The Diadem of Holiness

Christ Reformed Baptist Church

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Well as we approach the end of Exodus chapter 28, we also come to the final articles of clothing that are defined for us for the high priest

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Next week we will actually finish out Exodus chapter 28 But before we get there

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It is necessary for us to take a few moments and Look specifically at these

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Remaining pieces of articles of clothing as we have worked through this we have been continually being reminded of a aspect or an office of Christ where he continually works on our behalf when we speak of the offices of Christ typically we speak of three specific offices that of Prophet that of King and the one which has gathered our attention as of late that of priest

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We could in fact more accurately define the office or role of priest as that of the great high priest

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Because the official duties that he is fulfilling on our behalf in the throne room of God are that of the high priest

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And so as we study the Old Testament priesthood specifically what scripture teaches us regarding the high priest it becomes necessary to in clear that we should

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Be very diligent in those studies scripture teaches us that the

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Old Testament priesthood is a Shadow of what would ultimately be fulfilled in Christ Hebrews 4 verses 14 through 16 demonstrate that fulfillment

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With these words therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens

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Jesus the Son of God let us take hold of our confession But we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses

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But one who has been tempted in all things like we are yet is without sin

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Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need so since we can look at scripture and we can very clearly determine that Christ as the great high priest is the fulfillment of the type that we see in the

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Old Testament It calls us to a careful study of the priesthood but not just the priesthood by itself

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But also the vestments of the priesthood or the clothing of the priesthood that has been given by God So this morning we come to those last three garments the turban the tunic and the sash

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Now as you will see from our reading this morning scripture actually tells us very little about these particular three items

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But it has a lot to say about something that is attached to the turban

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The item that we will discuss is a gold plate and that gold plate holds great significance

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Now as we study We will see how important it was for Israel But even more importantly we will see that it still has much

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To show us and teach us as the people of God here today

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Our text will come from the 28th chapter of Exodus verses 36 down through 39

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Now before we read these words together There are two additional things that we need to understand stepping into the text

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And I want to give these to you before we ever read the text so that your mind can begin working through this as you are presented with God's Word the first of those is that this is written and Given to a people who have already had their sins atoned for Now this is a key piece of what we're discussing this morning

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This is given to the people of Israel it impacts them

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After the blood has been applied We'll flesh out out a little bit more, but you need to understand that as we step into the reading secondly there is a seriousness and a weightiness in our text today that a casual read can miss

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And so it is my prayer is my prayer that each of us here this morning

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Stay focused and attentive to this message That in all humility

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We will allow the Spirit to deal with us with our hearts as we walk together through this passage and That it will

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Guide us into all understanding and application In our lives so with those things being said

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If you have not already turning your copy of God's Word to Exodus chapter 28 We will begin reading in the 36th verse reading through the 39th

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Stand for the reading of God's holy authoritative inerrant infallible complete and sufficient word

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Exodus chapter 28 beginning in the 36th verse Verse we find these words

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You shall also make a plate of pure gold and Shall engrave on it like the engravings of a signet holy to Yahweh You shall fasten it on a blue cord and it shall be on the turban

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It shall be at the front of the turban It shall be on Aaron's forehead and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things

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Which the sons of Israel set apart as holy with regard to all their holy gifts and It shall be continually on his forehead

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That they may be accepted Before Yahweh, you shall weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen

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And you shall make a turban of fine linen and you shall make a sash the work of a weaver most gracious merciful

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Heavenly Father, we thank you that you

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Are faithful or we are grateful for your word and we pray

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That as we come together to grow in our knowledge and understanding that its truths will be illuminated by the

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Holy Spirit Testifying with ours or we pray that as we come to this text our minds and our hearts

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Would be focused on bringing you glory on honoring you father that we would seek to feel the impact of This word as it molds us and changes us

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Into the people that you have called us to be Father may your word work in us this morning to rebuke to reprove to correct to uplift to encourage and To give us peace as we understand your great and precious promises

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We ask all of these things in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Amen Maybe see this morning.

