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The Sanctuary in Heaven, November 11
We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true
tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
Hebrews 8:1, 2
, NIV.
The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly
understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the
position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for
them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position
which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each
has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face-to-face....
The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men. It
concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption,
bringing us down to the very close of time and revealing the triumphant issue of the
contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should
thoroughly investigate these subjects and be able to give an answer to everyone that
asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them.
The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential
to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that
work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by
faith enter within the veil, “whither the forerunner is for us entered” (
Hebrews 6:20
).
There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer
insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at
an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of
the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father’s throne, and through
His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented
before God.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh
them shall have mercy” (
Proverbs 28:13
). If those who hide and excuse their faults
could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with
their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away.
Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind,
and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is
constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it
is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded
hands, His bruised body.... Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God
will give faith and grace to overcome them (
The Great Controversy, 488, 489
).
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