Hebrews
{8:1} Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens{8:2} A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
*We have an high priest in heaven.We have a minister of the sanctuary.We have a minister of the true tabernacle.We have a minister of the sanctuary and true tabernacle that the LORD pitched- not man.
Think about it for a moment. God show Moses a pattern in the mount that he was to follow in creating the earthly tabernacle.
There is a heavenly tabernacle.
Now why would heaven NEED a tabernacle if in heaven there is no sin?
Heaven needed(s) a tabernacle because angels sinned, because man sinned. Because sin came into existence and sin to be blotted out of existence has to be destroyed where it began. Sin isn't unique to earth, people like to think that it is, but it orginated in heaven. The way of escape had to be created in Heaven. The plan of salvation was made in heaven. Were animals sacrifices made in heaven, did angels come and offer sin offerings, no.
When Lucifer sinned and caused 1/3 of the angels to sin with him they weren't given a second, third, fourth, fifth...endless chances to sin and repent, sin and repent, they weren't to be forgiven seventy times seven times. Lucifer's sinning, his rebellion against God in God's realm inciting open rebellion among all angels was something that needed figuring out right away. They weren't instantly destroyed though that was an option. God is a God of love. Love suffers long. Love gives of itself. Love would rather save than destroy. Lucifer wanted to prove God wasn't who He said He was. He wanted to prove that God plays favorites, that God was evil himself. That God's love was greater towards His Son than the angels. By definition love is fairness because fairness is good and love is all things good. For some unknown reason Lucifer began to envy God. The created wanted to be the creator. Lucifer as all angels have been given certain powers, an Lucifer thought that He, as an angel with his own ability to perform, could take God's place an be like God.
Wrongly Lucifer had this desire and nurtured it, helped it to grow and not only had the wicked desire in himself but wanted to share it with others inciting one third of the angels to believe that they too should be like their creator and deserved the worship of the Creator. Weren't they spectacular beings? Weren't they powerful? Didn't they have their own special miracle working abilities? Weren't they Spirit like God Himself? Why did they need to worship their creator if they were just as good as their creator? They knew the love of God would save them from instant extinction. They counted on His amazing love to keep them alive. They were after all most like Him. If He wielded the power to wipe the dissenters out of existence wouldn't that prove that in reality God is not love as He claims but rather a megalomaniac of the worst sort using His devineness as evil. Lucifer set it up, or so he thought, in such a way that God would lose no matter what He did. God would lose if He destroyed them and God would lose if He let them live.
A plan was needed, a way was needed to reveal the true love of God to all and to destroy the evil that had reared up into existence.
First all the angels had to make a choice. God or Lucifer, which did they want to follow? God wasn't forcing them to choose Him, they and they alone could make that decision.
In the end 1/3 of the angels chose to follow Lucifer.
Once that was established a plan was needed to save any that would fall into the trap of Lucifer and his hoard. Lucifer boasted that God's creations could not live sinless, that they too, like the evil angels would not follow Him, that they'd realize that God was just as evil as Lucifer claimed He was, not to be trusted, not to be believed.
God believed humans- made a little lower than the angels- would not succumb to the same impulse as Satan. However God knew that the humans would have temptor, something Lucifer didn't have. Lucifer of his own accord filled his heart with himself. Knowing the humans would have a temptor God had to have a divine plan in place to prove once and for all the evilness of sin and the righteousness of Himself, the love He was. Sin couldn't be allowed to exist forever, sin is an enmity against God, sin destroys love.
What could prove God's love as triumphant over sin? What could prove God's love completely so that none could question His love as he wipes sin out of existence and all that embodies sin?
The plan of Salvation.
The Heavenly Sanctuary.
The plan of Salvation was created in Heaven, the way shown in Heaven. The only sacrifice acceptable in the heavenly tabernacle not made with hands is Jesus. God's only Son. The way was made. Thy way o' God is in the sanctuary. Psalms {77:13} 'Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a Godas our God?'
So here when we read -
{8:1} Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens{8:2} A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
- We know that the plan of salvation, the way of salvation was created in Heaven. Just as in the earthly sanctuary- a type of the heavenly- we know that a sacrifice was needed to forgive sin, to cleanse sin, to destroy sin once and for all.
Jesus came and lived among us as one of us and then sacrifice His sinless self for us and then He went to heaven after certain days and there He is carrying out the ultimate plan to rid the entire existence of all from sin. A plan that was given to us on earth so we'd know that all would be judged- the corporate, the individual, and only once a year would the Sanctuary be cleansed. Once the Heavenly Sanctuary is cleanse it will never be defiled again, never. The cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary is once for all, just as Christ's sacrifice was- once for all. When the cleansing is over and the cup is filled so that it can be filled no more, when all has been decided, Christ will return for His chosen- those who chose Him- and sin will ultimately be wiped from existence completely.
{8:3} For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.{8:4} For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law {8:5} Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. {8:6} But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon betterpromises. {8:7} For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. {8:8} For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: {8:9} Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.{8:10} For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people{8:11} And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. {8:12} For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. {8:13} In that he saith, A new [covenant,] he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.
Isn't this beautiful-
{8:11} And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
*They shall NOT teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother.
NOT teach.
We are so hung up on teaching and yet we know that there will be a day- this day-
Saying Know the Lord, for ALL shall know me from the least to the greatest.
Before Christ returns, before it is finished and the fate of all decided, all will KNOW the Lord. The laws will be put into our minds and will be written on our hearts, God will be our God and we will be His people.
Praise be to God, all glory and all honor! All power and majesty unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and forever!
By His grace and mercy!
Amen.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Hebrews 7
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, our great and wonderful High Priest.
Jesus was not a descendant of Aaron. Jesus was not a son of the tribe of Levi, those who inherited the priesthood through Moses, who received word from God.
Jesus became a priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek a priest of God.
And Melchizedek...he was the priest of the most high God.
Who ordained him a priest? God.
God ordained Jesus to be our High Priest.
Melchizedek was a priest not involved in the laws of Moses, he lived long before Moses lived, before the written laws were passed down, before the sacrificial ceremony enacted to teach every man of God that their sins have penalties and only through sacrifice to God could they escape the punish of sin- death everlasting.