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We are going to approach this text beginning with the final verse that we read

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Now the final verse that we read this morning describes for us almost in staccato like fashion the remaining pieces of clothing that are mentioned in the list earlier in chapter 28 in Fact we are given very little detail

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With regards to each one of these articles of clothing except the material of which they are made we are told that both the tunic and the turban are made of fine linen and Then that the sash itself is to be woven

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Now it's important that you understand our earlier labors regarding the colors

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Within and the fabrics within the tabernacle and the priestly clothing We see that the pure white of the linen

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That is made of the tunic and the turban speak of the personal righteousness of the person

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Who is wearing it? Righteousness that has been declared by God So that they have the ability to then come before him to make atonement on behalf of the rest of the people and As we are reminded this is an act that they have to continually repeat

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Because we are dealing with sinful men. It is righteousness granted by faith according to their obedience in following the rituals as God has given them the sash that we see is

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Formed of what scripture describes as a woven work This description calls our attention back to the earlier conversations regarding the curtain and the afad and the breastpiece all of which were also woven and It likely signifies that this sash was made of a similar material with the colors being the same

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Although we don't have that specifically listed out for us and So it ties everything together

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The tunic and sash would have gone on over the linen undergarments that we will discuss next week but they go under the robe and Then of course the turban is to be worn on the head of The priest

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Now there is some disagreement regarding the historical Turban itself as to exactly what it looked like Josephus in his writings talks about it being conical shaped

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Scripture describes something that is wrapped around the head and so we get a couple of different varying

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Viewpoints of exactly what this headpiece look like but the symbolism

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Does not shift back if you study Paul's letter to the church in Corinth and he talks about the

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Women wearing head covering and the idea here is subordination submission obedience to the headship

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This is no different than what we find in the high priest The high priest was subordinate to God.

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He was in submission to God he acted in obedience to God and so as we continue

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We look at the text it becomes obvious that the most important piece of What we have been given this morning in this group of verses is not the tunic

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It's not the headpiece and it's not the sash But it is the plate that rests on the forehead of Aaron Now we know that each one of these other pieces carry

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Some importance obviously there was much practical use for them We've talked about the colors, but at the end of the day the focal point is

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Found in 36 through 38 And it was of such great importance

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Importance that it even comes before The turban is given instruction.

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We're given instructions to manufacture the turban Just as We see the aphid coming before the robe and the ark coming before the tabernacle

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The piece of high importance is laid before us And so as we have done with each item that we have come in contact with we will discuss the of course the instructions regarding the fabrication and then we will tie that significance to Israel and Then to us here

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Today so the first thing that should catch the eye of the reader after having read through the instructions regarding the tabernacle from the very beginning

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Is That we are told that this particular item is to be made of pure gold So if you remember all the way back to the tabernacle when we began

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Talking first about the implements within the tabernacle and we talked about the metals And we talked about the that the purest form of metal was those that were closest to the holiest places

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And you remember that the high priest is going to be the one who will enter The Holy of Holies who will be in the very presence of God as he sits on his throne

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And so as much as the pure white linen of the turban represents the righteousness this plate

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Elevates to a whole nother level Now from the description

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It is difficult in the text to tell exactly how this was attached but extra -biblical sources

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Describe this as being a band that was approximately two thumbs wide and would have reached from ear to ear

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So if you can imagine a a headband for those of you that are old enough you may remember when we tied bandanas around our head because that was a cool thing to do and we would have a strip went

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All the way around our head, but right here you would have a piece that went from ear to ear That's kind of the description that we see here of this particular plate the word in the text that the

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LSB translates into Into a plate can also be translated as rosette or flower or even medallion

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In fact, it can be go so far as to be called a diadem

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What it does though is it serves in a similar function to that of a crown which is also

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What a diadem is in the society surrounding the people of Israel.

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It would have been a see a sign of the ruler but here although there is a place of authority that the high priest holds

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That is not the ultimate Reality the reality is something much much deeper

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We get a hint of this reality as we see engraved across the front of this plate holy to Yahweh Now obviously it wasn't written in English.

