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Q4. Cleansing the Conscience


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Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

The external sacrificial regulations were unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience because if the sin was intentional those sins were not cleansed. The guilt of those sins must have lingered in the minds of the people for years. There was no way that the people could go before God through the high priest without fearing that God might try to avenge for the intentional sins of the past.

After accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, when we sin we must ask God to forgive our sins; whither intentional or not. God will then wash our sins in the sea of forgetfulness and cleanse us from our unrighteousness.

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They were unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience because they were external and not within their hearts. God has always looked for a tender, willingly obedient heart of believers under the old as well as the new testaments, and those who have such hearts do have their consciences cleansed by the Holy Spirit (i.e., David in Psalm 51:1-11, etc.) but neither the external rituals of the sacrificial regulations (including circumcision and baptism) cleansed the believers

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Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience?

The same way external religious system does not cleans or perfect the conscience. It isn't by our works we can have our conscience cleansed, but after our conscience is cleansed we find the importance of work in our lives, for we now have power to love God with all our hearts.

Love is first on God's list for the new covenant. Love the Lord God first, how do we do that? Our hearts are being changed, we desire to follow His commandments, this is what I call relationship with Almighty God.

How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God?

We should not have a quilty conscience for we have been purchased by Christ Jesus who is our High Priest, speaking to the Father on our behalf. We have fellowship with God, walking in His ways, and when we falter - we are reminded of the work of the cross, and the Holy Spirit is there giving us power to run the race to the end. Remember who brings condemnation, Satan. The Holy Spirit brings conviction.

What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

The word "may" obtain mercy at the throne means, "will"! It isn't come and see how you are doing, BUT, come and receive mercy and find grace to help us when we need it. This is being bold, for we have a High Priest who has made this possible. Thank you Christ Jesus.

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  • 3 months later...
Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

It could not deal effectively with sin. if you have not confessed your sin to God, then don't expect any kind of intimacy with God. We need to approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

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  • 2 months later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God?

For me, my being sure my sin is truly dealt with clears the conscience, knowing that I will not fall again into that same sin is part of this. In fact question 3 touched a nerve for me, I say this because I have intentionally sinned, its not that I have intentionally rejected Christ or wanted to treat the price of forgiveness lightly, but at times I have been aware that something is wrong and not God honoring- and still gone ahead and done it. Without knowing that my sin can truly be dealt with I have no confidence before God. This is something about the Jeremiah

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  • 3 months later...

External sacrificial regulations could not completely cleanse a person from their sins, however Jesus who shed his blood could only cleanse sins and make whiter than snow. Jesus blood that washes us and cleanse us from unrighteousness,that can perfect the conscience.

God stated that he can't abide in sin however our mediator, advocate and high priest Jesus Christ took our place on that cross, appeasing the sacrificial price that we could not pay which enable and allow us to come before the Father boldly and to make our petition known before God.

The only thing that is necessary for person to do is to come before the Father boldly and to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and confess that you are a sinner and need forgiveness and that you believe that Jesus die on the cross bearing all your sins and shedding his blood for your redemption and salvation.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience?

The Old Testament high priest alone could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifice for both himself and the people. The offering, being the carnal blood of bulls and goats, was only a type and shadow of the spotless blood to come and as such could only temporarily sanctify to the cleansing of the flesh.

The Holiest of Holies, the true tabernacle not made with the hands of man had not yet been made manifest under the old system, because even one carrying the blood of bulls and goats could not have entered in.

Christ, unlike the Old Testament high priest, entered the Holiest of Holies with His own spotless blood which is entirely able to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God?

If there is a guilty conscience, sin is evidently present. Not only can there be no intimacy, sin in effect separates us from His presence.

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

We must hold fast to our profession of faith knowing that we have a High Priest, who through the sacrificial offering of His own spotless blood, tore down that otherwise impenetrable wall that separated us from our God, and gained 24/7, intimate entrance for us to the very throne of Grace where we can find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4

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  • 4 weeks later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience?

The external sacrifices were stopgap...a picture of what was to come in Jesus' sacrifice. The old ones couldn't reach the inner conscience to cleanse it.

How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God?

The knowledge of sin and nagging guilt stop the intimacy. The fear of punishment, dread.

What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

A clean conscience, and the knowledge of sonship (or daughter). The knowledge that the Blood of Jesus has washed away my sin, and that The Lord looks upon me with delight and joy.

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  • 1 month later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience?

The external sacrificial regulations were just that--external rather than from the heart and conscience. These were only a shadow of the coming of Christ whose blood was the last sacrifice.

How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God?

A guilty conscience keeps one from being open and honest and build anxiety and dread all of which gets in the way of real intimacy.

What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

When we truly know the love of God for us and know that Jesus died for our sins, we can come "boldly" before the throne of grace. What a joy to know this gift is real and truly gives us freedom to be filled with hope and the joy of knowing their will be eternal life. :P

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  • 6 months later...

External sacrificial regulations were unable to cleanse the conscience because they were just an outward or artificial ceremonial display.

A guilty conscience inhibits us. Guilt prevent us from having the courage to approach the throne of grace. Guilt becomes a barrier like the veil was in the temple before Jesus became the sacrificial atonement for us.

A tender and willing heart towards God is necessary for us to be able to come boldly to His throne.

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  • 3 months later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9)

Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience?

How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God?