Melchizedek and Jesus, both Priest not of the sacrificial system in place. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us. Once the ultimate sacrifice was made no longer were animal sacrifices needed because the Great Redeemer, the Greatest Sacrifice of all was made. There could be no greater sacrifice, none. Once Jesus gave his life, making the typified the actual sacrifice needed to reconcile man with God, the actual and last sacrifice needed, animal sacrifices were hollow, no longer in effect, no longer had the power they once had.
The Great Sacrifice is also our Great High Priest. Reconciling God and man.
Is it no wonder we need to daily confess and repent of our sins, accepting the great sacrifice made for us by our Lord and Savior? He is our only hope, our only hope at reconcilation with our Heavenly Father. Sons and daughters that we are, the need to be reunited with our Heavenly Father is a desperate need. Reconcilation between a Father and His wayward children made possible through the sacrifice of His innocent Son.
Hebrews
{7:1} For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him{7:2} To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace{7:3} Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. {7:4} Now consider how great this man [was,] unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. {7:5} And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham{7:6} But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.{7:7} And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.{7:8} And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them,] of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. {7:9} And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. {7:10} For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. {7:11} If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? {7:12} For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. {7:13} For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. {7:14} For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. {7:15} And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, {7:16} Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. {7:17} For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Genesis {14:17} And the king of Sodom went out to meet himafter his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and ofthe kings that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh,which [is] the king’s dale. {14:18} And Melchizedek kingof Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] thepriest of the most high God. {14:19} And he blessed him,and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God,possessor of heaven and earth: {14:20} And blessed be themost high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thyhand. And he gave him tithes of all. {14:21} And the kingof Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and takethe goods to thyself. {14:22} And Abram said to the king ofSodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the mosthigh God, the possessor of heaven and earth, {14:23} That Iwill not [take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that Iwill not take any thing that [is] thine, lest thou shouldestsay, I have made Abram rich: {14:24} Save only that whichthe young men have eaten, and the portion of the men whichwent with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take theirportion.
Psalm 110A Psalm of David.{110:1} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until Imake thine enemies thy footstool.{110:2} The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rulethou in the midst of thine enemies.{110:3} Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of thy power, in thebeauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast thedew of thy youth.{110:4} The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priestfor ever after the order of Melchizedek.{110:5} The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in theday of his wrath.{110:6} He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places]with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over manycountries.{110:7} He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he liftup the head.
Hebrews{7:18} For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. {7:19} For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did;] by the which we draw nigh unto God. {7:20} And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest: ]{7:21} (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) {7:22} By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. {7:23} And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: {7:24} But this [man,] because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. {7:25} Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. {7:26} For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled,separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; {7:27} Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. {7:28} For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
*
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, our great and wonderful High Priest.
Jesus was not a descendant of Aaron. Jesus was not a son of the tribe of Levi, those who inherited the priesthood.
Numbers {3:5} And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying {3:6}Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaronthe priest, that they may minister unto him. {3:7} And theyshall keep his charge, and the charge of the wholecongregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, todo the service of the tabernacle. {3:8} And they shall keepall the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation,and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service ofthe tabernacle. {3:9} And thou shalt give the Levites untoAaron and to his sons: they [are] wholly given unto him outof the children of Israel. {3:10} And thou shalt appointAaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’soffice: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put todeath. {3:11} And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,{3:12} And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from amongthe children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeththe matrix among the children of Israel: therefore theLevites shall be mine; {3:13} Because all the firstborn [are]mine; [for] on the day that I smote all the firstborn in theland of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel,both man and beast: mine shall they be: I [am] the LORD.
Numbers {4:1} And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,saying, {4:2} Take the sum of the sons of Kohath fromamong the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house oftheir fathers, {4:3} From thirty years old and upward evenuntil fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do thework in the tabernacle of the congregation. {4:4} This [shallbe] the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of thecongregation, [about] the most holy things
Jesus was not a descendant of Aaron. Jesus was not a son of the tribe of Levi, those who inherited the priesthood through Moses, who received word from God.
Jesus became a priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek a priest of God.
And Melchizedek...he was the priest of the most high God.
Who ordained him a priest? God.
God ordained Jesus to be our High Priest.
Melchizedek was a priest not involved in the laws of Moses, he lived long before Moses lived, before the written laws were passed down, before the sacrificial ceremony enacted to teach every man of God that their sins have penalties and only through sacrifice to God could they escape the punish of sin- death everlasting.
Melchizedek and Jesus, both Priest not of the sacrificial system in place. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us. Once the ultimate sacrifice was made no longer were animal sacrifices needed because the Great Redeemer, the Greatest Sacrifice of all was made. There could be no greater sacrifice, none. Once Jesus gave his life, making the typified the actual sacrifice needed to reconcile man with God, the actual and last sacrifice needed, animal sacrifices were hollow, no longer in effect, no longer had the power they once had.
The Great Sacrifice is also our Great High Priest. Reconciling God and man.
Is it no wonder we need to daily confess and repent of our sins, accepting the great sacrifice made for us by our Lord and Savior? He is our only hope, our only hope at reconcilation with our Heavenly Father. Sons and daughters that we are, the need to be reunited with our Heavenly Father is a desperate need. Reconcilation between a Father and His wayward children made possible through the sacrifice of His innocent Son.
Hebrews
{7:1} For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him{7:2} To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace{7:3} Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. {7:4} Now consider how great this man [was,] unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. {7:5} And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham{7:6} But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.{7:7} And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.{7:8} And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them,] of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. {7:9} And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. {7:10} For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. {7:11} If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? {7:12} For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. {7:13} For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. {7:14} For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. {7:15} And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, {7:16} Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. {7:17} For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Genesis {14:17} And the king of Sodom went out to meet himafter his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and ofthe kings that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh,which [is] the king’s dale. {14:18} And Melchizedek kingof Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] thepriest of the most high God. {14:19} And he blessed him,and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God,possessor of heaven and earth: {14:20} And blessed be themost high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thyhand. And he gave him tithes of all. {14:21} And the kingof Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and takethe goods to thyself. {14:22} And Abram said to the king ofSodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the mosthigh God, the possessor of heaven and earth, {14:23} That Iwill not [take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that Iwill not take any thing that [is] thine, lest thou shouldestsay, I have made Abram rich: {14:24} Save only that whichthe young men have eaten, and the portion of the men whichwent with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take theirportion.
