Exodus 19:22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.

Before we can properly address the total significance of the resurrection of Christ we need to examine the demands of service within the priesthood. Aaron’s sons presented strange fire before the Lord and were consumed in fire. Leviticus 10:1 in the Amplified version calls it unacceptable fire. Two hundred and fifty Levites rebelled against Moses claiming their rights to serve the Lord, they were consumed by fire.  (Numbers 16:35)

At issue here is two key elements; that all the ordinates of service had to be performed with perfection or the sacrifice was not accepted and that only God’s chosen could perform those ordinates. The significance of acceptance of the sacrifice was shown in the high priest returning from the Holy of Holies alive.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

While it is extremely important that Christ’s resurrection demonstrated His power over death, it is just as significant to understand that His resurrection also demonstrated God’s acceptance of that blood offering. The significance is that we who are in Christ not only have redemption of sins, but power over death, i.e. eternal life.

Now for the last little connective tissue. The high priest wore an Ephod with the twelve stones, one representing each tribe of Israel. The Ephod represented the high priest standing in service of ordinances for the people of Israel. When the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies to offer up the blood of sacrifice, he removed the Ephod and entered in wearing only pure white linen. He did not represent just Israel but all who sought redemption from God.

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

I’ve been thinking about sin this week and it seems appropriate to end the thoughts with final judgment. I have search the scriptures and find it difficult to find a clear statement about being judged for our sins. Here in Revelation 20 we see that all were judged for their works. It leads some to believe that there is some scale of justice, weighing good and bad deeds, as if the scales could be tipped in favor of good, you could escape the second death. The scriptures do not support that claim.

Revelations 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

They were casts out because their name was not found in the book of life. It does not say anything about judging sins against good works as is the assertion of many who do not know God’s Word. Even some who do have a better awareness of the bible still cling to that notion. Yet judging is used in the sense that some evidence must be presented to make a determination. The determining factor is not if ones guilt or innocence is in question but rather if ones name is written in the book of life.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The judging of works is to determine if they were wrought by God in Christ Jesus wherein we had access to walk in them. The only way we have access to those works is if we are in Christ.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

That is the life referred to in the book of life.