Tag: Redemption is Secured and Secure! - Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 9:11-12

(Redemption Through the Blood of Christ)

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Tag: Redemption is Secured and Secure!!

When Christ laid down His life for those who would call on His name for their salvation, He did so to the point of “securing” our eternal redemption.  The word for “secure” in the above passage is:

heurisko (εὑρίσκω) denotes “to find”; in the middle voice, “to find for oneself, to procure, get, obtain,” with the suggestion of accomplishing the end which had been in view; so in Heb. 9:12, “having obtained (eternal redemption).” (Vine)

The work Christ did was so that we could “find” and/or “obtain” a secure redemption.   We can’t secure it ourselves.   This entire section of Hebrews is to compare the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, that was not meant to “secure” an eternal redemption, with the once for all sacrifice of Christ.  The priest of the Old Testament would have to make offering after offering for their sins and the sins of the people.   But, with Christ, we have a once-for-all sacrifice and our eternal redemption is secured and secure in His work, not our own.   We can rejoice in the fact that Christ did the work and there is an eternal benefit for all those who put their complete trust in Him!!  What a great through to rejoice over.  

Tag; Obedience to the Faith - Acts 5-6

Acts 6:7

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Tag: Obedience to the Faith

There are two aspects of this verse that are important.  The first is the fact that this verse follows the story of the Apostles feeding and caring for the widows, a people group often rejected in this society.   The Apostles recognized the need to care for the physical needs of the world around them.  

They met the physical needs, but that emphasis didn't prevent the teaching of the Word.  In fact, when they met needs, religious leaders came to Christ.  Grace and mercy in our lives demonstrated to those in need will explode the gospel.

This brings us to the other key thought in the above verse.  Notice that as the writer explains that religious leaders came to Christ, uses the phrase that they “became obedient to the faith.”   When we typically think of faith, we don’t think “obedience” - we think belief.   But, as James tells us, faith without works is not faith at all.   Notice these verses about being “obedient” to the faith:

Romans 1:3-5

... concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 5:9

And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

In these verses it is clear that to come to Christ you must be “obedient to the faith” of Christ.  What are you obeying, however?   Since, in order to be saved, you have to believe in the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ, obedience to the faith would be to do just that ... believe in the resurrection of Christ ... to do that is to obey Christ who stated we must believe in Him and His words and works to be saved.  When we fail to put complete trust in Him we are not obeying in faith.   

When the Gospel spread during the beginning of the early church people believed the Gospel message ... they believed that the Historical Jesus did, indeed, raise from the dead for the forgiveness of sins and the saving of the soul. 

Tag: God’s Word is True (Jesus is True) - Micah

Micah 1:1

The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 

Tag: God’s Word is True

To believe in Christ for your salvation, you have to believe God’s Word is true.   In order for God’s Word to be true, all parts of it has to be true.  The Gospel is based upon the historical account that Jesus lived, died and rose from the dead. If non of that is true, than we are all left to our own philosophies and die a death that leaves nothing left.   The fact that the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead and was seen by over 500 people after his death, is an historical event the Bible claims true.   So, all parts of the Bible have to be true for us to be saved.  

In the above text we might not think there is much meat for spiritual food.   However, the “prophets” all speak to things that “will happen” in the future.  If ONLY one thing they prophecy to happens does NOT come true, the entire Bible loses its credibility. 

The book of Micah is a great testing ground for the prophets since it has so many “predictions” and “prophecies” about the immediate future of Judah and far reaching “prophecies” about the Messiah, Jesus.  Notice the following:

Note this comment from the commentary, “The Universal Bible Dictionary,” edited by A.R. Buckland and A.L. Williams: “Micah foretells in clear terms the invasion of Shalmaneser and Sennacherib (1:6-16) … the utter destruction of Jerusalem (3:12). Just as clearly he foretells the deliverance of Israel (2:12, 4:10, 5:8); the birthplace of the Messiah (5:2); the promulgation of His Gospel from Mount Zion, and its results; the exaltation of His Kingdom over all nations.”

Here is a prophet that predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem 800 years prior to Jesus’ birth. In fact, the prophets as a whole, predicted over 300 prophecies.  Note one blog’s statement:

“The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection.  Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way:  1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000: 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus!”

When we read a book like Micah and see that this prophet foretold key elements of Jesus birth, life and death, we can rest assured that our salvation is not based upon myth, mysticism, philosophy, or psychological gymnastics.   Our faith is based upon the historical Jesus who, as the Bible records, died, was buried and rose from the dead to save us from our sins.   

Tag: Man’s Heart - God’s Word - Proverbs 29-30

Proverbs 30:1-3

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: Surely I am more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man. Neither have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

Tag: Man’s Heart — God’s Word

Here are some awesome words that might puzzle those who are turning to Proverbs to find wisdom: Agur, the son of Jekeh, says he is "more stupid than any man" and that he does not "have the understanding of man." He goes on to say he has not "learned wisdom" or has not "the knowledge of the Holy One." These are some awesome words coming from an author, soon to be quoted in a book "full of wisdom" and written for those "seeking wisdom" (and the "answer of riddles” ... Proverbs 1). Why would Agur say such a thing? There is one thought that Agur is saying is that he is not writing his own words but rather is copying out proverbs from someone else. That very well could be true. But, I think an alternative interpretation is that Agur has come to the understanding that he is not a Godly man and is not "qulafied to write" such heavenly and awesome truths. And, maybe that is the best way to become a writer of wisdom literature: You know you can't and that you are stupid ... it is only through God's power and through the Holy Spirit's ministry that Agur can compose such truths. We all should come to this understanding before we attempt to minister to others through the Word. Only God can make the "stupid" wise. Only God can turn man's frivolous words into God's powerful message. If it were not for God's power we would only be empty tools. God has the ability to give us meaning and give us a sound message. We may not have knowledge of the Holy One, but God can provide it.

