Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
In order to understand the sanctuary service, two New Testament books about it must have their say: Hebrews and Revelation. The theme of Hebrews is "perfection of character," to become like Jesus. It's not "perfectionism," the heresy of flesh-perfection, but it is the clear message of overcoming self and temptation "as [Christ] also overcame" (Rev. 3:21). It will produce real flesh and blood people, sinners by nature, who appreciate how Christ "condemned sin" in "the likeness of [our] sinful flesh" (see Rom. 8:3).
Romans does not mention the sanctuary; but the idea of learning to say "No!" to temptation is there (Rom. 8:3, 4, etc.; it's also in Titus 2:12, see New International Version). Hebrews says, let's get out of the cradle roll, and "leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection" (Heb. 6:1). Christ as High Priest is "able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (7:25). And the new covenant completely supersedes the old (8:6-13).
The "conscience" of those who believe in Jesus is to be "purged," a deep work never before fully accomplished until the grand Day of Atonement (9:14, 22, 23, 26). Let's draw near to the Most Holy Apartment, "our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience" (10:22). All who have died in the past must wait until "God [provides] something better for us" (11:40), which is that "the God of peace ... [will] make you complete [perfect, King James Version] in every good work to do His will, working in you" (13:20, 21).
And Revelation completes the picture of what happens when the door into the Most Holy Apartment is flung open (Rev. 11:19). A great work is done by heavenly agencies never previously accomplished: a "body" of people learn to "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," stand on Mount Zion singing "a new song" that no one else in history could learn--a people "in [whose] mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God" (14:3-5). Thus Christ can complete His work as High Priest and return as "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (19:16). Let's cooperate with Him!
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 28, 2001.
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