~ The Messiah’s Blood Would Atone
for Sin ~
“Search
the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”
— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)
The Scripture
"He shall then
slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood
behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull's blood: He shall
sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it. In this way he will make
atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the
Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the Tent of
Meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. No one is to be
in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the
Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his
household and the whole community of Israel” (Leviticus 16:15-17).
The
Messiah
“Being justified freely
by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth
as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God
had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the
present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the
one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:24-26).
Then indeed, even the first
covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. For a
tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table,
and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil,
the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 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; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing
the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Now when these things
had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the
tabernacle, performing the services. 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;
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. 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—concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly
ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
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. 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. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the
ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the
flesh, 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? 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” (Hebrews 9:1-15).
“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.
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;
not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy
Place every year with blood of another—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. And as it is appointed
for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 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” (Hebrews 9:23-28).
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may
not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation
for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John
2:1-2).
~~~ EXPLANATORY
“MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~
(1)
Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew
Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was
fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.
(2)
While extensive it will not be a
complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have
been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.
(3) It is important that there are many more
prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be
fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.
A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not
despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).
(4)
These posts will typically consist only
of Scripture—which speaks for itself. Sometimes
italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.
(5)
The numbering of these fulfilled
prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not
chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the
Messiah). The posting sequence will, for
the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.
(6)
Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above)
we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the
Scriptures.
(7) These serial posts are in addition to our
regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.
(8)
Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog
is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar. Once subscribed you will not miss future
posts.
