Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
There is no rite that is right. The ceremonial rites that God gave to Israel were at the heart of the Old Testament because the Messiah had not yet come. They pointed to him. The fundamental element of the New Testament is that the Messiah has come and that his name is Jesus. And so, we have no need now for ceremonies that point to a coming Messiah. He has brought us life so that we do not have to worship God any longer in “dead works” that once pointed to a future deliverer.
Some ceremonial rites are pretty; some are gruesome. Some are interesting and some are boring. But none of them are of God. Only the “new and living way” of the holy Ghost that Jesus purchased for us with his blood is acceptable now with the Father. The way of the Spirit is the only way to eternal life. And that is why I say, without fear of any heavenly contradiction, that no rite is right. Every rite that religious men practice today is wrong; they are all an affront to Christ because in practicing those dead ceremonies, men are implicitly saying that their Messiah has not yet come, and they are denying the sufficiency of Christ alone to save by his righteous power.
If you want to be right with God, then refuse the rites of men.