week of 10/12/11 3rd recorded HighQuest Hebrews 9:11-28

The passage I read was Hebrews 9:11-28

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+9%3A11-28&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

28 So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

As I reflect:

There is a clear message here that once upon a time we would have to make blood sacrifices to cover our sins and because we were imperfect we would have to do this continually as we continued to make mistakes. Christ however does not have to die multiple times on the cross to pay for each of our sins each time we fall, but rather His one time sacrifice bore the weight of all of our sins for all time. And not only outwardly so, but also deep within us cleansing even our very conscience of the filthy soot left by sin.

This entire passage is demonstrating the eternal work on the cross as both a fulfillment of the old testament/covenant (a cashing in of the IOU to those who had practiced atonement for sin by blood sacrifice and covering) and as an everlasting promise to those who in faith would take up their crosses and follow Him from that point forward as well. I am one of those whose life not only here but in eternity has been severely impacted by the work Jesus did that is being spoken of here. And I look forward to and eagerly wait for the second time He will appear, apart from sin, for salvation.

My response to the Lord:

My Savior Jesus, I thank you for your work on the cross; for bearing the complete weight of my sin knowing already that I would one day come to call you my King. You have covered me once and for all time that I may be cleansed and forgiven. I thank you. With all that I am, I thank you.