Hebrews:9

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* Now truly , the first covenant had ordinances of divine service , and an earthly sanctuary . * For there was a tabernacle prepared , in the first room of which was the lampstand , and the table , and the bread of the presence ; this is called the sanctuary . * And behind the second veil stood the room of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all ; * Which had the golden altar of incense , and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold , in which was the golden jar that had manna , and Aaron 's rod that budded , and the tables of the covenant ; * And over it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat ; of which we cannot now speak in detail . * Now when these preparations had been made , the priests went regularly into the first room of the tabernacle , performing their ministry . * But into the second the high priest went alone , once every year , and not without blood , which he offered for himself , and for the sins the people committed in ignorance . * By this the Holy Spirit signifies that the way into the holiest of all has not yet been disclosed , while the first room of the tabernacle remains standing , * Which is a symbol for the present age , in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshipper perfect in conscience ; * For they are only a matter of food and drink , and various washings , and regulations for the body , imposed until the time of reformation . * But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come , then , through a greater and more perfect tabernacle , not made with hands , that is to say , not of this creation ; * Nor by the blood of goats and calves , but by his own blood , he entered once for all into the holy place , having obtained eternal redemption . * For if the blood of bulls and of goats , and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are unclean , sanctifies them so their flesh is clean : * How much more shall the blood of Christ , who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God , cleanse your consciences from dead works to serve the living God ? * And for this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant , since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions committed under the first covenant , those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance . * For where there is a will , the death of the testator must be established . * For a will is in force only upon death : it has no strength at all while the testator lives . * Therefore , even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood . * For when Moses had spoken every commandment to all the people according to the law , he took the blood of calves and of goats , with water , and scarlet wool , and hyssop , and sprinkled both the book , and all the people , * Saying , This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you to keep . * In the same way , he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle , and all the vessels used in the ministry . * Indeed , under the law almost all things are cleansed with blood ; and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness . * It was , therefore , necessary that the copies of the heavenly things should be purified with these sacrifices ; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these . * For Christ has not entered a holy place made with hands , a copy of the true one ; but into heaven itself , now to appear in the presence of God for us . * Nor does he need to offer himself often , as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood not his own ; * For then he would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world : but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself . * And as it is appointed for men once to die , and after this comes judgment : * So Christ , having been offered once to bear the sins of many ; shall appear a second time , not to bear sin , but to bring full salvation to those who eagerly await him .

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