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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 4, 2018 1:56:52 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 7:24, 3 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018 Monday, 3 December 2018 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Hebrews 7:24 The words in the Greek place the emphasis on “unchangeable,” not on “priesthood.” In other words, it reads more correctly, “...has his priesthood unchangeable.” The priesthood of Aaron changed with the passing of each high priest; the priesthood of Jesus remains forever. The previous verse explained the mortality of the priests in Israel and how one generation would follow another in performing their duties. Upon their deaths, they would return to the dust while another priest would continue on in place of the dead. In contrast to this, the author now begins this verse with “But.” Because Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, He was born without sin. He was also born under the law, which He then lived out perfectly. In this, He met the strict requirements of the law. After this, He then gave His own life to pay the sin debt of all who come to God through Him. This is a precept known as substitution which is found within the law itself. An innocent animal was killed in place of one who sinned, receiving what the sinner deserved. Each animal under the law, in type, looked forward to Christ. Thus, He not only fulfilled the law through obedience, but He also fulfilled the law in typology. Just as each mediator of the Old Covenant was temporary, so then were his sacrifices. Further, as those sacrifices were in a different category, an animal instead of a man, they could not actually do what they were given to do (see Hebrews 10:4). Instead, they only looked forward to the One who would fulfill their typology. In contrast to these temporary priests with their ineffectual sacrifices, Jesus’ priesthood is ongoing and it is fully effectual to save. This is “because He continues forever.” Because Jesus is eternal, and the offering of Himself was perfect, so then is His sacrifice; He “has his priesthood unchangeable.” This same type of thought has been presented several times in Chapter 7, but the author continues to restate the truth to ensure 1) we grasp and do not forget what He is saying, and 2) there is no way to wiggle out of the truth presented in order to justify a return to the Law of Moses. Where the priesthood of the Law of Moses was changeable, the priesthood of Jesus is not. The superiority of Jesus’ priesthood over that of Aaron is, once again, demonstrated. Life application: Because we are dull in our thinking, we easily forget the truths presented in Scripture. We sin, often in a grievous manner, and we wonder how our sin could ever be forgiven. But the author explains it completely, and he will continue to do so in the verses ahead, using the same logic he has thus far. If you have called on Jesus as Lord, don’t despair over your sins. Rather, regret them and acknowledge how they must grieve the Lord, but don’t despair as if they are unpardonable. To have this attitude is to diminish the great and glorious power of His atonement. The same Lord who spoke the universe into existence is the Lord who can handle your waywardness. If Satan is pestering you about a sin you have committed, remember Paul’s comforting words – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:31-33 O God! Help me always to remember that neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate me from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus my Lord. Thank You that because of Him I am eternally secure. Hallelujah and Amen!
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 5, 2018 0:48:01 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 7:25, 4 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 Tuesday, 4 December 2018 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore” is based upon the argument presented in the previous verses. The author has shown numerous points which support what he will next say – 1) Jesus is a “priest forever” (7:17); 2) He has “the power of an endless life” (7:16) rather than having His priesthood based on ancestry; 3) He is a priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” (7:17) who was shown to be greater than Father Abraham (7:7); 4) Jesus’ priesthood annuls the laws of the former priesthood (7:18); 5) Jesus’ priesthood brings in “a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (7:19); 6) Jesus’ priesthood came with an oath (7:20); 7) Jesus himself has “become a surety of a better covenant” (7:22). For these reasons, we can know for certain that “He is also able to save to the uttermost.” As Vincent’s Word Studies notes concerning this word, it is “not perpetually, but perfectly.” There is an absolute guarantee of salvation which comes through His infinitely superior priesthood. The power of the priesthood is absolute, and it is perfect in what it is set forth to accomplish. However, the context must be understood. This saving is only for “those who come to God through Him.” Jesus’ ministry as High Priest is the effective means of salvation. No one can expect a right relationship with God while attempting to circumvent Jesus. In a pluralistic society, this is rejected, but the Bible makes it perfectly clear that there is one way and one way alone that the human soul can find restoration and a fulfilled relationship with God, and that is only through Jesus. This is confirmed in His own words – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 Sin exists in all men, and that sin must be dealt with before man can be reconciled to God. However, it is only through the intercessory role of Jesus Christ as High Priest that this can come about. In coming through Jesus, however, there is salvation to the uttermost because – as the author says – “He always lives to make intercession for them.” This takes the reader back to Chapter 5. Christ was chosen as a priest forever, and according to the order of Melchizedek. With that having been stated, the author then went on to explain what that meant for Him – “...who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” In the ordeal Christ faced, He became the representative for all who would believe in Him. His prevailing through the sufferings He faced is what guarantees those who follow Him the same eternal life He possesses. Thus He is the “author of eternal salvation.” The tie which binds His priestly office and the salvation it provides is the intercessory role He fills on our behalf. The obedience He learned is what now carries through to our salvation in Him. Life application: Only a true knucklehead would study theology, read Jesus’ claims of exclusivity, and then think that God has made an exception in their case. Either Jesus’ words are true or they aren’t. If they are, then Jesus is the only path to God and all other paths lead to condemnation and hell. If they aren’t true, then God has left man without the ability to truly know their eternal destiny. This would show a flaw in the nature of God – something which is impossible. Stand fast in your faith of Jesus and His great ministry and be assured that your faith in Him will be richly rewarded. Thank You, O God, for the knowledge of salvation which is given to us through the Person and work of Your glorious Son – our Lord Jesus. Thank You also that we have a sure word that is reliable and effective in leading us to Him. We stand undeserving and yet confident! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 5, 2018 22:26:34 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 7:26, 5 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018 Wednesday, 5 December 2018 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; Hebrews 7:26 The author just stated that Christ “is also able to save to the uttermost.” He then explained that with the words, “since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Now, he reveals the qualities that Christ possesses which make His saving of us to the uttermost possible. Understanding this, he begins with, “For such a High Priest was fitting for us.” The implication is that anything less than what he will describe would render Christ unqualified to mediate for us. But because He possesses these qualities, He is wholly suited to the role of such a Mediator. The first quality is that He is “holy.” The word used is not the same word used in verse 3:1 when speaking of the holy brethren to whom the epistle is written. Rather, it is a rare adjective which signifies something sanctioned by a higher (divine) law, and thus that which deserves godly respect. He is unaffected by the sin which weighs down Adam’s fallen race. There is no imperfection in our great High Priest and so His cross is completely able to remove our sin-debt once and for all. The next word used is translated as “harmless.” It is a word used only here and in Romans 16:18. It signifies someone who is innocent even down to their very intentions. There is no desire at all to hurt or cause harm or grief in such a person. In Christ, there is no malice of thought. He doesn’t look at those who come to Him based on their past misdeeds, but on their acceptance of His accomplished work. Stated another way, His judgment concerning our salvation is not based on any negative thing we have done, but is based solely on the positive work that He has accomplished. After this, He is described as “undefiled.” The word signifies “unstained,” and thus free from contamination. He is completely undefiled in thought, word, and deed. Because He is, His cleansing touch is able to purify us as well. When we call on Him in faith, He gives us His righteousness leading to holiness. At some glorious point in the future, we shall stand in the presence of God unaffected any longer by sin and its consequences. He is also “separate from sinners.” It is debated if these words are connected to the previous word (undefiled), or to the following words (and has become higher than the heavens). Christ did, in fact, live among sinners as the gospels record, but He never participated in their sin. He remained wholly undefiled in His being. At the same time, He is now completely separated from us in this life. We are still in the fallen world, but He has gone into the heavens (which the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary represented) to minister for us. Because of this, it is probable that this is not specifically connected to either thought, but is a stand-alone thought which transitions between the two. He was separate, and He remains so now in another type of separation. Jesus is completely set apart from all defilement. This includes separation from those who have failed to call on Him. We cannot expect an eternal salvation for believers if we don’t expect eternal separation from unbelievers. God has given us the choice to choose life; to choose Jesus. If we neglect so great a salvation, only eternal condemnation can result. The verse then ends with, “and has become higher than the heavens.” The thought is similar to that of Ephesians 4:10 – “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” The idea here is that His exaltation is higher than anything we can visibly see, and above any heaven we could ascend to. Thus, He sits at the right hand of God. In this, He can intercede directly to God on our behalf. The majesty of the heavens is nothing in comparison to the greatness of Jesus. We think of heaven as the ultimate prize, but the heavens were created along with the earth. The creation cannot equal the splendid majesty of the Creator, and heaven cannot match the glory of the Lord In each of these, one can see the type which was given in the high priest of Israel as he mediated on the Day of Atonement. Christ is the Anti-type which corresponds to him, but in an infinitely more perfect way. What Israel’s high priest did under a law which could not save, Christ does through a covenant which can save to the uttermost. Life application: If this verse doesn’t make you want to jump up and shout, you may need to get off the Xanax. When we come to Jesus we come to the very throne and glory of God. Think on who Jesus really is, and think on what He has really done. And then, go forth in praise of the splendor of His majesty! Heavenly Father, help us never to set our eyes on any lesser prize than the ultimate glory – that of our precious, exalted, and magnificent Lord Jesus! Your word, again and again, admonishes us to fix our eyes, our thoughts, our hopes, and our hearts on Him. Give us the burning desire to do so. It is in His splendiferously wonderful name we pray! