Are You Standing or Sitting?
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Hebrews 10:11-12: “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
In the Old Testament, under the law of Moses, priests offered sacrifices to God daily for the sins of the Jews (Exodus 29:38-43, Hebrews 7:27). This was an ongoing process, and this was part of the special bond between God and the Jews. There were other sacrifices that were more specific (Leviticus 7:37). There was also the yearly sacrifice, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), in which the high priest sprinkled the mercy seat inside the tabernacle or temple with the blood of a bull and the blood of a goat. This was done for the sins of the Jews (Leviticus 16:34). Although this was performed yearly, and daily offerings for sin were continually repeated, there were additional sacrifices and offerings carried out as needed because of the sins of the Jews. There were sin offerings (Leviticus 4), and there were trespass offerings (Leviticus 5:14-19).
The work of a priest was never done. The same rituals had to be performed again and again and again. The reason for this was because sacrifices could never fully deal with the problem of sin. The Jews were God’s people, but the Jews were sinners because all people are sinners (Romans 3:23). God hates sin, and sacrifices were meant to temporarily satisfy God’s price for sin. But God could never be completely satisfied with animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1-8). Nevertheless, those sacrifices had to continue for a certain length of time, that is, until Jesus Christ would arrive on earth. The human priests were ministers of the earthly tabernacle or temple, which were pictures of the true tabernacle in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-5, 9:11, 9:24). The earthly high priest would sprinkle the mercy seat in the tabernacle or temple with blood once a year (Leviticus 16, Exodus 30:10, Hebrews 9:6-7). After Jesus was crucified on the cross, He was buried for three days in order to prove that His body was dead. When Jesus rose again, He had a very important job to perform. Though He had died for the sins of the world (1st John 2:2), Jesus was not yet finished with His work. The law of Moses, those priests, and those sacrifices were simply a shadow of what was to come (Hebrews 10:1). Jesus Christ was the true image which cast the shadow (Hebrews 9:11). He would tend to the true tabernacle in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2, 9:11, 24). After He rose from the dead, Jesus Christ returned to Heaven as the new high priest (Hebrews 7:26-28, 8:1-2), and His priesthood would last forever because He would live forever (Hebrews 7:24). After His resurrection, Jesus finally accomplished the event that had been foreshadowed year after year by those earthly high priests on the Day of Atonement: Jesus took His own blood into Heaven and sprinkled the mercy seat in the true tabernacle (Hebrews 9:12).
Under the Old Testament, the Jews had to trust the work of the high priests to deal with their sins. The blood of sacrificial animals was offered to God to cover the sins of the Jews. This was a temporary solution, and these offerings would be repeated daily, yearly, and as often as was necessary. The Jews had to have faith that the blood of those sacrificial animals would put them at peace with God.
Under the New Testament, believers on Jesus Christ trust the work of Jesus to deal with their sins. The blood of Jesus was offered to God to cover the sins of all true believers. This is a permanent solution, and this offering would only need to be performed once (Hebrews 9:25-26, 10:12). Believers on Jesus Christ have to have faith that the blood of Jesus will put them at peace with God.
Now, let’s contrast the blood of sacrificial animals with the blood of Jesus Christ. Blood must be shed for the forgiveness of sin.
Hebrews 9:22: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness).”
Animal sacrifices were never going to be good enough for God.
Hebrews 10:4: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats (offered under the Old Testament) should take away sins.”
Animal sacrifices were used during the Old Testament, but for the New Testament, God had a much better plan based around His kindness, or grace. We need to be justified (declared innocent) in the sight of God. We cannot go before God being tainted by sin. But how do we get rid of the stain of sin and become justified? The earthly high priests and their sacrifices would never do the job, as they were merely components of the law of Moses.
Romans 3:20: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his (God’s) sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
For the New Testament, God sent His Son to be both the sacrifice and the high priest.
Romans 4:25: “Who (Jesus Christ) was delivered for our offences (crucified for our sins), and was raised again for our justification.”
