Hebrews 10:19-39

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

That's so great. We can draw near to God in full assurance of faith. Full. We've been washed in pure water, our sins are gone away.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

As an example, I don't want to meet tomorrow. At all. I would prefer to sleep in and let the fools deal with themselves. But that's not right thinking. Plus, then who'll deal with this fool?

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY " And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

How much more to those who trample the Son of God... The old covenant wasn't just replaced, it was replaced by the SON of GOD. If I disobey the law of Moses, I disobey words, but, if I disobey the law of Christ, i disobey God's own Son.

But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

You have need of endurance. Truer words were never spoken.

Hebrews 10:1-18

The beginning of this chapter is similar to chapter 9, so I thought I would write about it now to. if nothing else, I want to be reminded of the nature of the sacrifice of Jesus and the intricate plan of God.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.

Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?

But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,

"SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.

"THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME)TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'"

After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them" (which are offered according to the Law) then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

"THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,"
He then says,
"AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
There is no longer any offering for sin.

Because the perfect sacrifice has been made.

Any sacrifice made by man is futile. It must be made over and over again and even then it can't clear the slate.

When someone fails to understand that "their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more," he or she can fall into regret, thinking that their past mistakes rule out a promising future.*

But what is it called when someone fears making mistakes? Is it simply a fear of looking foolish based in pride? Or is it something else?

Certainly it's an attack from the enemy - the aforementioned footstool.

I feel this fear. I feel like I can see God's perfect plan laid before me, but I am afraid that my touch will mess it up.

But this plan requires boldness of me and intense humility; I will have to ask for and receive help. I can't do this on my own.

This may seem like babbling beyond the scope of Hebrews 10, but that's ok (I do run this blog, after all).

If there is forgiveness, what do I have to fear? If there is eternal life, why should I be afraid of this temporary one?

So, to the one in Egypt, this is what's in it for me. Just like you said.

Hebrews 9

I have taken a sort of hiatus from this. I haven't been reading God's word as much as I should an, honestly, i haven't read anything at all really in the last week.

I skimmed the book of Isaiah yesterday looking for something, but that's hardly intentional study. How does one get fed on that?

One doesn't.

So, I'm back and I'm expecting great things from Hebrews 9.

Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying,

"THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU."

And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.

Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

I have to admit that I have found it difficult to comment on Hebrews. I can only think "Yes, uh huh. That's true. That's good. I like that."

I don't know how to synthesize what I am reading here. The New covenant is more perfect than the old. Christ offers a better sacrifice than the priests can offer.

He is THE perfect, one-time sacrifice for sin. All sin.

Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8 reminds us that the old covenant, the law, is made perfect in Christ. He is the true high priest, although unlike an earthly priest he has no need to offer sacrifices. He is the sacrifice.

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. For finding fault with them, He says,

         "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD,
         WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT
         WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 
           NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS
         ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND
         TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;
         FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,
         AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 
           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 INTO THEIR MINDS,
         AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
         AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
         AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 
          AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
         AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,'
         FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,
         FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 
           FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,
         AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."

When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete but whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

The law that matters most is the one written on our hearts. We are His people and he is merciful where we are weak.

Hebrews 7

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

So, this high priest, Melchizedek, is called king of righteousness and king of peace.

Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.

But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

Abraham gives his tithe to one who is not of the Levites. When I first heard this story, I didn't know who the Levites were! But now I know why this is important. It's a reminder that the priests aren't Gods. the great Jewish patriarch didn't (couldn't) give his tithe to the priests descended from Levi.

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

There's a lot in the preceding passages, but the most important part is the basis which is being layed for the new High Priest - the theological foundation from the Jewish tradition itself pointing to Jesus as priest and sacrifice.

For it is attested of Him,
"YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER '
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

"for the law made nothing perfect" Whoa. I can't believe I read that! But I thought the 10 commandments could save my soul!

Ok, Ok. I didn't really think that, but I knew mostly of the things I shouldn't do rather than the promises of God.