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 7, 2018 0:57:34 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 7:27, 6 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018 Thursday, 6 December 2018 ...who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Hebrews 7:27 This verse is a climax of the subject matter so far discussed over the past many verses concerning the superiority of Christ's priesthood over that of Aaron. The author has been clearly contrasting this superiority over that of the high priests of old. He has highlighted many differences such as in their duties, genealogies, and length of service, but this verse takes us directly back to the requirements of the Levitical law. For example, in Leviticus 16:11, this was stated concerning the high priest – “And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself.” Even the high priest himself had to offer sacrifices for sin. The Day of Atonement sacrifice was once a year, however, he also had other required sacrifices for his own sin, if and when any arose. This is in complete contrast to Christ Jesus. As was seen in the previous verse, He is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” and thus requiring no sacrifice for His own sin. As the author says of Him, “who does not need daily” to offer up sacrifices. Unlike Christ who needed no sacrifice, the high priest of Israel needed sacrifices for sin which he committed. The term, “daily,” does not mean that he literally offered a daily sacrifice for his sin. Rather, what is described in this verse is one which covers the conduct of his daily life. The Day of Atonement occurred once a year on the tenth day of the seventh month. It was a mandatory sacrifice which covered the entire year. On this day, “those high priests,” meaning those of the line of Aaron, were “to offer up sacrifices.” This was a ritual that only the high priest could conduct. When he did, he had to offer up “first for [h]is own sins.” Note: The verse now being reviewed is looking at this from Christ Jesus’ perspective, and so the word “His” is capitalized in this translation. However, this is given to show the contrast to that of Aaron. Christ did not have to offer up “for His own sins,” but the high priest under the Law of Moses did. After offering for his sins, the high priest could only then offer “for the people’s” sins. This shows an inherent defect in the law. If the high priest had his own sin which required atonement, and that year by year, it shows that he was imperfect and he remained imperfect. Further, it shows that he could also not bring those, on whose behalf he ministered, to a state of perfection either. This is in complete contrast to Jesus who offered Himself, not a goat, and “this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” Here the superiority of Christ’s priesthood is put on prominent display. A goat is in a different category than a man. Hebrews 10:4 will show that what the high priest of Israel did each year was actually ineffectual. As it says there, “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” And so we have 1) the high priest requiring atonement for sin; 2) the high priest required atonement for sin “daily” (meaning year by year); and 3) the offering for his sin could not actually take away the sin. In contrast, we have Jesus who 1) required no atonement for sin because He is sinless; 2) His sinless state is eternal and so He will never require atonement for His sin, making Him an acceptable offering for others who do bear sin; and 3) the offering of Himself is fully sufficient to take away sin – once and for all – for those who trust in Him. Life application: The people of Israel were granted a temporary covering (atonement) for their sins each year on the Day of Atonement. In reading the Old Testament, we find the most egregious sins possible being recorded by the people. And yet, if they came to God in faith on this most sacred day, God would atone for those sins. And these things only looked forward to the more perfect and complete atonement offered through Christ Jesus. Be comforted that nothing you’ve ever done is too vile that it can’t be purified. When you look to the cross and accept what Jesus did on your behalf, you can never again be condemned for your wayward life. God has provided the ultimate atonement for you in the Person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Can we get an, “Amen!” Glorious and most merciful God. You gave Israel temporary atonement, year by year, through the sacrifice of animals. But then You sent Jesus as a full, final, and forever sacrifice of Himself. In Him, we have the perfect sacrifice, and thus the perfect forgiveness for our wrongdoings. Thank You, O God, for Your unfailing love. It is evident in what You have done for us. Thank You for Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 8, 2018 1:05:22 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 7:28, 7 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2018 Friday, 7 December 2018 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. Hebrews 7:28 This is the final verse of Chapter 7. Before completing the chapter, the author provides another contrast between those high priests under the law and Jesus, the High Priest of the New Covenant. The previous verses showed other clear contrasts between the two as well. They were imperfect; He is perfect. They required a sacrifice for their own sins; He required no sacrifice, but instead became the perfect sacrifice. And further, His sacrifices was “once for all.” Now, the author finishes this thought with another such contrast. The law, meaning the Law of Moses, “appoints as high priests men who have weakness.” Although this may be referring to physical limitations, such as frailty or the ability to get sick and die, it is more certainly referring to their sin-nature and their inability to withstand temptation. In contrast, in Jesus, there is an oath rather than the mandate of the law. This oath “came after the law.” In other words, it sets-aside the law entirely. This has already been stated, but the author is ensuring that we fully understand it. The Law of Moses is set aside by the entrance of the New Covenant. This New Covenant appoints Jesus who “has been perfected forever.” As was noted before, this doesn’t mean Jesus went from a position of imperfection to one of perfection. Instead, He was and is the perfect, sinless, Son of God. What is perfected forever is our understanding of His perfection. Until Jesus died on the cross and was then raised to life, no one could have imagined His nature. He was thought to be merely a man who could be destroyed at the cross. But the very implement of His death became the point which confirms His perfection. By defeating the cross and being raised to life through the resurrection, all who realize the significance of what occurred can comprehend His perfection and eternality. In this verse, the law is contrasted to the oath. The succession of high priests – coming, accomplishing their temporary duties, and then dying to be replaced by another – is contrasted to the Son who is forever. There is also the notion of the law coming, and then the oath coming afterward. As the oath came after the giving of the law, it means that the law must have an end. But as the oath speaks of “forever,” then the duties of the new High Priest are connected to His eternality. He is eternal, and His duties are forever. Life application: It is Jesus who established the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28) in His own blood; it is Jesus who died on the cross, shedding that blood and satisfying the wrath of God; it is Jesus who was raised to eternal life; and it is Jesus who, even now, is at the right hand of the Father working on our behalf as we fall short of the law which He fulfilled. What perverse attitude would have someone go back to the Law of Moses and say, “Gee, I need to do the things of this law in order to be right before God”? He has already done those things! All one does with this attitude is to reject what Christ has done. It is a cosmic slap in God’s face. Stand on the grace of God which is found in Jesus Christ, and do not be led astray by false teachers who reintroduce an obsolete, annulled law. Great are Your works, O Christ! Thank You for accomplishing that which no man has ever been able to do. In Your great mercy, You saved us from the debt we owe and from the curse of the law! No power of hell and no trick of the devil can ever steal us from Your magnificent salvation. All glory to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 9, 2018 0:03:58 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:1, 8 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2018 Saturday, 8 December 2018 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, Hebrews 8:1 Chapter 8 now brings in the main point which has been, and which continues to be, discussed. As the author says, “of the things we are saying.” He continues to speak about the matter at hand, but he is giving the main point of the discussion so that the words he continues to relay will be more fully grasped. This main point is that “We have such a High Priest.” All of the things which have been relayed about the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over that of Aaron are found in Jesus. In Chapter 7, point after point in regards to this was made. But those points were not merely hypothetical ruminations. Rather, they were points which actually are realized in the priesthood of Christ Jesus. The matter has been presented, it has been proven, and what has been said is considered as settled, even if more detail is forthcoming. It is these types of considerations which are realized in this chief point. But his words do not end with the fact that Christ is such a High Priest. Instead, he continues with an explanation of that fact by saying, “who is seated.” Being an aorist verb, it is better translated as, “who sat down.” The author has referred to Psalm 110:1 twice so far in his thoughts (in verse 1:3 and in verse 1:13). The words of the psalm said, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” In verse 1:3, he even spoke of it as an accomplished act with the words about Christ Jesus which said He “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” That thought has been explained and fully substantiated, and it is now realized as an indisputable truth concerning Him – He has sat down. But what is the significance of this act? It is explained by considering the actions of the priests under the Mosaic Covenant. The majority of the furnishings and equipment mentioned in the construction of the tabernacle/temple are recorded in the book of Exodus. Nowhere was a chair authorized. This is true in both the tabernacle and later in the temple in Jerusalem. This is because the work of the priests was never finished. And this was true of all the priests, including the high priest. This continued on daily, and there was a tremendous amount of work to be accomplished as people came to sacrifice, again and again, for their sins. The high priest also conducted his ongoing duties as well. There is no time that the Law of Moses ever implied that the work would finally be finished and the rituals would cease. Rather, that could only come about through introduction of a New Covenant. In contrast, Jesus performed His duty (His sacrifice), presented His blood, and sat down. The work is eternally finished! Not only did Jesus sit down, but He did it at “the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven.” Though He actively makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25), that is an act which is based on His finished work. Christ is not performing necessary rituals in order to effect atonement for His believers. Those things have been accomplished. Now, He does the things for us which are made possible through His completed work of atonement. Life application: Because it is said that Jesus sat down at the “right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,” some will say this indicates a separation between the Father and the Son, thus denying the Trinity. But, the “right hand” is not a physical position; it is the position of all authority. This is seen, for example, in Exodus 15:6 – “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.” Being at the right hand of God means that Jesus is the One who has all authority in heaven and on earth. The Godhead is three Persons in one Essence. Christ is a member of that Godhead. We are to accept the Trinity as a fundamental truth concerning the nature of God. Jesus sat down! His work is complete and never to be repeated. Our Lord will never again face the agony of the cross, and we need never again fear that our failings will separate us from God. In Christ Jesus, we are eternally secure. His blood has taken our guilt away! Hallelujah and Amen!