The law of Moses cannot justify anyone, but Jesus Christ can. How can He do this? He can do this because He accomplished what those earthly high priests and sacrifices had only been a shadow of for all of those years. Jesus Christ became the sacrifice for our sins, and then He sprinkled His own blood on the mercy seat in Heaven. The key to our justification is in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8-9: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Romans 3:21-28: “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (sacrifice) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Ephesians 1:7: “In whom (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Colossians 1:12-14: “Giving thanks unto the Father (God), which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
1st Peter 1:18-19: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
Revelation 1:5: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
The Old Testament was initiated with the blood of calves and goats (Hebrews 9:19-20). The blood of these animals was continually offered to God for the sins of the Jews. The New Testament was initiated with the blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28). The blood of Jesus was offered to God one time for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:12). The blood of Jesus Christ is still on the mercy seat in Heaven, and God sees it whenever He looks that way. That blood is good enough for God. Is it good enough for you? Your sins have to be dealt with before you face God. The payment has already been made. Do you accept that payment, or would you rather come up with another payment for your justification?
Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his (Jesus Christ’s) blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
The blood of Jesus Christ was the payment for your sins.
Acts 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves (the elders of the church in Ephesus), and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God (all true believers on Jesus Christ), which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
This brings us back to the two verses of Scripture which opened this article:
Hebrews 10:11-12: “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
The priests were always standing, because their work was never finished. Jesus Christ performed His work, and then He sat down. Do you understand what this means? Do you know why Jesus sat down? Because He was finished with His work. You have sins that must be dealt with. What are you doing about that? Are you standing or are you sitting? Are you working for your salvation/the forgiveness of sins? Or are you trusting in Jesus Christ? The earthly high priests had to work continually throughout the Old Testament to deal with sin. Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice to God for sin, and this sacrifice would last forever.
Are you standing? Are you working for your justification in the sight of God? Are you placing your faith in what you have done or can do? In giving up certain sins? In baptism? In church attendance? In tithing? In confessions given to a priest? In obeying the law of Moses? In following the Ten Commandments? In good deeds? In saying “Hail Mary” enough times? In giving things up for Lent? In fasting? In works of any kind?
Or are you sitting? Did you picture the blood of Jesus Christ on the mercy seat in Heaven and say “Well, I’ll never be able to top that. That’s good enough for me. I accept that payment.”
Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus Christ was crucified for your sins, and He rose again for your justification (Romans 4:25). Jesus Christ took His own blood to Heaven and offered it to God for your sins (Hebrews 9:12). You will never be able to offer God anything better than the blood of His own Son. Once you are aware of the one-time sacrifice and offering of Jesus Christ, you have to believe in the work of Jesus or be damned (Hebrews 10:26-29). There is no other sacrifice that will do. There is no other offering that is good enough. God is satisfied with the blood of His Son. Are you?
Imagine there is something you really, really want to have. You find out that there is one man who owns the thing you desperately want. You go to this man, and you tell him that you want that particular item. You ask him how much money he wants, and he has a surprising answer for you. As it turns out, the man’s son saw you coming, and he paid his father for the item for you. The item is already paid for. All you have to do is take it. But what if you say no? What if you tell this man “I would rather pay for it myself.” The man looks at you and says “What? My son took care of that for you. My boy’s money isn’t good enough for you? Ok. You go ahead and buy it. That will be one trillion dollars.” God has a free gift for you. The reason it is free is because Jesus Christ paid for it, and let me tell you, that gift wasn’t cheap. Jesus really wanted you to have that gift, because He knew you could never pay for it by yourself. After everything Jesus Christ went through, are you going to look at God and say “Your Son’s payment just isn’t good enough. Let me pay you.” I wouldn’t recommend this. It’s a slap in the face to God and Jesus Christ, and you can say goodbye to that free gift.
The blood of Jesus Christ is on the mercy seat in Heaven. If you have faith in that blood, that it is there and that it covers your sins, then you will be saved. You will have eternal life in Heaven, the free gift of God. You can take a load off your mind by knowing that you don’t have to work the rest of your life to go to Heaven. You can finally sit down.
On a final note, if you recall, the Jews had their annual Day of Atonement under the Old Testament (Leviticus 16). This was the day when the high priest alone would enter into the inner room of the tabernacle or temple and sprinkle the blood of a bull and the blood of a goat on the mercy seat. This was done for the Jews to receive atonement with God. Atonement is reconciliation, unity, or agreement. Atonement can also be something that repairs a broken relationship, or something that rights a wrong. Sin is wrong to God, and sinners need atonement to be at peace with God. Under the New Testament, we do not have an annual Day of Atonement to give us peace with God. We do not have animal sacrifices or earthly high priests. We have something much better.
