Within the Veil

Text — “Nerther by. the blood of goats and calves, but by Fis own blood, He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

7120... 12.

THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE. — LIFTED ONCE A YEAR. — JESUS WITH — OUT THE VEIL. — IN THE PLACE OF SINFUL MEN. — I. THE SACRI-. FICE OF HIS ENTERING. — UNIQUE. — SUBSTITUTIONARY. — PER-SONAL. — OF TRANSCENDANT VALUE, — ITS REFERENCE TO HUMAN GUILT. — TO GOD. — II. THE MANNER OF HIS ENTRANCE. — THE VEIL RENT. — III. THE OBJECTS OF HIS ENTRANCE, — TO PREPARE THE HEAVENLY PLACES. — AS REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS PEOPLE. — TO PERFECT THEM. — TO ABIDE THERE. — lIV. THE. GLORIES OF HIS ENTRANCE. — THE REDEMPTION ETERNAL.

Unber the old covenant the Lord was set forth to the people as dwelling apart, within the veil. A thick tapestry hung before the most holy place, and thus. concealed the light which symbolized the presence of God. Within the inner sanctuary Jehovah dwelt apart, and none entered the sacred precincts save one man, and he but once a year. The great teaching was — God is hidden from men; sin has made a division between man and God.

THE WAY OF APPROACH is not yet made manifest. - Yet even then there was a hint given that an entrance would be made manifest; for the division was not a piece of brickwork, nor even an arrangement of cedar overlaid with gold:

it was a veil, which, once in the year, was solemnly iest might pass beneath.

rist of God.

and the most high place, were only “patterns of things in the heavens;” they were not the pee themselves. In them we see instructive types and symbols,

we read the eleventh verse of the chapter before us! ‘It begins with “But”; and, oh, what a blessed “but” for you and for me! Up till then religion dealt with externals, such as meats and drinks and washings, and.

substance. ring out — ‘ Christ being come”! It was THE MORTG OF RETALENEM ug hist being come.” It was the song of Anna and’ Simeon — “Christ being come.” This will be the joy of the whole earth when once earth understands her truest privilege — ‘“Christ being come.” The good. things are still to come for many a year; but now “Christ being come,” we have them in possession. The striking point to which I call your attention is. this: while our Lord was here, He was comparable to the High-Priest when He stood on the outside of the veil. I want you to recollect that fact. Outside is the place of sinful men. Did the holy Jesus ever 9

: at sinful men were yet to be pomntied: to 5 w Pniek unto the Most Holy God, shioueh the; 4

Now, beloved friends, the priests of old, the ae

but. nothing more. How greatly we may rejoice as

carnal ordinances, and priests who could only offer the blood of bulls and of goats; du¢ the coming of the Messiah changed all this. We pass from shadow to.

Read on: “Christ being come.’ How the joy-bells braagaley Ie

stand there? He did. But after He had presented His sacrifice, after it had been consumed with fire, He passed within the veil, and rose to the throne of the eternal God. He entered heaven as a priest, in all the solemnity of accomplished sacrifice. ‘By His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.” Upon that august entrance I shall try to speak this morning.

I. First, I shall call your attention to

THE SACRIFICE OF HIS ENTERING.

We note concerning it, first, that the sacrifice presented by our Lord was unigue. It was “His own blood” that He offered — blood from the veins of a man; but what a man! Remember how He Himself said it: «Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared Me.” The body of Christ was specially prepared of God for this great sacrifice. He was pure and holy, and therefore able to bear the sin of others, since He had none of His own. God especially prepared His body for the indwelling of the Deity, and He stands before us as a personage the like of which neither heaven nor earth containeth. God is a pure spirit, but this sacred Person has a body; man hath no pretensions to divinity, but this glorious One counts it not robbery to be equal with God. He is God and man in one person, by a marvellous unity which we believe but can never comprehend; and as our Mediator, He offered Himself without spot unto God.