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 10, 2018 0:50:13 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:2, 9 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2018 Sunday, 9 December 2018 ...a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. Hebrews 8:2 Here we have words which are debated among scholars. Further, translations are just as confusing concerning the proper rendering of certain words. First, the thought in this verse is connected to the previous verse, so they should be seen together – “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.” We see now that Christ is “a Minister.” In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the word is often used when speaking of an officiating priest. Corresponding to that, Christ is our High Priest. It is He who officiates on our behalf. Next, it says that this ministry is “of the sanctuary.” The Greek word is a plural noun. It can speak of either a place, meaning the Most Holy Place, or it can speak of the holy things of the tabernacle. In the case of the Most Holy Place, the plural is given as a majestic plural, so some translations say “the Holy of Holies.” It is a title of eminence. It is the Most Holy Place which is being spoken of here, rather than the holy things. In the Old Testament, there was a mishkan, or tabernacle, which was then covered by the Tent of Meeting. The two are not synonymous. Christ is a minister of the tabernacle where the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place are located. And that is where the “true tabernacle” is. Again, there is a missing of the true intent. It should say, “the true Tent.” The Greek word is skéné. It signifies a tent. Translations of the Old Testament are often not consistent in the translations of these two things, and so there is a confusion when coming into New Testament terminology. Remembering that the Tent covers the Tabernacle will help one understand the symbolism. One can think of the Oval Office in the White House as the tabernacle, and the White House itself as the tent. One is inside the other. What is seen in the Old is a representation of what was coining in Christ. It pictures His two natures; humanity and deity. The tabernacle was hidden from sight, enclosed in the tent. Christ’s deity was hidden, enclosed in His humanity. At times, such as in Numbers 14, the radiance of His deity would shine forth – “And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the children of Israel.” Numbers 14:10 (ERV) This is akin to the glory of the Lord radiating out from Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. And so what we are seeing here is the ministry of Christ, in the heavenly realms. He is the minister within the Godhead (His deity) which is in His Tent (meaning His glorified body) “which the Lord erected, and not man.” Though Christ’s humanity came through Man, what He now ministers in is glorified and not an earthly body. This is what is also promised to those who follow after Him as is noted by Paul – “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 There, Paul uses the term skénos, a tent. Our house shall be a tent which is, like Jesus, not made with hands, but is provided for by God. It will be an eternal dwelling where we can fellowship with God, because of Christ, forever. All of this symbolism is derived from shadows and pictures in the Old Testament concerning what was coming in Christ in the New. We can only speculate on the nature of the meeting which took place in the Most Holy Place between Moses and the Lord when he went in to receive the law. However, we can know certain things. In Exodus 25, the Lord told Moses – “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” Exodus 25:22 Then, in Numbers 7 we read – “And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto him.” Numbers 7:89 (ERV) Also in Exodus, we read this – “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34, 35 (ERV) God really did manifest Himself between the cherubim which overshadowed the ark. There He spoke with Moses directly. Later, His presence really was manifest in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle – so much so that Moses could not enter the tent at all. God’s presence was manifest at only a small point above the ark, and yet His glory radiated so much that it made Moses’ face shine, and it also actually overwhelmed the priests who ministered in the temple in Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 8:10, 11). Imagine the glory which radiates from the heavenly tabernacle where Christ Jesus now ministers on our behalf. Life application: Understanding theology properly is hard work. It is mentally tiring at times, but it is necessary to understand what is being said. Very particular words are used in books like Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. They are words which are often mistranslated. They are also left unread and unstudied by many people, and so we then have misunderstandings of what is going on in the New when explanations about Christ are given. But those explanations, as we see, bear directly on what we will also be like when we receive our glorified bodies. Too often, people run ahead with their notions about our future state, and they miss the finer points which are actually discussed in type and shadow in the Old Testament. Be studious, pay attention to even the hard books of Scripture, and your doctrine will be far better off because of it. How absolutely awesome You are, O God of eternity! We truly praise You for Jesus – He alone is able to stand and minister in Your glorious presence, interceding for us. On our own, we would simply perish at the sight of Your Majesty. Surely, You are worthy of praise for the giving of Christ Jesus so that we could have Your glory revealed to us through Him, while He ministers to You for us! Hallelujah and Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 11, 2018 1:33:33 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:3, 10 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2018 Monday, 10 December 2018 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. Hebrews 8:3 For the next several verses, the author will again demonstrate the superiority of the New Covenant over the Old using impeccable logic. What he says here, beginning with this verse, is to clarify what has just been presented. The word “For” is given to show this. He is logically presenting another sure proof of the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over that of Aaron. He said in verse 8:1 that in Jesus we have a High Priest “who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” In verse 8:2, he then said that He is “a Minster of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.” The significance of this is that what was found in the Old Covenant here on earth was simply a type of what was to come in Christ. That will be stated explicitly in verse 8:5. But the fact is, whether type or not, there was an earthly tabernacle (and later temple) and there was a priesthood set up for it. As a descendant of Judah, and not of Levi through Aaron, Jesus could not minister in such an earthly sanctuary (see verses 7:13, 14). As this is so, He would have nothing to offer at the earthly altar. As it says, “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices.” It is the high priest, on behalf of the people, who make such offerings. Some are for atonement, some are for burnt offerings, some are as peace offerings, and so on. However, the same must be true of the heavenly tabernacle. If the earthly tabernacle is ministered to by Aaron and his sons, and since there is a heavenly tabernacle, of which the earthly tabernacle is only a type, then there must be someone to minister at that heavenly edifice, and he must have something to offer. But Aaron cannot be the minister because no such appointment has been made for him to do so. Therefore, there must be One who is given that responsibility. As has already been seen, that appointment was for Christ Jesus, and it was based on an oath given in Psalm 110. With this understanding, the author then says, “Therefore.” He is saying, “based on what has been presented, then what I say next logically follows.” From there, he says, “it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.” If there is a heavenly edifice, and if there is a High Priest who ministers at that, then He logically must also have something to offer because “every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices.” Key to understanding this is what it says in verse 8:5. Though getting ahead in thought, if Moses said there is a “pattern” upon which the earthly things are fashioned, then the heavenly pattern is the substance of which the earthly is merely a type or shadow. As this is recorded in the writings of Moses, this must be the case. If the earthly required gifts and sacrifices, and if the earthly was fashioned after a pattern, then the heavenly must logically require both gifts and sacrifices. This then is the author’s explanation of verse 5:1 – “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” From there, the exact nature of those gifts and sacrifices in the heavenly tabernacle will be described, in detail, in Chapter 9. Life application: Key to understanding what the author is saying in Hebrews is to have an understanding of what he is referring to from the Old Testament. The author is not simply making things up as he goes. Rather, he is using the law itself to show us that the things of the law were actually ineffectual types that could not actually accomplish what they were laid out to do. They were shadows awaiting their fulfillment in the substance, which is found in Christ. To not read and study the books of Moses, and the rest of the Old Testament writings, leaves the believer in Christ with a vast void in actually being able to piece together what is being relayed for our understanding. The truly sad state of many believers is that they either do not progress in theology at all, or they get their theology not from the Bible itself, but from other’s commentaries on it. That is a scary place to be. Unless you know what the Bible already says, you are taking the word of someone, who may be utterly deficient in their theology, to make the most important decisions of all. Lord God, we look back on the work of Jesus and are fully aware of the offering He gave on our behalf – His own precious life. May we never forget the awesome and yet terrible cost of our freedom from sin and the power of the devil. All glory to the name of Jesus! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 12, 2018 0:40:23 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:4, 11 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018 Tuesday, 11 December 2018 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; Hebrews 8:4 Again, the author begins with “For.” One thought builds upon the next to establish his case. He has just stated that the purpose of a priest is “to offer both gifts and sacrifices.” He then said, based on that thought, that it is “necessary that this One also have something to offer.” What he is saying concerning the Levitical priesthood is that they, in fact, had something to offer. This begins to be realized with the words, “For if He were on earth.” The “He” is referring to Jesus. Jesus was obviously here on earth, so the author isn’t talking as if His incarnation didn’t really occur. Rather, what did occur, and which is the focus of the author’s words now, is speaking about the earthly sanctuary of the Old Covenant. He is not concerned with any other religions which also conduct priestly functions, as if “on earth” was speaking of whatever religion man conjures up. Rather, his words are directed to only that which the Lord established. Under the Old Covenant, which has been seen to be a type of that which is in heaven and which will be seen explicitly in verse 8:5, Jesus “would not be a priest.” The earthly sanctuary was designated specifically for the priestly line of Aaron. Further, the earthly sanctuary had specific gifts and sacrifices meticulously prescribed for its service. The types of gifts and sacrifices, how to offer them, when to offer them, what to do with each and every part of them after they have been sacrificed, etc. have all been minutely detailed within the law itself. Everything necessary to fulfill the Lord’s will under the Old Covenant is provided through the words of the covenant itself. This is why the author continues with the words, “since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.” There were priests according to the law, and these priests offered the gifts mandated by the law. Further, they offered them according to the law. Nothing is left for another to come in and fulfill a priestly task which was lacking. Every part of the system, upon which the Levitical priesthood was established, is carefully detailed in the written words of instruction found in the law itself. This specificity of those details goes on for pages and pages (and pages!) in the Law of Moses, covering every possible situation. The priest then could follow these procedures exactingly. If Jesus’ ministry was only an earthly ministry, it would be a false one. The Levites already handled what was prescribed in the law at the place God chose for the priestly ministry of Israel. Life application: If Jesus’ ministry is a valid one, as it is shown to be based on the explanation of the previous chapters, and if that ministry is not of this earth, then it must be a heavenly ministry. If the earthly ministry of the Levitical priesthood dealt with earthly things, then the heavenly ministry of Christ Jesus must deal with spiritual things. The earthly things are already handled by the Old Covenant, and they were ineffective for bringing man to a restored relationship with God. As this is so, and as the ministry of Christ is able to do this, then why (why on earth!) would anyone want to go back to a law which was incapable of restoring us to God. Think it through. What is earthly is 1) temporary, 2) ineffective, and 3) annulled in Christ. Stay far away from anyone who would ask you to return to precepts of such a failed system. Stand on the grace of Jesus Christ alone for your reconciliation to God the Father. Heavenly Father, it is with thanks and gratitude that our sacrifice came not in the sacrificial system at an earthly sanctuary, and through the blood of bulls and goats. Instead, it came through the life of the precious Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus. We look to His glorious work and know that His greater ministry is sufficient to cover all our transgressions. Glory and honor to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 13, 2018 0:27:26 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:4, 11 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018 Tuesday, 11 December 2018 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; Hebrews 8:4 Again, the author begins with “For.” One thought builds upon the next to establish his case. He has just stated that the purpose of a priest is “to offer both gifts and sacrifices.” He then said, based on that thought, that it is “necessary that this One also have something to offer.” What he is saying concerning the Levitical priesthood is that they, in fact, had something to offer. This begins to be realized with the words, “For if He were on earth.” The “He” is referring to Jesus. Jesus was obviously here on earth, so the author isn’t talking as if His incarnation didn’t really occur. Rather, what did occur, and which is the focus of the author’s words now, is speaking about the earthly sanctuary of the Old Covenant. He is not concerned with any other religions which also conduct priestly functions, as if “on earth” was speaking of whatever religion man conjures up. Rather, his words are directed to only that which the Lord established. Under the Old Covenant, which has been seen to be a type of that which is in heaven and which will be seen explicitly in verse 8:5, Jesus “would not be a priest.” The earthly sanctuary was designated specifically for the priestly line of Aaron. Further, the earthly sanctuary had specific gifts and sacrifices meticulously prescribed for its service. The types of gifts and sacrifices, how to offer them, when to offer them, what to do with each and every part of them after they have been sacrificed, etc. have all been minutely detailed within the law itself. Everything necessary to fulfill the Lord’s will under the Old Covenant is provided through the words of the covenant itself. This is why the author continues with the words, “since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.” There were priests according to the law, and these priests offered the gifts mandated by the law. Further, they offered them according to the law. Nothing is left for another to come in and fulfill a priestly task which was lacking. Every part of the system, upon which the Levitical priesthood was established, is carefully detailed in the written words of instruction found in the law itself. This specificity of those details goes on for pages and pages (and pages!) in the Law of Moses, covering every possible situation. The priest then could follow these procedures exactingly. If Jesus’ ministry was only an earthly ministry, it would be a false one. The Levites already handled what was prescribed in the law at the place God chose for the priestly ministry of Israel. Life application: If Jesus’ ministry is a valid one, as it is shown to be based on the explanation of the previous chapters, and if that ministry is not of this earth, then it must be a heavenly ministry. If the earthly ministry of the Levitical priesthood dealt with earthly things, then the heavenly ministry of Christ Jesus must deal with spiritual things. The earthly things are already handled by the Old Covenant, and they were ineffective for bringing