Hebrews 9:24-28
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Mark 12: 38-44
As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at the banquets. They devour widows houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely”
In our struggle for spiritual truth there has always been a gross disconnect. The Scriptures everywhere declare that salvation is God’s action on behalf of his creation but we humans would rather the saving be humanly controlled and authenticated. In this passage from Hebrews, the faith of Israel had evolved into magnificent stone buildings with repeated blood ritual presided over by a priesthood that paraded it’s supposed credibility with God. The stone buildings became a substitute for spiritual authority and authenticity. Jesus did not speak well of these stones.
The faith of Israel was to point to the coming Messiah and his pivotal first redemptive visit amongst us. The religion of Israel, rather than the faith of Israel, made the horror of the cross inevitable as the religion high jacked the Messianic hope in favor of a human scheme. One would suppose that believers in the Christ would not make the same error. Sadly, the atonement rendered by the Christ, the full and final salvation of all mankind, again and again becomes a spiritual club for the few.
Generation after generation has piled up stones declaring salvation for the few. To some of the few it is flowing robes, to some it is lengthy public prayers, to some it is list of rules, to some it is respect in the marketplace or at a banquet. At times it has been magnificent cathedrals or mega churches, a few recluse spiritualist making sacrifice to gain God’s attention and blessing. To some it has been self mutilation or the speaking of required words or a narrow form of worship. To some it has been a supposed distinctive doctrine and to others it is speaking in tongues as a proof of the blessing of God upon the few true believers.
What would the message of a fully incarnated Christ centered revival meeting sound like? The preacher might charge his audience, “whomever you are, no matter your sin and failures, if you are a member of the human race, the Christ has made eternal provision for you, now or on the other side of death. Lessen the post death pain of judgment, ask for His leadership in your life and walk blessed of God into eternity. Ask and choose now the path of the saints!”
G.Goslaw
Landers, Ca
