We shall be Priests

[eaglesway]

He is not far from each one of us;  for in Him we live and move and exist Acts 17:27,28 :o)

[gregoryfl]

If we have no access to the Holy Place now, then our faith is in vain because cannot stand in the presence of God today where the Spirit resides. The promise is kaput in that case. If we have the Holy Spirit we absolutely must have access to the Holy Place because that place was the very type and shadow of the promise itself.

Absolutely true. Not sure who here is saying that we do not have access to the holy place, but it isn't me.  :laughing7:

[gregoryfl]

The word "hagios" is used in Hebrews 9:8 and 9:12 and 9:25 in direct reference to the HOLIEST place, where the high priest entered alone every year. So in the above passage, we know that the context is also the Holiest Place of the temple.

We will have to disagree on this brother. But I will say that, however any of us understands the particulars of drawing close to God, whether it is by means of us serving in the holy place, as I and others understand it, or by means of us serving him all the way in the most holy place, as you and others would understand it, it is truly an awe inspiring privilege for us to be able to do so. Thank you for sharing your understanding of this.

[Seth]

If we have no access to the Holy Place now, then our faith is in vain because cannot stand in the presence of God today where the Spirit resides. The promise is kaput in that case. If we have the Holy Spirit we absolutely must have access to the Holy Place because that place was the very type and shadow of the promise itself.

Absolutely true. Not sure who here is saying that we do not have access to the holy place, but it isn't me.  :laughing7:

I know you are saying we can enter A holy place (the inner room), but if I compare two scriptures, I think it's clear to me that we can enter the "holiest place" where only the high priest can go.

Hebrews 9
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all (hagion) was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Hebrews 10
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest (hagion) 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;

To me it is clear that the "most holy place" is the context.  :HeartThrob:

[gregoryfl]

I know you are saying we can enter A holy place (the inner room), but if I compare two scriptures, I think it's clear to me that we can enter the "holiest place" where only the high priest can go.

Hebrews 9
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all (hagion) was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Hebrews 10
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest (hagion) 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;

To me it is clear that the "most holy place" is the context.  :HeartThrob:

I can see where you are coming from.  :thumbsup:

[eaglesway]

Based on the comparison of Jesus entering as the high priest did-not once a year - once for all, I agree that the context speaks to the most holy place.

[Seth]

I think at the end of the day, we all agree that we are able to draw near unto God through the Spirit, that he will hear us, and that there is no other mediator but One between God and man. 

:dsunny:

[saintwalee]

Seth posted:
1 Corinthians 3
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

In as much as we have entry to the holiest place, the holiest place is within us!

This makes the most sense to me, we have the temple within us, lock, stock and barrel. We have all of the temple within us. That would include both veils as well as the Holy of Holies.

Included with that verse, that if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.

So, it may be that the temple is in everyone, how else could one defile it? And if that temple is our body, the wall around the temple, we know that will be destroyed, for flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

Or, is it that the temple is just in those of faith, and that the outer wall is torn down as our sins are overcome?

Hmmm, more questions!

[WhiteWings]

Jesus said His body was a Temple.

For all I know Jesus had a 100% human body. Exactly the same as that of the biggest pagan. Even God's Temple was once used for pagan purposes (swine offered to a greek god)


An interesting thing to consider is that the temple of Jesus was destroyed and rebuild before he got His glorified body. But the was, obviously, not related to sin.

[gregoryfl]

I think at the end of the day, we all agree that we are able to draw near unto God through the Spirit, that he will hear us, and that there is no other mediator but One between God and man. 

:dsunny:

For sure.

I know it may sound contradictory for me to say that I believe we, as physical human beings, are only able to enter into the holy place as priests to serve God, the veil of our physical flesh preventing access into the innermost compartment, (which is why we walk by faith) and yet...
as members of Messiah's body, in spirit we HAVE entered and currently are in the holy of holies, sitting in heavenly places at the right of God...

but that is currently how I have been able to reconcile the outer curtain being torn, and the reason for it being so.

[WhiteWings]

Another take on this is that the bride comes out of the body/side. To do so the veil/skin has to be rented.

Just like the bride, Eve came out the side of the groom Adam.

[Seth]

I think at the end of the day, we all agree that we are able to draw near unto God through the Spirit, that he will hear us, and that there is no other mediator but One between God and man. 

:dsunny:

For sure.

I know it may sound contradictory for me to say that I believe we, as physical human beings, are only able to enter into the holy place as priests to serve God, the veil of our physical flesh preventing access into the innermost compartment, (which is why we walk by faith) and yet...
as members of Messiah's body, in spirit we HAVE entered and currently are in the holy of holies, sitting in heavenly places at the right of God...

but that is currently how I have been able to reconcile the outer curtain being torn, and the reason for it being so.

