Relational Over Ritual
The Better Sanctuary: Understanding Christ's Priesthood
In the Old Testament, the Israelites depended on yearly sacrifices to maintain a clear conscience before God. But these sacrifices were never enough. They had to continually offer sin offerings, free will offerings, and wave offerings to maintain their relationship with God. This system of rituals eventually became tiresome and lost its relational aspect.
What Keeps Us from Fellowship with God?
The one thing that keeps us from right fellowship with God isn't Jesus Christ—it's our conscience. When we sin, our fellowship is disrupted not because of Him, but because of what we've done. As New Testament believers, we don't offer sacrifices for our sins; instead, we are the sacrifice.
Romans 12:1 tells us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." This is the least we can do—offer ourselves on the altar of sacrifice. And when should we do this? Always, now. If we would stay on the altar, we'd do a whole lot less sinning.
How Do We Maintain a Clean Conscience?
When we sin, 1 John 1:9 reminds us that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." But if we don't allow Christ to be our high priest, we won't go to Him to confess and receive that clear conscience.
A clean conscience isn't about:
Why Do Rituals Become Empty?
Rituals become tiresome when they lose their relational aspect. Doing the right thing simply because it's right isn't enough—our motives matter. Are we doing right because it's the right thing to do, or because we love Him? There's a significant difference.
There's nothing wrong with rituals as long as we don't become ritualistic in doing them. When our spiritual practices become mere habits without heart, they lose their power.
What Does Sin Do to Our Relationship with God?
Sin only keeps us from God if we choose to let it. The author shares how difficult it is to pray when knowing there's unconfessed sin—whether it's harboring anger, saying something unkind to a spouse, or allowing sinful thoughts to linger.
Presumptuous sin (knowingly doing what we shouldn't) makes it difficult to be filled with God's Spirit. While God can use any vessel (like He used Samson despite his sin), we should strive to be vessels fit for honor, filled with His presence.
How Does Christ's Testament Work?
Hebrews 9:16-17 explains that a testament (or will) only takes effect after the death of the one who made it. Through Christ's death, creation receives the benefits of God's will, that none should perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
For beneficiaries to receive the benefits of a will, they must come to the reading and receive what's offered. Similarly, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
Why Is Consistent Church Attendance Important?
Out of thousands of church services attended, there might only be 10-12 that dramatically change your life—and you never know which services those will be until you're there. The same applies to devotional time, discipleship classes, and other spiritual disciplines.
When we skip these opportunities, we miss what God might have for us in those moments. We are the living testaments of Christ, and our response to His sacrifice should be consistent commitment.
How Should We Approach Worship?
Our approach to worship should move from:
What Does a Life of Worship Look Like?
A life of worship means everything we do is for God's glory. The author transparently admits that perhaps only 30-35% of his life is truly about God, while the rest is self-focused—despite Christ giving 100% of His life for us.
Our devotional time should be absolute adulation and worship. When we come to church, we should come to be with Him, not just to fulfill a religious obligation.
Life Application
The challenge is clear: Make your devotional time with God a priority—not as a ritual, but as a relationship. When you approach God, do so with your whole heart, seeking Him early and consistently.
Ask yourself:
When you prioritize personal time with God, He will fill you up. Then when you gather with others, He will naturally pour out of you. That's how He works. The only one choosing not to have a vibrant relationship with God is you. Start today, and watch how He transforms your spiritual life from empty ritual to genuine worship.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites depended on yearly sacrifices to maintain a clear conscience before God. But these sacrifices were never enough. They had to continually offer sin offerings, free will offerings, and wave offerings to maintain their relationship with God. This system of rituals eventually became tiresome and lost its relational aspect.
What Keeps Us from Fellowship with God?
The one thing that keeps us from right fellowship with God isn't Jesus Christ—it's our conscience. When we sin, our fellowship is disrupted not because of Him, but because of what we've done. As New Testament believers, we don't offer sacrifices for our sins; instead, we are the sacrifice.
Romans 12:1 tells us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." This is the least we can do—offer ourselves on the altar of sacrifice. And when should we do this? Always, now. If we would stay on the altar, we'd do a whole lot less sinning.
How Do We Maintain a Clean Conscience?
When we sin, 1 John 1:9 reminds us that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." But if we don't allow Christ to be our high priest, we won't go to Him to confess and receive that clear conscience.
A clean conscience isn't about:
- Giving enough in the offering plate
- Saying the right things on Sunday
- Singing the songs just right
- Preaching the perfect message
- It's about understanding that we're made perfect because of Christ's sacrifice once and for all.
Why Do Rituals Become Empty?
Rituals become tiresome when they lose their relational aspect. Doing the right thing simply because it's right isn't enough—our motives matter. Are we doing right because it's the right thing to do, or because we love Him? There's a significant difference.
There's nothing wrong with rituals as long as we don't become ritualistic in doing them. When our spiritual practices become mere habits without heart, they lose their power.
What Does Sin Do to Our Relationship with God?
Sin only keeps us from God if we choose to let it. The author shares how difficult it is to pray when knowing there's unconfessed sin—whether it's harboring anger, saying something unkind to a spouse, or allowing sinful thoughts to linger.
Presumptuous sin (knowingly doing what we shouldn't) makes it difficult to be filled with God's Spirit. While God can use any vessel (like He used Samson despite his sin), we should strive to be vessels fit for honor, filled with His presence.
How Does Christ's Testament Work?
Hebrews 9:16-17 explains that a testament (or will) only takes effect after the death of the one who made it. Through Christ's death, creation receives the benefits of God's will, that none should perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
For beneficiaries to receive the benefits of a will, they must come to the reading and receive what's offered. Similarly, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
Why Is Consistent Church Attendance Important?
Out of thousands of church services attended, there might only be 10-12 that dramatically change your life—and you never know which services those will be until you're there. The same applies to devotional time, discipleship classes, and other spiritual disciplines.
When we skip these opportunities, we miss what God might have for us in those moments. We are the living testaments of Christ, and our response to His sacrifice should be consistent commitment.
How Should We Approach Worship?
Our approach to worship should move from:
- Ritualistic regurgitation (going through motions)
- To responsive adaptation (responding to Christ's sacrifice)
- To relational adulation (true worship)
- When we think about Christ's sacrifice, the stripes He took, the blood He shed, it changes how we respond to Him. True worship happens when we die to our will so we might live in His.
What Does a Life of Worship Look Like?
A life of worship means everything we do is for God's glory. The author transparently admits that perhaps only 30-35% of his life is truly about God, while the rest is self-focused—despite Christ giving 100% of His life for us.
Our devotional time should be absolute adulation and worship. When we come to church, we should come to be with Him, not just to fulfill a religious obligation.
Life Application
The challenge is clear: Make your devotional time with God a priority—not as a ritual, but as a relationship. When you approach God, do so with your whole heart, seeking Him early and consistently.
Ask yourself:
- How much of my spiritual life has become mere ritual without relationship?
- What presumptuous sins am I allowing to hinder my fellowship with God?
- Am I approaching church and devotional time to truly meet with God or just to check a box?
- What percentage of my life is truly lived for God's glory versus my own desires?
When you prioritize personal time with God, He will fill you up. Then when you gather with others, He will naturally pour out of you. That's how He works. The only one choosing not to have a vibrant relationship with God is you. Start today, and watch how He transforms your spiritual life from empty ritual to genuine worship.
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