Hebrews 9:11-14
The author contrasts the heavenly tabernacle (perfect and actual) to the earthly tabernacle (imperfect and symbolic), the ministry of the priests to the ministry of Christ and the blood of Christ to the blood of the bulls and goats. In doing this, the author is showing that the redemption that Christ secured for us is eternal and complete as contrasted to the redemption secured by goats and calves which is temporary and external.
The purpose for which Christ saves us is so that we may serve the living God. This blows apart the religious way of thinking: I serve God so that I can be saved. The author is asserting that the message and sacrifice of Christ tells us that it is impossible to serve and please God until we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ.
As much as I have been raised with this knowledge and have even taught this truth I still have a tendency to revert to a religious way of thinking: that I do these acts in order to put God in my debt. I must repent of this sinful thinking and constantly remind myself, with the help of the Spirit, that I serve at the pleasure of God only because I have already been cleansed. God owes me nothing and never will. I owe God everything - not out of obligation, not because I could ever earn or repay him for his grace but because I am continually growing in my understanding of what Christ has done for me which stirs up a response of love which moves me to service.
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