LET US DRAW NEAR TO GOD! (5 OF 12)
Scripture: Hebrew 10:22
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Let Us Draw Near to God! (5 of 12)
Series: Let Us
Dennis Marquardt
Hebrew 10:22
INTRO: In the Old Testament it was very dramatic when God was approached. First, only the high priest could ever actually enter the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year. If he approached God's presence in an impure state or not properly cleansed he would die immediately! It was almost scary to enter the Holy of Holies, inside was the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy seat where the blood was to be sprinkled, the high priest would wear a bell around his ankle with a rope attached just in case he did die going into God's presence they could pull his body back out - no one else could enter or they would die. That one day a year when it was time for the high priest could go in and sprinkle blood for the remission of Israel's sins as well as the sins of the high priest must have been a very dramatic moment. Tension most likely filled the air and relief when the high priest returned alive!
How different under the New Covenant! Jesus served as both our high priest and as the blood sacrifice - as well as the mercy seat and Ark of the Covenant. In doing so He forever changed the way we approach God! This is GOOD NEWS! - the very meaning of the word ''Gospel.''
ILLUS: How it must have startled those early Jewish Christians to read in the letter to the Hebrews, ''Let us draw near.'' Their whole Jewish tradition said just the opposite: ''Stand back!'' The architecture of their temple said it with an outer court for the Gentiles, an inner court for the women, and an inmost court for the men. After that came the temple proper, which only the priests could enter. The whole message of that architecture was ''Stand back!'' There were ranks of people to match the temple's architecture--a high priest, and then lesser priests, then the men, then the women, and finally the Gentiles. There were rituals to match the ranks. Burnt offerings were offered at an open-air altar in sight of all. ...
Series: Let Us
Dennis Marquardt
Hebrew 10:22
INTRO: In the Old Testament it was very dramatic when God was approached. First, only the high priest could ever actually enter the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year. If he approached God's presence in an impure state or not properly cleansed he would die immediately! It was almost scary to enter the Holy of Holies, inside was the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy seat where the blood was to be sprinkled, the high priest would wear a bell around his ankle with a rope attached just in case he did die going into God's presence they could pull his body back out - no one else could enter or they would die. That one day a year when it was time for the high priest could go in and sprinkle blood for the remission of Israel's sins as well as the sins of the high priest must have been a very dramatic moment. Tension most likely filled the air and relief when the high priest returned alive!
How different under the New Covenant! Jesus served as both our high priest and as the blood sacrifice - as well as the mercy seat and Ark of the Covenant. In doing so He forever changed the way we approach God! This is GOOD NEWS! - the very meaning of the word ''Gospel.''
ILLUS: How it must have startled those early Jewish Christians to read in the letter to the Hebrews, ''Let us draw near.'' Their whole Jewish tradition said just the opposite: ''Stand back!'' The architecture of their temple said it with an outer court for the Gentiles, an inner court for the women, and an inmost court for the men. After that came the temple proper, which only the priests could enter. The whole message of that architecture was ''Stand back!'' There were ranks of people to match the temple's architecture--a high priest, and then lesser priests, then the men, then the women, and finally the Gentiles. There were rituals to match the ranks. Burnt offerings were offered at an open-air altar in sight of all. ...
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