Secure in God’s love for us

Hebrews 9:24-25 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Look at what Jesus did for us and marvel at the love of God and the ministry of His Son. Under the old covenant, the high priest merely entered a copy or shadow of the holy place in heaven. Furthermore, although the Holy of Holies represented the presence of God, the high priest didn’t enter into THE presence of God for worshippers. Also, the annual repetition of entry into the holy place was with the blood of animals, not his own blood. In contrast, God appointed Jesus as a high priest forever to intercede for all whom He gave to Jesus, once for all. Those whom God chose to make this new covenant with were chosen on the same basis as Abraham was chosen—the sheer will and mercy of the Father, God. There was nothing in Abraham that moved God to enter into covenant with him. God’s love is always directed toward His own for their highest good and for His own glory. So Jesus was appointed and sent by God, as He said in John 8:18. “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” He was sent to offer His own blood for the forgiveness of sins once for all, for all time. After making the supreme sacrifice, Jesus appeared in THE presence of God in heaven, which is the reality upon which the copy was made.  And now consider this and marvel. Because of His love, God sent Him to minister for us and to us, all who were given to the Son and who believe these things. God is for us, and that is our confidence. The apostle Paul encouraged the Roman church with these words that echo what we find in these verses.  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:32-35; 37-39). Jesus appears in God’s presence to accomplish what the Father and the Son desire and enjoy—their glory that comes from loving. That’s what motivates and encourages us to live to love with Jesus. We want God to be glorified as we love with Him. I hope you’ll visit livetolovewithjesus.com and take advantage of the free discipleship resources.