Hebrews
{11:1} Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.{11:2} For by it the elders obtained a good report.
{11:3} Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Scientists try to explain everything away with their proofs. Their lack of faith leads them to many theories and few facts. They suppose things to be one way, or another way, but whatever way it is they often refuse to bring faith anywhere near their beliefs because they want only tangible proofs here and now. They can't believe in a higher power because that would mean a leap of faith. They only want the explicable.
Through faith we understand-that the worlds were framed by the word of God-so that things which are seen-were not made of things which do appear.
Yes, things will give the appearance of proofs, Scientist will tell us the explosions of the various cosmic bits some how created our planet, our solar system and here we are. Humans rising up out the primordial mud evolving from fish, into higher lifeforms, and eventually from apes. They'll explain it all and with their carbon dating systems they'll go on to show the various bits of the earth and such are millions, trillions of years old. They'll give the appearance of things being one way and it will leave out God altogether. No faith at all.
We who believe in God however, understand that the worlds were framed by His word. He is the Creator.
By faith we believe.
{11:4} By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Our actions follow us to eternity. Our faith follows us to eternity.
{11:5} By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
{11:6} But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him:] for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith enables us to believe that God is.
Faith enables us to believe that God has always been.
Faith enables us to believe that God will always be.
God will reward those that seek him.
Seeking God.
Numbers 15:39 '...ye seek not after your own heart and yourown eyes,...'
Duet. {4:29} But if from thence thoushalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him,] if thouseek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
1 Chron. {16:10} Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart ofthem rejoice that seek the LORD. {16:11} Seek the LORDand his strength, seek his face continually.
1 Chron. {22:19} Now set your heart and your soulto seek the LORD your God
1 Chron. 28:8 '...keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD yourGod...'
1 Chron. {28:9} And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God ofthy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with awilling mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, andunderstandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thouseek him, he will be found of thee
2 Chron. 15:2 '...The LORD [is] with you, while ye be with him; and if yeseek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, hewill forsake you.'
2 Chron. {15:12} And they entered into acovenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with alltheir heart and with all their soul
2 Chron. {19:3} Nevertheless there are goodthings found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the grovesout of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
2 Chron. {20:3} And Jehoshaphat feared,and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fastthroughout all Judah. {20:4} And Judah gatheredthemselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out ofall the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
2 Chron. 30:18 '...The good LORD pardon every one {30:19} [That]prepareth his heart to seek God,...'
2 Chron. {31:20} And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, andwrought [that which was] good and right and truth beforethe LORD his God. {31:21} And in every work that hebegan in the service of the house of God, and in the law,and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did [it] withall his heart, and prospered.
Job {5:8} I would seek unto God, and unto Godwould I commit my cause
Luke {11:9} And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall begiven you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall beopened unto you.
Luke {12:31} But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and allthese things shall be added unto you
John {8:49} Jesusanswered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and yedo dishonour me. {8:50} And I seek not mine own glory
Col. {3:1} If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those thingswhich are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand ofGod. {3:2} Set your affection on things above, not on thingson the earth.
Let us seek the Lord with all our hearts!
By His mercy and grace, by faith.
Amen
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Our Temporal Existence Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews
{11:1} Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Believing without tangible evidence.Hoping.
We tell people we have faith in them. When we say we have faith in someone we are telling them that we believe in them. What do we believe about them? We believe in the goodness of them. We believe that what they say is true. People can even have faith in bad people that they'll come through with their *bad* acts. They believe they'll come through, they have faith. They hope.
People lose faith when those they're believing in fail to prove trustworthy.
The thing with God is the big picture. The overall plan is always in affect. We can't separate God from His plan. We can't pick apart life and put it into our own level, our own life span. God is eternal, we are temporal with the potential for eternity.
People lose faith in God when they bring Him down to our temporal lives and pull Him from eternity. We say God has failed to prove trustworthy when our temporal existence ends up being horrific, painful, seemingly impossible to bear. God doesn't offer us in our temporal lives peace and ease, health, wealth, happiness. We bring Him down to our level and we accuse him of being unfaithful, untrustworthy, of going back on His promises when it is all untrue. He promises us eternity through faith, not eternity based on what we perceive as acts proving Him worthy of our faith here and not in our temporal existence.