And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
"THE LORD HAS SWORN
AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
'YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'");

so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

God,

We do not fear our lives, and

We do not fear our death

Because You are with us.

Hebrews 6

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

And this we will do, if God permits.

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU."

And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:11-14

Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

I often think about these verses. Honestly, I mostly think about them in relation to the church in America and how many of us are infants partaking of only milk. 

And I have many opinions about those who are on milk when they should be well past it and those who are on milk because they're afraid to step up to solid food and I even have opinions about those who continue to feed milk to those who should be more mature. I have a lot to say about those people.

But, what about me? Am I on solid food or am I on milk? I think it depends on the definition of the terms. I don't think solid food is more knowledge of God, I think it's experience with God and the doing of holy things, more than the thinking of holy things.

I like to think that I'm on solid food, most times, but sometimes, I think the truth may be that I'm jut not eating anything. That's the challenge of feeding yourself rather than being fed passively by a church - by a pastor or teacher or evangelist or tele-evangelist. If you have to feed yourself then you have to feed yourself.

Luckily, we have a God who cares for us. When I first came to Iraq, I really struggled to eat God, so to speak. Especially in corporate worship and prayer times. I hated it. We were all like college kids who only knew how to microwave things. Our times were bland and way overdone. 

We all yearned for something more and we eventually stormed our way to better food. Six months in and I'd say we were eating at least as well as newlyweds.

(I'll admit that I may have just way overused my analogy, but I think you get my point - eating solid food is harder than eating milk)

I don't think we should move past milk only to starve to death, but we should move past milk before it puts us to sleep.

That's the best way my wife and I have found to put the baby to sleep (or even just to get her to stop crying): feed her milk! She's almost always pacified and most of the time she sleeps when she's had enough.

But, I'd bet if you're reading this, you're beyond milk and need to be on solid food. If an infant typically starts adding solid food at 6 months, we should be eating the caviar of faith. Even beyond just the Happy Meals and pizzas!

This is my sincerest wish for believers - that they would be those who are mature, those who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

I pray it for myslef also.

Hebrews 5:1-10

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,

^"YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU";

just as He says also in another passage,

^"YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Ah, the passages about Melchizedek. I had no idea who Melchizedek was before Wiley told me. 

And it's important. Jesus is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Genesis 14:18 says

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth."

So it all made sense to me. Communion made sense, Jesus' death made sense, atonement for sins made sense.

The idea that Jesus is a high priest of God, that He fulfilled and fulfills all the requirements of the law is crazy! It's great! 

In my daily life I need to remember that he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness.

Hebrews 4

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

"AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,"

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day:

"AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."

Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

All of this talk about God's rest, but what does it mean? How do we get there?

We who have believed enter that rest. Hmmmm. I don't know how to defend it theologically and I won't try, but I know that I long to enter that rest. I do think it's a future rest, not for the here and now, but I also think that a shadow of rest, if you will, can be had today.

The last portions of this chapter remind us that the word of God judges the hearts of men and that, because Jesus was man, we have a high priest who can sympathize with our struggles.

I don't know what else I want to say about it. There's a threat here exhorting us to continue in our faith lest we be denied God's rest as the Israelites were when they hardened their hearts against God in the desert.

Do I harden my heart like the Israelites in the desert? I think I do, but I also have forgiveness to fall back on as long as I accept it and seek it (hold fast to my confession).

Hebrews 3: 12-19

It's funny to me now as I reread this passage that I didn't notice the link. I wrote previously about the importance that Hebrews had on my own decision to follow Christ. What I failed to note, though, was the significance of Hebrews in my recent growth.

In December 2005, I was first introduced to a study either based on or directly from Unity of the Bible written by Daniel Fuller. The study is also written by Fuller, though even if it's not directly from the book.

Oversimplified, the study is about the various ways one defies God by disbelieving His promises and reminds how we can fight disbelief in God - which leads to death - by remembering God's clear promises to us.

