Temple Symbolism in Hebrews 10

I was looking at these verses today.  Hebrews 10:19-20

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;

Do you see the allusions to the temple in these verses?  Paul seems to be writing to the Melchezidek priesthood.  Men who have taken covenants in the temple.   Why then is it an epistle to the Hebrews?  Maybe a man who has taken upon himself covenants and the priesthood is termed a “Hebrew” .  Melchezidek was the first Hebrew.  He real name was Eber which mean Hebrew.

Anyways,  Paul seems to be saying that we enter into the Holiest (the Celestial Room) by the blood of Jesus (cleansed and sanctified).  The new and living way is to pass through the veil which is Jesus’ flesh.  Wow.  So, the veil represents Christ’s body.

These verses have all sorts of implications.

God's Plan for Children

God’s Plan for Children

It is God’s plan to transfer to Jesus Christ

 All the evil that others through their agency

Impose upon us. 

That is what Jesus is for.

He, in addition to our own sins, paid for evil inflicted on us by others.

He paid for the suffering, unhappiness, anxiety, pain, neglect and loneliness

That happens to us as children. 

The adult doesn’t repent for what happened in his childhood.

  The child didn’t do anything wrong.

  Evil was imposed on him by others.

  It only requires me to believe and look to Christ.

Believe that Christ wants me to use Him.

He suffered for all the evil that happens to children -

Through the ages because of the actions of others.

What happens when we look to the Savior for healing?

The pain of what happened is removed from us.

A cleansing occurs that we couldn’t do ourselves.

Pain and suffering are replaced with joy and peace.

Why does this work?

  Because Christ is really there.

  He is waiting for me to knock.

Christ can love you back.

Since He is real and is waiting for me to come unto Him with my burdens,

All I need to do is believe Him.

His conditions for healing me are gentle.

All He requires is for me to continue in His peace.

Once my heart and mind are cleansed by Him, the way is easy.

He knows me and my capacity.

  His commandments are gentle.

His precepts are kind.

That is who Jesus is: full of loving kindness.

As I believe in the true nature of my God,

 I come to Him without any fear or trepidation.

  He is love.

He loves me deeply.

Moroni 6 - A Higher Standard

Moroni 6 - A Higher Standard

1 And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it.

2 Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.

3 And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.

4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

I have contemplated these verses for 40 years.  It seems like our Church doesn't require adherence to the same set of criteria when a person is baptized.  Maybe some do have broken heart and contrite spirits.  For me, this process delineated in Moroni 6 is happening to me over the course of many years.

Being cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost sounds like the baptism of fire.  If it is, I haven't knowingly received this.  I have received a witness from God that my sins have been remitted.  I can look back on this experience and know how it felt for a sincere investigator to be baptized.  I believe God had witnessed to me that I am on the path and I believe I have begun to partake of the fruit of the tree of life.  But, I believe there to be much, much more than this initial cleansing.   In fact, I have felt God's love and acceptance of my sacrifice many times while partaking of the sacrament.  I believe the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost is the culmination of a process that I have begun.

My guess is that our Church is running on a lower standard than the Book of Mormon Church.  Why? Because the adults can't teach something that hasn't happened to them.  Why? Because we seem to enter into a lower order when we are baptized.  There are allusions in the Book of Mormon of communities of believers understanding full well that they were entering a community that was united and equal both temporally and spiritually.  The community they were entering into had all things in common.  Their hearts were knit together.

There seems to be three ordinances in the Church surrounding baptism.  First we are baptized and feel God's love in our hearts.  We are then commanded to receive the Holy Ghost.  Later, as we progress individually, we are baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost.  I believe this to be merciful and right for our time.  The Book of Mormon shows us the ideal, what our Church should be striving for.  I believe the world is so wicked that the initial standard has to be lower.  Until we members live more by faith and desire to be united both temporally and spiritually, we won't be taught, nor understand the more pure approach to baptism and membership.  Anyone reading Moroni 6 that is free of blinders and blocks should be able to see that we don't follow some of the idealistic teachings set forth by Moroni in this chapter.  