The word “stupid” in the above verse is the Hebrew word, “baar.”   It means to be “brutish.”   A “brute” is a savage, violent person.   What Agur is saying is that, without God’s Wisdom (which he is about to write) he is simply a violent man, lacking any sense.   The book of Proverbs was written to correct that state of a man.  It is awesome that God used a brute to write to other brutes to change all of our bruteness by God’s amazing Word, received by faith.   

Tag: God’s Word in our Heart - Wide Walk in our Life - Psalms 119

Psalms 119:41-45 

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,

your salvation according to your promise;

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,

for my hope is in your rules.

I will keep your law continually,

forever and ever,

and I shall walk in a wide place,

for I have sought your precepts.

Tag:  God’s Word in the Heart - Wide Walk in Life!

Psalm 119 is a great song about God’s Word.  Every verse has a word that refers (in one term or another) to God’s Word.   In the above four verses God’s Word is referred to by:

1. Promises

2. Word

3. Rules

4. Law

5. Precepts

The purpose of these promises, word, rules, laws and precepts is stated, as well.  Their purpose is:

1. Provide salvation

2. Equip us against those who taunt us

3. Provide hope

4. Walk in a “wide” place 

Everything that happens to us in this life is tied to our taking God’s word into our hearts.  When we focus on God’s Word we can walk in wide places.  This meaning, verses tight places.   We can rest and be assured of easier walking when we digest God’s Word and remain faithful to His instruction and promises.  That does not mean the road will be easy or without difficulty (think about Job).  It does mean, no matter the road or difficulty, His promises are still true and that makes the road wide for us.   Our relationship with God’s Word is in direct proportion to how we walk in this life.  

Tag: How to Pray - 2 Chronicles 17-20

2 Chronicles 20:5-6

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court, and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You."

Tag: How to Pray

When King Jehoshaphat was confronted with an issue, he turns to God in prayer.   The prayer (and the way it is formatted) is a great example to us on how we should pray and how we should acknowledge God's work in our lives in the midst of a bad situation.  The first lesson is in the above passage:  He acknowledges God's sovereign rule over all of mankind and that power is in God's hands. Notice his words:

O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens?

The second lesson:  He acknowledges God's faithfulness in the past.  See 20:7

" Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?"

The third lesson:  Like the three Hebrews at the fiery furnace he is willing to stand even if it looks like, feels like, or evil is getting a momentary victory.   He is willing to accept God’s decision about his life whether it turns out good or bad.  See 20:9

" ‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’"

The fourth lesson:  He acknowledges his own weakness.  See 20:12

" O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”"

The fifth prayer lesson is in 20:13.  He inspired others to also pray and praise God despite the situation: 

" All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children."

The last lesson is that he praised God for the answer even though the answer had not yet come:  See 20:18-19

" Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice."

Prayer should follow these steps:

1. Acknowledge God’s Sovereign Rule

2. Acknowledge God’s Faithfulness in the past

3. Accept God’s decision no matter what

4. Acknowledge our weaknesses

5. Encourage the prayers of others in the need

6. Praise God for the answer - BEFORE it comes. 

Tag: The Fear of the Lord Should Bring Wisdom - Numbers 33-36

Numbers 33:40

And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the people of Israel.

Tag:  The Fear of the Lord Brings Wisdom

Note the following:

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 16:6

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

The book of Numbers closes with Moses doing a stop by stop summary of the 40 years of wilderness wandering.   Moses accounts for all the places the nation of Israel pitched their tents during that period of time.   In the above verse we read the impact that had on the Canaanite tribes, cities and peoples.   It says that the Canaanite “heard of he coming of the people of Israel.”   However, even though the Canaanite heard of the coming of God’s people, they did not respond appropriately.   The “hearing” should have been a chance for them to “fear the Lord” and to “turn from evil.”   But, they didn’t.   Instead (we will read the stories in the book of Joshua), they continued in evil.   The “hearing” did not turn to proper “fear” therefore there was no “fearing” that would turn them from their idolatrous ways.   It is one thing to “hear” about God - it is another to actually call on God out of awesome fear and reverence.   When we hear about God’s power it ought to turn us to Him in praise and adoration.  For the Canaanite it was just hearing and no turning to God.  They refused to take what they heard and make it change their life.  One person in Canaan did turn to God, however.  Note:

Joshua 2:1

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.

Rehab, a prostitute, was a woman who heard and turned to God.  She protected the spies Joshua sent out and, eventually would even be listed in the chronology of Christ in Matthew.    People who hear about God need to call on God (Romans 10:14-16).  Otherwise, hearing is nothing more than noise.