Two neighbor boys were best of friends on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday, however, they did not spend time with each other, because one was a Catholic and the other was a Baptist.
Their parents encouraged them visit each other’s church services.
On the first Sunday, the Baptist boy visited the Catholic Church. Just before they sat down, the Catholic boy genuflected. “What’s that mean?” the Baptist asked. All through the mass, the Baptist boy wanted to know what this and that meant, and his friend explained everything.
The next Sunday it was the Catholic boy’s turn to visit the Baptist church. When they walked in the building, an usher greeted them and asked them how they were doing and handed them a bulletin. His Catholic friend asked “What’s that about?” and His Baptist friend explained. When the preacher stepped into the pulpit, he carefully opened his Bible, and conspicuously took off his watch and laid it on the pulpit. “What’s that mean?” the Catholic boy asked.
The Baptist boy replied, “absolutely nothing!” (Justin Wilson and Howard Jacobs, Cajun Humor, Pelican Press, 1984; www. PreachingToday.com)
Every religion has its rituals, but all too often those rituals have lost their meaning. In fact, if you approach God based on religious ritual, it is all in vain. There are people that look for freedom from guilt through the performance of sacred ceremonies and it all is for nothing.
Through the New Covenant, God made it possible to have a relationship without religion. Religion had barriers to cross to enter God’s presence. God’s Word shows us in Hebrews 9 that the new covenant is about a relationship with God without religion.
Hebrews 9:1 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.
The “first covenant” refers to the Old Testament Law, which is the basis for the Jewish religion. The law had strict regulations as to how and where a person could worship God. Among the many rituals, the “first covenant” describes five (5) different sacrifices a worshipper should bring to God, and the worshipper had to prepare each one in a specific way. The worshipper offered each sacrifice in accordance with its own precise regulations and only in one place – an “earthly” sanctuary.
Through religion worship of God is very restrictive, and this is not only true of the Jewish religion, but this is also true of all religion.
DON’T DEPEND ON RELIGION, because it will restrict true worship. Don’t rely on rules and rituals because they restrict true worship.
In 2011, first responders and the police stood by and watched as a suicidal man was treading water and then eventually went under in San Francisco Bay.
According The Police Chief, two things prevented authorities from taking action:
First it was a crime scene, the police “felt that going into the water initially might not be the best idea because they were unsure if this individual was armed.”
Secondly, “It’s muddy out there. We don’t want [any officers] to put themselves in harm or danger.”
Meanwhile the firefighters “were incredibly frustrated by this whole situation [because] they wanted to get in; they wanted to help the man.”
According to the Fire Chief due to a lack of funding, firefighters who responded, did not have the proper training for water rescue operation.
It was because the people who came to save the man had to follow rules and all they could do is watch him die. Fortunately, the city administrations immediately met and changed the policies a few days after this incident. (“Authorities make changes after first responders watch man drown,” CNN.com, 6-1-11; www.PreachingToday. com)
Sometimes following rules can keep you from loving others, and ultimately loving God. Often, religion just gets in the way of your relationship with God and people.
DON’T DEPEND ON RELIGION, Which Limits Where a Person has a Relationship with God.
Don’t rely on rules and rituals. Don’t count on sacred ceremonies, which are tied to temporary and earthly sanctuaries.
Verse 1 speaks of “an earthly place of worship”, and verses 2-5 go on to describe that “earthly place,” a tent, which was the first place of worship for the Jewish people.
Hebrews 9:2-5 “For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. And behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant. And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”
The tabernacle was an “earthly place” filled with worship items. Yet, everything was man-made from material which is temporary. 500 years later, the beautiful tent was replaced with an even more beautiful temple, but that temple lasted only for about 500 years. It was later rebuilt, and at the time of the book of Hebrews, the temple was a very impressive structure. However, less than five years later, not one stone was left standing upon another. The book of Hebrews was written somewhere between A.D. 65 and 68, and the Roman army came into Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple in A.D. 70.
The point is that the Jewish people counted on their religious temple to have a relationship with God. Notice none of their worship places lasted very long. And that’s the way it is with any sanctuary. They were temporary and not needed. There are no building needs to be relied upon. It’s like building your life on a sandcastle.
Calvin Seibert, a 59-year-old New York artist makes some of the most amazing sandcastles! They’re grand, majestically intricate castles, but they’re made from sand! “It could collapse right now,” Seibert told journalists. He has been crafting his sandcastle masterpieces since he was a child, but for some reason he doesn’t seem to mind their short lifespans. “You gotta be [okay with it],” he said. He doesn’t even do anything to try to make money from them. He told reporters, “I want to do something all the time and be creative. And if nobody ever knew about it, I’d still be building a sandcastle.” (CBS News, “’It Could Collapse Now’: Artist Embraces ‘Impermanent’ Art Form,” CBS News, 7-24-17; www.PreachingToday.com)
But somebody who desires a permanent relationship does not have to depend on a certain building! Religious sanctuaries, no matter how beautiful are no longer needed to keep a relationship with God!
Some people think that if they occasionally visit a religious building, it will help absolve them of guilt. But entering a church building will no more help you than driving your car through a garage fixes your car. You need a good mechanic to fix your car. Now, he can do it in a garage, or he can do it in his back yard under a shade tree.
The Hebrew people are told that Jesus brought the new covenant to redeem them and to forgive sin and dwell within them. Jesus can have a relationship anywhere with a believer. What is not needed is a temple along with all the religious furniture! The new covenant is not limited by relying on an earthly sanctuary or temple!
