Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
If the religion you practice is one which those without the Spirit can practice, it has no part in the kingdom of God. To worship God now in a way that was possible before the Spirit was given is to worship God in vain. Only what Jesus suffered and died to make possible is any longer acceptable with the Almighty. Jesus came to bring “a new and living way” to man, the holy way of “spirit and truth.” And this “new and living way” is the only acceptable way now to worship God.
Water baptism was being practiced before Jesus died; his death and resurrection did not purchase it for us. Feasts were being celebrated before Jesus died; his death and resurrection did not purchase feast days and holy days for us. Man had those ceremonial forms without Jesus. Wearing special types of clothes for worship was going on long before Jesus came and suffered for our sins.
The worst part of man’s stubborn continuance in ceremonies is that by doing so, they are refusing to submit to the new way Christ Jesus created for us by his awful sacrifice. It is an affront to his Father that we should continue in ways of worship that were available before He sent His Son, as if His Son accomplished no “new and living way”at all.
Let us honor Jesus and his suffering for us by refusing the ways that men worshiped God before Jesus came. It is the only way to truly honor our Lord for the wonderful gift he purchased for us with his own blood.