In that case, I think we see thing similarly. Again, the inner curtain did not need to be torn for the high priest to enter. While I believe the inner curtain was torn, if that's wrong and it was the outer curtain, that does not preclude us from entering the inner room. It would mean we have the right to enter the priesthood. But, We are only priests because we are the body of the high priest. The high priest may enter regardless of a torn curtain and he carries us with him.

That said, I believe our access to the inner room is a twofold thing. We have the Holy Spirit in earnest of future glory. Our access to the inner room is symbolic of the gift of the Spirit. So I believe we have access to that room in earnest of future glory, where the process will be complete when we throw off this mortal body.

[gregoryfl]

In that case, I think we see thing similarly. Again, the inner curtain did not need to be torn for the high priest to enter. While I believe the inner curtain was torn, if that's wrong and it was the outer curtain, that does not preclude us from entering the inner room. It would mean we have the right to enter the priesthood. But, We are only priests because we are the body of the high priest. The high priest may enter regardless of a torn curtain and he carries us with him.

That said, I believe our access to the inner room is a twofold thing. We have the Holy Spirit in earnest of future glory. Our access to the inner room is symbolic of the gift of the Spirit. So I believe we have access to that room in earnest of future glory, where the process will be complete when we throw off this mortal body.

:gimmefive:

[eaglesway]

For seed to be implanted, the veil(hymen) must break so that the womb can be opened to receive the seed.

1 Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

As Mary was the womb of the living word for the earth(mankind), a young virgin of Israel, and the representative member of His betrothed, the heavenly Israel of God- Now the word is implanted in the souls of mankind, all who receive it bearing the fruit of children of God.

Those who are betrothed are waiting faithfully, preparing for the arrival of their betrothed, "The King's daughter is all glorious within".

The Bride is coming down out of the heavens (being revealed in the earth) as the age concludes, she is also the city of God, heavenly Jerusalm- "God is known in her palaces for a refuge"(Psalm 48), prepared as a bride for the bridegroom, clothed in white linen(the righteous acts of the saints).

These are all metaphors for the faithful, who will be the mountain of the Lord in the ages to come,as they are now(Heb12) and His Bride as well, giving birth to children numbering as the sands of the sea and the stars in the universe.

Micah 4:1
And it will come about in the last days
That the mountain of the house of the Lord
Will be established as the chief of the mountains.
It will be raised above the hills,
And the peoples will stream to it.
2 Many nations will come and say,
"Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord
And to the house of the God of Jacob,
That He may teach us about His ways
And that we may walk in His paths."
For from Zion will go forth the law,
Even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.

And we shall be priests.

2 Corinthians 5:18
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

[saintwalee]

My favorite parable:
Luk 8:5  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
Luk 8:6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luk 8:7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
Luk 8:8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he

EW posts about the seed, although in a different context. "As Mary was the womb of the living word for the earth(mankind), a young virgin of Israel, and the representative member of His betrothed, the heavenly Israel of God- Now the word is implanted in the souls of mankind, all who receive it bearing the fruit of children of God."

In the parable, the seed is spread everywhere. This has been mentioned elsewhere, but would this signify that the Holy Spirit is given to all men, and all have the opportunity unto righteousness? And/or is it referring to the Gospel, the Word of God being preached to all?

Rev_3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Would this verse from Revelation be stating basically the same thing? Is the open door for all mankind, or just to this church?

[eaglesway]

My personal opinion is that in this particular parable Jesus is speaking to how people respond to the seed in this age,(many are called but few are chosen)but the seed has been sown for all mankind and eventually all will receive it.

As to your point about all mankind, I like the parable of the leaven hidden in three measures of meal, which i personally believe represents the three ages of reconciliation beginning with this age(the age of gathering the ecclessia-callled out ones). Eventually all three measures of meal are leavened(the gathering together into one of all in Christ).

[saintwalee]

and... the Holy Spirit is an ear?

"He who hath an ear" said to every church in Revelation

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:18  But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truthh, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph 1:16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

So as the ear hears (receives) the Word of God, and as the Earth is planted (receives) the seed (the Word), and as Mary "received" of the Holy Ghost. They are all receiving God. In every instance, it is God giving, giving the Gift of Faith, whereby we can believe.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not only does he give us the Word, he gives us the Ear (Holy Spirit) to hear!

EW - I saw your post while I was typing. I love that. Especially in the light of witnessing to TOB christians. :gimmefive:

[WhiteWings]

Matt 13:3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds.
Matt 13:4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.
Matt 13:5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.
Matt 13:6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died.
Matt 13:7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.
Matt 13:8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
Matt 13:9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."


The parable shows that rocky soil and foothpath yields no harvest. But the verse below shows that even the worst soil, rocky foothpaths, will produce crops.

Psa 65:11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.