Many, many years ago, in Randy’s first pastorate of a “turnaround church” project, a dozen of us embarked on a seemingly impossible task…to call everyone in the community and simply ask if they had a church to attend. We receivedmany interesting answers but probably the most disturbingly interesting was “My mamma was Baptist, so I’m Baptist!”, which was not really what we were asking but his answer was very revealing. What he was really saying was, I don’t go to church and I don’t have a relationship with Jesus, but mamma belonged to a church so I should be okay. After asking another question, do you know Jesus, this is basically the response I received.

The writer of Hebrews is reminding the people of their heritage and what it required in the old covenant to give God honor and praise. He reminds them that in the old system, people could not just walk in on God…into the Holy of Holies. Not without the sacrifice of the blood of an animal for their behavior.

“But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and sent straight into heaven’s “tent”–the true Holy Place–once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all.” 

“If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out.”

“Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.”
Hebrews 9, Msg

Cleaned up! Inside and out! Living all out for God! Don’t you love that? This excites and encourages me today! How about you? Are you a Baptist, Methodist, Church of God, Presbyterian or whatever you happen to tag yourself, placing your faith on your heritage? OR accepting the freedom Christ brings and living all out for God. First. With a true, loving, perfect relationship that is forever? Our heritage does not save us. Jesus saves.

Don’t misunderstand. I go to church. I love and belong to God’s church, with a group of imperfect, but perfectly forgiven people. We work alongside each other to tell God’s story of love and forgiveness, both inside the building and out. But ultimately, my imperfect church did not save me. Jesus Christ, who was perfect, saved me, cleansed me, from the inside out, and encourages me to live all out for God! No matter where I am, what I do or where I go. I live and walk with God. First.

“He (Jesus) brought together God and his people in this new way.”
Hebrews 9, Msg

Dear Heavenly Father, What a reminder of Your love, mercy and grace! We love you…First! We want what You want. Thank you for speaking to our hearts with this encouragement this morning. 
Because of our love for you and your love for us, may we always follow you and help others accept and follow you.
In Jesus Name, Amen