Most, if not all, religions are focused on appeasing an angry God or finding a way to gain God's acceptance or a combination of both. In most religions, God is either distant and unreachable or an impersonal spiritual force.
A relationship with God is only possible if He is personal and living. But access into the presence of God may appear impossible without some extraordinary means to gain that opportunity.
Religion is humanity's attempt to build a bridge up to God based on a person's best efforts at being good, or at least reaching some minimum requirement. But these efforts and requirements are just arbitrary hopeful guesses at what God desires.
Can a person have any certainty of reaching out to God and being accepted? Yes, and much more!
Scripture
But Christ came as a chief priest of the good things that are now here. Christ went through a better, more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not part of this created world. He used his own blood, not the blood of goats and bulls, for the sacrifice. He went into the most holy place and offered this sacrifice once and for all to free us forever. [vss 11-12]
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of cows sprinkled on unclean people made their bodies holy and clean. The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God. [vss 13-14]
(Hebrews 9:11-14 GW) [Context– Hebrews 9]
Key phrase—
He went into the most holy place and offered this sacrifice once and for all to free us forever
Digging Deeper...
Review the Scriptures above as you answer the following questions
What are we told Jesus did when He came as a chief (high) priest?
Where did Christ enter and what did He use to offer as a sacrifice? How often did this happen?
Why is the blood Christ offered so much more valuable and powerful than other sacrifices?
What great benefit does the Lord's sacrifice provide for those who trust in Him and why is this so?
Reflection...
Our own efforts at purifying ourselves are useless, just as all the sacrifices under the Old Covenant Law which were only temporary. None of them could make a person pure or free on a continuing basis.
The perfect sacrifice of Jesus—the Victor over sin, death, and the devil by His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the dead—brings true freedom. God's Spirit dwelling in those who are true believers empowers them to live in the victory Jesus won.
God built the bridge between humanity and Himself. He came as a person to do what no other person could do. Jesus the Messiah (Christ) fulfilled all the requirements of the Law (Matt 5:17) so we no longer need to try to meet its perfect demands.
Not only are we free from the requirements of perfect obedience and continual sacrifices, we are free to know and serve the true and living God with a clean heart and conscience.
Make it personal...
Read through the Scripture text again as you consider and answer these questions
Which do you choose—religious ceremony or genuine spiritual freedom?
Which is better—an appearance of righteousness or a right relationship with God and a clear conscience?
Have you learned and become convinced that the grace of God is far superior to any religious effort on your part?
In what way have you experienced personal freedom to worship and serve the one true and living God through His Son Jesus?
©2017—Word-Strong
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