A fundamental scripture used within the study comes from Hebrews 3. It's the following chunk of the chapter.

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,

"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS,
AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."

For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?

So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

So, for the past two years I've been studying - sometimes against my will - the theology of Hebrews and I never really made a connection. I know it sounds strange, but it's true. I sort of disassociated this scripture from the Book of Hebrews once it was transplanted into the study.

The most important thing, however, isn't the connection, but the lesson this scripture teaches: we will not enter God's rest if we cease to believe.

For me, this idea plays out in two ways:

1. it reminds me that it isn't sin that denies a person eternal rest in God. It's disbelief. A person doesn't go to Hell for telling lies, or for murder, or for being gay, or whatever sin you want to choose. A person goes to hell when they refuse the Lord.

2. The alternative is true. I am not saved by the things I do. The Israelites all followed Moses out of Egypt, but it wasn't enough to simply follow Moses and struggle in the desert! They were required to believe! Suffering doesn't equal salvation. Following rules doesn't equal salvation.

Hebrews 3:1-12 (and then some rambling)

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.

For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. 

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.

Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,

"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,
AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me,
AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION,
AND SAID, 'THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS';
AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'"

It's surprising to me still that I decided to work my way through the book of Hebrews and write down my reflections - ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc - here for the world to see. It's really not my style, but here I am anyways. 

This bit in the third chapter about Moses vs Jesus is about the law more than it's about Moses. The law being fulfilled by Jesus. More importantly, as the author of the Law, God is more important than the law. He deserves more glory than the law. As we read earlier in Hebrews, Jesus was with God from the beginning and "the world" was created through Him, certainly then also the law was created through Jesus. Jesus deserves more glory than the law.  

Moses was simply a servant in the church, the body of Christ, the house

We are part of that body only if we hold fast our faith until the end; our faith in Jesus as our saviour, our faith that the house indeed does exist. 

Do I believe that the house exists? That's the important question. Do I live inside the faith that Jesus Christ dies for my sins?

The question isn't "Do I believe that I am a good person?" or "Do I believe that God likes good people?" God built a house for his children and intends for us to live in it. We sin, but that doesn't get us kicked out. We live rent free, in fact. No animal sacrifices or fasting to pay the rent. 

Just faith.

Sometimes, I desire the law, though. Sometimes I wish I could just follow the Old Testament stuff. I wish I could just follow the ten commandments and ritually wash myself and slay the right animals and burn all the right parts. I'm pretty smart, see, so it wouldn't be too hard for me to learn all of that and always know exactly how good I am and how good (or not) everyone else is. It'd be easy...

But then I am reminded of the Hebrews in the desert wandering and dieing and being denied entry into God's rest because of their provocations. The rules can only tell me what not to do. The House that Jesus built is about living and freedom. 

There is a struggle to live within the simplicity of what Jesus has built, but it's what drew me to Jesus in the first place. I thought it was always about how good I was or wasn't. I thought I had to act a certain way and be a certain person. I didn't know that by fulfilling the law of the old testament, Jesus had set us free of the punishment sin demands. 

The new covenant turns it all upside down and makes everything new by doing everything the old covenant promised that it would do! Not destroyed or over-turned or re-imagined or "now under new management" or new and improved or any of  that.

Solid and consistent throughout all time. Always. 

Doesn't that blow your freakin' mind?

Hebrews 2:5-18

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:
"What is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor
and put everything under his feet."

In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says,  "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." And again,  "I will put my trust in him." And again he says,  "Here am I, and the children God has given me."

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death €”that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement forthe sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Here we see the first real glimpse of the hope of Jesus in the book of Hebrews: "...so that by his death he might destroy...the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." The fear of death from sin under the law, the law of life perverted by the enemy. 

Knowing what sin was by the law, they were afraid to live lest it bring about their death. And they were afraid of death because they feared the punishment of God. They couldn't be sure of their salvation because they had sinned too much and they couldn't be sure whether they had done enough to atone for those sins.