Richard Halverson, former pastor of a Church in Bethesda, Maryland, and also the former chaplain of the United States Senate, used a benediction at the end of each service for many years in his ministry. It reflects his deep conviction that God was not only in the place where his congregation met on Sundays, but at each place where they lived and worked through the week. The benediction went like this:
Wherever you go, God is sending you.
Wherever you are, God has put you there.
God has a purpose in your being right where you are.
Christ, who indwells you by the power of his Spirit, wants to do something in and through you.
Believe this and go in His grace, His love, His power.
Go, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Hebrew people did not need to limit to their ability to live and love God through a religious facility. The new covenant is a declaration that God works in you and through you whenever and wherever! The new covenant allowed for believers to meet together for worshiping God and to encourage and exhort each other to worship God with or without a building. Hebrews 10:24-25
We shouldn’t depend on religion, which limits you by its procedures and by its place. Furthermore…
DON’T DEPEND ON RELIGION, WHICH IS LIMITED TO CERTAIN PEOPLE.
Don’t rely on rules and rituals, which exclude those deemed “unworthy.” Don’t count on sacred ceremonies, which are reserved only for a few certain people.
In the Jewish religion, only the High Priest could meet with God and only once a year!
Hebrews 9:6-9a “Now when these things have been thus prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into the second only the high priest enters, once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time.”
Under the old covenant only a priest could go into the first part of the temple, and you had to be the HIGH priest to go into the second part of the temple, the inner sanctuary, where God chose to reveal Himself. Furthermore, the high priest had to bring a blood sacrifice to cover for his unintentional sins lest he die, and he could only do it once a year!
The Jewish religion was very restrictive as to who could participate in the temple services; and as long as the temple stood with its two compartments, access to God was denied, because it was blocked by a thick veil.
Then Jesus died on a cross, and HALLELUIA! That veil was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) – not from bottom to top, but from top to bottom. God Himself tore that veil in two as He accepted the sacrifice of His Son on our behalf. Now, anyone who depends on Christ can come into the very presence of God Himself at any time or any place. Every believer under the new covenant is a priest unto themselves and they can now go to God anytime, anywhere.
That’s what the apostle Peter wrote in his letter to the believers in 1 Peter 2:5,9 “you… are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
The Jewish religion and priests would never give that kind of access to God, only people born into the priestly family line.
A pastor visited a young lady, who had admitted herself to a psychiatric hospital. One of his visits she asked if some of the other patients could join them.
Six other people gathered in her room and worshiped God by singing and hearing God’s word read. A half a dozen strangers, each scarred by heartache, sitting helplessly in a locked ward. “Yet Jesus was there,” the pastor said, “because we were there as his beloved. He was not only among us, but he was there within us. Even as broken people, we were one with each other. We were strengthened by His presence; we were healed, in a way. We were nourished, washed, and rejuvenated.” (Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois, www.PreachingToday.com)
That’s what a relationship with Christ is all about! Under the new covenant there are no exclusions. Anyone who comes to Him by faith, broken people and sinners, are all invited to come to Him.
Jesus told his followers in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.”
The rabbi’s in Jesus’ day accepted only the best students as their disciples and followers. Jesus invited rough, Galilean fisherman, tax collectors, and notorious sinners to follow Him. The Bible says, Jesus “ate with sinners and tax collectors”, and the religious leaders in His day condemned Him for it. But Jesus told them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).
The temple religious leaders refuse to touch anything unclean. Jesus, on the other hand, aims to make the unclean holy!
We don’t need to depend on a religion, which is limited in its procedures, its place, and only to certain people. Furthermore,
DON’T DEPEND ON RELIGION, Which is Limited in its Purifying Power.
Don’t rely on rules and rituals, which temporarily wash your conscience clean. Don’t count on sacred ceremonies, which cannot wipe you clean on the inside.
Hebrews 9:9b-10 “Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.”
Religious ceremonies never could change a person on the inside. They only made you look clean on the outside.
Notice in Hebrews 9:7 sacrifices were for “the unintentional sins of the people”? These were sins committed accidentally or out of ignorance.
Now, there was a sacrifice an accidental sinner could bring, but that could only provide a ritual cleaning on the outside. It could not provide a real cleaning on the inside. Notice in verse 9 it says it could not “perfect his conscience”. In other words religious rituals cannot make you clean on the inside.
We shouldn’t depend on a religious activity. Instead, depend on a relationship with Jesus Christ.
On a trip to Myanmar (Burma) two Christians toured a large Buddhist temple. There, they witnessed a large number of people, very poor and desperate, bowing down to a large golden Buddha. They were stuffing what little money they had into a treasury box and kneeling in prayer, hoping to secure a blessing from the Buddha.
Ironically at the same time, on the backside of the large golden idol, there was construction scaffolding. Apparently, the Buddha had begun to deteriorate, and workers were repairing the broken Buddha. It was heartbreaking to see broken people bowing down to a broken Buddha asking the broken Buddha to fix their broken lives while someone else fixed the broken Buddha. (J.R. Vassar, Glory Hunger: God, the Gospel, and Our Quest for Something More, Crossway, 2014, pp. 35-36; www.PreachingToday.com)
The purpose of the writer of Hebrews was to explain the benefits of Hebrews 8:10-13 in our passage. Hebrews 8:10-13 “For this is the covenant that I will make, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them upon their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people. “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ For all shall know Me, From the least to the greatest of them. “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.” When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
Under the New covenant…
- We can worship God anytime, anywhere.
- We can have a relationship with God 24/7
- Each believer is a priest.
- We can have indwelling power.
- No religious act, ceremony or building is needed.