We try to bring God down to our level because we stop thinking about eternity. We limit ourselves to today, tomorrow, a week, month,year, several years, our lifetime and it's average span. We compartmentalize our lives into phases. From about ten years on we are focused on the future we have- what will we do with our lives? Graduate High School, go to college, get a job, find a partner, start a family, plan for the family, plan for many years of existing and then plan for our death. Our lives have a beginning and an end and we have no control when either happens. Suddenly we just are and we know nothing before our own existence except through history, through what we are told. We exist and we don't know when our existence will end. We hope to have a long existence but in truth, we live under the shadow of death always. We will die, we just don't know when.
When we believe in God we are saying we believe in a life more meaningful than the one we are offered here and now. No matter how full the life is, or how empty, God offers us a life beyond that here and now. He offers us hope. When we grasp that hope we use faith to make it real to us and incorporate it into our lives.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for...the evidence of things not seen.
We can't bring God down to our level, we have to raise our hopes to Him. He has eternity and He offers it to us. Faith goes beyond our lives it has to or else 'this is as good as it gets'. We get glimpses of eternity but in the end-- we have to have faith to grasp it all.
Hebrews {11:1} Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
{11:1} Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Believing without tangible evidence.Hoping.
We tell people we have faith in them. When we say we have faith in someone we are telling them that we believe in them. What do we believe about them? We believe in the goodness of them. We believe that what they say is true. People can even have faith in bad people that they'll come through with their *bad* acts. They believe they'll come through, they have faith. They hope.
People lose faith when those they're believing in fail to prove trustworthy.
The thing with God is the big picture. The overall plan is always in affect. We can't separate God from His plan. We can't pick apart life and put it into our own level, our own life span. God is eternal, we are temporal with the potential for eternity.
People lose faith in God when they bring Him down to our temporal lives and pull Him from eternity. We say God has failed to prove trustworthy when our temporal existence ends up being horrific, painful, seemingly impossible to bear. God doesn't offer us in our temporal lives peace and ease, health, wealth, happiness. We bring Him down to our level and we accuse him of being unfaithful, untrustworthy, of going back on His promises when it is all untrue. He promises us eternity through faith, not eternity based on what we perceive as acts proving Him worthy of our faith here and not in our temporal existence.
We try to bring God down to our level because we stop thinking about eternity. We limit ourselves to today, tomorrow, a week, month,year, several years, our lifetime and it's average span. We compartmentalize our lives into phases. From about ten years on we are focused on the future we have- what will we do with our lives? Graduate High School, go to college, get a job, find a partner, start a family, plan for the family, plan for many years of existing and then plan for our death. Our lives have a beginning and an end and we have no control when either happens. Suddenly we just are and we know nothing before our own existence except through history, through what we are told. We exist and we don't know when our existence will end. We hope to have a long existence but in truth, we live under the shadow of death always. We will die, we just don't know when.
When we believe in God we are saying we believe in a life more meaningful than the one we are offered here and now. No matter how full the life is, or how empty, God offers us a life beyond that here and now. He offers us hope. When we grasp that hope we use faith to make it real to us and incorporate it into our lives.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for...the evidence of things not seen.
We can't bring God down to our level, we have to raise our hopes to Him. He has eternity and He offers it to us. Faith goes beyond our lives it has to or else 'this is as good as it gets'. We get glimpses of eternity but in the end-- we have to have faith to grasp it all.
Hebrews {11:1} Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A mere stepping stone to eternity Hebrews 10 C
Hebrews {10:30} For we know him that hath said, Vengeance[belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. Andagain, The Lord shall judge his people. {10:31} [It is] afearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.{10:32} But call to remembrance the former days, in which,after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight ofafflictions{10:33} Partly, whilst ye were made agazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly,whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.{10:34} For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, andtook joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing inyourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduringsubstance. {10:35} Cast not away therefore yourconfidence, which hath great recompence of reward.{10:36} For ye have need of patience, that, after ye havedone the will of God, ye might receive the promise. {10:37}For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, andwill not tarry. {10:38} Now the just shall live by faith: but if[any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure inhim. {10:39} But we are not of them who draw back untoperdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
*Not just back in the day of Jesus, not just back in the day of the apostles, not just back in the day of the reformation, not just back in your great grandparents day, not just back in your grandparents day, not just back in your parents day... you get the idea, it's not just for others this was written, it's a timeless message.