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It was written in Hebrew, but this signified firstly and Mostly that the high priest was high priest had been set apart by the choice not of man but by God The first picture we get here of this understanding that this high priest has been set apart by God is that only

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Only through the high priest set apart by God was the sacrifice acceptable

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No other person could have gone through the process No other person could have entered into the holy of holies with the incense and sprinkled the blood to to gain entry to make the atonement none but the high priest

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Obviously, it shouldn't take the average believer very long to understand

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That this is the same concept as our great high priest

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This is why over and over and over in Scripture We can be sure and certain that there is but one way and that way

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It's Christ when we look at the high priest

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And we look that he was the only one who could enter into the holy of holies to perform the atonement for the people

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And we look at the fact that they had been the ones divinely appointed by God For that role when and we bring those things together.

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There is a great responsibility that begins to emerge in fact the responsibility for the infractions on this of any worship fell

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To the great high priest casuado

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Writes these words Aaron or the high priest will atone for all the transgressions committed in connection with the order of the service

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The purity of the consecrated things or the use of the holy gifts

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For the declaration engraved on the print on the plate will prove that everything was intended to be holy to the

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Lord and If it was done irregularly

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It was still something that had been set apart by God as part of worship, we're going to be labor that point in just a few moments while the method of construction and attachment of this headpiece

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May not be 100 % clear. They are significant and a far greater importance though is the purpose of this crown

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In Exodus 39 30 the headpiece and plate are described in this way They made the plate of the

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Holy Crown of pure gold and wrote upon it with engraved writing is found on a signet holy to Yahweh This is again echoed in the

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Leviticus 8 chapter 9 He also placed the turban on his head and on the turban at its front He placed the golden plate the

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Holy Crown just as Yahweh had commanded Moses This particular holy plate as you'll notice in both

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Exodus chapter 28 and in Exodus 39 is described as being engraved like the engraving on a signet

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This demonstrates the permanence of this engraving This demonstrates the depth and care of this engraving

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This demonstrates that just as it was to be done with care and concern so too must our holiness be handled with care and Concern the verse in our text this morning

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That is by far the most telling verse in this passage and the text in which we find the fullest truth of this type or shadow is verse 38 so again, we look at verse 38 it reads it shall be on Aaron's forehead and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things

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Which the sons of Israel set apart as holy with regard to all their holy gifts and It shall continually be on his forehead

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That they may be accepted before Yahweh Before we read our text in full this morning

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I gave you two things That we needed to know that we needed to focus on going into our discussion here this morning and I believe that this is the appropriate time to remind you of these two

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Items as we get into the depths here first that this is written to a people who have already

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Had their sins atoned for and as such stood righteous before God in other words and to ensure we catch the modern

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Implication the blood had been applied. These were believers secondly

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The weightiness and seriousness seriousness of this text this is a text a passage that At least for me created a wrestling match within my mind now

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You will note to begin with That the instruction regarding this particular placement of this object is the forehead and so every time the high priest would address the people or or go

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About his appointed work. It would be clearly Seen and would stand as a testament and a reminder to all that this man

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Has been as we've already discussed a divinely appointed by God But even more so than it was only through the work of this man faithfully

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Carrying out his duties in the exact manner to which God himself called him

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That they could ever hope to draw near to God Now again

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It's necessary that we understand the these are the people of God the blood has been spilt

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That the remaining truths that we see here this morning are regarding those people Those who have been brought by the blood of Christ those who have been saved

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So even as we look at this text, we need to understand that even for us here today This text is talking about those who already believe

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This is what makes this particular text so weighty and So important that as we move from the

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Old Testament priesthood to the to the priesthood of Christ We gather the difference and so just so that we are clear on the difference

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We're gonna look quickly at Hebrews chapter 5 Verses 1 through 3 and then I'm gonna flip over to chapter 7 and read a couple of verses there

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Hebrews 5 chapter 5 verses 1 through 3 defined for us the Levitical priesthood in summary format and this is what it says for every high priest that is the high priest of the

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Levitical priesthood taken from among men is Appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins

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Being able to deal gently with the ignorant and misguided since he himself is also beset with weakness

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And because of he is obligated Just as for the people to also offer sacrifices for sins in the same way for himself in other words

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These priests These priests appointed out of men

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By God on behalf of men or weak notice what it says

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That these priests could do gently with the ignorant and misguided since he himself is also beset with weakness

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Now this weakness is not a frailty this weakness is an understanding of exactly who

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He is in light of who God is So then we flip over to X I mean to Hebrews chapter 7 and we're just going to read

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Two verses Hebrews chapter 7 verses 26 and 27

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This is the transition from the priesthood of Levitical sense to the high priesthood of Christ For is fitting for us to have such a high priest holy innocent undefiled separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens

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Who does not need daily? Like those high priests who offer up sacrifices first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people

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Because this he did once for all When he offered up himself

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Christ has become the great high priest Now as we move through all of these descriptions

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God has demonstrated us over and over in all of these Details that he is given regarding the high priestly clothing of the

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Levitical priesthood pointing us forward to Christ as our great high priest talking about the importance of God of Christ as our great high priest

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But in order to make sure that the message gets through I believe that the message

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Here in verse 28 is one of if not the strongest message that we see to the people of God Regarding the high priesthood in Fact it is one of these messages that would help us to remain

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Humble so it is to the people of God Those who have been atoned those who have been bought by the blood those who are believers that God gives

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This man Aaron and this plate that is to rest on his forehead for the purpose notice at the beginning of verse 38 for the purpose of Taking away the iniquity of the holy things now

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This is a deep truth This is a truth that as we meditate on it for a few moments

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Should have a profound impact on who we are

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It delivers for us in stark manner revealing the truth of our lives and and the way in which the truth of who we are gives way to the truth of who he is and how marvelous this great and precious truth is and should be to his people

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Now as we first encounter this clause

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Take away the iniquity of the holy things First glance makes it seem as if we are dealing

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With an oxymoron or this concept that one thing doesn't match the other thing like big shrimp these opposite descriptions

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Because when we read the words iniquity of the holy things We are immediately struck with the sense in our human understanding that there is a problem with this

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Statement first of all and and mostly it is that the word we know that the word iniquity is used

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Repeatedly in scripture to talk about sin sin in our lives. Our nature is who we are as individuals

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But here but here God uses it in a description of holy things

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Now this does not track well with us because of the assumptions that we walk into the sentence with especially regarding the word holy

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Now what we need to understand here is

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That these things that are being Defined as holy They are actually good and right things but that it still

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Carries this truth of iniquity So, let's examine a little deeper the word holy for a moment

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The word holy at its core means to be set apart Now typically as within church we talk about Things being set apart to God.

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So just like the inscription On the plate when we read things that say holy to God, that means it has been set apart to God We know that the wearer of the plate

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Has been set apart by God to himself to fulfill the purpose that he has been given

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That's why we say holy to God set apart to God Now when we keep that in mind and We examine the holy things that are talked about here in this passage what we are talking about or the things or the actions of the

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Individuals that have been set apart to be used in the worship of God for example, the

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Israelites are commanded to bring a Lamb unblemished and all of these things this would this lamb would have been set apart to the worship of God Maybe it was part of the money that they had that was set apart or the the the food that they had taken in that Was set apart as an offering to God Maybe it was just their time itself

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That was set apart But what the passage is saying

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Is that even though these believers had the best intentions at heart Even though these believers were being faithful by setting apart these things to God the taint of sin still exists and even in our best effort or even in their best effort

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Even those who have been brought near those who are for whom an atonement has been made in their best human effort

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We still fall short because the nature of humanity

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Is simple maybe

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Maybe you already begin to see the weightiness of this passage but We would be remiss and unfaithful to the word if we leave it there half -developed

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Because here's the reality of that truth

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Brothers and sisters Applies to our life Today now again

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There are those out there who would say that no it doesn't it's part of the old system. The old system has passed away

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The truth is that this is something that very much impacts us

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The purpose here behind this deals with something that is much older than any priestly garment

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It is something that is much older than Abraham than Isaac and Jacob that in fact goes all the way back to the garden to the fall

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Into the results of that fall it speaks to the very nature of humanity

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Now this is a difficult topic because we need to have the understanding that we are simultaneously justified yet sinners

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Meaning that we stand before God made right on the basis of faith in Christ alone but we still are in the flesh and As such still have that Propensity one of the greatest dangers

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That exist in our lives today, and I want to be clear when

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I use the word our Because there are people out there who like to pick apart every little thing you say when

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I say our I'm not talking about the world.

