| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Pastor Dave" |
| Date: |
22 Jul 2005 09:07:13 PM |
| Object: |
Why did Heaven need cleansing? |
An interesting note, which shows once again, that
just one or two words can change the whole context
of a Scripture...
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/97/020297.html
Why Does the Heavenly Holy Place Need Cleansing?
This is troubling at first and then tremendously
comforting. It's troubling because it raises the
question why the heavenly holy place would need
to be cleansed You see verse 23 says that the
copies of heaven must be cleansed with the blood
of animals, but "the heavenly things themselves
[have to be cleansed] with better sacrifices." Why
is that? Is heaven defiled? Is there sin in heaven?
Some have suggested that it's because Satan has
been there. Others have suggested that it's because
there are "spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
Maybe. But I think the most important thing to see
is what verse 24 focuses on. Why did Christ enter
[that heavenly] holy place with his better sacrifice
the sacrifice of himself? It was "now to appear in
the presence of God for us." The words "for us"
give the key to why there has to be cleansing in
heaven. We are going to be there.
Here is a great comfort and encouragement to us.
It is not complimentary. But it is wonderfully hope
giving. If you want to be made much of, rather than
having the mercy of God made much of, you will not
want to listen to this. But if you love the mercy of
God and admit the misery of your own condition,
you will love this. Verse 24 says that Christ enters
the holy place of heaven with his better sacrifice
"to appear in the presence of God for us." This
means that he will cleanse us there. We are what
needs cleansing. And to the degree that we might
defile heaven, Christ in that sense cleanses heaven.
Now listen to this. He is speaking to those of you
(all of us, in our clear moments) who feel so dirty
and so deeply bad that you would only pollute
heaven if you got there. O how many people are
kept away from Christ because of this! I pray that
you will see what an invitation this is. This is God's
way of saying: "Come, you dirty ones. Come, you
defiled, you deeply evil ones. Come, you who have
soiled yourselves and who have been stained by
others. Come to my heaven! For my Son is there.
And he has not died in vain. He stands guard over
my holy place, not to keep you out, but to make you
clean so that you can be with me in perfect holiness
forever. Come.
This is why he died. I did not send him to call the
righteous to repentance, but sinners (Luke 5:32).
Come." Underline those words at the end of
verse 24 "for us." "Now to appear in the presence
of God for us."
--
Pastor Dave
Silence in the Face of Doctrinal Criticism is Suicide
http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/solution.html
http://tinyurl.com/ce97m
.
|
|
| User: "Hieron" |
|
| Title: Re: Why did Heaven need cleansing? |
23 Jul 2005 02:37:17 AM |
|
|
Christ entered *bodily* into heaven.
You have to suppose that there is actually an immaterial substance called
soul, and it goes to heaven just as Plato invented it.
And you need to ignore the grammar of the NT which either says "you *have
been* cleansed" and "you are being cleansed".
No more cleansing takes place in heaven. Heaven is clean.
--
Hieron
.
|
|
|
| User: "Prophet Elijah" |
|
| Title: Re: Why did Heaven need cleansing? |
23 Jul 2005 05:51:12 AM |
|
|
It is better to focus on your own cleansing from sin
--
When we lose one we love, our bitterest tears are called forth by the memory
of hours when we loved not enough.
People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously.
This is how character is built.
http://www.prophetelijah.org/uk/index.asp
"Hieron" <george@msn.de> wrote in message
news:3keadfFu1i80U1@individual.net...
Christ entered *bodily* into heaven.
You have to suppose that there is actually an immaterial substance called
soul, and it goes to heaven just as Plato invented it.
And you need to ignore the grammar of the NT which either says "you *have
been* cleansed" and "you are being cleansed".
No more cleansing takes place in heaven. Heaven is clean.
--
Hieron
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
