BLOOD BROUGHT US IN CHRIST

This article focus in the “inheritance of God” for his people not only those who are born in Christian community but also those who are believe in Him. In His inheritance, the role of sacrifice of blood was very cruttial for both.

“If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it” (Hebrews 8:7). “When God speak of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete (to make ancient or old). It is now out of date and will soon disappear” (verse 13).

After writer mentioned about first covenant and new covenant through the illustration of tabernacle; which means the true place of worship (8:2), he pointed the two “tabernacle” first is earthly tabernacle (9:1-10) and secondly heavenly tabernacle (9:11-22). Value of Tabernacle was very important to understand for us because the time of ‘Transfiguration of Jesus’ disciple of Jesus, Peter said to Him that “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials / tabernacles – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4; c.f. Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33).

Writer of Hebrews, “they serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain” (8:5). “The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifice under the system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who come to worship” (c.f. Exodus 25:40). And time of transfiguration God said to disciples, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him” (Mathew 17:5; c.f. Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35). Also the time of baptism of Jesus, “a voice from the heaven said, you are my dearly Son, and you bring me great joy” (Mark 1:11; c.f. Luke 3:22).

Writer of the Hebrews brought the point of tabernacle with the sacrifice of blood 9:22, “in fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood’ there is no forgiveness” (c.f. Leviticus 17:11). From the verse 23-28, he mentioned about the sacrificed of blood, the blood of Jesus Christ that is the new covenant for them and today for us. As verse 28a says “Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people” (c.f. 1 Peter 2:24).

This new covenant made by God with the blood of Jesus Christ. Prophet Jeremiah wrote that ‘the LORD declares “I will make new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah, and I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:31, 33). In the gospel of Matthew 26:28, “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (c.f. Luke 22:20). Hebrews 10:15-17, “the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so.”

Now the sacrifice in the tabernacle is no more need because Hebrews 10:18 says that “and when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifice.” Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:11-19, “don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders” (verse 11a)’ “but now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ” (verse 3). “He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us” (verse 17-18). “And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus” (3:6).