I desire and hope for the day where I can, through repenting and partaking of the ordinance of the sacrament, bring forth fruit meet of being worthy of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.  I am grateful that God has granted me (and all of us) the needed time to deny myself all ungodliness.  I am grateful that I can rely wholly upon the merits, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of my faith as I progress from grace to grace.

2 Nephi 31:16 Example of Jesus

I found an interesting verse in my scripture study today: 2 Nephi 31:16

“ And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.”

So, I have to ask myself, what it the example of the Savior?  This reminds me of another scripture in 1 Nephi 19:9 which says,

“And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.”

So, all I can do is strive to be more like the Savior.  It make life easy.  Did you know that?  Life becomes easy.  I am reminded of another scripture, Alma 37:46,

“O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way”.

Why is living the gospel and following the Son easy?  Well, I suppose it isn’t easy for the natural man that is full of wicked traditions.  But, why is the way easy?  This reminds me of the words of Hymn, page 125, last verse,

“I’ll drop my burden at his feet And bear a song away.”

And,

“Come, cast your burdens on the Lord And trust his constant care” (first verse)

The whole hymn speaks for life being easy in the Lord.

As I learn to do this, I my faith becomes strong.

Scott

2 Nephi 26:20 Striking the Rock

I found 2 Nephi 26:20 interesting today.  It says: 

And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.

I was surprised that Nephi uses two metaphors that don't seem to relate to each other: raising up the serpent on the stick and smiting the rock.  I then realized that they both involve healing. One involves looking to Christ and other. the waters of life flowing from Christ, The Rock.  Nephi then says, that there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ...whereby man can be saved.
I then looked around on the internet and found this:

Christ is the main subject in the Old Testament "concealed". God speaks of Him in types and shadows. At Rephidim (Exodus 17:4) God told Moses to strike the Rock.The Rock is Christ (1st Corinthians 10:4), Moses represents the Law. Jesus was struck by Israel for presuming to violate the Law, for claiming to be God, which He is! When He was struck "crucified", living water (John 4:10) for all humanity who would "believe" was poured out. Moses was told to speak to the Rock at Meribah (Numbers 20:8). As a prerequisite for Jesus to return, to save Israel during the Great Tribulation they must ask Him, (Luke 13:35). So by striking the Rock, Moses messed up God's model or type which would have modeled the 1st and 2nd comings of Christ.
So to counter this mistake by Moses, He was not allowed to take Israel into the Promised Land which is a type of Heaven, Moses represents the Law, only God's Grace gets you in Heaven "the Promised land, so Joshua took them in! Joshua is Hebrew for Jesus! The Law is the 1st five books of the Old Testament, called the Torah by the Jews, The very next book is "Joshua" Found in. 

https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/6998/why-was-god-so-upset-with-moses-for-striking-the-rock-the-second-time-in-the-des

The Lord was trying to teach Israel that Moses, or the Law will not save them!  Only Christ and his merits, mercy and grace can save mankind!

I like this response as well:

The section you quote contains the answer: because Moses did not believe. He was told to "tell the rock... to yield its water" but instead he struck the rock twice, apparently believing God's command to be insufficient. He expected God to act in exactly the same way as He had before*, but God apparently wanted to reveal His power to Moses in a new way.
As the leader, Moses was being watched. When Moses did not believe, this could easily lead to lack of belief amongst the Israelites, which had been a problem before.
Finally, God had previously to deal with men not trusting His promise but taking matters into their own hands.

 Believing Christ is the answer.  It always has been the answer. Relying wholly upon His merits who is mighty to save isn't as hard or scary as it sounds.  Surrender to His will and trust that he loves you. You don't have to do it all yourself.  You don't have to take matters into your own hands.  Life becomes peaceful and full of purpose.

Worthiness vs. worthiness

I have been thinking about worthiness vs. worthiness.  It is minor thing but worth exploring.