So Jesus came and died for all the sins. He was the last sacrifice to fulfill the sacrifice required under the law.

Simple, yes?

Well, not really. I mean how easy is it to believe that there's nothing to be done to make ammends for sins? If it were so easy, people would do it. This takes away all of the control. I have no control. If I sin, i can't do anything to make it right again.

I can't pray five times, or fast for 10 days, or give money to the poor, or give 10% to my church, or spend 3 years in prison, or clean the church bathrooms, or go on a missions trip to Africa, or sell all of my belongings, or suffer through disease, or go silent for a few months. Nothing. I can't suffer my way through my guilt to earn forgiveness.

It's freeing and scary all at once. 

If you watch enough Dr. Phil, you'll see that people do this stuff all the time. They live a life that is less than they could live because they believe they don't deserve it, that they deserve to be punished. Well, sure you deserve to be punished, but you don't need to be. Jesus paid for those sins already and no amount of self-inflicted punishment can earn you a damn thing. So stop it. 

Hewbrews 2:1-4

"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."

We pay closer attention because it was told to us by the Son of God. We listened to the angels and Jesus is way more important that they are. I mean we listened to the prophets and they were just men.

Not only did Jesus say it, but his words were confirmed in those who heard his message by God himself! 

Whoa. I mean, is Jesus' message confirmed in me by God working through miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit? That's quite a question for everyone who has heard and has believed is it not? How is this message confirmed in me?

Looking critically at myself, I am forced to say that I don't know and that lack of surety and confidence is shameful. 

And it Begins...

Hebrews 1

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the angels did He ever say,
"YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"?

And again,
"I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM
AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?

And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
"AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."

And of the angels He says,
"WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS,
AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE."

But of the Son He says,
"YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER,
AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
"YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU
WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS."

And,

"YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH,
AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN;
AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT,
AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP;
LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED
BUT YOU ARE THE SAME,
AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END."

But to which of the angels has He ever said,
"SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES
FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

God made the world through Jesus. Meaning that Jesus didn't just show up on the scene in the book of Matthew. I remember that being quite a revelation when I heard it. The rest of the stuff about Jesus being the son of God and higher than the angels and at the right hand of God, it's great but I already knew all of that.

That's the common Christian jargon stuff. I mean I had been celebrating Christmas for almost 20 years. Of course I knew that Jesus was God's son and all that jazz.

But he was there at creation? WTF? Seriously. It's astounding. It's like the opening passages of John: 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Did not comprehend it indeed. 

These passages are exciting to me. It's like a secret. I mean, it's like I know a something that once was hidden to me. It's amusing to me as well because I don't think that's the point of the opening of Hebrews. The real focus is clearly to define Jesus' position above the angels, but, like I said, that was always obvious to me. I mean who worships angels, right?

Been a Long Time

It's been a long time since I posted anything here! A lot has been going on, but that's not a real excuse. I kinda forgot that this blog existed. I mean in my normal day-to-days I just never thought to remember it.

That's really too bad, though. 

I don't have too much to say today either, though. I've been thinking a lot about the Book of Hebrews. I haven't been reading it as much as I've been thinking about it's significance in my life. I've been focused on chapter 12 for almost a month.

When I was asked why I decided to follow Jesus, I said that it was because of the new covenant; the idea that Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and didn't just show up with a new plan or his own agenda. I learned that through the Hebrews. 

I say all of that to mean that Hebrews has been an important book to me in the past and the stuff contained within it really defines who I am as a believer. Or, it should define me as the foundation of my faith, yes?

Over the next couple of weeks, I intend to go through the book and see how much it actually does define me. It's a matter of integrity and I hope my actions line up with my words.

When Heaven Invaded Earth

I cannot take credit for the post which follows. It was sent to me by a friend and is an excerpt from When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson.

The Christian life is not found on the Cross. It is found because of the Cross.

The Cross is not the end, it is the BEGINNING!!

The great majority of the Christian world is still weeping at the foot of the Cross. The consciousness of mankind remains fixed on the Christ who died, not the Christ who lives. People are looking back to the Redeemer who was, not the Redeemer who is.