We can't cast away our confidence. We have need of patience. We need to do the will of God. Jesus will come in the fullness of time, he will.
We have to live by faith.
We can't draw back...we can't return to a former life, to a former covenant, to things the way they were. Once we are enlightened we can't become unenlightened. The tempter will tempt us to give up, to lose patience, to lose faith. Satan will do all in his power to try and get us away from God. He'll fight for you because he hates to lose even one person to God's love.
We won't draw back! We won't give up! We will hold fast to Jesus! Our lives may be pure living hell here and now, but we have to cling to Jesus for our future life with Him, the life that really matters, the life everlasting. All things here are temporary, all things here will pass, the good, the bad...all of it is temporary and fleeting in the grand scheme of things. What we call a lifetime is a mere stepping stone to eternity and it's for eternity we must keep our faith, that we must hold fast and not draw back.
May the Lord bless and keep us now and forever in Him, by His amazing grace and love, His mercy and forgiveness.
Amen.
*Not just back in the day of Jesus, not just back in the day of the apostles, not just back in the day of the reformation, not just back in your great grandparents day, not just back in your grandparents day, not just back in your parents day... you get the idea, it's not just for others this was written, it's a timeless message.
We can't cast away our confidence. We have need of patience. We need to do the will of God. Jesus will come in the fullness of time, he will.
We have to live by faith.
We can't draw back...we can't return to a former life, to a former covenant, to things the way they were. Once we are enlightened we can't become unenlightened. The tempter will tempt us to give up, to lose patience, to lose faith. Satan will do all in his power to try and get us away from God. He'll fight for you because he hates to lose even one person to God's love.
We won't draw back! We won't give up! We will hold fast to Jesus! Our lives may be pure living hell here and now, but we have to cling to Jesus for our future life with Him, the life that really matters, the life everlasting. All things here are temporary, all things here will pass, the good, the bad...all of it is temporary and fleeting in the grand scheme of things. What we call a lifetime is a mere stepping stone to eternity and it's for eternity we must keep our faith, that we must hold fast and not draw back.
May the Lord bless and keep us now and forever in Him, by His amazing grace and love, His mercy and forgiveness.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Hebrews 10 B
Hebrews {10:15}[Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for afterthat he had said before, {10:16} This [is] the covenant that Iwill make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I willput my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I writethem; {10:17} And their sins and iniquities will I rememberno more. {10:18} Now where remission of these [is, thereis] no more offering for sin.
*The Holy Ghost is witness to us.
This is the covenant that I will make with them...
I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds will I write them.
If something is in your heart and mind then it's safe to say it's in your very life, your day to day life. When we don't have anything on our mind we certainly aren't thinking about anything. When we don't have something in our hearts it's not our passion. When we do have something on our mind we are thinking of it and if it's in our heart it's our great passion. Having something put into your heart and mind encompasses all of your cognitive, emotional being. From our thoughts we have our actions, our way of life. If I'm passionate about my family then my actions will show that, won't they? If I'm absorbed in my job likewise my actions will reveal that. If I'm totally selfish and completely obsessed with seeking out pleasure and good times wherever I can find them, you know that the way I act will reveal such a thing.
1 Chron. {29:17} I know also, my God, thatthou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As forme, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offeredall these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people,which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. {29:18}O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers,keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of theheart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee
*David's prayer. 'Keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, prepare their heart unto thee.'
Proverbs {3:1} My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keepmy commandments: {3:2} For length of days, and long life,and peace, shall they add to thee. {3:3} Let not mercy andtruth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write themupon the table of thine heart: {3:4} So shalt thou find favourand good understanding in the sight of God and man.