The Church’s modern definition of worthiness has to do with a standard that has be set that we can compare ourselves against.  For example, if I am temple worthy I have stated that I meet a certain standard set by the Church.

On the other hand, the word ‘worthy’ in ancient times is used differently.  They would still compare themselves to a standard but would always find themselves coming up short.  Alma the Younger taught his son, Shiblon, the following:

Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. (Alma 38:14).

So, we members of the Church, these days, say that we are worthy members of the Church and Alma teaches to always acknowledge our unworthiness before God at all times.  Why is there an apparent discrepancy?  Or, is there?

The obvious answer is that we are talking about two different things.  One is a standard set by the Church and the other is a set by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Although this is true, it can be confusing.  If I am worthy before the Church, why am I unworthy before God? Shouldn’t I be worthy before God?

We will always be imperfect creatures.  Even if we were to get pretty close to perfection (completion) we still have sinned and do sin.  Without Christ’s atonement those sins can never be washed away.   We can never go it alone in this life.  Does this make us unworthy?  Yes, because we all require Christ’s infinite atonement to make it back. Without Him we are nothing.  We are less than the dust of the earth. (Helaman 12:7-8, Moses 1:10)

The fact is that we all sin.  So, what can we become perfect at?  We can become perfect in our faith in Jesus Christ (Jacob 9:23).  To develop faith, a main requirement is to be meek and lowly in heart (Moroni 7:39,43).  Being humble and acknowledging our unworthiness before God at all times go hand in hand. Other prophets describe perfect faith as unshaken faith in Christ, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is might to save (2 Nephi 31:19).  Others  describe this faith in Christ as “relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith. (Moroni 6:4).  And humility is always the prerequisite (see v.2).

It is very humbling to know that you are nothing without Jesus Christ.  This may even go against modern thought.  Here’s the kicker: when we are connected to Christ, we become perfect in Christ (Moroni 10:32), even in our unworthy state.  Of course, because we love the Lord for what He has done for us, and we love His ways, and we want to change.  This is all implied in our Christian discipleship.

Do not make sin and shame the center of your life.  Make Christ and His merits and His grace your center.  We will always be unworthy, imperfect creatures.  That is not the focus.  Letting our lives be lit up by Christ (the Light) will show our sins in the right perspective.

Being Church worthy is a wonderful first step on the path of being a humble follower of Christ.

Scott

Education Week, Day 3, 2nd Hour, Patrick Degn, The Sacrifice of the Red Heifer

http://greenscooter1513.blogspot.com/

Education Week, Day 3, 2nd Hour, Patrick Degn

Sacrifice of the Red Heifer

 Redemption is through the blood of the Lamb, not through our own works.  Cain brought the wrong offering.

Napoleon Hill - No such thing as a free lunch.

Question: What is the Price of Redemption?

The work "Priesthood" is synymous with "Jesus Christ".

The tabernacle drawn out East to West:

1. the Ash Pit (price of redemption), Christ endows me with ability to repent and go the door (gate)

2. the Alter of Sacrifice (west of the east gate)

3. Lavar of Washing

4. Lamp Stead (Gives me light to rule  my day)

5. Shew Bread

6. Incense Altar (Prayers)

7. Ark

Hebrew 10:19-22

v.19 having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.  We are not to be shy.

v.20 by a new a living way...through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; - The highway out of the sea (the world) enables us to go from the world into Zion.  The veil of the temple is the flesh of Jesus Christ.  You must go the through his flesh.

v.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...(a new and living way is a fresh thing, still living) and consecrated.

Number 19

Hebrews 9:13-17

v.13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [absolves ritual uncleaness]

v.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [ashes to bring us to the reality of the blood]

v.16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. [the death of the testator is necessary.  He must be cut, and bleed and die.]

v.17 For a testament is of force after men are dead:otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. [We have new covenant with Him and his death]

Ezekial 43:21

21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, andhe shall burn it in the appointed place of the house,without the sanctuary.

