The Difference Between the PCI of the Merger and the Current Counterfeits

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Truly Blessed

What seems to be lost in this discussion is that the blood of the OT sacrifices was shed as a covering for sin and an atonement. A primary weakness in the offering up of bulls and goats was that it could never deal with the guilt of sin. Every sacrifice only drove home once again man's sinfulness and heightened his sense of guilt before a holy God.

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." (Hebrews 10:1-3)

"Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (V.11)

It was only when Jesus offered Himself up as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world that the sins (that had been covered by the shed blood of the OT sacrifices) could be forgiven and thus no longer remembered. Hebrews 10:15-18 says,

"The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this.

First he says:
"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

Then he adds:
"Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Now note with me an important point made in verses 1 & 2.

"For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins."

The writer of Hebrews says that if the sacrifices offered could have made perfect those who drew near to worship God, they would have stopped offering sacrifices because they would have been cleansed once for all, and would not have felt guilt for sin.

Because Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for us that is exactly what happens today. Those who draw near to God in faith to worship are cleansed once and for all and no longer feel guilty for sin. Why? Because "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (V.10) and "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (V.14)

"Therefore, brothers, 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 in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."(VV.19-22)

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that the new and living way is opened up to us through His (Christ's) body offered up for us and we enter into The Most Holy Place by the blood of His sacrifice, NOT by some ceremonial act such as baptism.

Note that it's all about a cleansed conscience that is the result of a pure heart and a body that has been washed with water by the Word. "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word," (Ephesians 5:26)

More wisdom, brother TB

Just would like to add that all of this promised from the OT prophets, like Ezequiel and Joel ... who spoke of this New Covenant ....

Ezekiel 36:24-28

It reads:

For I will take you from among the nations,
gather you out of all countries
and bring you into your own Land

Then I will sprinkle clean WATER on you,
and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness
and from all your idols.

I will give you a new heart
and put a new SPIRIT within you;
I will take he heart of stone out of your flesh
and give you a heart of FLESH.

I will put My SPIRIT within you
and cause you to walk in My statutes,
and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Then you shall dwell in the Land that I gave to you fathers;
you shall be my people,
and I will be your God.