man to a restored relationship with God. As this is so, and as the ministry of Christ is able to do this, then why (why on earth!) would anyone want to go back to a law which was incapable of restoring us to God. Think it through. What is earthly is 1) temporary, 2) ineffective, and 3) annulled in Christ. Stay far away from anyone who would ask you to return to precepts of such a failed system. Stand on the grace of Jesus Christ alone for your reconciliation to God the Father. Heavenly Father, it is with thanks and gratitude that our sacrifice came not in the sacrificial system at an earthly sanctuary, and through the blood of bulls and goats. Instead, it came through the life of the precious Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus. We look to His glorious work and know that His greater ministry is sufficient to cover all our transgressions. Glory and honor to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 13, 2018 0:37:13 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:4, 11 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018 Tuesday, 11 December 2018 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; Hebrews 8:4 Again, the author begins with “For.” One thought builds upon the next to establish his case. He has just stated that the purpose of a priest is “to offer both gifts and sacrifices.” He then said, based on that thought, that it is “necessary that this One also have something to offer.” What he is saying concerning the Levitical priesthood is that they, in fact, had something to offer. This begins to be realized with the words, “For if He were on earth.” The “He” is referring to Jesus. Jesus was obviously here on earth, so the author isn’t talking as if His incarnation didn’t really occur. Rather, what did occur, and which is the focus of the author’s words now, is speaking about the earthly sanctuary of the Old Covenant. He is not concerned with any other religions which also conduct priestly functions, as if “on earth” was speaking of whatever religion man conjures up. Rather, his words are directed to only that which the Lord established. Under the Old Covenant, which has been seen to be a type of that which is in heaven and which will be seen explicitly in verse 8:5, Jesus “would not be a priest.” The earthly sanctuary was designated specifically for the priestly line of Aaron. Further, the earthly sanctuary had specific gifts and sacrifices meticulously prescribed for its service. The types of gifts and sacrifices, how to offer them, when to offer them, what to do with each and every part of them after they have been sacrificed, etc. have all been minutely detailed within the law itself. Everything necessary to fulfill the Lord’s will under the Old Covenant is provided through the words of the covenant itself. This is why the author continues with the words, “since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.” There were priests according to the law, and these priests offered the gifts mandated by the law. Further, they offered them according to the law. Nothing is left for another to come in and fulfill a priestly task which was lacking. Every part of the system, upon which the Levitical priesthood was established, is carefully detailed in the written words of instruction found in the law itself. This specificity of those details goes on for pages and pages (and pages!) in the Law of Moses, covering every possible situation. The priest then could follow these procedures exactingly. If Jesus’ ministry was only an earthly ministry, it would be a false one. The Levites already handled what was prescribed in the law at the place God chose for the priestly ministry of Israel. Life application: If Jesus’ ministry is a valid one, as it is shown to be based on the explanation of the previous chapters, and if that ministry is not of this earth, then it must be a heavenly ministry. If the earthly ministry of the Levitical priesthood dealt with earthly things, then the heavenly ministry of Christ Jesus must deal with spiritual things. The earthly things are already handled by the Old Covenant, and they were ineffective for bringing man to a restored relationship with God. As this is so, and as the ministry of Christ is able to do this, then why (why on earth!) would anyone want to go back to a law which was incapable of restoring us to God. Think it through. What is earthly is 1) temporary, 2) ineffective, and 3) annulled in Christ. Stay far away from anyone who would ask you to return to precepts of such a failed system. Stand on the grace of Jesus Christ alone for your reconciliation to God the Father. Heavenly Father, it is with thanks and gratitude that our sacrifice came not in the sacrificial system at an earthly sanctuary, and through the blood of bulls and goats. Instead, it came through the life of the precious Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus. We look to His glorious work and know that His greater ministry is sufficient to cover all our transgressions. Glory and honor to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 14, 2018 0:26:49 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:4, 11 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018 Tuesday, 11 December 2018 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; Hebrews 8:4 Again, the author begins with “For.” One thought builds upon the next to establish his case. He has just stated that the purpose of a priest is “to offer both gifts and sacrifices.” He then said, based on that thought, that it is “necessary that this One also have something to offer.” What he is saying concerning the Levitical priesthood is that they, in fact, had something to offer. This begins to be realized with the words, “For if He were on earth.” The “He” is referring to Jesus. Jesus was obviously here on earth, so the author isn’t talking as if His incarnation didn’t really occur. Rather, what did occur, and which is the focus of the author’s words now, is speaking about the earthly sanctuary of the Old Covenant. He is not concerned with any other religions which also conduct priestly functions, as if “on earth” was speaking of whatever religion man conjures up. Rather, his words are directed to only that which the Lord established. Under the Old Covenant, which has been seen to be a type of that which is in heaven and which will be seen explicitly in verse 8:5, Jesus “would not be a priest.” The earthly sanctuary was designated specifically for the priestly line of Aaron. Further, the earthly sanctuary had specific gifts and sacrifices meticulously prescribed for its service. The types of gifts and sacrifices, how to offer them, when to offer them, what to do with each and every part of them after they have been sacrificed, etc. have all been minutely detailed within the law itself. Everything necessary to fulfill the Lord’s will under the Old Covenant is provided through the words of the covenant itself. This is why the author continues with the words, “since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law.” There were priests according to the law, and these priests offered the gifts mandated by the law. Further, they offered them according to the law. Nothing is left for another to come in and fulfill a priestly task which was lacking. Every part of the system, upon which the Levitical priesthood was established, is carefully detailed in the written words of instruction found in the law itself. This specificity of those details goes on for pages and pages (and pages!) in the Law of Moses, covering every possible situation. The priest then could follow these procedures exactingly. If Jesus’ ministry was only an earthly ministry, it would be a false one. The Levites already handled what was prescribed in the law at the place God chose for the priestly ministry of Israel. Life application: If Jesus’ ministry is a valid one, as it is shown to be based on the explanation of the previous chapters, and if that ministry is not of this earth, then it must be a heavenly ministry. If the earthly ministry of the Levitical priesthood dealt with earthly things, then the heavenly ministry of Christ Jesus must deal with spiritual things. The earthly things are already handled by the Old Covenant, and they were ineffective for bringing man to a restored relationship with God. As this is so, and as the ministry of Christ is able to do this, then why (why on earth!) would anyone want to go back to a law which was incapable of restoring us to God. Think it through. What is earthly is 1) temporary, 2) ineffective, and 3) annulled in Christ. Stay far away from anyone who would ask you to return to precepts of such a failed system. Stand on the grace of Jesus Christ alone for your reconciliation to God the Father. Heavenly Father, it is with thanks and gratitude that our sacrifice came not in the sacrificial system at an earthly sanctuary, and through the blood of bulls and goats. Instead, it came through the life of the precious Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus. We look to His glorious work and know that His greater ministry is sufficient to cover all our transgressions. Glory and honor to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 15, 2018 0:55:57 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:7, 14 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 Friday, 14 December 2018 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Hebrews 8:7 In the previous verse, the author had contrasted the ministry of the Old Covenant to that of the new by saying of Jesus, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” Now, concerning that “better covenant,” he says, “For.” He is building a logical case against observing the Law of Moses. He desires his audience, once and forever, to come to the grace of God which is found in Jesus Christ’s New Covenant. In order to do this, he continues by saying, “For if that first covenant had been faultless.” The statement demands the reader to acknowledge that it is, in fact, found to be with fault. After all the discussion about the New Covenant setting aside the Old (meaning in its entirety), the author states what is evident from everything he has thus far said – that, because of its inherent weakness, a New Covenant was needed. The weaknesses are obvious: 1) The priests were sin-filled men just like all of Adam’s seed. 2) The law could make no one perfect, but rather it showed concerning sin (as Paul says), “that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful” (Romans 7:13). 3) The tabernacle and later the temple were corruptible and transitory. In fact, after the tabernacle was replaced with Solomon’s Temple, that was destroyed by the Babylonians. Then another temple was built which was destroyed by the Romans. 4) The sacrifices of the temple were imperfect and could never truly atone for human sin. For these and other reasons, another covenant was needed. As he says, if the first covenant didn’t have fault (which it is proven that it does), “then no place would have been sought for a second.” However, a second covenant was sought. It is explicitly stated in Jeremiah 31, which will be cited in the coming verses. This covenant would be perfect in nature along with everything associated with it. As an example, let us consider another aspect of the Old Covenant which was lacking in its nature – the office of prophet. Even the prophets who lived and prophesied under the law were sinful men. They spoke the words of God, but their utterances usually accompanied some type of claim, such as, “Thus says the Lord…” It wasn’t until the New Covenant that One came and spoke on His own authority – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:2, 28 This same One, who spoke under His own authority, also proclaimed that He was the One to establish the promised New Covenant – “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” Matthew 26:17, 28 Life application: In Hebrews 1:1, the claim was made that God once spoke in certain ways, but now has spoken through His Son. In other words, what is recorded in the Bible is sealed and nothing can be added to it. Jesus has spoken. His apostles were granted authority to record their testimony of Him and to clarify the meaning of this New Covenant. Therefore, No other word is authoritative beyond the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. The author wants his audience to never go back under the Old Covenant which was faulty. However, we can implicitly see that the New Covenant, though on-going in nature, is fully explained in Scripture. No further revelation is needed, nor is it to be expected. When someone in a church says, “The Lord says,” except as a quote from Scripture, it’s time to find another church. Hold fast to the Bible, and to that alone. O God of the Universe! You have honored us by granting us Your word, the Holy Bible. It points to Jesus, tells us of Jesus, and explains Jesus’ ministry to us. What more could we ever need? But even then, You’ve given us of Your Spirit to allow us to understand and accept the wonderful message it contains. Glory and honor belong to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 15, 2018 23:13:57 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:8, 15 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2018 Saturday, 15 December 2018 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— Hebrews 8:8 The author now continues on with the thought just presented in verse 8:7. There he said, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.” The first (Mosaic) covenant was not faultless, as is confirmed in the words, “Because finding fault with them.” It is important to understand the wording. The author does not say, “Because finding fault with it.” There was fault under the Mosaic Covenant, but it was not in the law itself. Rather, it was in the people bound under it. Sin in man made it impossible for anyone under the law to be perfected. This includes both original sin and committed sin. The defect is in man, not in the law itself. This is why Paul says – “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:7-12 The Old Covenant was perfect in its intent and purpose – to demonstrate that no one can be justified by attempting to adhere to it. The fault isn’t with the Covenant then, but rather with the people who were unable to meet its perfect demands. The law’s standards flow from God’s perfect character and only more poignantly show our imperfections. God knew this, but we didn’t. How could we appreciate Jesus? How could we appreciate God’s infinite mercy? How could we appreciate the perfection of God’s plan without first being given the law? It’s no different than feeling healthy. If we felt healthy all the time, we would never truly appreciate health. But when we get sick, we can appreciate our health more. In fact, the sicker we are, the more we can then appreciate true health. Jesus used this terminology even as He was fulfilling the law on our behalf – “When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 9:12, 13 Because of this fault, the author then writes, “He says.” This is speaking of the Lord. The law could not accomplish the task of restoring fallen man to Him. This was already known by Him to be the case, but the law was given as a tutor to help us understand our need for something greater (Galatians 3:24, 25). When the lesson was learned, and in the fullness of time, God sent Christ to fulfill the law and to establish a New Covenant. To support this, he goes to Scripture and cites Jeremiah 31:31 with the words, “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” If the people were simply given God’s healing without realizing their sickness, it would have no effect in their lives. But once a law was given, the people learned, as if tutored, about the need to come to Christ’s perfection for our healing and restoration. But something is stated in Jeremiah 31:31 which is surprisingly missed by replacement theologians. Who did this New Covenant go to? It went to the house of Israel and the house of Judah; to those who had lived under its yoke and who could appreciate the freedom it provided. This New Covenant was given to Israel and Judah. As they went into punishment for rejecting Christ, the church illogically decided that they must be “Israel.” The promises had been made, the Gentiles had received them, and so the church must now be “Israel.” With this logic, much of the body of the Old Testament had to be spiritualized because it is literally impossible for those prophecies to be fulfilled in the church in an actual way. This great error continues on in the minds of replacement theologians to this day. However, it was only after the New Covenant in Christ was first presented to Israel, and through the instructive hands of the apostles, that the gospel came to the Gentiles. Paul’s letters show how the Gentiles are grafted into this body, but they did not replace it. His letters also clearly show how, in the future, Israel will again be brought into the New Covenant as a collective people. Peter says as much in his statements in Acts. It is, actually, inexcusable that the church has developed the doctrine of replacement theology. The covenant is made, it was made with Israel and Judah, and the church is not Israel nor Judah. In the future, the covenant will be realized in them. Coming soon to a millennial reign of Christ near you. Now, during the Dispensation of Grace, all can look back on Israel’s years under the law and see the wisdom of God in Christ Jesus. The law was given, it was intended to lead us to Christ, and it is not an end in and of itself. Life application: The church did not replace Israel. O God! All the difficult work of meeting Your perfect standards was accomplished by Your own right arm – in the Person and work of Jesus. We can now rest in His perfection and, by faith alone, receive complete healing and restoration with You. And so, we give thanks to You! Amen!
