HOLINESS -- THE CENTRAL PURPOSE OF REDEMPTION

Text: -- "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach" (Hebrews 13:12, 13).

From the darkest and most tragic experiences of life come some of our greatest blessings. The greatest tragedy of this world is the death of Jesus Christ. The darkest blot on the pages of human history is the rejection and crucifixion of the Son of God. But God turns man's greatest tragedy into the mightiest work of redemption, and man's blackest crime He transforms into the greatest revelation of sacrificial, undying love; a divine love that would suffer for man that He might bring him to God. The suffering of the Son of God without the gate of Jerusalem was for the purpose of sanctifying the people with His own blood.

The Hebrew Christians, to whom this message was addressed originally, would immediately relate this statement to the Day of Atonement of the old Jewish economy. It was on this annual day of atonement when the bodies of those beasts, whose blood was brought into the sanctuary by the high priest and sprinkled on and before the mercy seat for sin, were burned without the camp. Thus the inspired writer adds to the many better things already enumerated in this book of Hebrews the fact that Christians have a better sin offering -- Christ himself. He, our great High Priest, who put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself outside the gate, has entered the heavenly sanctuary, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Thus He has opened the new and living way for us into the holiest of all through His own blood. But He is actively at work among men, through His Spirit, preparing them through salvation, the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of the heart, to enjoy fellowship with God here, and to participate in eternal bliss hereafter.

We shall consider the message of this scripture under three main thoughts; First, The Fact, "Jesus ... suffered without the gate"; second, The Purpose, "That he might sanctify the people with his own blood"; and third, The Appeal, "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach."