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ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the
new order.”
“
When Chr i s t
[anointed one]
c ame as h i gh pr i e s t o f t he g ood t h i ng s t ha t
ar e a l r eady he r e
, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle
that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not
enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most
Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal
redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer
sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they
are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our
conscience from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living
God!
Fo r t h i s r eas on Chr i s t i s t he med i a t o r o f a new c ov enan t
, that
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now
that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed
under the first covenant.”
(Hebrews 9:8-15)
The truth was extended, but
rejected, without judgment or accountability because they knew not what
they were doing. Satan’s work is obvious now, but the work of crushing its
ugly head has yet to be fulfilled. Those who hear and obey the word of
God, regardless of differing theologies, complete such in the fulfillment of
the messianic message; all are correct, yet all are lacking the total truth.
Jesus extended the truth in His time, and it applies now because the truth
leads the entire world to a conclusion. Testing Jesus, they asked, “‘Why do
you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied,
‘The knowl edg e o f t he
s e c r e t s o f t he ki ngdom o f heav en hav e be en g i v en t o y ou , bu t no t t o
t hem.
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have abundance.
Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is
why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though
hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of
Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever
seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become callused,
they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise
they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their
hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” But blessed are your eyes because
they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many
prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.’”