Can You Enter the Holiest With Your Sacrifices?

Can You Enter the Holiest With Your Sacrifices?

Jesus had to suffer outside the gate that He might sanctify the people with His own blood. Heb. 13:9-14. This is a picture of the sacrifices in the old covenant, and most people do not benefit any more from Jesus’ sacrifice than they did in the old covenant with their animal sacrifices. They were sanctified—their sins were forgiven—by the blood that was borne into the sanctuary. However, our calling through the gospel is much more.

“Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” V. 13. The bodies of the animals that were borne into the sanctuary were burnt up outside the camp. Everything that was impure had to be taken outside the camp. Jesus also had to bear this reproach. He became a curse for us. Gal. 3:13. Jesus went so low that the people would rather have a Barabbas set free, and so they called out, “Away with Him!” We are exhorted to follow Him and bear His reproach. Then we will have fellowship with Him in His death and not just be sanctified by His blood, for in the blood of Jesus we have boldness to enter the Holiest. Heb. 10:19-20. Instead of remaining carnal, with interests in this world and believing in the forgiveness of sins, through the dying of Jesus outside the camp we will be transformed to be spiritual people, having victory over sin. Then our interests will be in things that are above and not in things on the earth. Col. 3:1-2. There is an essential difference between these people.

Who wants to follow Jesus? Everyone wants to die in the camp, being admired by the people, and sacrifice at the sound of the trumpets and sow in glory. But you will never come to the blood of Christ in that way. All of that is just for the satisfying of the flesh. Col. 2:18, 23. On the contrary, what is sown in dishonor will be raised in glory, and what is sown in weakness is raised in power—that will be of eternal significance and value. 1 Cor. 15:43.

One could think that the bodies of these animals whose blood was borne into the Holiest should have been stuffed and exhibited and admired. This is how carnal people think and act, which is why there usually is envy, jealousy, and division among the leaders, also in religious groups. All of them want to have a place for their own bodies to be exhibited on the platforms, and their bodies are given room according to their efforts or the sacrifices they have made, and so they compete against each other. They want to be seen, and in spite of all their talk about Jesus and being a sacrifice they remain human and behave like mere men.

Jesus went in the exact opposite direction. After He had raised up Lazarus, many people flocked to see Jesus, including some Greeks, but He answered their request to see Him with the following words: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. . . . If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:20-26.

Jesus did not want to be seen— just as the grain of wheat that is dying cannot be seen. If you want to serve Jesus you will have to follow Him as a grain of wheat. On this basis we understand that much of what is passed off as being done in Jesus name has nothing to do with following Him. The Father will honor the person who follows Jesus. This is enough for him.

“Do not be led astray by various and strange doctrines. For it is good to be strengthened in your heart by grace and not by sacrificial food. Those who have been occupied with such things have not profited by it.” Heb. 13:9—Swedish Tr.

Anniversaries and feasts accompanied by newspaper articles are virtually nothing more than sacrificial meals at which the leaders satisfy their flesh with the honor they receive for their sacrifices, and many people have been deceived by that spirit. It is something great in man’s eyes, and as a result several more begin to desire to climb up to the same heights. They are led astray from the way Jesus went—the dying of the grain of wheat. The Father’s honor is not sufficient for them. It is not sufficient for them to be nourished by the grace that the gospel gives that strengthens the heart to sacrifice, serve, and gain the victory over sin. They must also have the honor of man to satisfy their flesh, and many of them console their consciences with what they are and do and what they are reckoned to be. Even after they have died a long time ago they themselves, as well as others, can believe that they are alive. Rev. 3:1. They have truly been led astray.

“But no sin offering from which any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of meeting, to make atonement in The Most Holy Place, shall be eaten. It shall be burned in the fire.” Lev. 6:30.

Only then will it be a true sacrifice. If the blood of your self-life does not flow with your sacrifice, you will remain human; and if the self-life dies, let it be cursed. Why should you be honored for it? Accept the reproach and burn it up outside the camp. This be-medaled show-off who sits there like a mannequin and laps up the people’s praise for his great efforts while he satisfies them with accounts of his travels and tells them what Jesus has done through him and various other stories, and what Professor So-and-So and Doctor So-and-So has said is nothing but a whitewashed grave. May you also be an abomination to yourself. The best place for you is the garbage dump outside the camp. Let the fire do its work with you there. Then you will come to Jesus’ blood so that you in it have boldness to enter the Holiest Place. Then you will receive spiritual understanding and can offer food from the sanctuary. Ezek. 44:15-16.