There is a designated, appointed place outside the tabernacle.  This is the ash pit.

Seth was appointed to take the place of Abel.

The only animal slain at the Ash pit is the red heifer.

North indicates lost.  I die on the north side of the alter because of the price paid on the east.  "All slain to the north of the brazen alter of sacrifice (Leviticus).

Sacred place - Female cow, red heifer, most precious of all offerings.  Slain on the Day of Atonement - Miphkad.  Numbers 19:1-6

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

2 This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

3 And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:

4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before thetabernacle of the congregation seven times:

5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Never came yoke means never been mounted by a male bull.

The sacrifice is done outside the camp.  He slay her with its face east toward God.  The heifer if place south (toward the covenant people) and the head is turned east to the temple and is then slain.  Blood is sprinkled seven times toward the temple.

Animal blood sprinkled before the Lord is like the Hosanna Shout.  Similar to the sacrifice of the Heifer.

Seven things offered (perfection) rather than five things (grace).  My four + the priest's 3.  Covenants always made in three.  We (the heifer) offers skin, flesh, dung and blood.  The priest offers cedar, hyssop, and scarlet.  Interesting that the four are present agents.  One is amazing (flesh).  The other three are the worst things to offer.  Who represents the red heifer?  A sweet savor offering (smells like BBQ) doesn't have skin and hair and blood.  This offering smells bad.

the red heifer represents Adam or each of us.

The priest mixes in  cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet ( Ex12:22, Lev 14, John 19:29).  In the offering, priest includes some of his nature.  The cedar is very expensive, durable, valuable, last forever, eternity, used by kings.  The hyssop grows on the walls of the temple.  It is a mystery.  Nobody knows now what it is.  The scarlet is the token of redemption.  Put in the window at Jericho.  Token on blood. Psalm 22:1, vs 6 "I am a worm and no man despised (this is the worm that you extract scarlet from.  It climbs up the wall and on the third day the egg sacks burst open and leaves a scarlet mark on the wall.

So, my four things that I offer and his three things that He offers are cast into the fire in the ash pit.  Ashes are produced.  The ashes represent the sins gathered up - purified for sin.

Numbers 19:11-22 - the ashes are used to purify ritual uncleanness on the 3rd and 7th day.  3rd day purified and on the 7th day pronounced clean.

A person that walks into the temple complex unclean (been around death) having the stench of death will be excommunicated.

Purified living waters plus the ashes of the heifer.  Doctrine of Christ

Bethphage - priestly city outside the camp.  Jesus was probably brought to Bethpage and was tried there.  According to the Mishna, only nine red heifers  had been offered from Moses to Jesus.  Very precious ashes.  Mythna Altar - the ash pit.

All ashes were carried to the ash pit.  Water washed the ashes to the Kidron Valley.  The blood of the sacrifices mixed with the ashes  East (ashes), West (Blood).

Jesus was at Gethsemane, he was led by the priest as was the Red Heifer. He was judged and then led to be sacrificed as was the Red Heifer.  He was probably crucified near the ash pit Mythna Altar east of the temple.  That would make sense.

Blood, red heifer, led by the priests. Red heifer bride and church. Ephesians 5:32. Paul says

32 This is a great a mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. {You give Christ everything.  He injects his goodness.}

C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity, 1960) -  about building a palace.  All that he requires of you is that you trust him and his priesthood.  He will find areas that are inconsistent.  You cannot do it on your own.You go to the end of all you can do which is relying only on His Merits.

I die in the waters of baptism.

The purchase price = everything.

Jesus part = everything.

He is Time.  He is Space.  His Grace is sufficient for me.

Water, cutting and dung are also used in grafting.  Isaiah 61.  This is our offering to be water, cut and dunged.  He requires you to trust in Him.

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

4 ¶And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vine dressers.

6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

7 ¶For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

We can be transformed into trees of righteousness by believing in Jesus Christ and offering ourselves to be dunged, cut and watered.