to all those who eagerly await His return.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)