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I am talking about True brothers and sisters in Christ who have been by faith in Christ alone redeemed the danger that we face is one of achievement or Arrival or maybe you prefer a better term pride it is pride

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That will hear the truths this morning and Stand up and seek to shout them down It is pride that will

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Shout out in its loudest voice that this is untrue it is pride that gives us a sense of having arrived having accomplished something a product of our own making and It is a product of our own making because we have so Deluded the truth of Scripture and the truth of the gospel that we have become satisfied and Comfortable and as our comfort increase our self -reliance increase our self -worth

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Increases and we begin to feel and think and believe as if we no longer have need of anything

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We begin to think That we have arrived for the truth of this passage

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The truth that we see in this passage is that we have not

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Listened to me so much so So much so have we not arrived at the even in the things that we set apart for the worship of God There remains a taint

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Charles Spurgeon had this to say in his sermon on this passage Oh Friends our good works if We lay them up in store and value them as jewels

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Will like the manna in the wilderness very soon breed worms and stink

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There's enough rottenness in our press performances to make them offensive to an enlightened conscience.

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Oh That this fact that even our holy things are tainted may be the death warrant of our pride

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And again, we need to be clear Spurgeon's not cheap talking to the masses Spurgeon's not talking to the world

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Spurgeon was talking to believers So when he says things like our good works, he's not talking about good works outside of Christ He's talking about good works inside of Christ that when we begin to rely on them

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When we begin to store them up when we begin to value them as jewels Will begin to rot

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Calvin adds all our worship is faulty That's kind of rough.

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And however excellent our actions may seem that they are still unclean and polluted for a moment consider

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That Your flesh is affected by the taint of sin that you as an individual although brought near By the blood of Christ, although a sinner saved to the uttermost

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Every action you do is still tainted in some way by that sinful nature.

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We could continue to belabor the point but Again I think

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Spurgeon is adequate as He writes did we ever do anything yet that had not some spot of iniquity upon it

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It's not our repentance after all but poor stuff compared with what it ought to be

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It's not unbelief mixed with our faith half not our love a measure of lukewarmness in it

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Did you ever sing unto the Lord yet with pure reverent praise and without there being some forgetfulness of the

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God to whom you sang? I Have never prayed a prayer yet with which

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I have felt content From my first prayer till now. I have need of grace to cover my shortcomings at the mercy seat

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No act of consecration. No act of self -sacrifice No rapture of fellowship.

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No height of spirituality has been made has been without its perfection Suppose even we do not fail in any of these respects

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Do you know what often happens? Well after the private prayer is done or the public worship is over or the preaching or the visiting of the sick has been performed

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We sit down and inwardly we say yes, I did that Uncommonly.

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Well, I know I did I was wonderfully helped Which being interpreted often means

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I am a fine fellow Then we rub our hands and say to ourselves and the wonder is

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I am NOT at all proud. Thank God I am never tempted in that direction. I Have too much common sense.

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I know what a poor creature I am and so on and So on thus do we our utmost to coat over our good deed with the slime of self -conceit

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This is to pour filthiness upon our sacrifice and make it an abomination in the sight of God this is a weighty and Serious matter because we can fool ourselves all day long.

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We can pat ourselves on the back all day long We can give ourselves hugs. That's what modern society will tell you to do.

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Give yourself a hug. It'll be okay. You're enough But you're not even today as we sit here as believers how often do our minds wander in the midst of our worship

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How often do we struggle to stay focused in our prayer? How often do we fight a battle within ourself just to simply sit down and read?