The sacrifice of our Lord was, in the highest sense, substitutionary. The penalty of sin is death; and their blood nome out wae eat so must je aut “slain in the sinner’s place. O beloved, let us’ oe cling to the great truth of: e Ps THE VICARIOUS SACRIFICE,

; which i is the chief teaching of this sacred Book. Take this away, and I do not see anything left in the Bible

bo Saf the doctrine of Christ is atonement by His death, The victim was killed, but it was also consumed by

4 a it he holy fire, upon the altar of God. Our Lord offered up Himself unto God, not only by the death which a came from the cross, but.by the consuming of soul which came from the horror of bearing human sin. se ‘The tempest of sin’s consequences burst upon the innocent head of the great Substitute; the thunder- —

«loud emptied its dire contents upon His soul. He, voluntarily putting Himself in our place, bore the result of that substitution. Out of infinite love, Jesus became an offering for sin. Not of compulsion, but of

for the sinner, that the sinner might be made ‘he righteousness of God in Him, “who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” This we ye ‘know, and in this great truth we steadfastly abide. What other hope have we?

‘The sacrifice which our Lord presented before He went within the veil was personal. Stress should be ilaid upon the word “own” here. “Neither by the

His own sacred choice, He became the sin- -offering

at all which can be called good news. The very soul

. fe and death. “He poured out mere saat es, death, oe - Our Lord owed nothing to the justice of God on His. — -own account; He was “holy, harmless, undefiled a separate from sinners;” and when Ki HE TOOK OUR PLACE, it was that He might voluntarily offer up idl ow! sacrifice, of personal suffering, and personal deat yielding up His whole being as a sacrifice in our stead. When He hangs naked upon the tree, I dare. not look; but, with tears in my eyes, I worship. ee. own with deepest love how absolutely He gave up. <a everything on my behalf, reserving not even a rag for Himself, nor an atom of Peon “He ‘saved! am others; Himself He could not save.” It was, in the most emphatic sense, a personal sacrifice. Even in sympathy we cannot enter the inner shrine — of His sacrifice; in their innermost depth they are - unapproachable. Jesus treads the wine-press alone. Gethsemane! — who can stand in the garden, and view the bloody sweat, and hear the deep groanings —

of that mighty heart? Even the favored three are:

overcome with sorrow, and fall asleep. But as for

Calvary, where the darkness was denser still, till mid-day turned to midnight, as an emblem of what was. going on; into that awful blackness we cannot peer. “Thine unknown sufferings” still remains one of the best descriptive expressions concerning that which — can never be described. All this, I say, was His own

* 2 Phe: i was of transcendent value. 1 cannot imagine a limit to the value of the sacrifice of Christ; I hope none of you will ever try to do so. When He gave Himself

—made to the justice of God than Genie whole human race had been consumed. When God Himself comes emer: to stand in the sinner’s place, the law obtains a

borne its penalty. When the Law-giver Himself bears the penalty of the law-breaking, the law is made honorable, and it is plainly demonstrated that. GOD WILL NOT SPARE

the guilty, but that every transgression must receive its penalty. When even the innocent Substitute is made to die because sin is laid upon Him, we are sure that sin is exceedingly hateful to God. Hence, the sacrifice of our Lord was of transcendent value.

Ee was made in reference to human guilt. His death - -was not merely an example, nor simply a display of -divine love. ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh -away the sin of the world.” His death dealt with our uncleanness: it cleanseth us from all sin. ‘Once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” And this had reference to God. Jesus did not die to make God mercioie Peeaiee cl nei deaths, which are more ne be sey alued than the much fine gold. This sacrifice of His

ay up as a sacrifice, there was a greater recompense

r fuller vindication than if worlds of guilty ones had

This sacrifice, let men nowadays say what they will,

ful, as some falsely say that we teach; but because God was merciful Jesus died, that there might be a clear passage for divine mercy, without the violation of divine justice. Jesus did not die to make God love sinners, for He always did love them; but that His love might be exercised in consistency with holiness. it was needful that the law should be vindicated, and the threatening should not become a dead letter.

II. Let us now notice

THE MANNER OF HIS ENTRANCE.

