"The Covenant with Moses: Tabernacle and Sacrifice"	July 17th, 2005

Exodus 25: 8-9, Hebrews 9: 1-14, 10: 19-23

8. "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
9. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you."

1. Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
2. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.
3. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
4. which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
5. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.
7. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
8. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
9. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.
10. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
11. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.
12. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
13. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
14. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

19. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
20. by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
21. and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
22. let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
23. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

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