By observing the marginal notes, we find that Hebrews 4:14 reads, Seeing then
that we have a great High Priest, Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God... Being made higher than the heavens, He is seated as a High
Priest at the right hand of God. Remember that this is His relationship to
His people, Israel. This is not said in reference to the church of the dispensation
of the mystery. Yet the place is the same.
We are told that as for the Jews, the way into the Holiest of all was
not made manifest while the first tabernacle was standing. And as for the
services and rituals, we learn that they were temporary, not perfecting them
in spirit, but ministering to the flesh. Rituals and ordinances could not
make one perfect as pertaining to the conscience. Only the finished work
of Christ could do that.
The tabernacle or sanctuary is much in evidence in Hebrews. The word
used is Hagion. Here is a complete use of the word in Hebrews;
Hagion
Hebrews 8:2 A minister of the Sanctuary.
9:2 Which is called the sanctuary.
9:3 Which is the Holiest oi all.
9:8 The way into the Holiest of all.
9:12 Entered in once into the holy place.
9:24 Into the holy places made with hands.
9:25 Into the holy place every year.
10:19 To enter into the holiest by the blood.
13:11 Brought into the sanctuary.
The whole epistle to the Hebrews should be read with special attention
to the above references.
Now we find this same word used in the prison epistles too. It may shed
some light on the riches of those who are members of the church which is the
body of Christ and of which He is the Head
In Ephesians 1:18 Paul is praying that the saints might know what is
the glory of God's inheritance in the Holiest of all, heaven itself. This
is associated with the hope of His calling and the exceeding greatness of
His power to usward who believe. It is also connected with the grand and
glorious statement in verse 3 that God has blest us with every blessing that
is spiritual in the heavenlies, heaven itself, in Christ. Since the tabernacle
was a pattern of things in the heavens, then the dwelling place of God there
is in the holy of holies.
In Ephesians 2:19 we discover that we Gentiles are no longer strangers
and foreigners, but fellowcitizens of the holiest of all, and of the household
of God there, not here.
Colossians 1:12 tells us that we have been made meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the holiest of all, heaven itself, and in the Shekinah
glory which was always associated with it. This is the true tabernacle, cleansed
by the one sacrifice of Christ and now has no rituals or ordinances. Those
who enter are the true circumcision. Now read Colossians 2:16-23.
Carnal Christians still observe rituals and ordinances, trying to improve
the flesh. This is not the worthy walk. They may satisfy the flesh for the
time being, but do not make perfect.
