HEBREWS 4
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess
(Hebrews 4:14).
At Mount Sinai God established priests and also a high priest. In David’s day there were so many priests that they were divided into 24 sections with a chief priest over each one (1 Chronicles 24). Thus, in the New Testament we read of priests, chief priests, and the high priest. The author of Hebrews speaks of someone even higher however: a “great high priest,” Jesus, the Son of God.
Leviticus 16 describes the most important work of the High Priest, which he accomplished on the annual Day of Atonement. On that day, after elaborate purification rituals, he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place, the throne room of God. The Ark and Mercy Seat functioned as altars. On that day blood was put on them to atone for all the sins of the nation.
There were two aspects to the atonement. Two goats were set apart as sin offerings. The first was slain and its blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat. Aaron then took the other goat and laid his hands on it. He confessed over it “all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head” (Leviticus 16:21). Then this second goat would be sent into the wilderness carrying the sins of Israel away. Before Aaron could offer these two goats for the sins of the people, however, he had to offer a bull for his own sins.
The Great High Priest, by way of contrast, did not need to offer a preliminary sacrifice for His sins (Hebrews 7:27). Moreover, the Great High Priest was not only the priest offering sacrifices to God, but He was the sacrifice Himself. He was both the slain goat, whose blood atoned for sin, and the scapegoat, who carried away our sins forever.
There is an additional contrast that is most important. Leviticus 16:34 states that on the Day of Atonement sacrifices had to be performed once a year. The blood of bulls and goats were only ceremonial, incapable of permanently removing the sins of the people. The atonement of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, was not ceremonial. This perfect sacrifice literally was made once for all time.
CORAM DEO
2 Chronicles 1–3
John 12:1–19
WEEKEND:
2 Chronicles 4–9
John 12:20–13:17
The goat carrying the sins of Israel ran into the wilderness. Christ, however, took our sins as far as the east is from the west. As you pray this weekend, thank God for sending the perfect sacrifice.
For further study: Leviticus 16 • Isaiah 53:1–7 • Hebrews 7 • 1 Peter 2:4–10
TABLETALK
from ligonier ministries and teaching and encouraging believers • june 1991
THE REVIVAL OF JONATHAN EDWARDS
Daily Studies From The Teaching Fellowship Of R. C. Sproul
publisher Ligonier Ministries editor Robert F. Ingram assistant editor Michael S. Beates art director David K. Freeland
marketing Gretchen L. Suskovic production Felicia T. Calhoun, W. David Fox, Melissa A. Prichard, R. C. Sproul, Jr.
writing consultant Sharon J. Anderson circulation Gwen Weber board of directors Charles Colson (Director Emeritus), Bruce Fogerty, Robert Fraley, G. Richard Hostetter, Robert C. Legler, Stephen H. Levée, Jr., C. G. Mills, Archie B. Parrish, Neil Sellers, James M. Seneff, Jr., R. C. Sproul, John Thompson, Ralph D. Veerman, Luder Whitlock
Published by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Inc. under license granted by Ligonier Ministries, Inc. Copyright 1991, Ligonier Ministries, Inc. This Bible study is based upon teaching material by Dr. R. C. Sproul. Unless noted, all Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers.
member evangelical press association
Cover: Joseph Badger, Rev. Jonathan Edwards. Yale University Art gallery, bequest of Eugene Phelps Edwards.
robert f. ingram • editor
Coram Deo
The theologically informed mind must always be balanced with an inflamed heart. Perhaps no where are these two attributes more vibrantly portrayed than in the life of Jonathan Edwards.
As Edwards beheld God revealed both in Scripture and nature, he did so with a penetrating gaze that perceived more than most other men have seen. The profundity of his theological acumen is such that he has been named the most brilliant philosopher-theologian of the American continent. Yet this knowledge, far from puffing up or becoming sterile, became the means of enlarging his heart’s capacity to adore God.
Edwards was convinced that there was no true faith without a corresponding “religious affection.” In fact, he wrote A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections to make this one point: “True religion, in great part, consists of holy affections.” For Edwards, it was a duty to delight in the sovereign character of God, to revel in His goodness and to adore His moral excellencies. One test of saving faith became for him the discernment of whether these affections were present or not: “He who has no religious affection is in a state of spiritual death and is wholly destitute of powerful quickening influences of the Spirit of God.”
Edwards intended to stir up the holy emotions of his people both through his writing and his preaching. Excesses were strongly avoided; fervor without corresponding faith was invalid. However, the ecstasy that characterized Edwards’ personal faith was rightly projected as necessary for all true believers.
Edwards’ vocabulary is vastly different from mine in many respects, not the least of which are the words he uses to describe the intimacy of his passionate love for God. His works read like a foreigner’s writings to me, so differently and artfully does he commune with his Lord. To live life Coram Deo, fully aware of His presence and authority, with a desire to live unto His glory, involves cultivating the kind of holy affections so evident in the life of Edwards.
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