*write them on the table of thine heart
Psalms {119:80} Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
Psalms {51:10} Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spiritwithin me.
{57:7} My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing andgive praise.
*We need God's laws in our hearts, in our minds, our lives. The laws need to be real to us as we live our day to day lives.
{10:17} And their sins and iniquities will I rememberno more. {10:18} Now where remission of these [is, thereis] no more offering for sin.
*Through Jesus and only Jesus can we be given a heart and mind filled with all that He is, a heart that doesn't need burnt offerings, that doesn't need animal sacrifices to seek the forgiveness we need. One day all our sins will be forgotten, covered by the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ our Savior. He is the only offering for sin and His death is sufficient for all.
{10:19} Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter intothe holiest by the blood of Jesus, {10:20} By a new andliving way, which he hath consecrated for us, through theveil, that is to say, his flesh; {10:21} And [having] an highpriest over the house of God; {10:22} Let us draw near witha true heart in full assurance of faith, having our heartssprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washedwith pure water. {10:23} Let us hold fast the profession of[our] faith without wavering; (for he is faithful thatpromised;) {10:24} And let us consider one another toprovoke unto love and to good works: {10:25} Notforsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as themanner of some [is;] but exhorting [one another:] and somuch the more, as ye see the day approaching. {10:26} Forif we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledgeof the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,{10:27} But a certain fearful looking for of judgment andfiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.{10:28} He that despised Moses’ law died without mercyunder two or three witnesses: {10:29} Of how much sorerpunishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, whohath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath countedthe blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, anunholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
*Hold fast. Believe. Provoke each other to good works. Without faith we cannot be saved.
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.
*We have to believe that we will be saved by Christ. We can't turn our backs on the Holy Spirit, we can't turn our backs on the truth that is found in Christ, that He and He alone is able to save us from our sins. We have to keep looking to Him always. If we look to ourselves we will never be saved.
Under the old covenant men were taken and killed when they defied the laws of God. Under the new covenant men will suffer eternal death if they do not accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for them. Despising the Holy Spirit which is full of grace and mercy, believing the blood shed by God's only Son meaningless and of no importance, no good, unholy... only eternal death waits for those.
May the Lord God bless and keep us now and forever by the grace and mercy of His Son Jesus Christ our Savior, through the power of the Holy Spirit may we through faith in Jesus live in His truth, with His laws written on our hearts and minds.
Amen.
*The Holy Ghost is witness to us.
This is the covenant that I will make with them...
I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds will I write them.
If something is in your heart and mind then it's safe to say it's in your very life, your day to day life. When we don't have anything on our mind we certainly aren't thinking about anything. When we don't have something in our hearts it's not our passion. When we do have something on our mind we are thinking of it and if it's in our heart it's our great passion. Having something put into your heart and mind encompasses all of your cognitive, emotional being. From our thoughts we have our actions, our way of life. If I'm passionate about my family then my actions will show that, won't they? If I'm absorbed in my job likewise my actions will reveal that. If I'm totally selfish and completely obsessed with seeking out pleasure and good times wherever I can find them, you know that the way I act will reveal such a thing.
1 Chron. {29:17} I know also, my God, thatthou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As forme, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offeredall these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people,which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. {29:18}O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers,keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of theheart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee
*David's prayer. 'Keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, prepare their heart unto thee.'
Proverbs {3:1} My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keepmy commandments: {3:2} For length of days, and long life,and peace, shall they add to thee. {3:3} Let not mercy andtruth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write themupon the table of thine heart: {3:4} So shalt thou find favourand good understanding in the sight of God and man.
*write them on the table of thine heart
Psalms {119:80} Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
Psalms {51:10} Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spiritwithin me.
{57:7} My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing andgive praise.
*We need God's laws in our hearts, in our minds, our lives. The laws need to be real to us as we live our day to day lives.
{10:17} And their sins and iniquities will I rememberno more. {10:18} Now where remission of these [is, thereis] no more offering for sin.
*Through Jesus and only Jesus can we be given a heart and mind filled with all that He is, a heart that doesn't need burnt offerings, that doesn't need animal sacrifices to seek the forgiveness we need. One day all our sins will be forgotten, covered by the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ our Savior. He is the only offering for sin and His death is sufficient for all.
