Now the first agreement had certain rules for the service of God . . . Under this arrangement the outer tent was habitually used by the priests in the regular discharge of their religious duties. But the inner tent was entered once a year only, by the High Priest, alone, bearing a sacrifice of shed blood to be offered for himself and for the sins of the people which they had committed unwittingly. By these things the Holy Spirit means us to understand that the way to the holy place was not yet open . . . in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered and yet are incapable of cleansing the soul of the worshipper. For now Christ has come among us . . . and has passed through a greater and more perfect tent which no human hand had made (for it was no part of this world of ours). It was not with goats' or calves' blood but with His own blood that He entered once and for all into the holy place, having won for us men eternal reconciliation with God.
   Christ is consequently the administrator of an entirely new agreement, having the power, by virtue of His death, to redeem transgressions committed under the first agreement: to enable those who obey God's call to enjoy the promises of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.
   For Christ has entered into heaven itself, to appear now before God as our Friend. It was not in the earthly place of worship that He did this, for that was merely a copy of the real temple in heaven. Nor has He offered Himself again and again, as the high priest down here on earth offers animal blood in the Holy of Holies each year. If that had been necessary, then He would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all, at the end of the age, to put away the power of sin forever by dying for us.

Taken from Heb. 9, 7, Rom. 5, The Phillips Translation, The New King James and
The Living Bible. For free Lifescope book, write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221.
Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.