Where Do We Render Sacred Service

To anointed Christians, Paul wrote: "Seeing that we are to receive a kingdom that  cannot be shaken, let us continue to have undeserved kindness, through which we may acceptably render God sacred service with godly fear and awe."  (Hebrews 12:38)  With confident expectation of inheriting the Kingdom, anointed ones are unmovable in faith as they worship the Most High.  Only they can render him sacred service in the Holy compartment and the inner courtyard of Jehovah's spiritual temple, and they look forward with eager anticipation to serving with Jesus in the Most Holy, heaven itself.  Their companions, the other sheep class, rejoice with them in their marvelous hope. -Hebrews 6:19, 20; 10:19-22.

What, though, of those other sheep? As the apostle John foresaw, a great crowd of them as appeared in these last days, and "they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."  (Revelation 7:14) This means that, like their anointed fellow worshipers, they exercise faith in Jesus' public service, his offering of his perfect human life in behalf of mankind.  The other sheep also benefit from Jesus' public service in that they ar3e "laying hold of [Jehovah's] covenant."  (Isaiah 56:6)  No, they are not parties to the new covenant, but they lay hold of it in that they obey the laws related to it and cooperate with arrangements made through it.  They associate with the Israel of God, feeding at the same spiritual table and working along with its members praising God publicly and offering spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to him. -Hebrews 13:15.

Thus, the great crowd are seen "standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes."  Further,  "they are  before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them."  (Revelation 7:9, 15) In Israel, proselytes worship in the outer courtyard of Solomon's temple.  In a similar way, the great crowd worships Jehovah in the outer courtyard of his spiritual temple.  Serving there causes them to rejoice.  (Psalm 122:1)  Even after  the last day of their anointed associates receives his heavenly sacred service to Jehovah as his people. -Revelation 21:3.

Next time: Sacred Service That Is Unacceptable

The Watchtower, 2000