{10:19} Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter intothe holiest by the blood of Jesus, {10:20} By a new andliving way, which he hath consecrated for us, through theveil, that is to say, his flesh; {10:21} And [having] an highpriest over the house of God; {10:22} Let us draw near witha true heart in full assurance of faith, having our heartssprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washedwith pure water. {10:23} Let us hold fast the profession of[our] faith without wavering; (for he is faithful thatpromised;) {10:24} And let us consider one another toprovoke unto love and to good works: {10:25} Notforsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as themanner of some [is;] but exhorting [one another:] and somuch the more, as ye see the day approaching. {10:26} Forif we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledgeof the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,{10:27} But a certain fearful looking for of judgment andfiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.{10:28} He that despised Moses’ law died without mercyunder two or three witnesses: {10:29} Of how much sorerpunishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, whohath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath countedthe blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, anunholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
*Hold fast. Believe. Provoke each other to good works. Without faith we cannot be saved.
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.
*We have to believe that we will be saved by Christ. We can't turn our backs on the Holy Spirit, we can't turn our backs on the truth that is found in Christ, that He and He alone is able to save us from our sins. We have to keep looking to Him always. If we look to ourselves we will never be saved.
Under the old covenant men were taken and killed when they defied the laws of God. Under the new covenant men will suffer eternal death if they do not accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for them. Despising the Holy Spirit which is full of grace and mercy, believing the blood shed by God's only Son meaningless and of no importance, no good, unholy... only eternal death waits for those.
May the Lord God bless and keep us now and forever by the grace and mercy of His Son Jesus Christ our Savior, through the power of the Holy Spirit may we through faith in Jesus live in His truth, with His laws written on our hearts and minds.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Hebrews 10 A
{10:1} For the law having a shadow of good things tocome, [and] not the very image of the things, can never withthose sacrifices which they offered year by year continuallymake the comers thereunto perfect.
*It's true. Year after year people had to afflict their souls while their sins were once more cleansed from the Sanctuary they'd been placed upon. Even then, that very night, that very hour, that very minute after the cleansing sin was there again. Some impure thought worthy of being called sin was committed because sin still existed and was not done away with. The sacrifical system was once more in need. The sanctuary service was the law and it was a shadow of the reality. Sin being cleansed forever. Men and God be reconciled forever. People could never be fully reconciled to God as long as the sacrificial sanctuary service- the shadow of things to come was in play. For being reconciled to God completely is perfection.
{10:2} For then wouldthey not have ceased to be offered? because that theworshippers once purged should have had no moreconscience of sins. {10:3} But in those [sacrifices there is] aremembrance again [made] of sins every year. {10:4} For[it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goatsshould take away sins.
*The blood of animals could never pay the price for reconciliation with God. The only blood needed was that of the greatest sacrifice of all, Jesus, God's only son. The blood of reconciliation is innocent, is pure, is human not animal. The pure sinless blood of a human. Animals in their innocent state could step in temporarily until the fulness of time, but they were not and would never be able to atone for the people fully.
{10:5} Wherefore when he comethinto the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thouwouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: {10:6} Inburnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had nopleasure. {10:7} Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume ofthe book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {10:8}Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burntofferings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neitherhadst pleasure [therein;] which are offered by the law;{10:9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Hetaketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
*The first covenant was done away with. The sanctuary service offering animal blood and using imperfect man as intercessor was over and done with. The first had to be done away with so the second could be fully in effect. Jesus revealed the corruption of the very men prefiguring the work of God. He lay bare their evil and in doing so He revealed His own goodness, His own perfection. They couldn't have perfection in their midst it only made them appear truly evil. Sometimes when you have something real and something fake side by side there are glaring inconsistencies, there are obvious differences between the real and the fake. Jesus couldn't help but show His true love for mankind which made the false love of the priests obvious. The priests had to silence Him, they had to kill that which would reveal their false natures. Jesus came and by His life and death He did away with the old way of doing things.
