We are about to bring chapter 9 to a close but be of good cheer we are not done with the Better Covenants explanation. And the how and why, it covers all of humanity and is not restricted to just one group of people. As the old covenant by all appearances seems to have been. In other words its scope is much broader than the old.
Hebrews 9:23-28 "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 entereth 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." (KJV)
Hebrews 9:23-28 "Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." (ESV)
Hebrews 9:23-28 "If the methods of the Levitical Law were only a shadow prefiguring the heavenly reality, the fulfillment of these examples surely requires a stronger and more efficacious sacrifice. In Christ we have so much more than a type reflected in the tabernacle of holy places set up by human hands. He entered into the heavenly sphere itself, where he personally represents humanity face to face with GOD. (Our humanity now before GOD) Neither was it necessary for him to ever repeat his sacrifice. The High Priests under the old shadow system stood proxy with substitute animal sacrifices that had to be offered yearly. But Jesus did not have to suffer again and again since the [1]fall of the world; the [2]single sacrifice of himself in the fulfillment of history now reveals how he brought sin to naught. (The word, [1, G2602, katabolē, to deposit, is from G2598] kataballo, means "to fall away, to put in a lower place," instead of (G2310) themelios, which means "foundation;" (look at Ephesians 2:20) thus, translated "the fall of the world," instead of "the foundation of the world." The entire "Fall" was a falling away in our own minds from our true identity as image and likeness bearers of Elohim. Just like Eve, were we all deceived to believe a lie about ourselves, which is the fruit of the "I-am-not-tree." (This why Jesus was hung on the tree of this curse, and he became that curse there. Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13-14) We all, like sheep have gone astray, gone our own way, [Isaiah 53:6] [2]GOD'S Lamb took away this sin and the sins of the world!) The same goes for everyone: a person dies only once, and then faces judgment. Christ died once and faced the judgment of the entire human race! He second appearance [in his resurrect] has nothing to do with sin, but to reveal salvation for all to [1]fully embrace him. (To fully embrace, [1] apekdechomai, is from apo, away from [that which defined me before] and ek, out of, source; and dechomai, to take into one's hands to accept whole-heartedly, to fully embrace. In his resurrection he appeared as Savior of the world! Sin is no longer on the agenda, for the Lamb of GOD has taken away the sins of the world! (The church with man's many imaginary religions have not caught up with GOD, as it lacks petros, revelation knowledge!) Jesus Christ fulfilled humanity's destiny with death! [1Corinthians 15:3-5, Romans 4:25, Acts 17:30-31.])
Note: Jesus did not come to condemn the world! The Father judges no one for he has handed over all judgment to the Son, who judged the world in righteousness when he took humanity's judgment in his own body. Now in his appearance in us, his body, his mission is to unveil the consequences of redemption exoneration through the Holy Spirit.
Many Scriptures have been translated and interpreted with only a futuristic value and have consequently neutralized many, like the Jews, to diligently wait for the Messiah still to come. The Messiah has come once and for all as Messiah. Jesus appeared again after his resurrection and now his resurrection life in us as his body is the extension of his second appearance; GOD making his appeal to an already reconciled world to "be reconciled!" [Acts 3:26, 2Corinthians 5:19-20] The church continues to postpone the reality that GOD introduced in Christ. We are now already fully represented in his blamelessness! The second coming as doctrine is not in context of these chapters at all! [Look at 1Peter 1:10-13] The Aramaic word, maranatha, means our LORD has come!
Look also at 1Thessalonians 2:19, We expect nothing less in the context of the gospel than you enjoying a face to face encounter in the [1]immediate presence of our LORD Jesus Christ! This is our delight and wreath of honor! (The word, [1] parousia, speaks of the immediate presence of the LORD! From para, a preposition indicating close proximity, a thing proceeding from a sphere of influence, with a suggestion of strong union a place of residence, to have sprung from its author and giver, originating from, denoting the point from which an action originates ( Genesis 1:26-27, 2:1-3), intimate connection; and eimi, I am! There is not even a hint of judgment or punishment in this word! Please do not believe everything you read in Strongs! "G3952, parousia, is from the present Participle of G3918; a being near, that is, advent; often, return; specifically of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked." !!???) (The Mirror, with editing.)
With our next visit the LORD willing we shall pick up with chapter 10. Until then may our LORD reveal within us our true identity restored in innocence, a pure heart, of his righteousness.
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