Hebrews 9

Hebrews{9:1} Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.{9:2} For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. {9:3} And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all{9:4} Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant{9:5} And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.{9:6} Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service [of God. ]{9:7} But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and [for] the errors of the people{9:8} The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:{9:9} Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience{9:10} [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.{9:11} But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; {9:12} Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [forus. ]{9:13} For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh{9:14} How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? {9:15} And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. {9:16} For where a testament [is,] there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. {9:17} For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. {9:18} Whereupon neither the first [testament] was dedicated without blood. {9:19} For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, {9:20} Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. {9:21} Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. {9:22} And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. {9:23} [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. {9:24} For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in thepresence of God for us: {9:25} Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others{9:26} For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. {9:27} And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:{9:28} So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
One Sacrifice, the greatest Sacrifice, Jesus.
We can't sacrifice any thing to reconcile us to God, not a thing. We are completely dependent upon the Sacrifice of Jesus.
We'd like to think there are things we can do to ensure us of salvation, things other than the complete dependence upon Jesus. We like to imagine a little tally board by our side where we can tally up the good things we do and the bad and we hope the good out number the bad which will mean we win! It doesn't work that way. You could be by the world's standards, even by seemingly Biblical standards, the sweetest, kindest, most humble person in all the world and as long as you believe that it's the sweetness, the kindness, the humblness within you that is saving you then you will not be saved at all. Christ will say 'get away from me, I never knew you.'
'So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.'
Christ will bear the sins of many... He will bear the sins of those who look for him... He will appears on earth a second time and there will be no more sin only salvation.
When Christ came into the world the first time He had to suffer, He had to die to save us, He had to leave us here with sin still overcoming so many- all that didn't look to him for Salvation.When Christ comes into the world the second time He will come to take us all out of sin forever saving us.
The priests on earth worked to save God's people, they had services they performed, sacrifices to make, this was the law and they followed the law. The law pointed to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Without the sacrifice of Christ sin would never be overcome, never. Men could perform the services of the Sanctuary forever and they'd be pointless if they didn't depict one day a full reconcilation with God, without sin in our lives. The hope that lives inside a man is that hope of full reconcilation. The hope of living joined to God forever without sin that separates man and God.
We have to look for Jesus.
We have to watch for Jesus.
We have to be waiting for our Lord and Savior to return.
Look, watch, wait.
Knowing something will happen isn't the same as waiting for it to happen.
I can know that the New Year will start on 12 midnight Dec. 31 and just sleep right through it. The knowing didn't have me waiting for it. However if I'm going to celebrate the New Year then I'm waiting for it, watching for it, looking. We can know that Jesus is returning but not wait for him, not look for Him. People pat themselves on the back because they believe and know that Jesus is coming again. People feel safe and secure just because they know and believe that Jesus will one day come and rescue them from the evil of sin. People think that they have a golden ticket to heaven with Jesus just because they believe. But are they looking for Jesus? Are they watching for Him? Are they really waiting for Him to return? Does their waiting consist of just knowing that Jesus will come again? We have to be looking for Him. We have to be activily looking, anticipating Christ's return.
Even in the sanctuary service, the forerunner of Christ's sacrifice, people had to wait. On the day of atonement they had to afflict their souls, they had to set the day aside as a Sabbath, holy. We have to look for Christ, to afflict our souls, to know that our Holy Savior alone can save us and NO work we could possible do would save us, only believing in Christ.
May God help us as we look for Jesus, as we watch for Him, wait for His return.
May we not put off being ready by waiting, by watching for the only One who can save us.
Come Lord Jesus, Come.
By Your Mercy and Grace now and forever.
Amen.