Jesus became poor so that I could become rich. He suffered with stripes to free me from affliction, and He became sin so I might become the righteousness of God. Why then should I try to become as He was, when He suffered so I could become as He is? At some point the reality of the Resurrection must come into play in our lives—we must discover the power of the Resurrection for all who believe.

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” A misunderstanding of this call has led many to follow His life of self-denial, but to stop short of His life of power. For them, the cross-walk involves trying to crucify their sin nature by embracing joyless brokenness as an evidence of the cross. But we must follow Him all the way—to a lifestyle empowered by the Resurrection!

One who embraces an inferior cross is constantly filled with introspection and self-induced suffering. But the cross is not self-applied. Jesus did not nail Himself to the cross. Christians who are trapped by this counterfeit are constantly talking about their weaknesses. If the devil finds us uninterested in evil, then he’ll try to get us focused on our unworthiness and inability. …

In my own pursuit of God, I often became preoccupied with ME! It was easy to think that being constantly aware of my faults and weaknesses was humility. It’s not! If I’m the main subject, talking incessantly about my weaknesses, I have entered into the most subtle form of pride. Repeated phrases such as “I’m so unworthy” become a nauseating replacement for the declarations of the worthiness of God. By being sold on my unrighteousness, the enemy has disengaged me from effective service. It’s a perversion of true holiness when my introspection causes my spiritual self-esteem to increase, but my effectiveness in demonstrating the power of the Gospel to decrease.

True brokenness causes complete dependency on God, moving us to radical obedience that releases the power of the Gospel to the world around us. …

Therefore, in your weakest state, declare, “I AM STRONG!” Agree with God regardless of how you feel and discover the power of resurrection. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. The first place that faith must be exercised is in our own standing with God. 

Apart from Christ, we’re unworthy. And it’s true that without Him, we are nothing. But I am not without Him, and I never will be again! At what point do we start thinking of our worth through His eyes? If it’s true that the value of something is measured by what someone else will pay, then we need to rethink our worth. Do we ever acknowledge who we are before Him? Please don’t misunderstand; I’m not encouraging arrogance or cockiness. But wouldn’t it honor Him more if we believed that He actually did a good enough job in saving us, and that we really are saved? Jesus paid the ultimate price to make it possible for us to have a change in our identity. Isn’t it time we believe it and receive the benefits? If we don’t, we’ll break down in our confidence as we stand before the world in these final days. The boldness we need is not self-confidence, but the confidence that the Father has in the work of His Son in us. It’s no longer a question of heaven or hell. It’s only a question of how much of hell’s thinking I will allow into this heavenly mind of mine. 

Zacharias was given a promise from God that was beyond his comprehension: he was to have a son in his old age. It was hard to believe, so he asked God to give him confirmation. Apparently an angel speaking with him wasn’t a big enough sign! God silenced him for nine months. When God silences the voices of unbelief, it is usually because their words could affect the outcome of a promise. When Zacharias saw God’s promise fulfilled and he chose to name his son according to the command, against the wishes of his relatives, God loosed his tongue. Obedience against popular opinion will often reintroduce someone to personal faith. And that’s a faith that goes against understanding.

Mary was also given a promise beyond comprehension: she was to give birth to the Son of God. When she couldn’t understand, she asked how it was possible since she was a virgin. Understanding a promise from God has never been the prerequisite to its fulfillment. Ignorance asks for understanding; unbelief asks for proof. She stands apart from Zacharias because while being ignorant, she surrendered to the promise. Her cry remains one of the most important expressions the Church can learn in this day--

”be it unto me according to Your word.”

We’ve discussed an incredible promise of paramount importance to the Church. There are few things further from our grasp than the statement, “as He is, so are we in this world.” And so we have the choice: to stand in the shoes of Zacharias and lose our voice, or walk in the ways of Mary and invite God to restore to us the promises we cannot control.

