Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 8:1-6.

 

“¹ Now the main point in what has been said is this:  we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ² a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.  ³ For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices;  so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.  ⁴ Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;  ⁵ who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”  ⁶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”  Hebrews 8:1-6.

 

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Jesus “has obtained a more excellent ministry”.  Verse 6. 

 

 

The more excellent ministry of Jesus is based on Jesus’ location in “His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens”.  Verses 1 and 2.  “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:25. 

 

The more excellent ministry of Jesus is based on Jesus’ ability to offer heavenly things for His people including but not limited to His sacrifice on the cross which served as propitiation (appeasement) for His people and which resulted in eternal life for His people.  Verses 3, 4, and 5.  “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”  Hebrews 2:17  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”  John 10:27-28. 

 

The more excellent ministry of Jesus is based on His role as “the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises”.  Verse 6.  “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”  Hebrews 9:15

                        

God willing, in our next devotion, we will look at some of the better promises upon which Jesus’ more excellent ministry has been enacted.  

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 7:23-28.

 

“²³ The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, ²⁴ but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.  ²⁵ Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

 

²⁶ For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;  ²⁷ who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.  ²⁸ For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”  Hebrews 7:23-28.

 

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Jesus is the perfect high priest.  He “continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently”.  Verse 24.  He is “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens”.  Verse 26.  He “does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself”.  Verse 27.  He is the Son of God, appointed by God, “made perfect forever”.  Verse 28.

“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Verse 25.

That seems like more than enough and a fitting conclusion.  But, Paul again emphasizes the weakness of the Law in contrast to the strength and perfection of Jesus who is able to save forever.  “For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”  Verse 28. 

“For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”  Hebrews 7:18-19.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 7:11-22.

 

“¹¹ Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?  ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.  ¹³ For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.  ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  ¹⁵ And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.  ¹⁷ For it is attested of Him,

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.  ²⁰ And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

²² so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”  Hebrews 7:11-22.

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“For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”  Verses 18 and 19. 

“Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?”  Verse 11.

 “… For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.  Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:21-26.

Don’t go back to the “physical requirement” of the Law.  Cling to the “indestructible life” of Christ.  See Verse 16.    

For those who would reject this “better hope” and still cling to the Law, there is this warning.  “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”  Galatians 3:10. 

God’s seal of approval is on Jesus.   

“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever”.  See Verse 21.

“so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”  Verse 22.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 7:1-10.

 

“¹ For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.  ³ Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

 

⁴ Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.  ⁵ And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.  ⁶ But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.  ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.  ⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.  ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.”  Hebrews 7:1-10.

 

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“Now observe how great this man (Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God) was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.”  Verse 4.  We make this observation, because Jesus was “according to the likeness of Melchizedek”,  Hebrews 7:15.  “For it is attested of Him (Jesus),

First, the translation of Melchizedek’s name is “king of righteousness” and “king of peace”.  Verse 2.  Like Mechizedek, Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” who became to us “righteousness”.    

Isaiah 9:6
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;  And the government will rest on His shoulders;  And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

1 Corinthians 1:30
“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”

Second, “Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.”  Verse 3.  Like Mechizedek seemed to be, Jesus is eternal.  Here is part of Calvin’s commentary about this verse:  

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 6:13-20.

 

“¹³ For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”  ¹⁵ And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.  ¹⁶ For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.  ¹⁷ In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.  ¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, ²⁰ where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 6:13-20.

 

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“I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”  God made the promise and “interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us”.  So, what does the promise mean to us?  What is this “hope we have as an anchor of the soul”?  

 

Galatians 4:3 refers to the promise of the Holy Spirit:  “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  

 

Galatians 5:5 refers to the hope of righteousness:  “For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”

 

Hebrews 12:22-24 refers to the hope and promise of heaven and the presence of God, Jesus, angels, and “the spirits of the righteous made perfect”:    “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

 

Titus 1:2 and Titus 3:7 refer to “… the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,”  Titus 1:2  “so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  Titus 3:7

 

We don’t search Scriptures to find the end of the promise and hope;  there is no end:  “but just as it is written,

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 6:9-12.

 

“⁹ But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.  ¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.  ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Hebrews 6:9-12.

 

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Following the warning of the previous Scripture so that we don’t coast to the finish line, today’s Scripture encourages us:  “we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation”.  Verse 9.  It reminds us that “God is not unjust so as to forget your work”  Verse 10.  It shows the “desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end”.  Verse 11.  It exhorts us to be “imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Verse 12. 

 

 

 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;”  Hebrews 10:23. 

 

Deuteronomy 7:9
“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”

 

Deuteronomy 32:4
“The Rock!  His work is perfect, For all His ways are just;  A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.”

 

Psalm 89:8
“O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD?  Your faithfulness also surrounds You.”