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the Word of God all of these things are things that we have set apart that have been set apart as holy actions that are good and right in The eyes of God that are for the purpose of worshiping

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God yet We as humanity still carry with us the taint of sin.

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And so we taint the very Actions and holy things that have been set aside.

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That's what this verse is talking about But like so much in Scripture In fact, like all of Scripture God would not have his people

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To sit in these woes without the beautiful truth of what has been accomplished

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So before we get the sense that everything we do and say is wrong and and therefore we shouldn't do anything

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Everything that we do that is done in obedience to God is set apart and considered as holiness

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And so as we have considered the harshness of this verse, let us also see the beauty that it contains in John's Gospel in the 17th chapter in the 19th verse

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In the entirety of 17 chapter John is recording for us the prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane but in John chapter 19 on John chapter 17 verse 19

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He records this specific verse For their sake

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By the way, if you don't know who there is that's us believers for their sake

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I sanctify myself That they themselves also may be sanctified in truth

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Now this particular verse Laughingly enough is used by Those who unfortunately

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Take this as a proof text that Jesus is not God Because if Jesus was God, he would not need to sanctify himself the issue is is a pure lack of foundational understanding of Scripture These are typically the people who have unhitched the

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Old Testament from the New Testament do not understand that Jesus is referring back to the priesthood that he would soon replace and Specifically to the work that is being accomplished by the high priest through the wearing of the plate you see the purpose of Aaron wearing the plate was to Demonstrate to the people as you see in verse 38 the taking away of the iniquity

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Notice here. It says in verse 38. It shall be on Aaron's forehead and Aaron shall take away the iniquity

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So there's iniquity there but Aaron through the wearing of this plate having it on his forehead is taking that away

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He in fact, he's taking it upon himself That's his role as high priest is to take that responsibility on himself and then to atone for those things for the people so that they will be

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If you go down a little bit further the very end of the passage that they may be accepted before Yahweh So when

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Jesus prays in the garden to sanctify

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He that he is sanctifying himself so that we may be sanctified in truth He is taking on this role willingly taking on this role of the high priest upon himself

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To be the one that stands in the presence of God taking away the iniquity of the holy things so that they are acceptable to God Most Christians can quickly tell you that you know, they're groanings in prayer or Translated by the

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Holy Spirit. This is the same understanding This we don't know how to get it, right

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But Christ is there to take care of it for us cured writes these words

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Jesus Christ Actually and really takes on the sins of his people.

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See here's here's another misconception that we see is always all figurative And he didn't really die for your sins that's just a

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Showpiece, but it's not it's it's true. It's right. It's real But he actually and really did it his sacrifice is representative of all but it is not symbolic

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It was a true sacrifice the work of the high priest in Israel was merely a shadow whereas the work of Christ is the substance

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Think about your life Think about the things in your life that are supposed to be set apart for God and then and think about your deepest attitudes

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Towards those things we talked about this a minute ago. How easy is it sometimes? to set apart time

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How easy it is to avoid reading scripture. How many excuses can you come up with?

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to skip out on something How many times have your mind wandered during prayer

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Maybe even right now in this place Faults are pulling us away, right?

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I'm hungry What am I gonna eat for lunch? We're gonna do this afternoon. I got all of these things on my list to get accomplished.

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How am I gonna get them all done? Things that pull us away But Isaiah 53 6 says that all of us like sheep have gone astray

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Each of us has turned to his own way, but Yahweh has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him

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Later in verse 11. It says as a result of the anguish of his soul He will see it and be satisfied by his knowledge.

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The righteous one my servant will justify the many as He will bear their iniquities

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Hebrews 13 15 tells us that it is only through Christ That our sacrifice of praise is acceptable.

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It reads through him then Through Christ then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God That is the fruit of lips that confess

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His name this generates a wrestling match in our mind.

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It's a hard truth. That's a weighty matter everything in our being

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Rails against it yet.

