Dead Works, a Clean Conscience,And the Living God

Heb 9:11-14

There is in all worship a sense of that which separates (i.e., inadequacy, sin).

The greater the sense of sin,the greater the sense of separation.

When worship requires a building, such as a temple, the separation inherent in worship is represented visibly, via distance and doors, indicating specific routes through which to enter. These entrances are guarded reverently by gatekeepers (i.e., priests) and accessed infrequently and ceremoniously – generally with washings, and often with blood.

“The Time of Reformation”

. . . When Christ appeared!

High Priest of “The Good Things that Have Come”

– Weak priests (sinful, mortal)

– Symbols (of this creation)

– Blood of creatures (vs. 12-13)

– Daily (7:27) / Yearly (10:1) (remembrance – 10:3)

– Purification of the flesh

– Temporary sanctification

– Dead works

– Perfect priest (7:23-28)

– Realities (not w/ hands–8:5/9:1)

– “His own blood” (Creator)

– Single sacrifice(forgiveness – 10:14-18)

– Purification of the conscience

– Eternal redemption

– The service of the Living God

Office

Sanctuary

Offering

Frequency

Effect

Focus

Result

“Worship” – comprehensive

(not ceremonial) term, indicating all people/life

– cf. 10:22 – 1 Pet 2:24

7 “Reformations”

– Make holy (consecrated)

what is desecrated

“The Living God”The title “the Living God” is generally used throughout Scripture to remind God’s people of the reality greater than the realities we see:

• Used in conjunction with God’s Revelation

– Deu 5:25-26 – If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived?

– Jer 23:36 – But 'the burden of the LORD' you shall mention no more, for the burden is every man's own word, and you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.

“The Living God”• Used in conjunction with God’s Reputation

– 1 Sam 17:36 – Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

– 2 Kgs 19:16 – Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.

– Dan 6:26-27 – I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.“

“The Living God”• Used in conjunction with God’s Presence

– Psa 42:1-2 – As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

– Psa 84:1-2 – How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

– 2 Cor 6:16 – What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

“The Living God”• Used in conjunction with God’s Mission – Mat 16:16 – Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living

God.“– 1 Tim 4:9-10 – The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For

to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

– 2 Cor 3:3 – And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

– Rom 9:23-26 – To make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory – even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' . . ."And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'“

– 1 Tim 4:9-10 – The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

“The Living God”While several books contain this title up to 2 times, the book of Hebrews is without equal in its use of the title 4 times – conveying a specific purpose, and doing so with powerful effect.

• (Heb 12:18-22) For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. . . . But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,

New Revelation = A New RealityIn Christ, man has been brought into God’s immediate Presence

“The Living God”While several books contain this title up to 2 times, the book of Hebrews is without equal in its use of the title 4 times – conveying a specific purpose, and doing so with powerful effect.

• (Heb 9:14) How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

• (Heb 12:18-22) For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. . . . But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,

This new reality equips us to be an active part of God’s Mission

“The Living God”While several books contain this title up to 2 times, the book of Hebrews is without equal in its use of the title 4 times – conveying a specific purpose, and doing so with powerful effect.

• (Heb 3:12) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

• (Heb 9:14) How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

• (Heb 12:18-22) For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. . . . But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,

The new reality of enjoying God’s presence is not automatic, but requires faith

“The Living God”While several books contain this title up to 2 times, the book of Hebrews is without equal in its use of the title 4 times – conveying a specific purpose, and doing so with powerful effect.

• (Heb 3:12) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

• (Heb 9:14) How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

• (Heb 10:31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

• (Heb 12:18-22) For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. . . . But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,

An old reality is still in effect:God’s Judgment is still on all who reject Him

“The Living God”

See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape

when they refused Him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape

if we reject Him who warns from Heaven. (Heb 12:25)

Rev. 4-5

Weep no more.

Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,

the Root of David,

has conquered . . .

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals, for you were slain,

and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."

Testimony of Gianna Jessen

Hearing on H.R. 4292, the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2000"

House Judiciary Subcommittee on the ConstitutionJuly 20, 2000

Death did not prevail over me....and I am so thankful!!

“I came that they might have life,and have it abundantly!”

As your High Priest, it is for you, Jesus says . . .

“I come to speak on behalf of those appointed to death.”