Homilist Hebrews 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh:… I. THE GOD OF THE GOSPEL IS A LIVING PERSONALITY. This revelation of God as "living" stands opposed to — 1. Heathen idolatry. 2. Secular philosophy. 3. Mere logical divinity. II. THE CHIEF END OF MAN'S EXISTENCE IS TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD. 1. This implies — (1) That He has a will concerning our activities. (2) A capacity on man's part to understand and obey the will of God concerning him. 2. There are three facts in relation to the service of God which we should always bear in mind, and which marks it off from all other service. (1) That acceptability does not depend either upon the kind, or the amount, or the results of our activity, but upon its principles. (2) That to serve God does not require that we should confine ourselves to any particular department of action. (3) That to serve God is the only way either to serve ourselves or others. III. MAN'S MORAL NATURE IS GENERALLY IN A STATE WHICH DISQUALIFIES HIM FOR THIS SERVICE. 1. The conscience is polluted. 2. The conscience is polluted through dead works. IV. THE GREAT END OF CHRIST'S MEDIATION IS TO REMOVE THIS MORAL DISQUALIFICATION FOR THE SERVICE OF THE LIVING GOD. 1. By furnishing man with the most complete exhibition of what the service of the living God is. (1) A personal consecration. (2) A voluntary consecration. (3) A virtuous consecration. (4) A consecration Divinely inspired. 2. By supplying the most effective means to generate in the heart the principle of true service — supreme love to God. 3. By providing a medium which renders the service approvable to God. V. CHRIST'S MEDIATION FOR THIS PURPOSE IS MOST UNQUESTIONABLY EFFICACIOUS. "If the blood," etc. 1. The object in the one case to be realised is of unspeakably greater importance than the other. 2. The means employed in the one case are immeasurably more costly than the other. 3. The agent employed in the one case to apply the means is infinitely greater than in the other. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: |
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