8.4 The Good News from the Most Holy Place
Redemption in the Most Holy Place: Invitation to Forgiveness and Obedience

Read Hebrews 4:14–16 and 10:19–22. What assurance and divine invitation are contained in these verses for each of us?

Assurance:

1. Jesus as Our High Priest:

• Jesus, who has passed through the heavens, sits at the right hand of God and represents us as our High Priest. This gives us the assurance that we have a powerful and compassionate advocate in heaven.

2. Compassion for Our Weaknesses:

• Jesus can have compassion on our weaknesses since he was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. This understanding strengthens our confidence that he understands our struggles and challenges.

3. Boldness to the Throne of Grace:

• We are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace. This means that we can approach God without fear or shame to receive mercy and grace to help us in times of need.

Divine Invitation:

1. Entry into the Sanctuary:

• Through the blood of Jesus, we have free access to the heavenly sanctuary. This new and living way was opened for us through his sacrifice. We are invited to utilize this access and enter into the presence of God.

2. Heart and Conscience Cleansed:

• We are to draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith. Our hearts are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and our evil conscience is sprinkled, enabling us to appear before God in purity.

3. Continuous Access to God’s Grace:

• The invitation to come boldly to the throne of grace is a constant invitation that we can avail ourselves of at any time. We are encouraged to seek God’s grace and mercy repeatedly.

Summary: What Paul says in the book of Hebrews is: “Hold fast” and “come with confidence.” Never give up and direct your faith to Jesus, our great High Priest. In Jesus, we have everything we need. Through faith, we can enter the heavenly sanctuary through the “new and living way” that Jesus has opened for us.

When we look into the courtyard, we see blood on the horns of the bronze altar. In the Holy Place, we see blood on the golden horns of the altar of incense. We see the sprinkled blood on the veil before the mercy seat.

The blood of Jesus prepares the way at every step. This gives us hope because we can only be reunited with God when Jesus forgives us and blots out our sins. God’s mercy is infinite, but so is his justice. Justice cannot accept Christ’s sacrifice as atonement for our transgressions unless Jesus guarantees to forgive us of our sins first and then blot them out.

Read Revelation 11:19. Why is this vision significant in the context of the Great Controversy? How does it demonstrate the inseparable connection between the Law and the Gospel?

Revelation 11:19: “And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.”

Significance of the Vision in the Context of the Great Controversy

This vision is of great significance in the context of the Great Controversy, which describes the conflict between good and evil, between Christ and Satan. Here are some aspects that illustrate this significance:

1. Revelation of the Heavenly Sanctuary:

• The opening of the temple of God in heaven and the visibility of the ark of the covenant show that the heavenly sanctuary plays a central role in the divine plan of salvation. It emphasizes the reality and importance of the heavenly sanctuary, which is the place of divine presence and divine judgment.

2. God’s Law at the Center:

• The ark of the covenant contains the Ten Commandments, God’s unchanging law. Its visibility in the heavenly sanctuary underscores the immutability and eternity of God’s law. This emphasizes that no earthly power can change this law.

3. Justice and Mercy United:

• In the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant is kept, God’s justice and mercy are united. Justice is represented by the observance of the law, while mercy is revealed through the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

4. The Great Controversy and the Law:

• The Great Controversy involves the question of loyalty to God’s law. Satan has tried to undermine and change God’s law. The visibility of the ark of the covenant in heaven shows that God’s law remains valid and is at the center of the divine plan.

Inseparable Connection Between the Law and the Gospel

The vision demonstrates the inseparable connection between the Law and the Gospel in several points:

1. The Law as the Basis of the Covenant:

• God’s law, kept in the ark of the covenant, is the basis of the new covenant, as described in Hebrews 8:10: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This shows that the law is anchored in the hearts of believers.

2. Forgiveness and Renewal through Christ:

• Through faith in Christ, who has perfectly fulfilled the law and died for our sins, we find forgiveness and the power for renewal. Christ writes the law in our hearts, enabling us to live obedient lives. This shows the harmonious relationship between the law and the Gospel: the law shows us our need for redemption, and the Gospel provides the solution through Christ.

3. Complete Redemption:

• In Hebrews 7:25, it says that Jesus “is able to save completely,” meaning he frees us both from the penalty of sin and from its power. This complete redemption includes forgiveness of past sins and the empowerment to live a new, obedient life. The Gospel fulfills the requirements of the law through the grace of Christ.

In conclusion, Revelation 11:19’s vision highlights the central role of God’s law in the great controversy and the close connection between the law and the Gospel. While God’s law remains immutable in the ark of the covenant, the Gospel through Christ provides the means to fulfill the law and redeem humanity. This is a strong message of hope and encouragement for all believers.

Why is Jesus’ intercession such incredibly good news? If we were to stand before the law as the standard of righteousness, what hope would we have without the Gospel?

Jesus’ intercession is incredibly good news for several important reasons:

1. Jesus as Our High Priest and Advocate

Hebrews 4:14-16 and 10:19-22 emphasize that Jesus is our High Priest who is familiar with our humanity and was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. He understands our weaknesses and intercedes for us before God. Through his intercession, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that Jesus hears and understands our prayers.

