The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 257

that we have offended God, the dread of the stroke of his just wrath t.he achincr want of his forgiveness,-these things we have felt. Who shall roll away the burden ~f our jlllilt.? Who will give us peace? etc. Oh, very deep is this need, and wide as the world I III. A DIVINE CONDITION, "Apart from shedding of blood th81'e is no remission." Under the Mosaic economy atonement for sin was made and ceremonial cleansin" obtained by the shedding and the sprinkling of blood. And the text teaches that for: giveness of sin is attainable, but only through the shedding of blood. What is the reason for this condition? The sacred Scriptures assert that "the blood is the life" (Deut. xii. 23). "The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Lev. xvii. 11). Now, life is our most precious pos- session. "All that a man hath will he give for his life." Thus the "shedding of blood" is equivalent to the giving of the life. And to say that we are "redeemed by the precious blood of Christ " is to express the truth that we are reneemed by the sacrifice of his pure and precious and perfect life. But why should forgiveness of sin rest upon this condition of sacrifice? How the atonement of the death of Christ is related to the Divine Being and government we know not. But in relation to man and the forgiveness of sin we may without presumption offer one or two observations. Forgiveness cannot be granted at the sacrifice of law and moral order. "The Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Man must be brought to recognize this, or to pardon him would be to license wrong-doing. A forgiveness which did not respect and honour the law and order of God would sap the fouudatiom of his government, blight bis universe, and prove an injury to man himself. How shall the Law be maintained and honoured and man be forgiven? God has supplied the answer. He gave his only begotten Son to shed his blood and give up his life for us sinners, as a grand declaration that Law is holy and righteous and good, and must be maintainPd, and that the Lawgiver is the righteous and loving Father, who is willing to forgive all men who turn from sin and trust the Saviour. Through the death of Christ God proclaims the wickedness of sin, the goodness, beauty, and majesty of Law, and his own infinite righteousness and love. "Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.'' This is not an arbitrarily imposed condition of forgiveness of sin. The necessities of the case demand it. It is gracious on the part of God so clearly to declare it. And he who declares it has himself provided for its fulfilment. "Herein is love," etc. (1 John iv. 9, 10); "God commendeth his own love toward us," etc. (Rom. v. 8). "Forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood, the salvation of the sinner through the sacrificei of the Saviour, is the Divine and the only true method. The atonement of the cross is a comprehensive force in the actual redemption of the world from evil." IV. A GLORIOUS FACT. Forgiveness is attainable unto all men. The blood has been shed, Jesus the Christ has offered up his most precious life as a sacrifice for sin, the Divine condition of forgiveness is fulfilled, and forgiveness is now within the reach of every man. It is freely offered to all men, and upon conditions which render it avail- able unto every man. "Let the wicked forsake bis way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts," etc. (Isa. lv. 6, 7). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." "If we confess our sins," etc. (1 John i. 9). CONCLUSION. 1. There is no forgiveness for us apart from Jesus Christ. Our works cannot merit it. Presumptuous trust in the mercy of God, as though he were regard- less of law and order, will not meet with it. Future obedience as an atonement for past sins cannot secure it. Apart from Christ we cannot obtain it. 2. .Accept heartily the forgiveness which is offered to us through him.- W. J. Ver. 24.-" Heaven itself." "For Christ entered . . . into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Our text teaches- I. 'fHAT BEA VEN ITSELF IS A LOCALITY. It is spoken of here as a place into which Christ entered. In his glorified body he entered there, and we cunnot conceive of the existence of a body apart from space and place. Body cannot exist apart from place. Our Lord said to his disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you." Doubtless the blessedness of heaven is chiefly a thing of moral condition, not of circumstances; of character, not of locality. lf a person's soul be impure, sinful, and possessed by  248 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.