Psalm 110A Psalm of David.{110:1} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until Imake thine enemies thy footstool.{110:2} The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rulethou in the midst of thine enemies.{110:3} Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of thy power, in thebeauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast thedew of thy youth.{110:4} The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priestfor ever after the order of Melchizedek.{110:5} The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in theday of his wrath.{110:6} He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places]with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over manycountries.{110:7} He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he liftup the head.
Hebrews{7:18} For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. {7:19} For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did;] by the which we draw nigh unto God. {7:20} And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest: ]{7:21} (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) {7:22} By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. {7:23} And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: {7:24} But this [man,] because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. {7:25} Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. {7:26} For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled,separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; {7:27} Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. {7:28} For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
*
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, our great and wonderful High Priest.
Jesus was not a descendant of Aaron. Jesus was not a son of the tribe of Levi, those who inherited the priesthood.
Numbers {3:5} And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying {3:6}Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaronthe priest, that they may minister unto him. {3:7} And theyshall keep his charge, and the charge of the wholecongregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, todo the service of the tabernacle. {3:8} And they shall keepall the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation,and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service ofthe tabernacle. {3:9} And thou shalt give the Levites untoAaron and to his sons: they [are] wholly given unto him outof the children of Israel. {3:10} And thou shalt appointAaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’soffice: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put todeath. {3:11} And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,{3:12} And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from amongthe children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeththe matrix among the children of Israel: therefore theLevites shall be mine; {3:13} Because all the firstborn [are]mine; [for] on the day that I smote all the firstborn in theland of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel,both man and beast: mine shall they be: I [am] the LORD.
Numbers {4:1} And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,saying, {4:2} Take the sum of the sons of Kohath fromamong the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house oftheir fathers, {4:3} From thirty years old and upward evenuntil fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do thework in the tabernacle of the congregation. {4:4} This [shallbe] the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of thecongregation, [about] the most holy things
Friday, January 30, 2009
Hebrews 6
Hebrews
{6:1} Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God
*The principle doctrines are repentance from dead works and faith towards God. When you start out on a principle you never lose that principle you keep it and build upon it. Baptisms, laying on of hands for healing, resurrection of the dead when Christ returns, eternal judgment, all of this is part and parcel of the foundation and growth upon that foundation. An extension of your beliefs is made, a growing process commenced. Growth in everything is necessary stagnation accomplishes nothing. If God wills we must grow in our Christian walk.
{6:2} Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
{6:3} And this will we do, if God permit.
{6:4} For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost
{6:5} And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come
{6:6} If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.
*When you fall away - when you deny the truth once you've been enlightened - when you believe Christ never died for you- this is makes it impossible for you to be renewed. You've denied the truth. When you deny the truth you reject the truth. Truth rejected makes it impossible for truth to live in you.
Throughout our Christian walk we will have good times and bad times. We will question our walk with God. We might even question God. We might blame God, we might do a lot of things that reveal just how intensely Satan is struggling to get the victory over us. We might be lulled to sleep and into a life that denies the power of God. The struggle is a real one. The fight is a real one. We lose sight of it all when we deny that we are in a war and our eternal life is at stake. How much simpler would it be if we were in a real physical warfare, a weapon in your hands, a weapon in your enemies hands and the strategy is to stay alive by ducking incoming fire, by returning fire- this is real and men and women around the world in various wars are facing that sort of warfare. Unfortunately they are also battling the unseen enemy. We all battle the unseen enemy and yet our propensity to blame the devil for things is 99% less likely to happen than blaming God. We recognize God but deny Satan. When we accept Christ as our Savior we've declared open warfare on Satan, we've chosen the side we want to fight for and we become targets. The bullets, the daggers, all the bombs and other weaponry used against us comes in so many forms we can't even imagine. It's easy to be beset by the enemy. 'Hebrews {12:1} Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.' See that? Lay aside every weight an the sin which easily besets us! EASILY besets us. Until Christ returns or until we sleep in the grave we will be tempted towards the sins that EASILY beset us. Sometimes we give into that sin and we need to repent and be forgiven. What we can't do is deny the Christ is the Son of God, that Christ died for us and lives again for us. While we might stumble, and heck, while we might dive bomb into despair, we can't deny that Christ is who He says He is. If we deny Christ we can't be renew to repent, because there is none to repent to. If we strip the power of salvation away there is no hope left, there is no salvation, it is impossible to be renewed.
{6:7} For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God
*We need to drink deep of the Holy Spirit sent to us by God, our lives need to bear fruit of the Spirit.
{6:8} But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.
*If the fruit we bear isn't edible or useful but rather thorns that only hurt and nothing more then the fruit isn't of the Spirit.
{6:9} But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
{6:10} For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
{6:11} And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
{6:12} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
*Labors of love, ministering to one another, hoping to the end, these are all good things, right things, things of the Spirit.
{6:13} For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself
{6:14} Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
{6:15} And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
*Patiently endured! The promises of God to Abraham were not immediate. Abraham had to wait many, many years before he obtained the promise. We have an example in Abraham. Patiently endure, the promises are true.
{6:16} For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation [is] to them an end of all strife.
{6:17} Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath
{6:18} That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay holdupon the hope set before us
{6:19} Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil
{6:20} Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
*Anchor of the soul!Anchor of the soul!
Who among us doesn't want an anchor upon us holding us stedfast? Who doesn't want assurance of safety with an anchor on our souls? Christ is that anchor! Christ is our hope! Christ Jesus entered within the veil, Jesus our high priest. We have an anchor, we have a surety, we have a hope in our High Priest, our Savior Jesus.
What good is an anchor if it's not attached to that which needs anchoring? We need Christ attached to our lives, we need to live in the Spirit He sends to us, keeping close to our Lord and Savior now and always the anchor of our souls.
Amen.
{6:1} Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God
*The principle doctrines are repentance from dead works and faith towards God. When you start out on a principle you never lose that principle you keep it and build upon it. Baptisms, laying on of hands for healing, resurrection of the dead when Christ returns, eternal judgment, all of this is part and parcel of the foundation and growth upon that foundation. An extension of your beliefs is made, a growing process commenced. Growth in everything is necessary stagnation accomplishes nothing. If God wills we must grow in our Christian walk.
{6:2} Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
{6:3} And this will we do, if God permit.
{6:4} For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost
{6:5} And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come
{6:6} If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.