{10:10} By the which will we are sanctified through theoffering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all. ]{10:11}And every priest standeth daily ministering and offeringoftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take awaysins: {10:12} But this man, after he had offered onesacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand ofGod; {10:13} From henceforth expecting till his enemies bemade his footstool. {10:14} For by one offering he hathperfected for ever them that are sanctified.
*One offering. The greatest offering and Jesus' role as the greatest and the perfect Sacrifice was complete. Never again would He need to be slain. There is only one Son of God. There is only one sacrifice needed, such a perfect, acceptable Sacrifice and it was made so all men through that Sacrifice could live. The blood of the Sacrifice was for all to use, to claim, to use to cover the multitude of sins in our lives. The blood needed for covering, for cleansing was shed once and sufficent forever.
There are some things that aren't consumed and gone after being used, but are used over and over and only one of them is necessary. A cast iron pan given at a wedding reception can stay in the family indefinitely being passed down from one generation to another and still be as useful as the first day it was given. It's a gift that will never stop giving, a gift that will out live generation after generation and forever be used- given once, used forever, or for as long as it's necessary. Not so many people use cast iron skillets anymore, not when we have non-stick skillets that are much easier, much lighter to use.
Christ's blood was shed once and it will be used until all of God's people are cleansed of sin. As long as there is sin that can be forgiven the blood of Christ will be needed and used.
'For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.'
...for them that are made holy.
To be sinless, to have all our sins taken away is to sanctify us and make us holy and acceptable to God, the reconcilation is complete.
Christ came to reconcile us to God. Christ came to die for mankind so we could be with God again. One amazing, perfect offering is able to perfect those who are being made holy.
By the will and grace, by the mercy of our Lord and Savior may we be sanctified for Him now and forever, may we be made one with our Father, reconciled and no longer estranged by sin. Cling to Jesus, cling to Him and never let Him go.
Amen.
*It's true. Year after year people had to afflict their souls while their sins were once more cleansed from the Sanctuary they'd been placed upon. Even then, that very night, that very hour, that very minute after the cleansing sin was there again. Some impure thought worthy of being called sin was committed because sin still existed and was not done away with. The sacrifical system was once more in need. The sanctuary service was the law and it was a shadow of the reality. Sin being cleansed forever. Men and God be reconciled forever. People could never be fully reconciled to God as long as the sacrificial sanctuary service- the shadow of things to come was in play. For being reconciled to God completely is perfection.
{10:2} For then wouldthey not have ceased to be offered? because that theworshippers once purged should have had no moreconscience of sins. {10:3} But in those [sacrifices there is] aremembrance again [made] of sins every year. {10:4} For[it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goatsshould take away sins.
*The blood of animals could never pay the price for reconciliation with God. The only blood needed was that of the greatest sacrifice of all, Jesus, God's only son. The blood of reconciliation is innocent, is pure, is human not animal. The pure sinless blood of a human. Animals in their innocent state could step in temporarily until the fulness of time, but they were not and would never be able to atone for the people fully.
{10:5} Wherefore when he comethinto the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thouwouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: {10:6} Inburnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had nopleasure. {10:7} Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume ofthe book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. {10:8}Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burntofferings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neitherhadst pleasure [therein;] which are offered by the law;{10:9} Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Hetaketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
*The first covenant was done away with. The sanctuary service offering animal blood and using imperfect man as intercessor was over and done with. The first had to be done away with so the second could be fully in effect. Jesus revealed the corruption of the very men prefiguring the work of God. He lay bare their evil and in doing so He revealed His own goodness, His own perfection. They couldn't have perfection in their midst it only made them appear truly evil. Sometimes when you have something real and something fake side by side there are glaring inconsistencies, there are obvious differences between the real and the fake. Jesus couldn't help but show His true love for mankind which made the false love of the priests obvious. The priests had to silence Him, they had to kill that which would reveal their false natures. Jesus came and by His life and death He did away with the old way of doing things.
{10:10} By the which will we are sanctified through theoffering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all. ]{10:11}And every priest standeth daily ministering and offeringoftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take awaysins: {10:12} But this man, after he had offered onesacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand ofGod; {10:13} From henceforth expecting till his enemies bemade his footstool. {10:14} For by one offering he hathperfected for ever them that are sanctified.
