(by pastor Norman)

The tabernacle of moses described in the Old Testament, had two portions, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (See Ex 26) but only the High Priest entered, into the very presence of God in the Most Holy Place (Ex 25:21) and then only once a year on the day of Atonement (Lev 16). The High Priest took the blood of animal sacrifices into the Most Holy Place, sprinkling it Infront of and on the mercy seat (Lev 16). This sacrifice brought God’s atonement or forgiveness for the people’s sins in the previous year. In the book of Leviticus, the Lord tells Moses that, “The life of the flesh is in the blood” and that, “Blood makes atonement for the soul” (Lev 17:11). The Jewish law required that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). Praise God that “Christ was offered as a sacrifice once to bear the sins of many” (Heb 9:28). His blood was shed so we could be forgiven of all sin past, present and future (Heb 9:12). Jesus died and rose again to return to the very presence of God in heaven. “With His own blood, He entered the Most Holy Place” (Heb 12). The high priest was the only one that entered the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle but when Jesus died on the cross the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark15:38) obviously by the hand of God. By His death, Jesus opened the way for us to come into the very presence of God, every sin forgiven! Praise God!