*When you fall away - when you deny the truth once you've been enlightened - when you believe Christ never died for you- this is makes it impossible for you to be renewed. You've denied the truth. When you deny the truth you reject the truth. Truth rejected makes it impossible for truth to live in you.
Throughout our Christian walk we will have good times and bad times. We will question our walk with God. We might even question God. We might blame God, we might do a lot of things that reveal just how intensely Satan is struggling to get the victory over us. We might be lulled to sleep and into a life that denies the power of God. The struggle is a real one. The fight is a real one. We lose sight of it all when we deny that we are in a war and our eternal life is at stake. How much simpler would it be if we were in a real physical warfare, a weapon in your hands, a weapon in your enemies hands and the strategy is to stay alive by ducking incoming fire, by returning fire- this is real and men and women around the world in various wars are facing that sort of warfare. Unfortunately they are also battling the unseen enemy. We all battle the unseen enemy and yet our propensity to blame the devil for things is 99% less likely to happen than blaming God. We recognize God but deny Satan. When we accept Christ as our Savior we've declared open warfare on Satan, we've chosen the side we want to fight for and we become targets. The bullets, the daggers, all the bombs and other weaponry used against us comes in so many forms we can't even imagine. It's easy to be beset by the enemy. 'Hebrews {12:1} Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.' See that? Lay aside every weight an the sin which easily besets us! EASILY besets us. Until Christ returns or until we sleep in the grave we will be tempted towards the sins that EASILY beset us. Sometimes we give into that sin and we need to repent and be forgiven. What we can't do is deny the Christ is the Son of God, that Christ died for us and lives again for us. While we might stumble, and heck, while we might dive bomb into despair, we can't deny that Christ is who He says He is. If we deny Christ we can't be renew to repent, because there is none to repent to. If we strip the power of salvation away there is no hope left, there is no salvation, it is impossible to be renewed.
{6:7} For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God
*We need to drink deep of the Holy Spirit sent to us by God, our lives need to bear fruit of the Spirit.
{6:8} But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.
*If the fruit we bear isn't edible or useful but rather thorns that only hurt and nothing more then the fruit isn't of the Spirit.
{6:9} But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
{6:10} For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
{6:11} And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
{6:12} That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
*Labors of love, ministering to one another, hoping to the end, these are all good things, right things, things of the Spirit.
{6:13} For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself
{6:14} Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
{6:15} And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
*Patiently endured! The promises of God to Abraham were not immediate. Abraham had to wait many, many years before he obtained the promise. We have an example in Abraham. Patiently endure, the promises are true.
{6:16} For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation [is] to them an end of all strife.
{6:17} Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath
{6:18} That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay holdupon the hope set before us
{6:19} Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil
{6:20} Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
*Anchor of the soul!Anchor of the soul!
Who among us doesn't want an anchor upon us holding us stedfast? Who doesn't want assurance of safety with an anchor on our souls? Christ is that anchor! Christ is our hope! Christ Jesus entered within the veil, Jesus our high priest. We have an anchor, we have a surety, we have a hope in our High Priest, our Savior Jesus.
What good is an anchor if it's not attached to that which needs anchoring? We need Christ attached to our lives, we need to live in the Spirit He sends to us, keeping close to our Lord and Savior now and always the anchor of our souls.
Amen.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Hebrews 5
Hebrews
{5:1} For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: {5:2} Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.{5:3} And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. {5:4} And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron. {5:5} So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. {5:6} As he saith also in another [place,] Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. {5:7} Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; {5:8} Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; {5:9} And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;{5:10} Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.{5:11} Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.{5:12} For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. {5:13} For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.{5:14} But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
*
Ordained for men in things pertaining to God.
Offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He that is called of God.
We know throughtout the Bible God called various men and woman to His work in a special way. These weren't the only ones called- those written about. There are many called of God in fact we are all called by God to come to Him, to fellowship with Him, to follow Him.
In the Old Testament prior to Christ's birth, life, and death, there are kings, prophets, and priests God used, speaking though many of them. In the New Testament we are given Jesus the great High Priest, Son of God, King of Kings, prophesying of the world to come.
Jesus who was given the infirmaties of being lowered into human form taking on our likeness and our inherited propensity to sin is the Greatest High Priest ever called by God. He sacrificed His glory and took on flesh, He sacrficed life eternal to take on a body of death, a body of daily decay. Outwardly He had the appearance of an ordinary man He lowered Himself to that level, to our level.
Any who doubt Jesus wasn't touched by our infirmities needs to explain how He could cry, how he could cry heartbrokenly. If He weren't moved by our plight, if he didn't have our human flesh encompassing Him, He wouldn't have cried and Jesus cried more than once from the depths of His heart He cried. He cried until blood fell from his forehead to the ground. He cried for all humanity. His grief was for us, for our pain, for what we endure.
We suffer the chastisment of the Lord over and over as He teaches us, guides us, reminds us of humanity and the love we must have for all. Christ suffered and learned in human form the obedience to His Father.
Obeying His Father perfectly, Christ was able to offer us eternal salvation if we obey Him.
All too often people harden their hearts and refuse to hear. All too often the very men of God, those claiming to be called of Him need to be as babes to truly understand Christ's message for them. When we think so many should be able to have the strong meat of the gospel, in truth many are babes needing to be treated as babes to regain the first principles of the message of our Lord and Savior.
Strong meat given by the Lord to those who have already drank the milk and are now ready for more... ready to have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
We need to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord.
2 Pet. {3:18} But grow in grace, and [in] theknowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him[be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
{5:1} For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: {5:2} Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.{5:3} And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. {5:4} And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron. {5:5} So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. {5:6} As he saith also in another [place,] Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. {5:7} Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; {5:8} Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; {5:9} And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;{5:10} Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.{5:11} Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.{5:12} For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. {5:13} For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.{5:14} But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
*
Ordained for men in things pertaining to God.
Offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He that is called of God.
We know throughtout the Bible God called various men and woman to His work in a special way. These weren't the only ones called- those written about. There are many called of God in fact we are all called by God to come to Him, to fellowship with Him, to follow Him.
In the Old Testament prior to Christ's birth, life, and death, there are kings, prophets, and priests God used, speaking though many of them. In the New Testament we are given Jesus the great High Priest, Son of God, King of Kings, prophesying of the world to come.
Jesus who was given the infirmaties of being lowered into human form taking on our likeness and our inherited propensity to sin is the Greatest High Priest ever called by God. He sacrificed His glory and took on flesh, He sacrficed life eternal to take on a body of death, a body of daily decay. Outwardly He had the appearance of an ordinary man He lowered Himself to that level, to our level.
Any who doubt Jesus wasn't touched by our infirmities needs to explain how He could cry, how he could cry heartbrokenly. If He weren't moved by our plight, if he didn't have our human flesh encompassing Him, He wouldn't have cried and Jesus cried more than once from the depths of His heart He cried. He cried until blood fell from his forehead to the ground. He cried for all humanity. His grief was for us, for our pain, for what we endure.
We suffer the chastisment of the Lord over and over as He teaches us, guides us, reminds us of humanity and the love we must have for all. Christ suffered and learned in human form the obedience to His Father.
Obeying His Father perfectly, Christ was able to offer us eternal salvation if we obey Him.
All too often people harden their hearts and refuse to hear. All too often the very men of God, those claiming to be called of Him need to be as babes to truly understand Christ's message for them. When we think so many should be able to have the strong meat of the gospel, in truth many are babes needing to be treated as babes to regain the first principles of the message of our Lord and Savior.
Strong meat given by the Lord to those who have already drank the milk and are now ready for more... ready to have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
We need to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord.
2 Pet. {3:18} But grow in grace, and [in] theknowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him[be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hebrews 4
Hebrews
{4:1} Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
*We need to be concerned. A promise was left to us. The promise of eternal life for that is truly 'his rest'. We need to be concerned that we might come short of obtaining that promise. It's possible to come short we know it is. Time and again I've mentioned that particular Bible verse that states there will be a people at the end when Christ comes and He says to them, 'get away from me, I never knew you'. Those people REALLY THINK they're doing God's work, they really believe they know Christ and Christ knows them. It is possible to come short of the promise. We don't like to think that it is, who wants to believe that a 'loving God' would keep us from obtaining the promise. Well, a 'loving God' won't keep us from obtaining the promise only WE keep ourselves from doing so. How can we be sure we won't come short of entering into Christ's rest? We need FAITH.
{4:2} For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it.
*Two types of people heard the same message.
A glass of water is held up and a person says- Is this glass half full or half empty.
People see things differently. They say if you see the glass as half full then you are an optimist, if you see if half empty you're a pessemist.
A group of people all hear the same message of the gospel preached to them, for some the word profited them and for others it didn't. What was the one thing those who profited from the message had the others didn't? FAITH.
{4:3} For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
The faithful will enter into Christ's rest. From the beginning of the world all that was created was finished on the sixth day and God rested the seventh. It was finished. FINISHED. Finished to the point God rested. Think about that. When you finish a task if it is something monumental what do you do next? You usually celebrate. God's rest is an amazing celebration of all that was created in six days. The work was finished. The wonder of it all, the majesty of creation was now to be enjoyed and a day of rest was created so that forever and ever no one would ever forgot the wonder of God's creation. Each seven days a reminder of the glorious creation would be made. God rested and that in itself is remarkable because if ever a person didn't have to rest it would be God. Yet he rested in honor of all that had been made it was that amazingly spectacular. That rest that mankind shared in, being part of the creation that God wrought was something so totally blissful and amazing its nearly incomprehensible.
{4:4} For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
{4:5} And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest.
*If they shall enter into my rest. By entering into God's rest by faith is believing in Him as our Creator, our redeemer. We can claim eternal life in Christ Jesus by His grace and mercy. We can enter into God's rest if we believe, only if we believe. There will not be a single person entering God's rest that does so without faith, without believing- it's impossible.
{4:6} Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief
*Unbelief will keep anyone out. There are commands we have been given by God from the foundation of the world one of the was to rest. It's because we believe in our Creator, the Father and the Son, that we enter into the rest of Jesus. We enter into it now through faith. We musn't harden our hearts but believe.
{4:7} Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
{4:8} For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
{4:9} There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
{4:10} For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.
{4:11} Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
*Labour to enter into rest.
Is that contradictory? Work to enter into rest. Not to people who work five days a week to get two days off. The concept is understandable. Our labour to enter into God's rest is a labour of faith. We have to cease believing that we can work to our own salvation, we have to trust wholly in Christ, entering His rest, believing fully in His ability to save us. Our work is our faith. And our faith is what will allow us to enter into the rest of Christ.
{4:12} For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
{4:13} Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
*We can hide nothing from God, nothing! God is quick, God is powerful, God is sharper than a twoedged sword. God can divide the soul from the spirit, the joint from the marrow, God is the discerner of our very thoughts and knows the intents of our hearts!
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.
Jesus Christ is our great high priest!
Jesus as our high priest has entered into heaven!
Jesus as our high priest the Son of God!
We have to hold fast to our belief in Jesus, we have to cling to Jesus.
{4:15} For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.
*Jesus understands us! Jesus became man and He knows intimately how our infirmaties feel. Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted, He understands the power of temptation yet Jesus chose NOT to fall into sin, He was able to keep the temptation from causing Him to sin. He knows the agony of temptation, he knows.
{4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
*We have to by faith and faith alone go boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
May God help us all, may we find mercy and grace, may we labour to enter into the rest promised, may our faith grow and grow. We believe Lord! We believe! Help us our unbelief!
Praise and glory to God now and always through the grace and mercy of his Son now and foreer.
Amen.
{4:1} Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
*We need to be concerned. A promise was left to us. The promise of eternal life for that is truly 'his rest'. We need to be concerned that we might come short of obtaining that promise. It's possible to come short we know it is. Time and again I've mentioned that particular Bible verse that states there will be a people at the end when Christ comes and He says to them, 'get away from me, I never knew you'. Those people REALLY THINK they're doing God's work, they really believe they know Christ and Christ knows them. It is possible to come short of the promise. We don't like to think that it is, who wants to believe that a 'loving God' would keep us from obtaining the promise. Well, a 'loving God' won't keep us from obtaining the promise only WE keep ourselves from doing so. How can we be sure we won't come short of entering into Christ's rest? We need FAITH.
{4:2} For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it.
*Two types of people heard the same message.
A glass of water is held up and a person says- Is this glass half full or half empty.
People see things differently. They say if you see the glass as half full then you are an optimist, if you see if half empty you're a pessemist.
