Hebrews 13:9-13 - "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore" (NIV).
The writer of Hebrews makes a strong statement here: it is God's grace that strengthens us, not the teachings some would add to the truth about the Christ. To understand what those strange teachings are, we would need to look at all the previous chapters. Suffice it to say here, any teaching that causes us to think we need to add to the work and person of Jesus is a strange teaching. The Greek word here means "foreign," and can actually also mean "without knowledge of." In other words, even biblical teaching that originates without a knowledge or understanding of Christ's person and work is to be avoided by Christians!!!
One example of that would be to say that even though Christ sanctifies us, we need to contribute to and maintain that sanctification. No, says Paul, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness (sanctification) and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord' (1 Cor. 1:30-31, NIV) and "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11b, NIV).
As if that were not enough, the writer of Hebrews 13 makes the outrageous statement that "those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat." What does this mean? The old sacrificial system has been closed. Out of business. New space for rent, but not to Christians, lest they think they should resurrect the dead, inadequate system. No, those in Christ are to leave the physical temple and go to Jesus "outside the camp," no longer living according to the old law system--a knowledge of right and wrong.
Lastly, Paul says that he bore the marks of the suffering of Christ that lacked or remained. By this he meant that Christ suffered innocently. In the same way, as Paul preached grace, the law-keepers persecuted him just as they had Christ. So also with us, who preach and cling to grace. We will be misunderstood. We will be excommunicated. We will be spoken against in evil and hurtful ways. But it is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, for it is the only good ground for life. Rest in the peace His grace brings and do not be subject to slavery again!
The Altar of Grace is a place where you have every right to feast!
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
great stuff
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