*One offering. The greatest offering and Jesus' role as the greatest and the perfect Sacrifice was complete. Never again would He need to be slain. There is only one Son of God. There is only one sacrifice needed, such a perfect, acceptable Sacrifice and it was made so all men through that Sacrifice could live. The blood of the Sacrifice was for all to use, to claim, to use to cover the multitude of sins in our lives. The blood needed for covering, for cleansing was shed once and sufficent forever.
There are some things that aren't consumed and gone after being used, but are used over and over and only one of them is necessary. A cast iron pan given at a wedding reception can stay in the family indefinitely being passed down from one generation to another and still be as useful as the first day it was given. It's a gift that will never stop giving, a gift that will out live generation after generation and forever be used- given once, used forever, or for as long as it's necessary. Not so many people use cast iron skillets anymore, not when we have non-stick skillets that are much easier, much lighter to use.
Christ's blood was shed once and it will be used until all of God's people are cleansed of sin. As long as there is sin that can be forgiven the blood of Christ will be needed and used.
'For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.'
...for them that are made holy.
To be sinless, to have all our sins taken away is to sanctify us and make us holy and acceptable to God, the reconcilation is complete.
Christ came to reconcile us to God. Christ came to die for mankind so we could be with God again. One amazing, perfect offering is able to perfect those who are being made holy.
By the will and grace, by the mercy of our Lord and Savior may we be sanctified for Him now and forever, may we be made one with our Father, reconciled and no longer estranged by sin. Cling to Jesus, cling to Him and never let Him go.
Amen.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Hebrews 9
Hebrews{9:1} Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.{9:2} For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. {9:3} And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all{9:4} Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant{9:5} And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.{9:6} Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service [of God. ]{9:7} But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and [for] the errors of the people{9:8} The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:{9:9} Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience{9:10} [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.{9:11} But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; {9:12} Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [forus. ]{9:13} For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh{9:14} How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? {9:15} And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. {9:16} For where a testament [is,] there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. {9:17} For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. {9:18} Whereupon neither the first [testament] was dedicated without blood. {9:19} For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, {9:20} Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. {9:21} Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. {9:22} And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. {9:23} [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. {9:24} For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in thepresence of God for us: {9:25} Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others{9:26} For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. {9:27} And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:{9:28} So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
One Sacrifice, the greatest Sacrifice, Jesus.
We can't sacrifice any thing to reconcile us to God, not a thing. We are completely dependent upon the Sacrifice of Jesus.
We'd like to think there are things we can do to ensure us of salvation, things other than the complete dependence upon Jesus. We like to imagine a little tally board by our side where we can tally up the good things we do and the bad and we hope the good out number the bad which will mean we win! It doesn't work that way. You could be by the world's standards, even by seemingly Biblical standards, the sweetest, kindest, most humble person in all the world and as long as you believe that it's the sweetness, the kindness, the humblness within you that is saving you then you will not be saved at all. Christ will say 'get away from me, I never knew you.'
'So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.'
Christ will bear the sins of many... He will bear the sins of those who look for him... He will appears on earth a second time and there will be no more sin only salvation.
When Christ came into the world the first time He had to suffer, He had to die to save us, He had to leave us here with sin still overcoming so many- all that didn't look to him for Salvation.When Christ comes into the world the second time He will come to take us all out of sin forever saving us.
The priests on earth worked to save God's people, they had services they performed, sacrifices to make, this was the law and they followed the law. The law pointed to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Without the sacrifice of Christ sin would never be overcome, never. Men could perform the services of the Sanctuary forever and they'd be pointless if they didn't depict one day a full reconcilation with God, without sin in our lives. The hope that lives inside a man is that hope of full reconcilation. The hope of living joined to God forever without sin that separates man and God.
We have to look for Jesus.
We have to watch for Jesus.
We have to be waiting for our Lord and Savior to return.
Look, watch, wait.
Knowing something will happen isn't the same as waiting for it to happen.