What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

Before the death of Christ, believers driven by a guilty conscience brought gifts and sacrifices to God. But these offerings, given to the priest who served as intermediary, did not cleanse or quiet the awakened conscience of the worshiper. They were unable to make the worshiper whole, perfect, and complete with respect to his conscience. Gifts and sacrifices made the believer outwardly clean, ceremonially, but the blood of Christ removes sin, cleanses the conscience, and makes man whole. It is only once we have a clear conscience that we can boldly approach God.

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  • 2 months later...
Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

They were symbolic unable to reconcile themselves to God. If you have a guilty conscience then you are holding in sin of some kind. To have an intimate relationship with God you have to come clean, repent of all sin and surrender to Him. We have to hold Jesus up high of course that means you have accepted Christ, so with Christ as our saviour we can come boldly. :rolleyes:

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  • 7 months later...

External sacrificial regulations were unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience because they were symbolic - they had not the ability to free us from the guilt of sin - so the guilt of sin remained in the conscience of the sinner preventing him/her from coming into the presence of the Holy God. . .

Feeling guilty concerning sin causes us to think that we deserve punishment thereby fearing to enter the presence of God. . .

To come "boldly into the presence of God" we need to understand that Jesus has atoned for all our sins (past, present and future - intentional and unintentional). . .

1 John 2:1-2 (NLT)

1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sinsand not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

B)

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  • 5 months later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

Answer:

1. Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience?

Because they are just type and shadows only.The Tabernacle that they offer sacrifice is a FIGURE( verse 9-Which [was] a figure for the time then present..),from the greek word parabole which means similitude or something similar..And the real one is yet to come

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  • 1 month later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

They were unable to cleanse because the people could not be cleansed by the blood of Christ. There was no way open for them to have a relationship with God. They could not experience God in their hearts. A guilty conscience will keep us from God because of the sin. We have to repent of anything that will keep us from God. To go boldly, we have to believe and trust God. Know that He is a loving and caring Father. Because He sympathizes with our weaknesses.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

Shedding of blood can not cleanse one from sin-the conscience will dog one to death! Outward cleansing is no cleansing at all!

The veil is gone-it was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross! Now, we can boldly go in, because we know that God is waiting for us to ask for whatever we need, and He will give it to us! Confess and repent-a heart that is undeer conviction, will cause one to go boldly to the throne of grace! Glory to God! If the heart is soft and pliable, then God can work it out! Hallelujah! I got to go shout! Bye!

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  • 2 months later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

1) The sacrifice of bulls and goats does nothing for the inner person, the conscience, that inner barometer of sin and guilt.

2) Guilty consience keeps us from intimacy with God because the conscience is not cleanse.

3) We should come boldly with confidence.

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  • 9 months later...

Sacrificial regulations did not cleanse the inner being of a person conscience. They applied only to the external body, could not cleanse internally, and was only temporary. A guilty conscience inhibits sin and keeps the sinner from approaching God’s presence with freedom and boldness. Therefore, for us to come boldly to the throne of grace one must be free and internally cleansed of guilt before the presence of the Most Holy God.

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  • 1 year later...

External sacrificial regulations were unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience is because it wasn’t from the heart of the person. It did not come from within and therefore ineffective.

 

A guilty conscience keeps us from intimacy with God because we are always thinking about our sins. So in order to come “boldly” before the Lord we need to turn our sins over to the Lord and never go back and pick them up again.

 

 

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  • 2 years later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

The Old Testament external sacrifices for sins was unable to cleans the conscience, the sacrifices of animals had nothing by which to clear a persons conscience. These sacrifices were an external blood sacrifice established by the Mosaic laws. They were to bring to mind of the individual of their trespasses against the Lord.

A guilty conscience will keep us from having intimacy with God because through the conscience the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins that were committed and there is no repentance or humbling of the heart. We remain in our sins and no relationship with God.

In order for us to come boldly before the throne of God we must humble ourselves and be sincerely repentant of our sins. Through God's forgiving and merciful grace we are forgiven and have a relationship with God.     

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  • 2 years later...

External sacrifices were for the physical body and just an example to teach us the way of what would be required by God.  It was only to be used until a better way came which is Christ.

a guilty conscience keeps us from intimacy with God because it is sinfully,.  In order to have forgiveness from sin we must repent and have a pure and honest conscience and heart for God knows every secret thing of the heart and the mind.  A pure heart and mind is necessary to come boldly to God.  We must be sincere in our belief that He is a forgiver of our sins and we must live our lives with all intent and honesty not to practice sin.

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  • 2 years later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

The external sacrifices were unable to cleanse and perfect the conscience because it did not penetrate to the person's inner's being which is the heart and soul and mind. A guilty conscience separates from God through sin and disables us from communicating with Him. A clear conscience that was made possible by the blood of Christ.

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  • 5 months later...
On 4/16/2007 at 12:08 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?

Because our conscience can only be cleansed by God, as we turn to Him in faith. If we could cleanse ourselves, we .wouldn't need grace, just our own works, wisdom, etc.

Our shame makes us want to run from God, just like Adam and Eve did in the garden.

Have God cleanse our conscience from our sin. We can only do that thru faith that God gives us , then we are able to experience His grace in our hearts minds and emotions.

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  • 3 years later...

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience?

External sacrificial regulations didn’t have the ability to cleanse our conscience. It would only help with the outer man, the cleansing, ceremonial washing and eating a drinking didn’t change anything on the inside. The guilt that often comes along with sin.

 

How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God?

A guilty conscience will have you thinking you’re not good enough or worthy enough for God to forgive you. Which will cause you to be further away from your relationship with God and which can lead to more sin. 

 

What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)?


We must come boldly before the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

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