Privileged Access
Dearly beloved of God, Jesus Christ offered himself as the Lamb of God. He has an unchangeable priesthood; he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing that he ever lives to make intercession for them. He made a new and living way through the veil into the presence of God.
Under the Old Covenant that God made with Israel there was an earthly tabernacle. In the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple, a veil separated the entrance into the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.
God dwells in the true Holy of Holies in the heavenly realm. The earthly tabernacle that God had Moses build was built according to the pattern of the true tabernacle in the heavenlies.
In the Holy of Holies there was an Ark. The Ark of Covenant contained the tables of stone containing the law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a pot of manna. Two cherubim overshadowed the Ark.
The lid that covered the Ark was the Mercy Seat, on which God sits.
Once every year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies and he sprinkled the blood of atonement on the Mercy Seat. Only the High Priest could enter, and he could only enter once a year.
Rabbinical writings say that the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was so firmly woven that two teams of oxen pulling in opposite directions could not tear the veil apart.
Jesus’ final words from the cross were, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head, and died. Pay close attention to what happened.
Matthew 27: 50 and 51
50 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
The veil that separated God from the people of Israel, with whom He made the Old Covenant, was rent from the top to the bottom.
Hebrews 10:19 and 20
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.
The Lord Jesus Christ ended the separation between God and the Judeans when he died on the cross. By the blood of Jesus he provided a new and living way into God’s presence. The veil spoken of in this verse is not the veil of the earthly tabernacle, but of the heavenly one. The new and living way through the veil was accomplished by Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 9:23-26
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns [copies] of things in the heavens [the earthly tabernacle] should be purified with these [animal sacrifices made under the law]; but the heavenly things [the reality in the heavens] themselves with better sacrifices [heterosis: one better sacrifice] than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures [impressions, antitypes] of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy places every year with blood of others;
26 For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world (age) hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Jesus was the mediator of the new covenant between God and the people of Israel. They could now have boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, but what about those who were not citizens of the nation of Israel?
Ephesians 2:11 through 3:12 informs us of how God reconciled the Gentiles through Christ Jesus. He created one new man from the two [the Judeans and the Gentiles] so making peace.
Jesus Christ reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross, and he gave both access to the Father by one spirit, the new birth spirit. The Gentiles and the Judeans that believe regarding the Lord Jesus Christ are now fellow citizens and members of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:21 and 22
21 In him [Christ], the entire building being framed together grows into a holy [sanctified] sanctuary in the lord.
22 In him, you also are built together for God’s dwelling place by the spirit.
The revelation of the grace of God, and the mystery concerning Christ reveals:
Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs [joint heirs], and of the same body [joint members of the same body with the Judeans], and partakers [joint partakers] of his [the] promise in Christ Jesus by the gospel:
God made Christ head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all things in all people. God made one body in Christ from the Judeans and the Gentiles that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Christ, we both have access through the veil into the presence of God our Father, whether we were previously a Judean, or a Gentile in the flesh.
Thank God for His great love and grace and mercy to us in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Now we can enter the presence of God through the veil by means of Christ and his accomplishments. In Christ Jesus we have boldness and access to the Father with confidence through the right way of believing regarding him [Christ].
Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help. God determined, planned, and accomplished this reality in Christ by the good pleasure of His Will. He provided us this free access to Himself in Christ.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless His name. Oh rejoice, dearly beloved of God. What privileged access we have to Him.