| Hebrews 7:26-28 Such a high priest truly meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. The Old Testament priest and law fore-shadows the work of Jesus Christ. Because men are not perfect, the priest need to cleanse themselves before they can come before God. However, the physical cleaning is only symbolic and cannot cleanse the heart of men. When Jesus Christ came, He was the perfect Savior. When He was on earth, He was the Lamb without blemish and Priest without sin. We really need to thank God that we live in the New Testament time rather than the Old Testament. Otherwise, we would have had to live according to many rituals. These rituals do not bring salvation, but only point to the One who is to come to complete our salvation - Jesus Christ. Believers in the Old Testament are pitiful. They have never experienced the joy of building up the priesthood or the kingdom of God. Living in the New Testament time, Jesus paid for our sins once and for all by offering up himself to become our sacrifice forevermore. A sacrifice that will last forever - those of us in Christ are indeed blessed. Firstly, we no longer need to kill and sacrifice like the Old Testament people because Jesus has already become our Passover lamb. People often ask, "During the Old Testament time, there are all these laws to obey. Why do we not have to obey them in the New Testament time? Why are there some laws we have to obey and some that we do not?" The Old Testament law is divided into three types: First is the moral law, such as the ten commandments. Second is the ritualistic law such as offering sacrifices and observing various festivals. Third is the law of society, such as how we treat the poor. The moral laws have to be obeyed. The ritualistic laws have been made complete in Jesus, hence sacrifice is no longer needed and we are no longer required to observe certain festivals. The law of society changes according to culture and customs. We do not abolish the law just because we are in the New Testament. Jesus said He came to fulfill the law not to abolish the law. Hence there are certain laws that need to be obeyed while others that have already been made complete through Christ Jesus. Furthermore in the New Testament, as long as we come before the Lord to repent of our sins, we can immediately experience the release. This is the grace that we enjoy in the Lord. Because Jesus has purchased our salvation on the cross and bore our sins, you can come before God without any fear to receive all His blessings. How blessed are we that we can enjoy the fullness of His salvation! Pray with Pastor Tong Liu 
Lord, I thank you because you have blessed us so much in the New Testament era. Let us come before your throne of grace without any fear. May the Lord be gracious to us so that we can experience your faithfulness in our lives each day. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! |
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