I believe that for the most part this counterfeit cross-walk is embraced because it requires no faith. It’s easy to see my weakness, my propensity toward sin, and my inability to be like Jesus. Confessing this truth requires no faith at all. On the contrary, to do as Paul commanded in Romans 6:13, to consider myself dead to sin, I must believe God!

When God gave Moses a noble task, he responded with “who am I?” God changed the subject saying, “certainly I will be with you.” When we are focused on our lack, the Father tries to change the subject to something that will lead us to the source and the foundation of faith: Himself. The noble call always reveals the nobility of the Caller.

Doesn’t it honor Him more when His children no longer see themselves as only “sinners saved by grace,” but now as “heirs of God?” Isn’t it a greater form of humility to believe Him when He says we are precious in His sight when we don’t feel very precious? Doesn’t it honor Him more when we think of ourselves as free from sin because He said we are? At some point we must rise up to the high call of God and stop saying things about ourselves that are no longer true. If we’re going to fully come in to what God has for us in this last days’ revival, we will have to come to grips with the issue of being more than “sinners saved by grace.” Maturity comes from faith in the sufficiency of God’s redemptive work that establishes us as sons and daughters of the Most High. …

Psalm 118

“In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered..."

Anguish is a strong word, but we've all felt it. I feel it right now. I feel it for my personal situation (unemployment, poverty and incessant waiting). I feel it now for my friends and family for many of the same reasons. I feel it for the people of Iraq for what I think are obvious reasons.

But also because they don't know the Lord. They are striving and seeking and fighting but will never know peace. It's sad, but I know that God works through all situations regardless of the view from the outside.

But what good is knowing God when things still go bad? When things blow up - literally or figuratively? Does knowing Jesus get me a job, or save loved ones from death, or give us back what we've lost?

How exactly does God "answer" when we call out in anguish?

"...by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Living Up to Your Potential

Today I am thinking about humility. I have thought a bit about it lately and I have come to realize that it involves a true understanding of oneself. It isn't about making yourself less than you are, it's about knowing that God is responsible for you (and, of course, your gifts).

I am convinced that in the strive to become humble, many people throw off the person that God has created them to be. They do this because they do not understand humility. Sometimes you are the best person for the job, the one with the best and most useful skills, the best looking one, the one with more money, the clean one. Humility doesn't lord this over others, but it doesn't deny the truth.

We are called to "live in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called (Eph. 4)." We have been called with the truth of Jesus Christ. Later in the same chapter of Ephesians we read that Jesus ascended on high and He "gave gifts to men." To deny those gifts is to deny the truth of Jesus. To borrow from another (unrelated) passage, "We make God out to be a liar and the truth is not in us."

I want to live out of a place of right and truthful assessment. I do not want to shirk my responsibilities to my community (of believers, of non-believers, whoever) in a fruitless quest for false humility.

I tend to have a desire to implicate the church, as in "The church is stifling us with teachings about false humility and submission," but this isn't about that. It's a personal call. One which asks us to look inside and examine ourselves. I guess, in this case, myself

The Nature of God

I have been fasting for a few days now. I am on day 4 with a couple of breaks - like when someone at work bought me a sub. I've been thinking alot about my future and what God has planned for my life, so I decided to take some time to focus on the nature of God, or at least one part of it.

What drew me to embrace God was His compassion. As I learned about Him, He seemed to be offering me what I needed most; acceptance and love. And that's what he has continued to do throughout my relationship with Him.

I am fascinated and amazed by Genesis 3. After God comes upon Adam and his wife, Eve, hiding after eating the "apple," this happens:

"The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

"Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken."

After they defied Him he clothed them and more importantly for all of us, He saved them from eating of the tree of life and living forever in their state of sin.

I am no theologian, but could God make himself any clearer? He loved Adam and Eve. He loved them enough to save them from everlasting life in sin even if it meant expulsion from the garden. He made them clothes, even.

He did the same for us. He sent Jesus to save us from everlasting life in His absence.

And He clothed us.