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 16, 2018 23:59:59 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:9, 16 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018 Sunday, 16 December 2018 ...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 did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. Hebrews 8:9 This verse is a continuation of the quote from Jeremiah 31; it is a general quote of verse 32. God made a covenant with the people He brought out of slavery in Egypt. In Genesis 12, God made an oath to Abraham that He would bless him and make him into a great nation. In Genesis 15, He swore an oath by Himself that He would complete the promise just as He had said. God told Abraham at this time – “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Genesis 15:13-16 As the Bible shows, everything concerning the promise and Israel’s subsequent delivery from bondage was accomplished by God. After delivering Israel, the Mosaic covenant was given to the people, but the people were unfaithful to it, even from its inception. After enough disobedience, God turned away from the people and exiled them to Babylon. However, even in their disobedience, God promised them a New Covenant. And so, the words, “not according to the covenant,” are speaking of the contrasting nature of the New Covenant that would be given (prophesied at Jeremiah’s time, but which is given in Christ). The nature of this New Covenant will be more fully explained in the words to come. However, the very fact that it says this New Covenant will not be according to the Old Covenant, by default, means that the Old Covenant is obsolete (a point he will explicitly state in verse 8:13) because, once a covenant is given, it cannot be changed. If the New is not according to the Old, it – by its very nature – replaces the Old. The Old Covenant was one, as the verse next says, “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.” Before the covenant was made, the people lived under the time of Promise. That was from Abraham until the exodus. After the exodus, the people were given the Law at Mount Sinai. This became the time of Instruction (the meaning of the Hebrew word torah is “instruction”), also known as the Dispensation of Law. As Paul says in Galatians 3, this time of Law was a tutor (a pedagogue) intended to lead to Christ. God led Israel by the hand out of Egypt, and the time of Law (Instruction) was to continue leading Israel by the hand, just as a pedagogue would do for a child through administering discipline. Despite this, the citation of Jeremiah 31 continues on by saying, “because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.” Israel failed to receive the instruction which the law provided, and the law was unable to perfect the people. Eventually, the punishments of the law were inflicted upon the people because of this. That is seen in the words, “and I disregarded them.” Here the quote is from the Greek translation of Jeremiah 31. The Hebrew text reads differently. Instead of these words, it says, “though I was a husband to them.” The idea is that, despite being a husband, he cast them off for their disobedience and faithlessness. But even that did not correct the people. Everything recorded about Israel in the Old Testament concerning this Old Covenant demonstrated that the Law was incapable of bringing about what it was intended to bring about, which was a restored relationship with God. Because of this demonstrable failure, a new Covenant was sought out which would correct the deficiency of the Old. However, when a covenant is made, it must stand. The only way that a New Covenant could come about would be in the fulfillment of the Old. As the imperfection of the people was the deficiency which kept the Old from being successful, a perfect Person would need to come in order for success to be realized. This is what God did in Christ. Through Him, a new and better arrangement could be made for the restoration of man to his Creator. Life application: When we are faithless, God is ever faithful. Remember this as you struggle with sin. He sent His Son to take your punishment if you will only trust Him. How splendid is God from whom all blessings flow! O God, even when we disobey and rebel, You remain ever-faithful. When Israel disobeyed and deserved destruction, you preserved them and even promised a New Covenant to them; a covenant guaranteed by the precious blood of Jesus. How can we neglect so great a salvation and remain guiltless? All glory surely belongs to You! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 17, 2018 23:35:38 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:10, 17 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2018 Monday, 17 December 2018 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Hebrews 8:10 In this verse, the author closely cites Jeremiah 31:33. The words begin with, “For this is the covenant that I will make.” The Greek literally reads, “For this is the covenant that I will covenant.” The word translated as “I will covenant” is a different word than that used in verse 8:8. There, it was more akin to, “I will ratify,” and it “focuses on the ‘end-point’ of two or more related factors working together to reach their fulfillment” (HELPS Word Studies). Here, the word signifies, to “thoroughly (carefully) arrange which effectively accomplishes the objective at hand” (HELPS Word Studies). According to the verse, this New Covenant will be “with the house of Israel after those days.” It should be noted that in verse 8:8 it said, “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Here, there is a uniting of the two into one unit once again. A covenant is something made between two parties. And so here we have an interesting look into what has happened in redemptive history. Christ confirmed the covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, but that covenant has not actually been “covenanted” with them yet. They rejected Him and were in turn rejected. That is why it says, “after those days.” There is a time when the house of Israel and the house of Judah would again be considered one house. That has happened. Israel has returned to the land, and they have become one united people – Israel. Despite having rejected Christ, and despite having been rejected by Him during a time of punishment, there is a time which is promised when they will again be brought back and brought into this covenant which was ratified in His shed blood. This is promised, and it is guaranteed in the words, “says the Lord.” He has spoken, and He will bring it to pass. At that time, He says that “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts.” Note that the word “mind” is singular – it is a collective mind of the people upon which His laws will be placed. However, the word “hearts” is plural. The hearts of all within the collective will have His laws written upon them. This clearly establishes that the Lord is speaking of a collective body which is made up of individuals. It is a precept which must be understood to grasp the significance of the author’s words in the book of Hebrews. The Lord has not permanently rejected Israel the nation. Any individual can come to Him now and be saved, but the collective is not yet saved. Someday, the two will be in one accord. National Israel will be saved. Understanding this, the Lord continues by saying, “and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” The Lord, meaning Jesus – who ratified the New Covenant in His blood – will be recognized and acknowledged as their God. That is prophesied by Jesus explicitly in Matthew 23 when He said to the people – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:37-39 Someday, as prophesied by Jesus, He will return to Israel (Jerusalem symbolizes the leadership of Israel, and thus the national proclamation of Israel) and they will acknowledge Him as LORD, meaning YHVH – the Lord God of Israel. By citing this verse, and stating it was with the “house of Israel,” people over the centuries have confused Israel with the church, a doctrine known as “replacement theology.” Because God made certain promises in the Old Testament to Israel which never came about, and because Israel disappeared from the scene as a nation, the church unwisely assumed that the church replaced Israel and that those unfulfilled promises would now be realized in the church. However, as is often the case with unfulfilled prophecy, these people were wrong. The church did not replace Israel. The church age is a separate dispensation in God’s economy. Paul could not be any clearer in chapters 9-11 of Romans that God is not through with Israel and never does he confuse the two by claiming they are a single entity. In fact, the very verses which replacement theologians use to support their case actually refute it, such as – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 When Paul speaks in this verse of “neither Jew nor Greek,” and that they are one, he is confirming a distinction between the two. It’s obvious that males and females are not the same; no normal person would ever make such a claim. Being one in Christ is not the same as having no distinction in identity. Therefore, the Gentiles are not, as replacement theologians claim, the Jews. Logically also, the church is also not Israel. Rather, at the end of the current dispensation, God’s attention will again be focused on the restored nation of Israel. This will occur at the rapture of the church. In the words, “and they shall be my people,” there is a clue to the dispensational model. Israel was called the Lord’s people, but in their rejection of Him, He chose a new people – the Gentile-led church. Paul cites Hosea in Romans 9, stating the church is God’s people. However, Israel will again be called “My people” by the Lord. This is confirmed in Peter’s words which cite Hosea again, applying them to Israel. During the time of Israel's exile for disobedience, there has been a time of God's favor upon the Gentile world. The precedent has been set in Israel and therefore it can, and does, apply to those who are not Israel as well. The interesting thing for people alive in this day is that Israel as a nation has been re-gathered to the land of Israel. The "times of the Gentiles" is now coming to its close. As a confirmation of these things, and as if opening up a treasure of beautiful gems, the passage Paul refers to in Hosea is marked with a special pattern known as a chiasm. This pattern shows the contrast of rejection and acceptance by God. A chiasm is a pattern which states a truth and then turns around and restates it in the opposite order. Sometimes, such as in the case of this one in Hosea, the pattern says the opposite as it unfolds, thus it is a chiasm of contrasts – Hosea 1:9-2:23 - “But Me she forgot,” says the LORD. A Chiasm of Contrasts - Our Unfaithfulness and God's Unlimited Mercy (11/23/07) a 1:9 You are not my people, I will not be your God. -----b 1:10 Jezreel (God will sow) ----------c 2:3 Dry Land, thirst. ---------------d 2:5 Wife departs from her husband. --------------------e 2:7 Wife returns to her husband. --------------------------f2:9 Take away the new wine. ------------------------------g 2:10-12 God punishes Israel. -----------------------------------h 2:13 God will punish her. ----------------------------------------x 2:13 “But Me she forgot,” says the LORD -----------------------------------h 2:14a God will allure her. ------------------------------g 2:14b God comforts Israel. --------------------------f 2:15 Give vineyards. --------------------e 2:16 LORD says, “That you will call me ‘My Husband.’” ---------------d 2:19 Husband betroths wife. ----------c 2:21, 22 Grain, new wine, oil. -----b 2:22 Jezreel (God will sow) a 2:23 You are my people; You are my God. As can be seen, there is God’s rejection of Israel, their punishment for being rejected, and then a return of the husband/wife relationship to Israel. During the time when He says, “they are not My people,” Paul says that the Gentiles are His people. This verse in Hebrews, citing the words of the Lord through Jeremiah, show very clearly that Israel is not forever rejected by God. He still has a plan and a purpose for them. Life application: Though the Gentiles were once out of the picture, there were still hints of God's love for them – Ruth for example. And though the Jews rejected Christ, God has not wholly given up on them. He will again call them as a people to Himself, thus demonstrating that He truly is a God of grace and mercy. You are the everlasting, covenant-keeping, and most glorious God! Thank you that despite our misinterpretations of Scripture, our salvation is secure in Christ and not lost in faulty doctrine. However, help our doctrine to be pure, so that You will be glorified through it. Amen!
