#DailyDevotion Baptism Sprinkles Our Hearts And Consciences Clean
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
We Christians, both Jewish and Gentile, are high priest in and with our Lord Jesus Christ. For only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies. The Levitical High Priest could only enter the model and with blood not his own. But we brothers and sisters enter into the true Holy of Holies, the throneroom of God by the blood of Jesus. His blood has purified us from our uncleanness. His blood has taken away our sin.
Covered with the blood of Jesus we pass through the sacred curtain, that is his flesh, to new and living way, that is no through our obedience of the Law but through faith in the work done by Jesus on the cross. We live by the Spirit, that is faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, who has made our dead hearts alive, has us put away our dark deeds, and to live in love of God and love our neighbor.
As God’s priest and with Jesus as our high priest, we can draw near to God’s throne with a true heart in full assurance of faith because of Jesus having kept the law for us. Not only that but he has given us his righteousness, holiness and glory. He has done this in baptism, through the water and the word, the Holy Spirit has sprinkled us with the blood of Jesus to give us a clear conscience through the death and resurrection of Jesus. With a clear and pure heart and conscience we can approach God our Father and present our request unto him.
We are encouraged then to hold fast our confession of hope without wavering for Jesus is faithful. But for the joy set before him, Jesus suffered the shame of the cross. It is important to hold fast the teachings of the faith. To that end we should gather together regularly to be taught the faith, ask questions about the faith, encourage others in faith, and through that spur on one another to love and good works. The day is surely drawing near. We should make sure we don’t fall away through meeting together with fellow Christians to be built up and to build up each other. It is in the gathering of the body Christ has promised to be with us and to strengthen us. For he has said, where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of you. And to this purpose when he ascended on high, he has given us pastors and teachers who teach us the faith, give us Jesus’ gifts of the word, absolution, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Heavenly Father, grant us your Holy Spirit that we may always come before you with the blood of Jesus and a pure heart and conscience and receive from you ever pure and perfect gift from above. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.