A group of people all hear the same message of the gospel preached to them, for some the word profited them and for others it didn't. What was the one thing those who profited from the message had the others didn't? FAITH.
{4:3} For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
The faithful will enter into Christ's rest. From the beginning of the world all that was created was finished on the sixth day and God rested the seventh. It was finished. FINISHED. Finished to the point God rested. Think about that. When you finish a task if it is something monumental what do you do next? You usually celebrate. God's rest is an amazing celebration of all that was created in six days. The work was finished. The wonder of it all, the majesty of creation was now to be enjoyed and a day of rest was created so that forever and ever no one would ever forgot the wonder of God's creation. Each seven days a reminder of the glorious creation would be made. God rested and that in itself is remarkable because if ever a person didn't have to rest it would be God. Yet he rested in honor of all that had been made it was that amazingly spectacular. That rest that mankind shared in, being part of the creation that God wrought was something so totally blissful and amazing its nearly incomprehensible.
{4:4} For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
{4:5} And in this [place] again, If they shall enter into my rest.
*If they shall enter into my rest. By entering into God's rest by faith is believing in Him as our Creator, our redeemer. We can claim eternal life in Christ Jesus by His grace and mercy. We can enter into God's rest if we believe, only if we believe. There will not be a single person entering God's rest that does so without faith, without believing- it's impossible.
{4:6} Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief
*Unbelief will keep anyone out. There are commands we have been given by God from the foundation of the world one of the was to rest. It's because we believe in our Creator, the Father and the Son, that we enter into the rest of Jesus. We enter into it now through faith. We musn't harden our hearts but believe.
{4:7} Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
{4:8} For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
{4:9} There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
{4:10} For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.
{4:11} Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
*Labour to enter into rest.
Is that contradictory? Work to enter into rest. Not to people who work five days a week to get two days off. The concept is understandable. Our labour to enter into God's rest is a labour of faith. We have to cease believing that we can work to our own salvation, we have to trust wholly in Christ, entering His rest, believing fully in His ability to save us. Our work is our faith. And our faith is what will allow us to enter into the rest of Christ.
{4:12} For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
{4:13} Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
*We can hide nothing from God, nothing! God is quick, God is powerful, God is sharper than a twoedged sword. God can divide the soul from the spirit, the joint from the marrow, God is the discerner of our very thoughts and knows the intents of our hearts!
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.
Jesus Christ is our great high priest!
Jesus as our high priest has entered into heaven!
Jesus as our high priest the Son of God!
We have to hold fast to our belief in Jesus, we have to cling to Jesus.
{4:15} For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.
*Jesus understands us! Jesus became man and He knows intimately how our infirmaties feel. Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted, He understands the power of temptation yet Jesus chose NOT to fall into sin, He was able to keep the temptation from causing Him to sin. He knows the agony of temptation, he knows.
{4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
*We have to by faith and faith alone go boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
May God help us all, may we find mercy and grace, may we labour to enter into the rest promised, may our faith grow and grow. We believe Lord! We believe! Help us our unbelief!
Praise and glory to God now and always through the grace and mercy of his Son now and foreer.
Amen.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Hebrews 3
{3:1} Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus
Partakers of the heavenly calling. Doesn't that sound amazing.
Partakers.
partake (pär-tâk´) verbpartook (-t¢k´) partaken (-tâ´ken) partaking, patakes verb, intransitive1. To take or have a part or share; participate.2. To take or be given part or portion: The guests partook of a delicious dinner.3. To have part of the quality, nature, or character of something.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To take part in, to share, to participate, to take a given portion, to have the quality, character of...the heavenly calling.
The heavenly calling.
We are ALL able to be partakers of the heavenly calling right? Jesus died to save all that would be saved, He died so we could all be partakers of the heavenly calling.
We need to consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
consider (ken-sîd´er) verbconsidered, considering, considers verb, transitive1. To think carefully about.2. To think or deem to be; regard as. See Usage Note at as1.3. To form an opinion about; judge: considers waste to be criminal.4. To take into account; bear in mind: Her success is not surprising if you consider her excellent training.5. To show consideration for: failed to consider the feelings of others.6. To esteem; regard.7. To look at thoughtfully.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Consider, to think carefully about Jesus, our High Priest.Consider, to esteem Jesus, our High Priest.Consider, to take into account, our High Priest, Jesus.
Jesus isn't supposed to be thought of lightly, He is our High Priest, our Savior and Lord deserving of our consideration.
{3:2} Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.
Jesus was faithful to His Father who appointed Him.Moses was faithful in all his house.
Moses was a revered man, highly esteemed, considered very thoughtfully, a Godly man, a man whose teachings were held very important and none would doubt Moses' faithfulness. Jesus was faithful as well. Jesus deserving of consideration, Jesus our High Priest was faithful to His calling.
{3:3} For this [man] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. {3:4} For every house is builded by some [man;] but he that built all things [is] God.
Jesus worthy of more glory than the highly esteemed and revered Moses. Jesus the builder of all things.Moses was a creation of the Creator.The Creator is more worthy for His ability to create.
{3:5} And Moses verily [was] faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after{3:6} But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Moses was a faithful creation, a servant to the Creator. Moses faithful to God.Christ a son over His own creation, His own house.We are Christ's house- IF we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.We have to believe, we have to have faith, we have to rejoice, we have to have our hope firm to the end...to...the...end.
{3:7} Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice{3:8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness{3:9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.{3:10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways. {3:11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
History reveals that people can harden their hearts against God, people tempt God, people try to prove God. People see the miracles of the Lord their God and they still question Him. The faith is gone, it's lacking, they find that taking the stance that God has to prove to them His worth makes them somehow savvy and smart, some how on top of things so they're not duped and yet their lack of faith- their consistent lack of faith - is what roused God's ire. God knew that in their hearts they refused to know Him for what He was and so they were not allowed into God's rest. We can't harden our hearts like they have. It's possible, don't think it's not. We can't try God, we can't tempt Him, we need to trust, to have faith. We don't have to understand God's ways to believe in God. There are many, many things that we don't understand and yet we believe. God deserves that faith and trust more than any other thing in all the world.
