City of God - Part 1

The images that the author gives to us in this passage contrast the place you arrive at if you follow law to get to God and the place God has brought those who are his redeemed people to by the free gift of grace. The author I remind you is writing to Jews. I believe these are Jews located in Jerusalem. They are Jews who have professed faith in Jesus Christ but who are tempted to return to the faith of Judaism. They have in Jerusalem the Temple, the Aaronic Priesthood, the brazen altar, the sacrifices, the holy place and the most holy place. But they are being called upon to leave the religion of forms and images and objects for that spiritual fulfillment that comes in Christ. The faith of the Jews was preliminary, it was promise and preparatory, but Christ is promise fulfilled and perfection provided. This is much of the argument of the whole book of Hebrews. And in the verses before us the argument of the author through the whole book reaches its summation. Let us pay attention.