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Listen "#96 | Boldly Walk into God's Presence: The Day of Atonement Part 3 "
Episode Synopsis
In this episode we look at how Jesus fulfills the Day of Atonement in offering his life-giving blood to cleanse and purify us of all our sins. The writer of Hebrews maps what Jesus did for us in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension onto the Day of Atonement and says that Jesus has done what other priests have never been able to do - offer one sacrifice that provides cleansing for past, present, and future sins. This is an amazing claim that the writer of Hebrews makes because it means the life-giving blood of Jesus continuously cleanses and purifies every sin of those who are being made holy.
For some people, this presents quite a challenge to the way they see forgiveness and their relationship with God. Those who are caught in a cycle of guilt and forgiveness in their relationship with God, struggle to understand how God can completely forgive all of our past, present, and future sins because it seemingly removes any motivation for not sinning. The writer of Hebrews doesn't seem to be worried about this. The basic assumption operating in the background is that our motivation for not sinning is not fear of punishment. The motivation for not sinning is so that we can continue to follow Jesus in his pioneering work of entering more fully into the life-giving presence of God.
Instead of the law hanging over us in condemnation, the writer of Hebrews quotes the prophet Jeremiah where God says there will come a day when the law will be pressed deep into our human nature - on our hearts and minds - and will become the internal source of motivation for us to obey God. Those who have had the law written on their hearts and minds have an internal motivation to not sin. And when they do sin they are not overcome by guilt, fear, and shame because "God will remember their sins no more."
God knows that if we always feel like we have to approach him with an apology for all the things we have done wrong that we will basically avoid him and only meet with him when it is absolutely necessary. But God has always wanted to remove every barrier that keeps us from meeting with him and enjoying his presence. The blood of Jesus cleanses our hearts, minds, and conscience so that we can approach God with confidence. The amazing thing is that God has always wanted this kind of relationship with us.
Key Passages
Hebrews 10:11-18
Also, we hear from our friend and OneLife Board Member, Tyler Aman, about a ministry in the Middle East called Nomads.
Go to www.nomads-usa.com to learn more or for an opportunity to contribute to their mission to migrant workers!
Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.org
Leave us a question or comment at our website podcast page.
* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music
For some people, this presents quite a challenge to the way they see forgiveness and their relationship with God. Those who are caught in a cycle of guilt and forgiveness in their relationship with God, struggle to understand how God can completely forgive all of our past, present, and future sins because it seemingly removes any motivation for not sinning. The writer of Hebrews doesn't seem to be worried about this. The basic assumption operating in the background is that our motivation for not sinning is not fear of punishment. The motivation for not sinning is so that we can continue to follow Jesus in his pioneering work of entering more fully into the life-giving presence of God.
Instead of the law hanging over us in condemnation, the writer of Hebrews quotes the prophet Jeremiah where God says there will come a day when the law will be pressed deep into our human nature - on our hearts and minds - and will become the internal source of motivation for us to obey God. Those who have had the law written on their hearts and minds have an internal motivation to not sin. And when they do sin they are not overcome by guilt, fear, and shame because "God will remember their sins no more."
God knows that if we always feel like we have to approach him with an apology for all the things we have done wrong that we will basically avoid him and only meet with him when it is absolutely necessary. But God has always wanted to remove every barrier that keeps us from meeting with him and enjoying his presence. The blood of Jesus cleanses our hearts, minds, and conscience so that we can approach God with confidence. The amazing thing is that God has always wanted this kind of relationship with us.
Key Passages
Hebrews 10:11-18
Also, we hear from our friend and OneLife Board Member, Tyler Aman, about a ministry in the Middle East called Nomads.
Go to www.nomads-usa.com to learn more or for an opportunity to contribute to their mission to migrant workers!
Explainer Video on how to use www.biblehub.com and www.blueletterbible.org
Leave us a question or comment at our website podcast page.
* Intro Music: "Admirable" Carlos Herrera Music
In God we trust