2. Forgiveness and Cleansing

Through his intercession, Jesus grants us forgiveness and cleansing from our sins. Without his mediation, we would be hopelessly lost before the holy and just law of God. But through his sacrifice and ongoing intercession, we can find forgiveness for our past sins and live in a renewed relationship with God.

3. Access to God

Jesus has opened the “new and living way” through which we have access to God. His blood has paved the way so that we can approach God directly and confidently. This access was reserved only for the high priest once a year in the Old Testament, but through Jesus, it is now available to every believer at any time.

4. Righteousness Through Faith

Without the Gospel, we would have no hope of fulfilling the righteous standard of the law, as all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The Gospel proclaims that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. His righteousness is imputed to us, allowing us to stand righteous before God.

5. Liberation from the Power of Sin

The Gospel offers us not only forgiveness but also the power to live a new life. Through the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sends, we are empowered to overcome sin and live in holiness.

Conclusion: Hope and Assurance through the Gospel

If we were to stand before the law as the standard of righteousness, we would have no hope without the Gospel, for we have all sinned and deserve God’s just judgment. But the Gospel proclaims that Jesus died for our sins and through His resurrection and intercession, He gives us new life. His intercession means that we do not need to be justified by our own works, but by His accomplished victory over sin. This gives us hope and confidence that despite our imperfections, we can stand in the presence of a holy God.

Key Bible Passages on Jesus’ Intercession and Hope in the Gospel

• Hebrews 4:14-16: “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

• Hebrews 10:19-22: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Through these Bible passages and the message contained therein, we understand that Jesus’ intercession is our only hope to stand before the law as the standard of righteousness. His intercession grants us forgiveness, access to God, righteousness through faith, and the power to walk in a new life. This is the good news of the Gospel!

The connection between Jesus’ intercession and the assurance described in the book of Hebrews with our everyday life and faith is profound and practical. Here are some key aspects of how these teachings can influence our daily lives:

1. Certainty and Trust in God’s Presence

Jesus as Our High Priest

• Meaning: Jesus, who has passed through the heavens and sits at the right hand of God, represents us as our High Priest. This gives us the assurance that we have a powerful and compassionate advocate in heaven.

• Daily Life: We can pray with confidence and assurance, knowing that Jesus hears and understands our prayers. This gives us courage and peace in difficult situations, knowing that we are not alone.

Compassion for Our Weaknesses

• Meaning: Jesus can have compassion for our weaknesses because He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

• Daily Life: This understanding strengthens our trust that He understands our struggles and challenges. In moments of weakness and temptation, we can rely on His help and compassion.

2. Access to God’s Grace and Mercy

Boldness to Approach the Throne of Grace

• Meaning: We are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and help in times of need.

• Daily Life: This invitation allows us to seek God’s help at any time and in any situation, whether through prayer, fellowship with other believers, or reading the Bible. It fosters a close and trusting relationship with God.

3. Cleansing and Renewal

Purification of Heart and Conscience

• Meaning: We are to approach with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith. Our hearts are cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and our consciences are sprinkled clean.

• Daily Life: This awareness of cleansing and forgiveness motivates us to live a life of purity and holiness. It encourages us to let go of old habits and sins and to live in renewal through the Holy Spirit.

4. Obedience and a New Life in Christ

Continuous Access to God’s Grace

• Meaning: The invitation to come boldly to the throne of grace is a continual invitation that we can avail ourselves of at any time.

• Daily Life: We are encouraged to continually seek God’s grace and mercy. This means living daily in dependence on God’s strength and guidance, regularly examining ourselves, and repenting.

Connection with Revelation 11:19

Revelation of the Heavenly Sanctuary and God’s Law

• Meaning: The opening of the temple of God in heaven and the appearance of the ark of the covenant show that the heavenly sanctuary and God’s law are at the center of the divine plan of salvation.

• Daily Life: This vision reminds us that God’s law and the Gospel are inseparably linked. Our obedience to God’s commandments is not only a duty but also a response to His grace and love.

Conclusion

1. Hope through Jesus’ Intercession

• Righteousness by Faith: Without the Gospel, we would have no hope of fulfilling the righteous standard of the law. But the Gospel proclaims that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

• Practical Application: This hope motivates us to trust Jesus in all areas of life, to seek His way, and to follow Him. We recognize that through His grace and intercession, we are able to lead a fulfilled and sanctified life.

2. Strength and Support in Daily Life

• Freedom from the Power of Sin: The Gospel offers us not only forgiveness but also the power to live a new life.

• Practical Application: Through the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus, we are empowered to overcome sin and live in holiness. This affects our daily decisions, behavior, and relationships with others.

Overall, the message of Hebrews and Revelation is a call to fix our eyes on Jesus, our High Priest. His intercession, sacrifice, and compassion are the foundation of our trust and hope in daily life. Through His grace and guidance, we are able to live a life that honors God and reflects His love.

Through Jesus, we have free and bold access to the throne of grace, where we receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need.

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