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The truth is as Calvin puts in our acts of obedience when they come into God's sight or mingled with iniquity

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Which exposes us to God's judgment? Unless Christ Should sanctify them you see that's the beauty of this passage

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The hard truth of this passage is that even as believers we still struggle

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We still have sin affecting every aspect of our lives right down to our very worship.

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The beauty is

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But as we understand Christ's role as our great high priest that although our worship is imperfect

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Our holy things are tainted. They are turned into a sweet aroma in the presence of God As they are sanctified by Christ it is only through Christ That we can find any comfort because the true believer will understand their shortcomings

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We will see that by Christ grace. He sanctifies our actions so that they are acceptable to God But note that verse 38

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Defines This action as something continual that is continually on the forehead of the high priest and is this

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Where we see also painted for us something of the truth of the doctrine of imputation

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Spurgeon once more Is incredibly helpful if that plate?

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Were once taken off the high priest he could not officiate and if Christ Were to lay aside his righteousness on your behalf

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You Could not be accepted Your holiness is not always on your brow

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But his holiness is always on the forefront of his miter and therefore you are always

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Accepted in the beloved how I delight to speak of this truth.

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There is a flood of infidelity in the Church of God today And it often rushes against the doctrine of imputation

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In fact computed righteousness has been kicked down the aisles most of our of most of our places of worship

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It cannot be endured yet. We believe in it all the more for this It shall always be upon his forehead

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That they may be accepted Before God We are accepted because of something in him it is not what is upon our forehead

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But is upon what is upon his forehead that makes us and our offerings to be

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Accepted we are accepted in the beloved We are justified by his righteousness

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Alone, this is a text that I believe if we take with sincerity.

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We cannot walk away from Unmoved to me the gravity of what is exposed here is staggering because even the things that we call holy our most consecrated acts of worship

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Are still touched by the stain Sin this is not a condemnation of our devotion what it actually does is reveal our condition the golden plate here inscribed holy to Yahweh and one continually on the forehead of the priest

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Was not on ornamental decoration It was a declaration of Necessity that the only way the people of God could be accepted was if someone else bore the iniquity even of their most holiest of offerings

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And now We see that Christ Has taken up that office not just as priest but as The great high priest who fulfills who perfects who perpetually sustains what

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Aaron could only foreshadow this is a passage that should humble us a

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Passage that when we understand it should trust the very vestige of pride and self -sufficiency that we still cling to It's just silence that inner voice that says

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I've done enough and replace it with a joyful confession of Christ has done it all and in that understanding it comforts us

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Because we know that the one who bears the iniquity of our holy things is not absent or occasional he is constant

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He is faithful. He is unchanging As Spurgeon said in the quote I read a moment ago

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It is not what is on our forehead, but what is on his forehead that makes us and our offerings be accepted

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So the call even to believers is to humble ourselves and hope in Christ bring our imperfect worship bring those

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Distracted prayers bring the tainted sacrifices not in confidence of your work

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But in faith that your great high priest sanctifies them by his perfect righteousness making them acceptable to God and so the question that I leave you with is

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If as this passage describes for us our best efforts are still in need of sanctifying grace

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Then why are we still? trusting in Ourselves we are to come

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Not boasting in what we've done but clean to Christ laying down our pride lifting up our eyes and resting in the finished perfect and continual work of our great high priest

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Let us pray gracious Heavenly Father Lord.

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We come before you in humble Adoration Father we are deeply aware of our unworthiness and yet overwhelmingly grateful for the worthiness of Christ Lord we confess before you that even our best efforts our prayers our songs our offerings are all stained with the iniquity of the flesh

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Left to ourselves we could never hope to stand in Your holy presence, but we give praise that you have provided the one who stands in our place

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Who bears the iniquity of our holy things who sanctifies our flawed worship and presents it as a sweet aroma

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Before your very throne Lord, we are thankful for the righteousness of Christ that righteousness that has been imputed to us

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We thank you that the plate on his forehead declares what we could never earn

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Holy to Yahweh teach us to lay aside every boast to crucify pride

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To rest wholly in the sufficiency of Christ and Christ alone

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May this truth humble us Transform us and stir in us a deeper devotion to your glory alone