The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "The Cost of Coming Close."
Since God is omnipresent, all creation lives in his presence. So all people, whether righteous or wicked, live in his omnipresence—given all people have a creature to Creator relationship to God. But only the righteous live in his personal presence—given only the righteous have an “Abba Father” relationship to God. Paul tells his Christian readers, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Ro 8:15-16). The familial relationship to God that Christians enjoy is a benefit of their New Covenant relationship to him that comes by faith in Jesus Christ, the mediator of that covenant. Forgiveness from sins is theirs through the “once for all” sacrifice of himself and access into his very presence is theirs through his ongoing ministry as their high priest.
According to one theologian, Jesus functions as priest in two ways (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 626-27). First, Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 9:11-12 reads: “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” He offered “the sacrifice of himself” (9:26) because “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (10:4). Grudem writes: “Jesus fulfilled all the expectations that were prefigured, not only in the Old Testament sacrifices, but also in the lives and actions of the priests who offered them: he was both the sacrifice and the priest who offered the sacrifice. Jesus is now the ‘great high priest who has passed through the heavens’ (Heb. 4:14) and who has appeared ‘in the presence of God on our behalf’ (Heb 9:24), since he has offered a sacrifice that ended for all time the need for any further sacrifices” (626). By his sacrifice, Christ has suited us for a relationship with the Father.
Second, Jesus continually brings us near to God. In Old Testament times, Aaron and his sons functioned as sacred personnel to facilitate the encounter between God and his people in worship. Among other things—like trimming lamps, replacing the bread of the Presence, and burning incense—they offered animal sacrifices to atone for sins. But only Aaron, the high priest, was allowed to enter the very presence of God in the holy of holies, other priests were not even allowed into the holy place. And Aaron was only allowed to enter the holy of holies yearly on the day of atonement (see Lev 16). But Jesus has gone into the heavenly equivalent of the holy of holies, the very presence of God himself in heaven. Christ did not enter a tabernacle made by the Israelites, which was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, “now to appear for us in God’s presence” (Heb 9:24)—as our advocate (1Jn 2:1-2). Hebrews 6:19-20 reads: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Therefore, the author of Hebrews can make this amazing statement: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Lest one miss the point, Grudem writes: “Jesus has opened for us the way of access to God so that we can continually ‘draw near’ into God’s very presence without fear but with ‘confidence’ and in ‘full assurance of faith’” (627, italics added).
Central Message of the Text
Those whom God selects to serve as ministers of the New Covenant must, like ministers of the Old Covenant, reflect the holiness of God in their character and conduct.
Family Talk
I’ve always admired “matchy matchy” families. You know, the family that walks in a room and everyone is color coordinated from head to toe with matching outfits. My mom style was a little more “as long as they walk out the door with clothes on and bonus if they did it themselves.” I should have upped the bar a little and included shoes. I can’t tell you how many times we stopped to buy cheap shoes because we forgot. My personal clothing style is pretty relaxed and dressing up for me can be a challenge. I’ve read and heard how you feel better when you look better, and I believe this to be true. I wonder what would happen if I considered my attire in a spiritual light. The priests needed to dress appropriately to approach God. When I get dressed, I take into consideration where I’m going and who I might see, but rarely does God enter the equation. Colossians 3:17 says to do everything for the Lord with thanksgiving — shouldn’t this include getting dressed? What if, when I got dressed, I thanked God for clothing me with righteousness, or when I slipped my socks on, I asked God to guide my feet to do His work? When I slide my wedding ring on my finger, I could thank God for my amazing husband. As you help your kids get dressed and prepared for the day, rather than the usual screaming to get ready because you’re running late, use this moment as a discipleship tool and invite God into your everyday moment with praise and thanksgiving. We’re praying for you!