I can know that the New Year will start on 12 midnight Dec. 31 and just sleep right through it. The knowing didn't have me waiting for it. However if I'm going to celebrate the New Year then I'm waiting for it, watching for it, looking. We can know that Jesus is returning but not wait for him, not look for Him. People pat themselves on the back because they believe and know that Jesus is coming again. People feel safe and secure just because they know and believe that Jesus will one day come and rescue them from the evil of sin. People think that they have a golden ticket to heaven with Jesus just because they believe. But are they looking for Jesus? Are they watching for Him? Are they really waiting for Him to return? Does their waiting consist of just knowing that Jesus will come again? We have to be looking for Him. We have to be activily looking, anticipating Christ's return.
Even in the sanctuary service, the forerunner of Christ's sacrifice, people had to wait. On the day of atonement they had to afflict their souls, they had to set the day aside as a Sabbath, holy. We have to look for Christ, to afflict our souls, to know that our Holy Savior alone can save us and NO work we could possible do would save us, only believing in Christ.
May God help us as we look for Jesus, as we watch for Him, wait for His return.
May we not put off being ready by waiting, by watching for the only One who can save us.
Come Lord Jesus, Come.
By Your Mercy and Grace now and forever.
Amen.
One Sacrifice, the greatest Sacrifice, Jesus.
We can't sacrifice any thing to reconcile us to God, not a thing. We are completely dependent upon the Sacrifice of Jesus.
We'd like to think there are things we can do to ensure us of salvation, things other than the complete dependence upon Jesus. We like to imagine a little tally board by our side where we can tally up the good things we do and the bad and we hope the good out number the bad which will mean we win! It doesn't work that way. You could be by the world's standards, even by seemingly Biblical standards, the sweetest, kindest, most humble person in all the world and as long as you believe that it's the sweetness, the kindness, the humblness within you that is saving you then you will not be saved at all. Christ will say 'get away from me, I never knew you.'
'So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.'
Christ will bear the sins of many... He will bear the sins of those who look for him... He will appears on earth a second time and there will be no more sin only salvation.
When Christ came into the world the first time He had to suffer, He had to die to save us, He had to leave us here with sin still overcoming so many- all that didn't look to him for Salvation.When Christ comes into the world the second time He will come to take us all out of sin forever saving us.
The priests on earth worked to save God's people, they had services they performed, sacrifices to make, this was the law and they followed the law. The law pointed to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Without the sacrifice of Christ sin would never be overcome, never. Men could perform the services of the Sanctuary forever and they'd be pointless if they didn't depict one day a full reconcilation with God, without sin in our lives. The hope that lives inside a man is that hope of full reconcilation. The hope of living joined to God forever without sin that separates man and God.
We have to look for Jesus.
We have to watch for Jesus.
We have to be waiting for our Lord and Savior to return.
Look, watch, wait.
Knowing something will happen isn't the same as waiting for it to happen.
I can know that the New Year will start on 12 midnight Dec. 31 and just sleep right through it. The knowing didn't have me waiting for it. However if I'm going to celebrate the New Year then I'm waiting for it, watching for it, looking. We can know that Jesus is returning but not wait for him, not look for Him. People pat themselves on the back because they believe and know that Jesus is coming again. People feel safe and secure just because they know and believe that Jesus will one day come and rescue them from the evil of sin. People think that they have a golden ticket to heaven with Jesus just because they believe. But are they looking for Jesus? Are they watching for Him? Are they really waiting for Him to return? Does their waiting consist of just knowing that Jesus will come again? We have to be looking for Him. We have to be activily looking, anticipating Christ's return.
Even in the sanctuary service, the forerunner of Christ's sacrifice, people had to wait. On the day of atonement they had to afflict their souls, they had to set the day aside as a Sabbath, holy. We have to look for Christ, to afflict our souls, to know that our Holy Savior alone can save us and NO work we could possible do would save us, only believing in Christ.
May God help us as we look for Jesus, as we watch for Him, wait for His return.
May we not put off being ready by waiting, by watching for the only One who can save us.
Come Lord Jesus, Come.
By Your Mercy and Grace now and forever.
Amen.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Hebrews 8
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.
{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.
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