{3:12} Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Evil hearts of unbelief.Unbelief is evil because it doesn't allow for the faith needed to belief in God. The hope needed. Someone who is always skeptical finds little happiness in life, they are too busy picking it apart to pieces having no faith in anything. People says they won't be duped, they want hard, cold facts not flights of fancy and yet when they cut out the faith and those flights of fancy they limit their imaginations, their belief that the unbelievable is believable and the impossible is possible. Without faith, without hope if THIS is all there is to life it truly is a sad state of affairs. We have to have hearts filled with hope, filled with belief in God allowing that we cannot understand everything, we just can't. {3:13} But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Daily we are to help each other in our lives, keeping our faith strong. Deceit is something sly and insidious it will slip in and harden our hearts to God and we can't let that happen- we can't! We have to believe and help others look beyond the trap that is spread all around us trying to snare us daily in its grasp to get us to lose hope and belief. Satan will spare nothing to encourage unbelief, to encourage our lack of faith, to harden our hearts to God. Satan will do everything within his power to decieve us, if he can get us to harden our hearts to God he's won another to his side. It's so real, all of this is so real and we need to help each other as much as we can.
{3:14} For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end{3:15} While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. {3:16} For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.{3:17} But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? {3:18} And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? {3:19} So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief
We want to enter into God's rest. We want to enter the land promised to us. Not all will, but only those who believe. Without faith it is impossible to please God. We have to believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Heb. {11:6} Butwithout faith [it is] impossible to please [him:] for he thatcometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is arewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith we need faith, Lord I believe! Help thou my unbelief!
Amen!
Partakers of the heavenly calling. Doesn't that sound amazing.
Partakers.
partake (pär-tâk´) verbpartook (-t¢k´) partaken (-tâ´ken) partaking, patakes verb, intransitive1. To take or have a part or share; participate.2. To take or be given part or portion: The guests partook of a delicious dinner.3. To have part of the quality, nature, or character of something.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
To take part in, to share, to participate, to take a given portion, to have the quality, character of...the heavenly calling.
The heavenly calling.
We are ALL able to be partakers of the heavenly calling right? Jesus died to save all that would be saved, He died so we could all be partakers of the heavenly calling.
We need to consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
consider (ken-sîd´er) verbconsidered, considering, considers verb, transitive1. To think carefully about.2. To think or deem to be; regard as. See Usage Note at as1.3. To form an opinion about; judge: considers waste to be criminal.4. To take into account; bear in mind: Her success is not surprising if you consider her excellent training.5. To show consideration for: failed to consider the feelings of others.6. To esteem; regard.7. To look at thoughtfully.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Consider, to think carefully about Jesus, our High Priest.Consider, to esteem Jesus, our High Priest.Consider, to take into account, our High Priest, Jesus.
Jesus isn't supposed to be thought of lightly, He is our High Priest, our Savior and Lord deserving of our consideration.
{3:2} Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.
Jesus was faithful to His Father who appointed Him.Moses was faithful in all his house.
Moses was a revered man, highly esteemed, considered very thoughtfully, a Godly man, a man whose teachings were held very important and none would doubt Moses' faithfulness. Jesus was faithful as well. Jesus deserving of consideration, Jesus our High Priest was faithful to His calling.
{3:3} For this [man] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. {3:4} For every house is builded by some [man;] but he that built all things [is] God.
Jesus worthy of more glory than the highly esteemed and revered Moses. Jesus the builder of all things.Moses was a creation of the Creator.The Creator is more worthy for His ability to create.
{3:5} And Moses verily [was] faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after{3:6} But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Moses was a faithful creation, a servant to the Creator. Moses faithful to God.Christ a son over His own creation, His own house.We are Christ's house- IF we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.We have to believe, we have to have faith, we have to rejoice, we have to have our hope firm to the end...to...the...end.
{3:7} Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice{3:8} Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness{3:9} When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.{3:10} Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways. {3:11} So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
History reveals that people can harden their hearts against God, people tempt God, people try to prove God. People see the miracles of the Lord their God and they still question Him. The faith is gone, it's lacking, they find that taking the stance that God has to prove to them His worth makes them somehow savvy and smart, some how on top of things so they're not duped and yet their lack of faith- their consistent lack of faith - is what roused God's ire. God knew that in their hearts they refused to know Him for what He was and so they were not allowed into God's rest. We can't harden our hearts like they have. It's possible, don't think it's not. We can't try God, we can't tempt Him, we need to trust, to have faith. We don't have to understand God's ways to believe in God. There are many, many things that we don't understand and yet we believe. God deserves that faith and trust more than any other thing in all the world.
{3:12} Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Evil hearts of unbelief.Unbelief is evil because it doesn't allow for the faith needed to belief in God. The hope needed. Someone who is always skeptical finds little happiness in life, they are too busy picking it apart to pieces having no faith in anything. People says they won't be duped, they want hard, cold facts not flights of fancy and yet when they cut out the faith and those flights of fancy they limit their imaginations, their belief that the unbelievable is believable and the impossible is possible. Without faith, without hope if THIS is all there is to life it truly is a sad state of affairs. We have to have hearts filled with hope, filled with belief in God allowing that we cannot understand everything, we just can't. {3:13} But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Daily we are to help each other in our lives, keeping our faith strong. Deceit is something sly and insidious it will slip in and harden our hearts to God and we can't let that happen- we can't! We have to believe and help others look beyond the trap that is spread all around us trying to snare us daily in its grasp to get us to lose hope and belief. Satan will spare nothing to encourage unbelief, to encourage our lack of faith, to harden our hearts to God. Satan will do everything within his power to decieve us, if he can get us to harden our hearts to God he's won another to his side. It's so real, all of this is so real and we need to help each other as much as we can.
{3:14} For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end{3:15} While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. {3:16} For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.{3:17} But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? {3:18} And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? {3:19} So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief
We want to enter into God's rest. We want to enter the land promised to us. Not all will, but only those who believe. Without faith it is impossible to please God. We have to believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Heb. {11:6} Butwithout faith [it is] impossible to please [him:] for he thatcometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is arewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith we need faith, Lord I believe! Help thou my unbelief!
Amen!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Hebrews 2
Hebrews
{2:1} Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
*We have to listen. We have to give MORE earnest heed to the things we know so we don't forget them.
{2:2} For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward.
*God's angels speak true, God's angels can't lie. Every single sin, every disobedience is accounted for. As soon as we sin there is a record of that sin and an accounting will be made unless our sins are covered in the blood of the Lamb and He claims us as His and our names are written in the book of life.
