Serving The Living God - Heb. 9:13-14
In this passage the Jews were being challenged regarding their faithfulness and service. The writer contrasts how they served the Law, and their efforts which should be part of their thankfulness for the work of Christ. They served the law adamantly and with great zeal, even fervently, even the letter of the law.
This zealous nature, diligence to detail, meticulous and refined understanding, were an example of their reverence for the Law. Their actions brought pain, failure, guilt from sin, bitterness, and plunged them into spiritual darkness.
Regardless of how diligent they were, regardless of their zealous character, they did not achieve what they were looking for. Why not serve someone and something greater than the Law, greater than themselves, and find the peace and contentment in Christ.
The Great Motivation of The Cross of Christ - 9:13-14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ" - posw mallow to aima tou cristou - Every Old Testament sacrifice was a token of the greater sacrifice at Calvary, they were made by faith in a coming Messiah. In contrast to the limited value of the Old Testament system is the limitless value of the offering of Jesus.
How much greater is the Person of Christ?
How much greater is the blood of Christ?
How much greater is the result of following Christ?
Why not turn that type of zeal to Christ, Who is the real purpose of the Law?
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: I Pet. 3:18
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I John 1:7
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Tit. 2:14
The Great Decree of Love By Christ - "Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself to God" - oV dia pneumatoV aiwniou eauton proshnegken amwmon tw qew - Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit: Initial decree of God, before the foundation of the world. Christ satisfied the legal requirements of the law and our personal need of clearing our conscience. He purged our sin and renewed our conscience, allowing us the privilege to serve the living God.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
The Great Result of Following Christ - "Purge your conscience" / cleanse, purify, cauterize - kaqariei thn suneidhsin - Fut Act Ind - This purging needed to take place in their future! To make clean from physical stains and dirt, in a moral sense to be cleansed from defilement of sin and from faults, purified from wickedness, freed from guilt of sin, to to pronounce clean in a Levitical sense.
I John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. I Cor. 6:11
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph. 1:7
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Rev. 1:5
The Great Change of Purpose in Christ - "From dead works to serve the living God" - DO SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.
Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Ps. 100:3