Romans 5:8-11: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Colossians 1:20: “And, having made peace through the blood of his (Jesus Christ’s) cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
In the Old Testament, under the law of Moses, priests offered sacrifices to God daily for the sins of the Jews (Exodus 29:38-43, Hebrews 7:27). This was an ongoing process, and this was part of the special bond between God and the Jews. There were other sacrifices that were more specific (Leviticus 7:37). There was also the yearly sacrifice, the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), in which the high priest sprinkled the mercy seat inside the tabernacle or temple with the blood of a bull and the blood of a goat. This was done for the sins of the Jews (Leviticus 16:34). Although this was performed yearly, and daily offerings for sin were continually repeated, there were additional sacrifices and offerings carried out as needed because of the sins of the Jews. There were sin offerings (Leviticus 4), and there were trespass offerings (Leviticus 5:14-19).
The work of a priest was never done. The same rituals had to be performed again and again and again. The reason for this was because sacrifices could never fully deal with the problem of sin. The Jews were God’s people, but the Jews were sinners because all people are sinners (Romans 3:23). God hates sin, and sacrifices were meant to temporarily satisfy God’s price for sin. But God could never be completely satisfied with animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1-8). Nevertheless, those sacrifices had to continue for a certain length of time, that is, until Jesus Christ would arrive on earth. The human priests were ministers of the earthly tabernacle or temple, which were pictures of the true tabernacle in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-5, 9:11, 9:24). The earthly high priest would sprinkle the mercy seat in the tabernacle or temple with blood once a year (Leviticus 16, Exodus 30:10, Hebrews 9:6-7). After Jesus was crucified on the cross, He was buried for three days in order to prove that His body was dead. When Jesus rose again, He had a very important job to perform. Though He had died for the sins of the world (1st John 2:2), Jesus was not yet finished with His work. The law of Moses, those priests, and those sacrifices were simply a shadow of what was to come (Hebrews 10:1). Jesus Christ was the true image which cast the shadow (Hebrews 9:11). He would tend to the true tabernacle in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2, 9:11, 24). After He rose from the dead, Jesus Christ returned to Heaven as the new high priest (Hebrews 7:26-28, 8:1-2), and His priesthood would last forever because He would live forever (Hebrews 7:24). After His resurrection, Jesus finally accomplished the event that had been foreshadowed year after year by those earthly high priests on the Day of Atonement: Jesus took His own blood into Heaven and sprinkled the mercy seat in the true tabernacle (Hebrews 9:12).
Under the Old Testament, the Jews had to trust the work of the high priests to deal with their sins. The blood of sacrificial animals was offered to God to cover the sins of the Jews. This was a temporary solution, and these offerings would be repeated daily, yearly, and as often as was necessary. The Jews had to have faith that the blood of those sacrificial animals would put them at peace with God.
Under the New Testament, believers on Jesus Christ trust the work of Jesus to deal with their sins. The blood of Jesus was offered to God to cover the sins of all true believers. This is a permanent solution, and this offering would only need to be performed once (Hebrews 9:25-26, 10:12). Believers on Jesus Christ have to have faith that the blood of Jesus will put them at peace with God.
Now, let’s contrast the blood of sacrificial animals with the blood of Jesus Christ. Blood must be shed for the forgiveness of sin.
Hebrews 9:22: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (forgiveness).”
Animal sacrifices were never going to be good enough for God.
Hebrews 10:4: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats (offered under the Old Testament) should take away sins.”
Animal sacrifices were used during the Old Testament, but for the New Testament, God had a much better plan based around His kindness, or grace. We need to be justified (declared innocent) in the sight of God. We cannot go before God being tainted by sin. But how do we get rid of the stain of sin and become justified? The earthly high priests and their sacrifices would never do the job, as they were merely components of the law of Moses.
Romans 3:20: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his (God’s) sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
For the New Testament, God sent His Son to be both the sacrifice and the high priest.
Romans 4:25: “Who (Jesus Christ) was delivered for our offences (crucified for our sins), and was raised again for our justification.”
