When Adam and Eve ate of the flesh tree or the tree of knowledge of good and evil they died spiritually. But that’s not the only thing that happened. Something else happened as well. Their conscience painfully became aware. Previously they had no righteousness and were naked and were blissfully unaware of their nakedness. But when the conscience became aware there was a definite and absolute knowledge of unrighteousness. We all know how they sewed fig leaves together which symbolizes fleshly works of righteousness. But it was futile and they knew it, because when God showed up they still went hiding and said we are naked. They knew full well that the works of the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
That awareness of unrighteousness was their conscience witnessing to them and accusing them.
Romans 2
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them
Ever since then we have had a conscience that either pains us or excuses us. And therein lays a problem. What problem? Well the conscience can be manipulated by our enemy and even by ourselves. Also, that conscience can become evil and accuse us all the time. Further it can become seared which means that over time it becomes accustomed to sin and then allows it. Our conscience then ends up as our enemy and needs to be dealt with. God knew this and he set up a system of transference where our sins would be transferred to animals that would then be sacrificed, thus quieting the conscience. The only problem was, that it was only a temporary solution as the blood of animals could not take away sin but only cover it. So sooner or later our conscience would start to pain us again.
Hebrews 10
1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
So ever since the garden men made sacrifices to God for sin. They transferred their sin to the animals but it would always return and pain the conscience once again. Only the blood of Jesus the Son of God could clear that conscience once and for all. It was powerful enough to never need to be offered again.
Hebrews 9
6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;
8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience —
10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
There is more to be said on the topic and next time we will continue. This is truly one of the doctrines that if understood correctly could transform your faith completely. Stay tuned!!
Till next time
God bless
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