NOT YET. Hebrews 9:8-10 To the Jews as a nation, the tabernacle, and later the temple, were considered the most holy places on earth. Now, as Hebrew Christians, they needed to remember that all of this was symbolic of the reality they now had. There was a new, living way for them to enter God's presence directly. Performing the types and shadows didn't solve the problem of sin; they were simply looking forward to what was to come, which was real and would truly address the sin issue. They had to look beyond the shadows to Christ. "Eternal redemption for us" has been provided through the death of Christ, who has delivered us from the bondage and consequences of sin.
Access to God was limited under the law of the Mosaic covenant. Even the high priest was restricted to entering the veil once a year, bringing blood to cover his sins and then blood on behalf of the people. The blood of the old covenant covered sins of ignorance and weakness but not premeditated sins or the sinful nature of people. The old system of law-keeping and sacrifices was lacking because people were not fully reconciled to God.
The Holy Spirit, who is the divine Author of the scriptures, shows us that we cannot be reconciled or truly come to God through the old sacrifices. They were a temporary covering and a picture of the true and only way to God – the “once for all” sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. The entrance into the “Holiest of all,” or “The Holiest of Holies,” is entirely under the control of the Holy Spirit. He revealed to Moses the pattern of the tabernacle, instructed him to make and hang the veil, and commanded that it be opened only once a year.
It was the Holy Spirit who prepared a body for the Lord Jesus Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Through the “eternal Spirit,” our Lord offered Himself as the sacrifice with His own blood so we can enter into the presence of God. The Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead to sit at the throne of God. The Holy Spirit has opened the way for us to come to God by convicting us of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come. We are born again by the Spirit and the word. The Holy Spirit dwells in each believer to keep us, intercede for us, and fill us for divine service. He bears witness with our spirits to assure us that we are born of God.
Believers today are forgiven when they come to Christ by faith, and we are assured of God’s unfailing love through His word. We can enter into God's presence knowing we are accepted because of Jesus’ payment for our sins; however, we remain aware of our sinfulness. When we sin, we confess and turn away from our sins, mourn over our unfaithfulness, and the deception of our fleshly interests. How we thank God that we have access to the throne of grace, where we find mercy and grace to help in times of need!
“The time of reformation” refers to when our Lord came, suffered for us to bring us to God, and is now our Great High Priest interceding for us at the throne of God. His infinite love, compassion, mercy, and grace led Him to cleanse us from our sins by giving His life in our place. Unsaved people may not have a burden of sin on their consciences now, but they will in their eternal future. When a person yields to the Holy Spirit's striving, they have an opportunity to be saved. Some people try to ease their consciences by doing “dead works.”
Our consciences are freed from hopeless guilt when we repent to God and place our faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The righteousness of Christ is given to us, and the Holy Spirit teaches us through the word of God. We have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Gentile believers who read the book of Hebrews may not realize the impact these truths have on Jews who, for several thousand years, have been steeped in the religion and traditions that trace back to the building of the Tabernacle and, to some extent, to the call of Abraham. The law and the prophets were significant until the “time of reformation,” but to most Jews today, law-keeping is the means to the end they hope for.
However, it is possible for any of us to become so occupied with the “journey” and the ceremonial forms of worship and service that we lose sight of Lord Jesus Christ and His great and ongoing work for us. The Holy Spirit, through the word of God, guides us to see the full picture of God's dealings with man through the types and shadows of the old covenant, leading us to the fulfillment of these symbols and the current reality of where we are now, and what our Lord is doing for us today. That should motivate us to dedicate ourselves to doing what He desires today and every day.