{2:3} How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
*Salvation is in Christ and only in Christ. We can neglect salvation. We can. Salvation isn't ours automatically we have to accept it. We can neglect is and there is no escape if we do, none.
{2:4} God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
*God used signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. There can be no mistaking the fact that God made manifest all these things that weren't typical, special, amazing gifts that could only come from Him. Healing, delivering people possessed of evil spirits, juice into wine, fish where there were no fish, bread where there was no bread. Miracles that didn't promote selfish gain in any way but rather turned the minds, the thoughts to God to eternal life, to Jesus our Lord and Savior, to salvation.
{2:5} For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
{2:6} But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
{2:7} Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands
{2:8} Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Psalms {8:4} What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,that thou visitest him?{8:5} For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hastcrowned him with glory and honour.{8:6} Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;thou hast put all [things] under his feet:
{2:9} But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
*Jesus became man.Jesus became a little lower than the angels.God's own son lowered himself to our level so that he could suffer death. That his death would leave him crowned with glory and honor. His death allows us to have His grace and mercy. Jesus died for all of us, every single person that will accept His great sacrifice.
{2:10} For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
{2:11} For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren
{2:12} Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
{2:13} And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
{2:14} Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he mightdestroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil
{2:15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
{2:16} For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
{2:17} Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
{2:18} For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
*That is so incredibly beautiful.
We tend to admire people we classify as high and lofty, superstars in movie, theater, sports, financial savvy, those who deign to lower themselves to get down and work with ordinary people. We call them humanitarians when they travel to foreign countries and lend their status to a cause to bring awareness and help to that cause. Our admiration isn't completely misplaced, they don't *have* to lower themselves that way, many don't. We don't know if their lowering of themselves is done with genuine goodness or self-serving but that isn't for us to judge. We do know that Christ, God's very Son, His ONLY Son lowered Himself and He did it for one reason and one reason only- for us. We know beyond a doubt that He suffered for us, each of us. That He lowered Himself to something lower than the angels. Angels are below God in status, but Jesus didn't lower Himself to be an Angel, He lowered Himself even further down to become human so He could redeem us. If we want an example of pure love, there it is we don't have to look any further. Total selflessness.
He became us, was tempted like us, and He over came for us, giving us hope, hope eternal now and forever.
He is our merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God- to make reconcilation for the sins of the people.
Worth noting, in the typical Day of Atonement right before all the sins of the forgiven were to be placed upon the scapegoat (Satan) and he is led out to the wilderness- it says of the High Priest - Lev. {16:20} And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy [place,] and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat
Jesus our faithful High Priest is making a reconcilation for the sins of the people just as the High Priest on the Day of Atonement cleansed the Sanctuary. Our world will not be cleansed fully of sin, our lives will not be cleansed until that Day of Atonement is fully complete.
May God help and keep us as we humble ourselves before Him and entreat His mercy for us, clinging to the cross and the grace offered through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, our great High Priest who is reconciling us to God now and soon to be forever.
Amen.
{2:1} Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
*We have to listen. We have to give MORE earnest heed to the things we know so we don't forget them.
{2:2} For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward.
*God's angels speak true, God's angels can't lie. Every single sin, every disobedience is accounted for. As soon as we sin there is a record of that sin and an accounting will be made unless our sins are covered in the blood of the Lamb and He claims us as His and our names are written in the book of life.
{2:3} How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
*Salvation is in Christ and only in Christ. We can neglect salvation. We can. Salvation isn't ours automatically we have to accept it. We can neglect is and there is no escape if we do, none.
{2:4} God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
*God used signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. There can be no mistaking the fact that God made manifest all these things that weren't typical, special, amazing gifts that could only come from Him. Healing, delivering people possessed of evil spirits, juice into wine, fish where there were no fish, bread where there was no bread. Miracles that didn't promote selfish gain in any way but rather turned the minds, the thoughts to God to eternal life, to Jesus our Lord and Savior, to salvation.
{2:5} For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
{2:6} But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
{2:7} Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands
{2:8} Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Psalms {8:4} What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,that thou visitest him?{8:5} For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hastcrowned him with glory and honour.{8:6} Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;thou hast put all [things] under his feet:
{2:9} But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
*Jesus became man.Jesus became a little lower than the angels.God's own son lowered himself to our level so that he could suffer death. That his death would leave him crowned with glory and honor. His death allows us to have His grace and mercy. Jesus died for all of us, every single person that will accept His great sacrifice.
{2:10} For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
{2:11} For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren
{2:12} Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
{2:13} And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
{2:14} Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he mightdestroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil
{2:15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
{2:16} For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
{2:17} Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
{2:18} For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
*That is so incredibly beautiful.
We tend to admire people we classify as high and lofty, superstars in movie, theater, sports, financial savvy, those who deign to lower themselves to get down and work with ordinary people. We call them humanitarians when they travel to foreign countries and lend their status to a cause to bring awareness and help to that cause. Our admiration isn't completely misplaced, they don't *have* to lower themselves that way, many don't. We don't know if their lowering of themselves is done with genuine goodness or self-serving but that isn't for us to judge. We do know that Christ, God's very Son, His ONLY Son lowered Himself and He did it for one reason and one reason only- for us. We know beyond a doubt that He suffered for us, each of us. That He lowered Himself to something lower than the angels. Angels are below God in status, but Jesus didn't lower Himself to be an Angel, He lowered Himself even further down to become human so He could redeem us. If we want an example of pure love, there it is we don't have to look any further. Total selflessness.
He became us, was tempted like us, and He over came for us, giving us hope, hope eternal now and forever.
He is our merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God- to make reconcilation for the sins of the people.
Worth noting, in the typical Day of Atonement right before all the sins of the forgiven were to be placed upon the scapegoat (Satan) and he is led out to the wilderness- it says of the High Priest - Lev. {16:20} And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy [place,] and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat
Jesus our faithful High Priest is making a reconcilation for the sins of the people just as the High Priest on the Day of Atonement cleansed the Sanctuary. Our world will not be cleansed fully of sin, our lives will not be cleansed until that Day of Atonement is fully complete.
May God help and keep us as we humble ourselves before Him and entreat His mercy for us, clinging to the cross and the grace offered through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, our great High Priest who is reconciling us to God now and soon to be forever.
Amen.
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