We are told in the text, ‘‘He entered in once into the holy place.” Much emphasis is to be laid upon that word “once.” It has been done, then, omce. Once has He offered up Himself without spot unto God; once has He lifted the veil, and passed into the holy place of fullest fellowship with God on our behalf. It has been done! Jesus has entered in. Our Head and Representative is with God. It is not a thing to be wrought in the future, but it has been accomplished: His sacrifice had an immediate efficacy. On the spot it availed to open the kingdom of heaven. From the cross the Forsaken One entered into His kingdom as the Beloved of God. To prove how complete was the effect of His sacrifice, He went into the heaven of God at once. “It is finished.” The proof is that Jesus entered in within the veil.

It means, however, that it was only once. Once only has Jesus made entrance officially into the heavenly places; for, by that one entrance, He has made the way open and manifest. The entrance of our Lord once for all into the holy place has secured the hrown Porn What if I say that the inner shrine. ae as expanded itself and taken in the holy place, and ss

tn now all places are holy where true hearts seek their

xod? Had our High-Priest merely lifted the veil

fell back again: but since the veil of the temple was

rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, there can

be no need for a new entrance; for that which hine * ders is taken away. No veil now hangs between God

ig His chosen people: we may come boldly to the

a throne of grace. Blessed be the name of our Lord a who has entered in “once”!

y And now, beloved, He has entered into the holy

af ip eee once in the sense that He has entered in the

- fullest and most complete manner. When the High-Priest went up to the mercy-seat, he drew near to the

f Bol of God, but not necessarily near to God Himself. But our Lord Jesus Christ, as Mediator, came

ee go near to God that no nearness could be greater. He always was in His Godhead one with the Father: -. but as God and man in one person He is now for-: ever with God. He saith, “I and My Father are one.”

The nearness of the God-man Christ Jesus to His Father is something to think upon with reverent pleasure; for, remember, Christ has gone into the glory of the Father, and He has made a way for us to enter into like nearness. The road is open, the access is free; God meets us, and invites us to meet Him. He waits to speak to us, as a man with his friend.

III. But now, thirdly, let us consider

THE OBJECTS OF HIS ENTRANCE.

What did our Lord Jesus Christ do by His entrance within the veil? What comes of it? It means, first, that He made atonement within the veil. He cleansed the heavenly places. Albeit that the guilty are taken up to dwell with God, and our poor prayers are accepted of God, neither. we nor our prayers carry any defilement into the holy place, because the atoning blood is there beforehand. After heaven hath sucked up into itself so much of the sinnerhood of earth, it remains as pure as it was when only God and His holy angels dwelt therein. While men that were once steeped in sin are permitted to come and sit at the right hand of God, God remains as rigorously righteous as if no guilty one had been forgiven: the great Sacrifice has secured this.

Then, next, He enters there to appear for us. He hath gone there to put in an appearance on our behalf. As in a court of law, when a man appears by his attorney or legal representative he is in the court, even though he may be miles away; so are we, to-day, in possession of our eternal inheritance through Him who has put in an appearance for us. God sees His saints in heaven in the person of their glorious representative. In Him we are raised up together, and made to sit together in the heavenly places. Is not this e is ao ae to pan Oi us.

fied.” His one sacrifice hath made the comers there-

-enter into the holy place. His work is done, else He would not be within the veil; His being there is proof

& -eomplete i in Him. The set-apart ones are accepted, for He in whom they stand is accepted. 5 He has entered in once, also, that He may abide

q the tenth chapter: ‘But this man, after He had offered 2

me “one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His .-enemies be made His footstool.” Jesus is with God: “in glory, and always must be there till the purposes of grace are accomplished. He holds a permanent session at the right hand of the Father in everlasting oes “triumph. - Till our representative is expelled from heaven, we cannot lose it. As that can never be,.

look up, O believer, and see where you are, and where you always must be; accepted in the Beloved, - -made nigh by the blood of Christ! IV. But now, lastly, let us review THE GLORIES OF THIS ENTRANCE. iWe have seen the sacrifice of our Lord’s entrance, the - manner of His entrance, and the objects of His ventrance; and now let us muse upon the glory of His

eat at he tenth a pter and the fourteenth verse: “For by one offer- 1¢ He hath perfected forever them that are sanctiunto perfect; and to show their perfectness, they

that everything is complete, and that His people are —

there. Look at the twelfth and thirteenth verses of entrance, which is this: ‘having obtained eternal redemption.” The words “for us,” are supplied by the translators, and therefore we leave them out. Our Lord entered the most holy place “having obtained eternal redemption.” When Aaron went in with the blood of bulls and’ goats, he had not obtained. ‘‘eternal redemption;” he had only obtained a symbolic and temporary purification for the people, and. that was all.