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 19, 2018 1:56:41 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:11, 18 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2018 Tuesday, 18 December 2018 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. Hebrews 8:11 This verse now quotes Jeremiah 31:34. In this, there is a difference between some Greek manuscripts. The word for “neighbor” is found to rather say “fellow citizen.” That is probably the true rendering. The Hebrew from which it is cited says, “neighbor.” But a neighbor may not necessarily be a fellow citizen in today’s world. The difference in the Greeks manuscripts probably came about when someone later tried to match the words to the Hebrew, thinking they were helping the translation along. Assuming it says polités, or citizen, would then follow in accord with the thought which has thus far been presented. Israel had rejected Christ as a cumulative whole. However, a time is coming when, “None of them shall teach his ‘fellow citizen.’” The idea is the same as from the Hebrew Scriptures because the Hebrew was speaking to Israel through a Hebrew person concerning things which would again pertain to them. However, to say, “fellow citizen,” means that the Gentile led church is to understand that this only applies to the Hebrew people. The rest of the world has already been presented Christ during Israel’s rejection of Him. It is then a note that Israel will someday finally catch up to proper theology concerning Christ. The verse continues with, “and none his brother.” The word is a standard one meaning a literal brother, but it can extend to a fellow believer in Christ. The idea again, however, is directed to the Hebrew people, just as the entire epistle is. There will be no need for a Hebrew (who believes, such as the Messianic believers today) to teach a fellow citizen, or a brother, about Christ, saying, “Know the Lord.” What is implied, and a point which has already been brought forth, is that there is a time when the house of Israel would be in a state of unbelief. For those believing individuals within this body, there is a need for them to teach their fellow citizens (neighbors), and their own brothers, to know the Lord, meaning Jesus. The nation has all but rejected Him, minus a faithful remnant (see Romans 11:1-5). That faithful remnant has called out for their brothers to “know the Lord,” but it has fallen on deaf ears. But that will no longer be the case someday, because the Lord says, “all shall know Me.” The words, if logically thought through, cannot apply to the Gentiles now. Replacement theology must set aside the obvious nature of what is said in order to apply them to the world today. However, 1) not all Gentiles “know the Lord,” and 2) those Gentiles who know the Lord do not need to know the Lord. The “duh” nature of what is being conveyed here makes the idea of replacement theology a completely irrational system. But properly applying these words to Israel (meaning the people Israel, not Gentiles who claim they have replaced Israel) shows that someday all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26) and all of them will know the Lord, “from the least of them to the greatest of them.” Christ Jesus will be known to all of them. It will be as universal in their minds as is the fact that they are Israel. Unfortunately, this verse is often misunderstood or misapplied in a believer’s life. Taking this one verse out of context leads naturally to the assumption that important aspects of Christian maturity, such as dedicated Bible study, formal Bible schooling, etc., are unimportant. Charismatics believe they have a direct infusion of the Spirit which makes them fully knowledgeable in the things of God. That is because they tear verses like this out of context. Incorrectly applying this verse leaves a sense that “I know it all simply because I believe.” Even Matthew Henry misses the intent of these words, applying them to the Gentile led church. He says, “…private instruction shall not be so necessary under the New Testament as it was under the Old. The old dispensation was shadowy, dark, ritual, and less understood; their priests preached but seldom, and but a few at a time, and the Spirit of God was more sparingly given out. But under the new dispensation there shall be such abundance of public qualified preachers of the gospel, and dispensers of ordinances statedly in the solemn assemblies, and so great a flocking to them, as doves to their windows, and such a plentiful effusion of the Spirit of God to make the ministration of the gospel effectual, that there shall be a mighty increase and spreading of Christian knowledge in persons of all sorts, of each sex, and of all ages.” Although he doesn’t take the extremely unsound position of supposed “Spirit-filled” Charismatics, he still misapplies the intent of the passage by assuming it is speaking of instruction for Gentiles. Though it is true that we now have the ability to receive the word through the availability of written material, through easier travel, and through time-availability. And though it is true that we also have the ability to understand the word because of its complete rather than “shadowy, dark, ritual” nature, that is not the context of the words. In the end, we in the Gentile church can learn from Hebrews, and some thoughts from the epistle do carry over to us at this time; but the words are given for us to understand the dispensational model as it applies to Israel, after their time of punishment. Life application: Let us be sure to keep things in context. Lord Jesus, how wonderful it is to be able to watch movies about you, listen to on-line Bibles, sermons and commentaries, and to hear Christian music right over our radios! We’re filled with an abundance of Your word, if we will simply take advantage of those things. Help us now to use our time wisely, and to apply these wonderful blessings to our lives! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 20, 2018 0:37:29 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:12, 19 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018 Wednesday, 19 December 2018 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12 This quote is again from Jeremiah 31. It is a general citation of a part of verse 34. It begins with, “For I will be merciful.” The Greek word is hileós. It is an adjective which speaks of propitiation. It describes the appeasing of divine wrath and “providing God’s covenant mercy which rescues the believer by His atonement (bringing divine satisfaction)” (HELPS Word Studies). This is based upon their coming under the precepts of the New Covenant, as stated in verse 8:10. God has promised that this will be provided to Israel for “their unrighteousness.” The word is a common one which signifies the opposite of justice. It is a violation of God’s standards, which in turn brings about God’s disapproval because it is contrary to His righteous judgment. Being a plural noun, it would be well translated as “iniquities.” The Lord has promised that He will favorably look upon them, being merciful toward their iniquities. This idea is seen reflected in Paul’s word of 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19 – “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Under the New Covenant, man is covered in the righteousness of Christ, and God no longer counts men’s sins against them. This is how this promise from Jeremiah, and repeated here in Hebrews, comes about. Christ’s atoning blood covers over all sin and unrighteousness. Because of this, and in accord with Paul’s words just quoted from 2 Corinthians, the verse then finishes with, “and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” There is complete forgiveness of sin, meaning full pardon for the offender, because of the reception of Jesus Christ’s completed work. He bore the weight of the law, and He died in fulfillment of it. In Christ, the penalty of the law is removed, once and forever. The opposite, however, is true for those who do not come to Christ. Until they come to Him, the penalty of the law stands. Every infraction demands that its penalty be imputed and punished. Of the citation of these verses from Jeremiah 31, Charles Ellicott interestingly states the following – “This subject has presented difficulties, because it has been forgotten that this Scripture speaks of no sudden change in man’s relation to God. The essential promises of the new covenant were not unknown under the old. ‘Thy law is within my heart’ is the saying of one Psalmist; ‘Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin,’ of another. But in regard to the nation there was failure. The rites of the Law did not lead to the perception of spiritual truths; ordinances which were intended to teach the divine intolerance of sin became mere ceremonies; external sanctions did not preserve the nation in true obedience to God’s law. To all, the former covenant (like the first Tabernacle, Hebrews 9:9) was a parable, explained only when the new covenant (which was in truth before the old, Galatians 3:17) was ‘ordained.’” Though not writing about the dispensational model, Ellicott notes that “in regard to the nation there was failure.” Even without teaching what is obvious, meaning that the church did not replace Israel, he understood there is a difficulty with this passage because of the nation of Israel. And so the question concerning this verse is, “Has an understanding of the New Covenant ever happened to the whole house of Israel and the house of Judah?” The answer is obviously, “No.” Ellicott understood this much. And so there is, actually, no difficulty in the author’s words if one considers God’s plan of redemption in dispensations. God has initiated a Gentile-led church during Israel’s time of disobedience. Though He has promised that Israel would come under the New Covenant, that has not yet come about. As stated in the introduction to Hebrews, the layout of Scripture shows that this is yet future. The book of Hebrews follows Paul’s letters to the Gentile-led church. After the church age has ended, Israel’s conversion will come about. The structure of the Bible actually confirms the dispensational model. God is not done with Israel, and these verses are not speaking of the dispensation of grace. However, the truth of the words for individuals in the dispensation of grace still applies, and it confirms the doctrine of eternal salvation because of eternal cleansing. Under the Old Covenant, the faithful were required to sacrifice for their sins – repeatedly. There were annual sacrifices, sacrifices for sins they unknowingly committed, sacrifices for being unclean in one way or another, sacrifices for this, and sacrifices for that. These were a constant reminder of their defiled state in the presence of an absolutely holy God. Forgiveness was granted when the sacrifices were made; but as soon as they stepped away from the altar if they were to become defiled again, they would again need to sacrifice because of their defilement. In contrast, when a person accepts what Jesus has done, forgiveness is immediate and eternal. As Paul says in Romans 4:5-8, which is a quote of Psalm 32, there is blessedness to the one whom God credits righteousness apart from works – “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Unfortunately, in the church, there are countless souls who are forever beating themselves up for past sins. Jesus has forgiven them, but they have yet to either forgive themselves or to fully accept what Jesus has done. This may demonstrate a lack of faith in the power of Christ’s shed blood. Or, it perversely may demonstrate a streak of pride which says, “I must do more than what Christ has done. His fulfillment of the law was insufficient for me.” In this, they turn back to accomplishing deeds of the law in order to please God. This is what Israel did in their rejection of Jesus, and it has brought about 2000 years of condemnation upon them. Does anyone really think that God will treat them any differently for doing exactly what Israel did? In their turning back to the law, they reject Christ, and they will be condemned. Life application: If you are caught in a cycle of stressing over sins already forgiven by Christ, end it today! You are free from all condemnation because of His work. On the other hand, if you are continuing in a sin for which you were previously forgiven, you need to step back and understand that Christ’s grace and mercy are not given as a license to continue in unholy living. Have balance in your life; confess when necessary, but don’t carry the burden of sins God has already washed away. Lord, help us to let go of the feelings of guilt from past sin. It is certain that Christ’s blood covers them all, but at times, our hearts are still heavy because of our faithlessness. But also Lord, may we never become calloused to sin so that we will again turn to it and discredit Your glorious name. Amen!