The law of Moses cannot justify anyone, but Jesus Christ can. How can He do this? He can do this because He accomplished what those earthly high priests and sacrifices had only been a shadow of for all of those years. Jesus Christ became the sacrifice for our sins, and then He sprinkled His own blood on the mercy seat in Heaven. The key to our justification is in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8-9: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Romans 3:21-28: “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (sacrifice) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Ephesians 1:7: “In whom (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Colossians 1:12-14: “Giving thanks unto the Father (God), which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
1st Peter 1:18-19: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
Revelation 1:5: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
The Old Testament was initiated with the blood of calves and goats (Hebrews 9:19-20). The blood of these animals was continually offered to God for the sins of the Jews. The New Testament was initiated with the blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28). The blood of Jesus was offered to God one time for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:12). The blood of Jesus Christ is still on the mercy seat in Heaven, and God sees it whenever He looks that way. That blood is good enough for God. Is it good enough for you? Your sins have to be dealt with before you face God. The payment has already been made. Do you accept that payment, or would you rather come up with another payment for your justification?
Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his (Jesus Christ’s) blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
The blood of Jesus Christ was the payment for your sins.
Acts 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves (the elders of the church in Ephesus), and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God (all true believers on Jesus Christ), which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
This brings us back to the two verses of Scripture which opened this article:
Hebrews 10:11-12: “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
The priests were always standing, because their work was never finished. Jesus Christ performed His work, and then He sat down. Do you understand what this means? Do you know why Jesus sat down? Because He was finished with His work. You have sins that must be dealt with. What are you doing about that? Are you standing or are you sitting? Are you working for your salvation/the forgiveness of sins? Or are you trusting in Jesus Christ? The earthly high priests had to work continually throughout the Old Testament to deal with sin. Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice to God for sin, and this sacrifice would last forever.
Are you standing? Are you working for your justification in the sight of God? Are you placing your faith in what you have done or can do? In giving up certain sins? In baptism? In church attendance? In tithing? In confessions given to a priest? In obeying the law of Moses? In following the Ten Commandments? In good deeds? In saying “Hail Mary” enough times? In giving things up for Lent? In fasting? In works of any kind?
Or are you sitting? Did you picture the blood of Jesus Christ on the mercy seat in Heaven and say “Well, I’ll never be able to top that. That’s good enough for me. I accept that payment.”
Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again three days later (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus Christ was crucified for your sins, and He rose again for your justification (Romans 4:25). Jesus Christ took His own blood to Heaven and offered it to God for your sins (Hebrews 9:12). You will never be able to offer God anything better than the blood of His own Son. Once you are aware of the one-time sacrifice and offering of Jesus Christ, you have to believe in the work of Jesus or be damned (Hebrews 10:26-29). There is no other sacrifice that will do. There is no other offering that is good enough. God is satisfied with the blood of His Son. Are you?
Imagine there is something you really, really want to have. You find out that there is one man who owns the thing you desperately want. You go to this man, and you tell him that you want that particular item. You ask him how much money he wants, and he has a surprising answer for you. As it turns out, the man’s son saw you coming, and he paid his father for the item for you. The item is already paid for. All you have to do is take it. But what if you say no? What if you tell this man “I would rather pay for it myself.” The man looks at you and says “What? My son took care of that for you. My boy’s money isn’t good enough for you? Ok. You go ahead and buy it. That will be one trillion dollars.” God has a free gift for you. The reason it is free is because Jesus Christ paid for it, and let me tell you, that gift wasn’t cheap. Jesus really wanted you to have that gift, because He knew you could never pay for it by yourself. After everything Jesus Christ went through, are you going to look at God and say “Your Son’s payment just isn’t good enough. Let me pay you.” I wouldn’t recommend this. It’s a slap in the face to God and Jesus Christ, and you can say goodbye to that free gift.
The blood of Jesus Christ is on the mercy seat in Heaven. If you have faith in that blood, that it is there and that it covers your sins, then you will be saved. You will have eternal life in Heaven, the free gift of God. You can take a load off your mind by knowing that you don’t have to work the rest of your life to go to Heaven. You can finally sit down.
On a final note, if you recall, the Jews had their annual Day of Atonement under the Old Testament (Leviticus 16). This was the day when the high priest alone would enter into the inner room of the tabernacle or temple and sprinkle the blood of a bull and the blood of a goat on the mercy seat. This was done for the Jews to receive atonement with God. Atonement is reconciliation, unity, or agreement. Atonement can also be something that repairs a broken relationship, or something that rights a wrong. Sin is wrong to God, and sinners need atonement to be at peace with God. Under the New Testament, we do not have an annual Day of Atonement to give us peace with God. We do not have animal sacrifices or earthly high priests. We have something much better.
Romans 5:8-11: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Colossians 1:20: “And, having made peace through the blood of his (Jesus Christ’s) cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”