Our Lord enters in because, first, His work is alk done. We do not read “He entered in that He might obtain it,” but “having obtained.” There is nogetting redemption out of the Bible. I bless God for this. Many cannot endure the word, but it is there;.

and it is redemption by. price too — ‘“‘a mercantile. transaction,’ as they profanely speak. “Ye are: bought with a price.” Redemption is deliverance

through payment: in this case, ransom through onestanding ‘in another’s stead, and discharging that. other’s obligations. Brethren, when the Lord Jesus. Christ died, He paid our redemption price; and when. He entered within the veil, He entered as one who» not only desired to give us redemption, but as one-who had ‘obtained eternal redemption.” He has. won for us a redemption both by price and by power.

This is, indeed, a great redemption. We are: redeemed from all the bondage that ensued from sin. We are no longer the serfs of Satan, nor the slaves of of the world, neither are we subject to bondage: through fear of death. That last enemy shall be destroyed, and we know it. The Son hath set us free,

Ke 1 thi aoe His Cyoeenere renown, that He
obtained redemption for His people.

rely passing importance. He offered Himself by

the mortgage from the eternal inheritance, and

a BADE US FREELY ENTER 3

upon the predestinated possession. Sin, death, hell — these are not temporary things: the atonement

deals with these, and hence it is an eternal redemption of Christ deals with the whole of past sin. From every soul that has by faith part and parcel in this redemption, all the olden curse of the race is gone.

lies buried there which can ever rise to accuse you. Who shall lay anything to the charge of him for whom Christ has obtained eternal redemption?

Now, look forward into eternity. Behold the vista which has no end! Eternal redemption covers all the a, peril of this mortal life, and every danger beyond, if such there be. You know not how much you are to be tempted and tried before the end cometh. Peradventure, you will live to extreme old age, and you dread the decay of intellect, and the increase of infirmity; and well you may. Nevertheless, be glad that He has obtained eternal redemption for you. You cannot possibly outlive the redemption of Christ,

‘V hen our Lord entered in, He had by His sacrifice so dealt with eternal things, and not with matters of

he Eternal Spirit, and by that offering He took offtion. Let me cheer the heart of anyone here who is. burdened with sin with this reflection, that the redemp- —

You have no cause to fear the ancient past; nothing —

;
a
es the-seven chee
THE POURING OUT OF THE DREAD vIALs!

OD incated even though the star Woanee shogia Ba ‘ fall, and the waters should be turned into blood, and all these things should be dissolved. When prophecy — is all fulfilled, and we pass into the dread future, we fear not death, since our Lord has obtained eternal redemption. ‘Eternal punishment” is a word of unspeakable terror; but it is met and fully covered by “eternal redemption.” Be not afraid, O ye that ag ‘put your trust in the Lord Jesus as your Sacrifice and Priest! There is nothing in the mystery of eternity that need appall you. oa I have done, but let me ask my beloved ean ae one by one, Have you this eternal redemption? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus? He that believeth in Him hath everlasting life, and that is the outcome of

* ‘eternal redemption. Dost thou believe in the Son of — God? Into the holiest of all you may enter; nay, you have entered there already in Jesus, and you are there permanently, because He abides there for ever. Your Substitute, your Covenant Head, your Representative is in the glory, and there thou shalt be ere long. Wherefore, if thou believest in Jesus Christ the Son of God with all thine heart, comfort thyself yal:. rit 7 my co - re ag R be n now He is with thee where thou art. The less this congregation, and may we all meet.

within the veil around the great Forerunner whor A e love and adore! Amen, —