The bodily resurrection allows Jesus, despite coming from the tribe of Judah, to present his own humanity as a sacrifice before the Father, establishing his legitimacy as a high priest in Hebrews.
Hebrews challenges traditional notions of sacrifice by emphasizing its comprehensive process and shedding light on the gift aspect and the importance of God's acceptance, expanding the understanding of sacrifice beyond a symbolic interpretation.
Jesus serves as an advocate with the Father and actively intercedes for his people, maintaining the relationship between God and believers through his continual advocacy and intercession.
Deep dives
The Significance of Resurrection in Hebrews
Resurrection plays a crucial role in establishing Jesus' legitimacy as a high priest in Hebrews. Despite coming from the tribe of Judah, which traditionally cannot produce priests, the resurrection allows Jesus to present a gift before the Father – his own humanity. The bodily resurrection enables Jesus to offer his blood and flesh as a sacrifice, analogous to the sacrificial elements in Levitical offerings. The resurrection is presented as an argument for Jesus' ability to serve as a priest in the heavenly tabernacle, separate from earthly priests. It signifies his possession of an indestructible life and marks his perpetual presence with the Father.
Redefining Sacrifice in Hebrews
Hebrews challenges traditional notions of sacrifice by highlighting its comprehensive process rather than reducing it to a single act of killing an animal. The book emphasizes that sacrifice involves much more, such as conveying the animal to the altar and presenting the blood and parts of the animal. The ultimate goal of sacrifice is to offer a gift to God, seeking acceptance and reconciliation. Hebrews reevaluates sacrificial language, shedding light on the gift aspect and the importance of God's acceptance. The book also prompts reconsideration of sacrificial elements found in other New Testament texts, suggesting a broader understanding of sacrifice beyond a symbolic interpretation.
Responding to Criticisms
Critics have raised objections about downplaying the significance of Jesus' death in regards to atonement. However, my intention is not to diminish the importance of Jesus' death, but rather to recognize that it serves as an initial step within a broader framework of atonement. The focus is on the full process of atonement, which encompasses Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. The objective is to present a comprehensive understanding of atonement in Hebrews, without aligning with any particular theological system. Furthermore, referring to Socinus was not meant as an endorsement of his views, but rather to acknowledge his influence in theological discussions surrounding the interpretation of Hebrews.
The ongoing work of Jesus as advocate and intercessor
According to the podcast, Jesus serves as an advocate with the Father and actively intercedes for his people. This idea is explored in various texts, such as 1 John and Hebrews. The podcast raises the question of what would happen if Jesus stopped advocating for us, but highlights that according to these texts, Jesus' ongoing work of intercession is necessary for our relationship with God. The podcast suggests that Jesus' continual advocacy and intercession demonstrate his faithfulness and love for his people, ensuring that our connection with God is maintained.
The multi-dimensional nature of Jesus' sacrificial work
The podcast emphasizes that the sacrificial work of Jesus extends beyond just his death on the cross. It highlights the importance of Jesus' resurrection, ascension, and ongoing intercession in maintaining the relationship between God and his people. The podcast argues that all these aspects are integral components of the atonement and contribute to our confidence in salvation. It acknowledges that Jesus' sacrificial work resolves not only the problem of sin but also addresses issues of mortality, the purification of violated selves, and the ongoing relationship between believers and Jesus, who serves as the ultimate high priest and sacrifice.
Episode: In this episode, Erin sits down with David Moffitt and a live audience at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford to talk about David’s latest book on the atonement. This was […]
