Daily Journal: 25 September

A Cleansed Conscience

A Priceless Gift

The way Christians worship today is different from the ancient Jew. They were waiting for their Messiah, their Saviour, and would worship at the temple. The priests would make sacrifices day after day, to cleanse the people from their sin.

We know the Messiah, the High Priest, has since come. His name is Jesus Christ: Jesus (meaning the Lord saves) Christ (meaning the anointed one). He fulfilled every prophesy made and became the High Priest through His ultimate sacrifice.

While the ancient Jewish worship and sacrifices cleansed them outwardly, it didn’t cleanse them inwardly. Christians worship Jesus Christ, who cleanses us inwardly, forever.

Hebrews 9:9 (NIV)

This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

Jesus Christ came to cleanse our conscience from sin and restore our lives. Where we justify our sin by our conscience, He makes compensation for and repairs our conscience (atones), so that we recognise sin and are made whole through His righteousness.

Hebrews 9:14 (NLT)

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Now we worship Christ for what He completed at the cross, and we wait, eagerly, for His return to fulfil our salvation.

Hebrews 9:27-28 (GNT)

Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for him.

We worship Christ Jesus as our High Priest, the only One able to cleanse our conscience and restore us to a place of holiness before Him. The more we allow our conscience to be cleansed, the more we want God's holiness. When we live with a cleansed conscience, our priceless gift to Him is worship. Not at a temple, but inwardly with a repentant heart, receiving His forgiveness daily, able to understand how union with Him changes us and puts a desire in us for holiness. When we want that, we wait with anticipation, the fulfilment that is coming soon.

Hebrews 10:12-14 (TLB)

But Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honour at God’s right hand, waiting for his enemies to be laid under his feet. For by that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy.

Is your conscience cleansed, or what is there that stops you from wanting God's holiness and from eagerly worshipping Him?

I pray that today we will not be able to turn away from anything that keeps our conscience from being cleansed, and prevents us from worshipping you with holy hearts.