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 21, 2018 0:18:20 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 8:13, 20 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018 Thursday, 20 December 2018 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13 Before reading this analysis, read the verse again. Now, putting aside any presuppositions you have about the Mosaic Covenant, ask yourself what is the clear, obvious, and intended meaning of these words? The “first” is speaking of the Mosaic Covenant. The author is neither vague nor ambiguous in what he says. Trust God’s word and not man’s flawed attempt to deny what is clearly stated. There are two major points of interest in this one verse. The first is of two parts. 1) As has been repeated several ways already, the author makes a clear and obvious statement concerning the end of the Old Covenant – it is obsolete. He begins with, “In that He says, ‘A new covenant.’” That is referring to the words of verse 8:8 which is the quote from Jeremiah 31 concerning the Lord’s promise of a New Covenant. He is restating the thought to introduce the second part, which is 2) that in the giving of the New Covenant, “He has made the first obsolete.” Miriam Webster defines the word obsolete as, “no longer in use or no longer current.” The Greek word is palaioó, and it carries that same meaning. It is “worn out,” and declared obsolete. The law, meaning the entire law received at Mt. Sinai, and which is also known as the Law of Moses (or the Mosaic Covenant), became obsolete when Christ introduced the New Covenant in His own blood. Why would the author repeat this in several different ways and hint at it in several more? Remember that he was writing to first century Jews who had spent their entire life under the Old Covenant. Giving up all of its rituals and formalities would be exceptionally hard, particularly when facing the pressure of returning to it by family and community. For this reason, the author brings up the superiority of the New Covenant in so many ways. By the time he’s done writing his epistle, they will have no doubt about the supremacy of Christ, His work, and the covenant He established through His cross. With this obvious statement, he then says, “Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish.” The word translated as, “ready to vanish,” is used only here in Scripture, aphanismos. It signifies being obliterated or abrogated. It is set to disappear. People argue over the dating of New Testament books. If someone wants to discredit them, he will generally tend to assign a much later date to the book. The logic is that the more time between Christ’s ministry and the dating of the letter means either 1) more time for myth to be introduced, or 2) a more solidified doctrine will result – thought up by man through contemplation and not by a mere understanding of the work of Christ. In the case of Hebrews, there is no need to fret over a later date – such as a second or even a third-century document. Why? Because the temple was still standing and the nation of Israel was still practicing its rituals. It wasn’t until 5 August AD70 that the temple was destroyed – a little over 38 years after the cross. By stating that the Old Covenant would “soon disappear,” it confirms that the temple was still standing and being used. However, there is actually more to this thought than is realized. If one understands the prophecy found in Daniel 9:24-27, it is certain that Israel still has seven more years allowed under the Old Covenant to come into a right relationship with the Lord in the New. This, once again, validates the dispensational model, and it shows that the doctrine of replacement theology is incorrect. Hebrews, being placed after Paul’s church-age epistles, reveals this model more clearly. It shows what God is doing in redemptive history. The church age will end at the rapture, and that will be followed by the seven years of the tribulation. These seven years correspond to the final seven-year period in his prophecy. It is during these seven years that Israel will go through the horrors of the tribulation period, all because they have either rejected, or clung to the Old when they should have accepted the New. But those seven years will bring them to the point where they will, as a nation, call out to God through their Messiah. When they do, He will return to them. Marvelous things lie ahead in God’s redemptive plan. Life application: If you claim you believe in Christ Jesus, then what are you doing adhering to precepts from the Old Covenant? It is obsolete. All you are doing, by working out deeds of the law, is telling God that you feel what Christ did for you was insufficient and that you can do it better. Good luck with that! Come to Christ, trust in Christ alone, and get out of whatever mindset you are in that says you can do a better job than God can in earning your salvation. Yes Lord! We have a sure word! Every word in the Bible was carefully selected for our edification, and we can assuredly rest in all it contains. Praises to You, O God, for giving us clarity in what was accomplished by Christ Jesus. Now, through faith in His work, we can be eternally safe! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 22, 2018 1:21:00 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 9:1, 21 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018 Friday, 21 December 2018 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. Hebrews 9:1 For the past several chapters, the author has talked about the superiority of Jesus’ ministry, its eternality, the oath on which it was established in comparison to how the Old Covenant was brought about, the inability of believers to meet the Old Covenant demands, and so on. Now in this verse, and for a few more verses, the layout of the tabernacle as described in the Old Covenant will be seen. To begin, the author says, “Then indeed.” He will now be stressing the fact that there is a contrast between the Old Covenant and the New by first highlighting important points about the Old. In doing so, he will be able to demonstrate that these differences only pointed to a more perfect covenant with a more perfect system. The “first covenant” is referring to the Old Covenant which established the Law of Moses. It had “ordinances of divine service” which are clearly detailed in Exodus and Leviticus. The duties were exacting, and regulated what the priests were to do, when they were to do it, and how they were to conduct themselves as priests. This first covenant also had “the earthly sanctuary.” The definite article points directly to one sanctuary where these things were conducted. It is not as if any sanctuary could be attached to these rites and ordinances. Rather, everything about the sanctuary was specifically described and made ready for this divine service. The two (the sanctuary and its services) form one whole concerning the ministrations on behalf of the people. The fact it is described as an “earthly” sanctuary immediately implies that it is not a part of that which is heavenly. This particular sanctuary was set apart as holy, but it was only a type and a shadow of something else. Being earthly, it was also corruptible. It was simply a fabrication of various materials which would eventually wear out, fall apart, or require constant maintenance. Despite this, meticulous care was taken in its construction. Like the services which were prescribed to be done there, the very structure and makeup of the tabernacle were also exactingly prescribed. Much of what was mandated is noted in Exodus 26-30, and then it is repeated in Exodus 36-40 in describing the actual construction. This repetition was to show that the workmen painstakingly followed the specifications that were given. Likewise, when the permanent temple was built under Solomon’s reign, it also had specific guidelines to follow – “All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.” 1 Chronicles 28:19 Just as Moses received the plans for the tabernacle, so King David received those for the temple. The worship of God, including where, how, and when, was detailed exactingly to teach the people of His absolute holiness and to indicate that He must be approached in a very specific manner. Life application: If extreme care was taken under the Old Covenant to adhere to the construction of the sanctuary, and in the conduct of the rites associated with it, and as these things only pointed to Christ and His work, then shouldn’t we treat the Lord Jesus in a more honorable and respectable way than even Israel did concerning their rites? Let us always magnify His person, and never diminish His glory in the eyes of others, as we speak of what He has done. Heavenly Father, how blessed we are to have the fullness of Christ Jesus and His glorious ministry. Instead of repeated sacrifices for sin, feelings of guilt over past deeds, and a worship which was regulated in detail, we have one sacrifice in Christ, freedom from guilt, and our worship is “in spirit and in truth.” Thank you for the freedom we have in Christ! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 22, 2018 21:55:29 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 9:2, 22 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2018 Saturday, 22 December 2018 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; Hebrews 9:2 In verse 1, the author brought in the subject of an “earthly sanctuary.” He now begins this verse with, “For a tabernacle.” The tabernacle is based upon the pattern Moses had seen. It is this which is consistently described here in Hebrews, rather than the later temples which were built in Jerusalem. Those were according to the same basic shapes and layouts, but there are differences. Therefore, the original tabernacle is the basis of the discussion in Hebrews. This tabernacle “was prepared.” The idea here is that it was made by men’s hands; it is an earthly edifice. Moses was told to collect certain items from the people as an offering. Those were detailed in Exodus 25:1-7. After that, we read in Exodus 25:8, 9 – “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” After this, the actual instructions for how to fashion all these things were given, and then a near repetition of this was given in the construction of those same things. Everything was minutely prescribed and recorded to ensure that all was made according to the pattern. All of it was for the sanctuary. Within the sanctuary was the tent of meeting, and within the tent of meeting was the tabernacle itself. It is that area which the author now speaks of. The entire layout of the sanctuary and all the materials used for it are given in great detail in Exodus, but this verse and the next few are only focusing on two specific rooms of the tabernacle – the Holy place and the Most Holy place. These may be known in various translations by other similar names. This verse details the first of these two rooms. And so the author begins by saying, “in which was the lampstand.” Actually, based on verse 9:6 where the author speaks in the present tense, the words should say, “in which is the lampstand.” The author speaks of these things based on Scripture. It is as if the priests are standing in front of him, ministering, and he is detailing what is going on before him. The golden lampstand, or menorah, is first detailed in Exodus 25:31-40. Next, the author mentions “the table and the showbread.” The table was actually first detailed immediately before the lampstand in Exodus 25:23-30. The bread itself is actually described much later, in Leviticus 24:5-9. A detailed study of these things is available from the Superior Word in sermons which can be accessed in written, video, and audio formats. Finally, the author says, “which is called the sanctuary.” The Greek literally reads, “the holies.” Using the term “sanctuary” does not correspond to the thought given in the Old Testament. The entire compound described to Moses is normally translated “the sanctuary.” The first room in the tabernacle is called the Holy Place. Here in the Greek, the word is given in the plural, and thus it should be translated as “the holies.” This is simply to maintain consistency. Life application: Everything about the items being mentioned, down to the smallest detail, was given to picture the coming Person and work of Christ. Following along with the sermons mentioned above will reveal this to you. In the end, we have an absolutely sure word concerning Christ Jesus. There is no need to doubt if we are secure in our eternal destiny. If we have come to God through Christ, it is more certain than anything else. Trust in Christ and continue to pursue Him all the days of your life. What an honor and a joy to know we have the fullness of Christ as revealed in the Bible. The ancients had implements which could only imitate the glories to come in Jesus. We thank You Lord for bestowing on us the riches of Your majesty as revealed in Him. All hail the name of Jesus! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 24, 2018 11:11:03 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 9:3, 23 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2018 Sunday, 23 December 2018 ...and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, Hebrews 9:3 The author described the first room of the tabernacle in the previous verse. That contained the lampstand (the menorah), the table, and the showbread. Dividing that from the final room, the Holiest of All (or the Most Holy Place as the NKJV translates it in the Old Testament), was a beautiful veil. Here, the veil is called “the second veil.” This is to distinguish it from another hanging which was at the entrance to the first room, the Holy Place. This “second veil” is described in Exodus 26:31-33. On it, cherubim were woven. These were a reminder of the cherubim recorded in Genesis 3 which guarded the entrance to Eden. They were said to be east of the garden. The entire sanctuary also faced east. This veil, facing east, symbolically pictures the only way to be restored to God, and thus, the only way to be returned to paradise. This and more is carefully detailed in the Superior Word sermon corresponding to those verses. Here, the author says that behind this “second veil” was “the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All.” The author will continue to describe what was contained within the rooms in the tabernacle in the verses ahead, as well as some of what occurred there as the priests conducted their duties. However, he will not address the actual shape or size of these rooms. It is this next room to be described, the Holiest of All (or the Most Holy Place), that should be reviewed to gain a fuller understanding of what will be explained in the next verses. Determining the exact dimensions of the Holiest of All (Most Holy Place) in the tabernacle is rather complicated, but it can be done from the details of the Bible. This is thoroughly explained in the Exodus 26:31-37 sermon. Further, the Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus rightly states it was 10 x 10 x 10, or 1000 cubits exactly. This is documented in The Antiquities of the Jews, Book III, Chapter 6, Paragraph 4. Later, the Bible tells us that the size of the Most Holy Place in the temple in Jerusalem was “twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high” (1 Kings 6:20). In both instances then, the shape of the Most Holy Place was a perfect cube. Remember that everything about both structures was given by God – first to Moses for the tabernacle and then later to David for the Temple. This reason is that they were a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things” (verse 8:5). And this is exactly what the Bible later records in the book of Revelation – “The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.” Revelation 21:16 Some have questioned whether this city is shaped like a pyramid or a cube, but allowing the Bible to interpret itself answers the question – it is a cube. This city which is prepared for the faithful believers of all ages is immense in proportions. The translation of “twelve thousand furlongs” equates approximately 1500 miles. In other words, it would fill up much of the land mass of the United States. And that is only in length and width; it is equally high. Life application: As you are going about your business, remember that God has something wonderfully special prepared for you and for all of those who have called on Jesus by faith. Don’t let the tedium of life get you down, but rather keep things in their proper perspective – God has marvelous wonders in store for you! Lord God, thank You for the sure promises of Your word and the splendid detail it holds for us as believers. Nothing is left unattended; every detail is just what we need in order to hold on to as we await what is coming! We love and praise You, and we thank You for the sure promises we possess. In the name of Jesus our Lord we pray! Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 24, 2018 11:12:58 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 9:4, 24 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 Monday, 24 December 2018 ...which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; Hebrews 9:4 The words now explain what was to be found in the “Holiest of All” (the Most Holy Place) within the tabernacle. The author begins with, “the golden censer.” The translation is lacking. It is not a censer, as if picked up and carried by the priest. Rather, it is an altar which remained in its place constantly. The Greek word to describe it is found only here in the New Testament. This altar is said here to be in the Most Holy Place. However, this seems to be in error. The description of this item is found in Exodus 30:1-10. The verse concerning its placement is found in Exodus 30:6 – “And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.” This altar of incense, also called the “golden altar” (Numbers 4:11), and here in Hebrews as “the golden censer,” was not in the Most Holy Place, but rather before the veil in the Holy Place. For this reason, some translations call it the “golden censer” and not the “golden altar.” This is because a censer was filled with incense once a year and taken behind the veil by the high priest. Thus to avoid any supposed contradictions, translators assume this is what is being spoken of. But that does not appear to be the author’s intent. He is surely speaking of the altar of incense. But why would the author then expressly state that this item was within the Most Holy Place? John Lange explains the reason – “For this reason we would rather find a theological idea than an archæological error in that passage of the Epistle to the Hebrews (9:4) which puts it in the Holy of holies. For this is the altar which by its incense symbolizes the prayer of the high-priest (Rev. 5:8; Heb. 5:7).” It took a full sermon of explanation to detail the significance of this item, but to shortly explain the placement, incense was burned upon it twice a day. Being directly before the veil, the smell of this incense was the only thing to go behind the veil each day and throughout the year (with the exception of the high priest, once a year on the Day of Atonement). Incense in the Bible represents prayer. And so, the theological idea is that this golden altar is the transition between the earthly and the heavenly; between the physical world and the spiritual world. Therefore, the altar is said to symbolically be behind the veil. This is the last piece of furniture to be described by the Lord in Exodus, and yet it is the first one mentioned here by the author in Hebrews. The reason for this is because of its location. It is that which is passed first as one enters into the Most Holy Place. To more fully understand this, go watch this sermon – The next item behind the veil is the very first item described by the Lord for construction. It is “the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold,” which is detailed in Exodus 25:10-16. Again, this item required an entire sermon to explain all of its intricate meaning. The author here only mentions that it is overlaid with gold. The gold symbolizes Christ’s deity, among other things. To understand the marvel of what this ark pictures, please refer to this sermon – After this, the author describes that which was contained in the ark. First, he notes “the golden pot that had the manna.” That was actually made before the ark was prepared, at the time of the initial giving of the manna which is recorded in Exodus 16. There it said – “And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations.’” Exodus 16:33 Later, after the ark was constructed, this is said to have been placed in the ark. To understand the full significance of this marvelous item, please refer to this sermon – Along with that was “Aaron’s rod that budded.” That is detailed in Numbers 17. As of the date of this commentary, that sermon is a few weeks away from being typed. However, it is a marvelous passage, the sermon of which will be worth your Sunday morning attention. Finally, in this verse, the author notes “the tablets of the covenant.” These were the second set of tablets containing the Ten Commandments. The first were dashed to pieces by Moses in Exodus 32. However, in Exodus 34, Moses was told to “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke” (Exodus 34:1). To understand the significance of what these second tablets (in contrast to the first set) signify, please take the time to watch this sermon – Life application: Most people know that the tablets of the covenant were kept in the ark, but they have probably never thought of why this was so. These reflect the perfect law of God by which all people will be judged. Those who fulfill them perfectly (and none can) will be accepted into God’s paradise; those who fail will be condemned. However, God gave us His Son to fulfill them on our behalf. Therefore, those who call on Him as their Mediator will be covered with His perfect atonement. This is why blood was applied to the top of the Ark (on the Mercy Seat) once a year. It symbolized an innocent death on behalf of the unrighteous. When the Mercy Seat was removed, only judgment could follow, such as in this case – “Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter” (1 Samuel 6:19). In Christ’s fulfillment of the law, He died on the cross, shedding His blood for our atonement. Paul says that the law was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). The symbolism is clear – the law is complete and finished in Christ. In His shed blood, a New Covenant was introduced. We are no longer under law, and we can no longer be condemned when we come to Christ. Stay away from heretics who reinsert the law in an attempt to be justified before God. Hold fast to the grace which is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord God – how beautifully the Old Testament unfolds in the Person and work of Jesus. Thank you so much for the book of Hebrews which opens our eyes to His wonderful perfection – our Substitution, our Bread of Life, and our faithfully watching Mediator! Hallelujah and Amen!
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 25, 2018 20:40:48 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 9:5, 25 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2018 Tuesday, 25 December 2018 ...and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Hebrews 9:5 After mentioning the ark and its contents, the author next turns to that which was “above it.” What is now to be described is designed as a lid for the ark itself. The ark was an open box of wood, completely overlaid with pure gold. On top of that would rest this next item. What will be named is actually one solid piece, but the author describes it from the top down. That is recorded in Exodus 25:17-21 – “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. 20 And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. 21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you.” As you can see, at the top of this are “the cherubim of glory.” What this means is they are the spot where the glory of the Lord would be seen from. This is recorded, for example, in Numbers 7:89 – “Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.” These were fashioned from the same gold, being one with “the mercy seat.” The Greek word is hilastērion, and it signifies the place of propitiation. It is the spot where the wrath of God is appeased, thus bringing about a state of propitiation between God and His people. The only time the noun form of this word is seen, apart from this use in Hebrews, is by Paul. There he says that Jesus Christ is our place of propitiation; He is our mercy seat – “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26 John, however, uses a form of the same word, hilasmos, to twice describe Jesus as being the propitiation for our sins – “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 With these references, we can see that Christ is the spot (the mercy seat) of our propitiation, and His shed blood is that which effects that propitiation. What is being seen in mere type and shadow is realized in the punishment upon Christ leading to His death on the cross. In other words, the wrath poured out on Him through His passion, and which ultimately led to His death, is what brings peace between God and man. God’s entrance into humanity in the Person of Jesus was purposefully intended to bring about our propitiation after He fulfilled the law. In His perfect obedience to the law, He was – in Himself – seen to be the perfection of the law. In His death, the law was fulfilled and thus ended. At the same time, in His death, the wrath of God for the sin of those who transgressed under the law was poured out on Christ in an act of substitution (something allowed under the law), where an innocent died in the place of the guilty. In this act, propitiation was made between God and those who accept this act of substitution. And in the ending of the law, a New Covenant – in Christ’s blood – was enacted. The author finishes with, “Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.” The words, “these things” are referring to everything he has said from verse 9:1 until now. The meaning is that everything associated with the “ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary” of verse 9:1, and which has only been briefly described, actually has much more which could be explained. And so, to get a fuller understanding of these things, if that is something which would interest you, you may refer to the series in the Superior Word sermons beginning with Exodus 25:1 and continuing on through the rest of the book of Exodus, and then through the book of Leviticus. And indeed, why stop there? Just keep watching all of the sermons from the Superior Word as they are published. Life application: If there is a need for propitiation, meaning mercy, then that must mean that God really is angry at those who need mercy. It cannot be that mercy is necessary if no offense exists. Therefore, there must be a means of obtaining God’s mercy, or there must be a complete removal of that which offends Him. Thinking this through logically, if God has performed that work Himself through the Person of Jesus Christ, and if Jesus Christ has said that He is the only way to be restored to the Father, then no person can be saved apart from Him. Further, as only He fulfilled the Law of Moses, then no person who attempts to please God through adherence to the Law of Moses can be saved. Those who were under the law, and who looked forward to Messiah, were saved in anticipation of Messiah. But once Messiah has come, only through faith in His work can anyone else be saved. Those who hold to the law for their justification cannot be, and indeed they are not, pleasing to God. Lord God Almighty, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Post by PrisonerOfHope on Dec 27, 2018 0:06:38 GMT -5
Daily Bible Verse, Hebrews 9:6, 26 December 2018
WWW.WONDERFUL1.COM·WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018 Wednesday, 26 December 2018 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. Hebrews 9:6 The author begins with, “Now when these things had been thus prepared.” Though it appears he is specifically referring to the original sanctuary made at the time of Moses, this can still also refer to temple in Jerusalem. In the case of the portable sanctuary, only the priests, the sons of Aaron, could put up and take down the Most Holy articles. These were covered so that no one could see them when they were taken down, and uncovered only when the tabernacle was around them and assembled. After this, the other Levites could begin to perform their duties. In the case of the permanent temple, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place were prepared only once and then they were left to the exclusive use of the priests. The priests’ duties are laid out in the books of Moses, but particularly in Exodus and Leviticus. The author then next says, “the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.” As detailed in the law, there were things to be done regularly in the Holy Place. It is where the lampstand (the menorah) needed to be tended to daily. It is where the altar of incense was, and where there were regular daily offerings, and it is where the table of showbread was. This also needed regular attention in the replacement of the loaves of bread each week. Both the actual schedule of these things, and the details for performing them, are detailed carefully in the law itself. These and other duties (such as the sprinkling of certain sin offerings before the veil) were conducted as needed, by either the high priest or one of the other priests, depending on what was according to the law. The specificity here in this verse is given to show a contrast between these regular services performed in the Holy Place and those services which were then to be conducted in the Most Holy Place. That will begin to be explained in the next verse. Life application: As noted in previous verses, every single detail of what is being presented by the author concerning these rites and rituals is merely a foreshadowing of the Person of Jesus Christ, or the work He has accomplished for His people. Israel, however, rejected Christ and their temple was destroyed. Israel is, even now, preparing to begin these rituals once again. They were ineffective in bringing the people to a right relationship with God in the past, and they will continue to be ineffective in doing so in the future. It is a sad thing to see how they have missed Christ, but someday they will put the law behind them and, as a people, they will call out to Christ Jesus and finally be freed of this heavy yoke which they have carried since the time of Moses. Pray that many Jews will come to Jesus now and be saved through His shed blood instead of continuing down this same miserable path of ineffective law-related rituals. Lord God, just as the priests in the temple had their regular duties, so we have regular tasks in our jobs. Give us the strength, wisdom, and ability to properly perform our duties, no matter what they are. And may You alone receive the praise as our fellow workers see our conduct. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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