I Have No Greater Joy Than To Hear That My Children Walk In Truth - Part 2277

"While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I AM not of the world." (John 17:12-14)

Just before the cross, Jesus prayed, knowing that these things -- the travesty of the cross, wherein He must take onto Himself the sins of those in the world -- must come to pass -- if we (His beloved creation) were to receive His free gift of salvation. At this point, we now recognize that Jesus was to become the Mediator of the New Testament, a propitiation for our sins, paying the ultimate price once and for all, so that we might experience abundant life in Him.

As we have learned from the scriptures -- His precious, holy Word -- the vail was torn from top to bottom; from heaven to earth. (Matthew 27:50-52; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45; Hebrews 6:19; Hebrews 10:20) Put another way, there was a changing of the guard between the old and the new testaments. The playing field now levelled so that every individual (and not just the Israelites) could come to personally know and experience the joy of knowing JESUS as their Lord God and Saviour.

It is herein that we greatly rejoice in the Lord, our souls joyful in Him our God, because He hath clothed us with the garments of salvation, covering us with His robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10; Acts 2:36-47)

Hebrews 9 offers a deeper understanding -- the clarity that is not often spoken from modern day pulpits but still so very necessary to knowing how far the Lord God would go to offer us -- His beloved creation -- that He the Good Shepherd would lay down His own life for His sheep. (Acts 20:28)

That "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28)

Meditate on these things as you read from Hebrews 9:

"Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shew bread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. (Hebrews 9:1-7)

But then comes the New Testament, wherein because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross, we have been set free, in the liberty wherewith is Christ. Continuing in Hebrews 9:

" ... the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT OFFERED HIMSELF WITHOUT SPOT TO GOD, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE FROM DEAD WORKS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD?" (Hebrews 9:8-15)

Herein, the answer.

"And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.

Whereupon neither the first [testament] was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, "This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover, He sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

[It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:16-28)

This is our hope, our joy, our peace, that Jesus -- the Bread of Life -- the Light of this world -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Great I AM -- has sent us free once and for all, when we believe on Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and from His love flowing through us, decide to love one another. Be cleansed through His Word today, knowing that each and every one of us has been given a purpose -- that is beyond the world's understanding.

Stand in the offering plate.