 

Psalm 98:3
“He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;  All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

 

Isaiah 25:1
“O LORD, You are my God;  I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;  For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”

 

1 Corinthians 1:9
“God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 

2 Corinthians 1:18
“But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.”

 

 

 

Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life;  but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”

 

Deuteronomy 6:7
“You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

 

Deuteronomy 6:17
“You should diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.”

 

Joshua 23:11
“So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God.”

 

Proverbs 13:4
“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.”

 

Isaiah 26:9
“At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently;  For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.”

 

2 Timothy 2:15
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

 

Hebrews 4:11
“Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”

 

2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you;  for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;”

 

2 Peter 3:14
“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,”

 

 

 

Imitate Abraham:  “In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.”  Romans 4:18-22. 

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 6:1-8.

 

“¹ Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.  ³ And this we will do, if God permits.  ⁴ For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;  ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”  Hebrews 6:1-8.

 

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Today’s Scripture continues to emphasize the importance of growth.  And, it contains a warning.

 

A long time ago, I attended a Pentecostal church.  Every Sunday night, the congregation was encouraged to come up to the altar and kneel down and repent.  Now, of course, repentance is good, and tears are good.  But, it does no good to go out in the following week and engage in the same bad behavior and think that all is necessary is to repent again Sunday night.  Growth is important. 

 

Jesus told a parable about the Sower and the Seed which illustrates the importance of growth.  “Now the parable is this:  the seed is the word of God.  Those beside the road are those who have heard;  then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.  Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy;  and these have no firm root;  they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.  The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”  Luke 8:11-15. 

 

Yes, we are elected.  Yes, we have received magnificent promises.  But, let us also be diligent to grow and add moral qualities to our lives.  Let us press on to maturity.

 

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you;  for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”  2 Peter 1:4-11. 

 

In conclusion, even Paul did not rest on his laurels.  “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;  but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 5:11-14.

 

“¹¹ Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”  Hebrews 5:11-14.

 

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There is a lesson for us the congregation.  But, there is also a lesson for us the preachers and teachers. 

 

For the congregation, it is not sufficient for us to show up at church on Sunday or even twice on Sunday.  We can “go through the motions” without growing as we should.  Who would think it is sufficient to just go to a classroom without listening carefully, without taking notes, and without studying hard?!  Who would think it is sufficient to just go to a gym without working out hard?!     

 

For preachers and teachers, we can consciously or unconsciously condone this “dull of hearing” behavior of the congregation.  We may only require financial support and respect from our congregation.  We may want the congregation to need us more than we want the congregation to be able to become teachers and leaders in the church, as Paul states here that they should be.  We may praise those who just show up without showing any real growth or real fruit in their lives. 

 

It may be easier for preachers and teachers to preach and teach to “the lowest common denominator”, the “dull of hearing”.  It may be easier for preachers and teachers to just recycle sermons and lessons and give the congregation a bottle of milk rather than working hard in their sermon or lesson in order to put fresh steak in it. 

 

We sense how bad Paul wanted his congregation to grow.  “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.  Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?”  Galatians 4:19-21. 

 

We see the gifts of Christ and the goal of preaching and teaching in Ephesians 4:11-15.  “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”  Ephesians 4:11-15.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 5:1-10.

 

“¹ For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;  ² he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;  ³ and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.  ⁴ And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

 

⁵ So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,

⁶ just as He says also in another passage,

⁷ In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.  ⁸ Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  ⁹ And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, ¹⁰ being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 5:1-10.

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Today’s Scripture explains how Christ is “the source of eternal salvation”.  

Christ was “designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Verse 10.  Hebrews Chapter 7 identifies Melchizedek.  Click here: Hebrews 7 NASB – Melchizedek’s Priesthood Like – Bible Gateway

Here is some of what Hebrews Chapter 7 states about Melchizedek:

“Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.  And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.  But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.  But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.”  Hebrews 7:4-7.

“And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.  For it is attested of Him,

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”  Hebrews 7:15-19. 

Christ “can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness”.  Verse 2.

Christ’s supplications for His people were heard by God “because of His piety”.  Verse 7.

Christ was obedient to God and made perfect.  Verses 8 and 9.

In summary, Christ is our perfect High Priest and “the source of eternal salvation”.  Verse 9.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 4:14-16.

 

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16.

 

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If someone has previously struggled with the same type of problem that we now face, we know that they are more likely to feel empathy and have sympathy for us.  We may be more willing to accept their encouragement, advice, and other help.  

 

Christ “has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”  Verse 15.  Christ sympathizes with our weaknesses,  Verse 15.  Hopefully, those facts will make us more willing to accept Christ’s encouragement, advice, and other help. 

 

                              

Question 39:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be man?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow feeling of our infirmities;  that we might receive the adoption of sons, and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.

“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”  Hebrews 2:17.