August 6, 2022
“Now every priest stands day after day ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice...”
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“Now every priest stands day after day ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting for His enemies to be put under His footstool.” Hebrews 10:11-13
Let’s revisit a point I briefly raised back in the Hebrews 6 devotional. It is the notion that Israel’s deliverance into Canaan is symbolic of our fleshly deliverance through Jesus. Just as Israel was commanded to drive out the land’s inhabitants, so are we commanded to drive out the former “inhabitants,” i.e., our old sinful patterns. The “land symbolism” becomes clearer when we consider that Adam was created when God breathed into a handful of earthly dust. We are, in a sense, God-breathed land.
Again, the former inhabitants of our “land” (our flesh) were the inward motivations of our “sin nature,” made evident by our sinful ways. Sin always leads to self-destruction because it is always self-serving. That is why it is urgent that we drive out those inhabitants by the power of God’s Spirit. That is also why Jesus was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. He was above all, yet chose to save us through serving instead of mandating we live up to an impossible standard.
Now, when Jesus offered Himself to atone for sin, His work was completed. Sin was atoned for. He does not need to get up and re-offer His sacrifice. As evidence of God’s satisfaction for Jesus’ atonement, the Bible says Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father right now.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior & Lord and receive His atonement, we are “delivered.” Just as Israel was delivered into Canaan by God’s grace yet was commanded to drive out its enemies (the former inhabitants), we, too, must drive out the former inhabitants of our flesh once we have been delivered.
Now, if Jesus is sitting next to God, waiting for His enemies to be put under His footstool, who will do that work? The Holy Spirit will accomplish this through the surrendered lives of believers.
Everyone has a “former inhabitant” (or several), which they are battling. It has been given to us to drive out the old self, combining the strength we have with the desire & power of God’s Spirit.
Take courage, and submit to the Spirit’s leading! Allow Him to manifest Himself in power in your life, driving out your former “sin self.” What is impossible for us is easily doable with God. There is no panic in Heaven. Jesus is not worried about whether His enemies will be placed under His footstool. He is only waiting. Therefore, we should be confident in God’s Word, Jesus’ atonement, and the Spirit’s power to overcome.
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