The Time of Restoration

The Time of Restoration

“The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of restoration.”

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Once I have received a perfect conscience, the time of restoration has come, according to the light I have; but it does not mean that I am perfected. The Spirit—the Spirit of truth—will guide me into all truth. John 16:13. This means that my conscience is increasingly enlightened, with the result that I receive a spiritual understanding of what God’s will is. This development was nonexistent under the law for as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. The law was of no help either when it came to walking perfectly in the light it gave. Heb. 10:2-4. Every year they were reminded of their sin by the required sacrifices. The result of all this service, which did not lead them into a life of development, was only dead works. The high priest went into the Holy Place with blood, but not his own; and it was impossible that this could take away sins.

However, the blood of Christ could. He “who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, [shall] purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Through the sacrifice of Himself the veil was torn in two, from top to bottom. Matt. 27:50-51. Now all those who want to follow Him in His steps have access into the Holiest.

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest in the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh . . . .” Heb. 10:19-20.

How can we go through someone’s flesh who lived almost two thousand years ago? We can, because His flesh was the same as our flesh. Heb. 2:14. We also know that the flesh with its passions and desires hinders us from living perfectly according to our conscience. Only in the blood of Jesus do we have boldness to enter into the Holiest. If we have not come to Christ’s sacrifice of Himself by the Holy Spirit, we have not come to Jesus’ blood either; consequently, we do not have a perfect conscience, or boldness, to enter into the Holiest, because we have to follow Jesus on the new way through the veil, which is His flesh.

Those who had their sins atoned for by the blood of goats and calves could not enter into the Holiest; neither can those who have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus and have received the forgiveness of sins. But only those who follow the exhortation: “Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach,” can enter. They are crucified with Christ, for they no longer live for themselves. Heb. 13:10-14.

Paul gives his personal testimony with the following words: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

Here we see that Paul lived in the state of offering himself as Christ did; and since he—through Christ’s sacrifice—no longer lived for himself, it was not difficult for him to keep a perfect conscience. By walking in the Spirit—in the light—he also came to what was to be put to death through the Spirit. Rom. 8:13-14.

Those who stay in the camp and are satisfied with the forgiveness of sins speak about Jesus who fulfilled the law for us, who suffered and died for us. However, those who go outside the camp to Him come to the righteousness of God by faith. They have the same confession as Paul: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Such a person is also in the blood of Jesus and has boldness to enter the Holiest. Phil. 3:9-10.

Jesus consecrated the new and living way for us into the Holiest. The old way was only for the high priest. He went this way only once a year, bearing the blood of goats. Neither the high priest nor the people who received forgiveness for their sins were made alive on this way; however, we partake of divine nature resulting in activity and growth in Christ’s virtues. 2 Pet. 1:3-11.

Moreover, those who are disobedient to this form of doctrine are unfruitful in knowledge and are not set free from sin. Rom. 6:17-18, 22. We can only be partakers of these “exceedingly great and precious promises” through the obedience to the faith. Rom. 1:5.