It is all Now!!

have you considered writing a book- you really should- you probably already have enough material-

New Heaven on Earth!

What are you waiting for? Stop looking outside yourself for a solution and find the kingdom of God within! God already sent all the power and wisdom we need in the person of Christ Jesus who made it possible for his holy Spirit to dwell inside you, possess you totally and fully, to fill you with all the fullness of God. Jesus finished his work, the Will of our Father, the one Father of every family in heaven and on earth, to reconcile all things on earth and in heaven back to our Father! Jesus filled everything with the truth and life of God! He came again in 70 AD and destroyed all who did not turn back to our Father in the 40 year grace period, and destroyed the external temple, leaving not a single stone unturned.

Now Christ is all, and in all! Christ fills everything above the…

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HEBREWS Chapter 11 Faith

1 NOW FAITH is the assurance the confirmation, the title deed of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality. Faith perceives as real fact what is not revealed to our senses.

He is talking here about faith in what God says is true- Of course. Because we are told that there are a lot of things that happened on that cross (for instance) that can’t be seen, or  proved except that our faith knows- and, in fact, now possess it even when we can’t see it. Because we heard God say it.

When it comes to your faith: You didn’t have to make it yourself. It is a free gift from God. Just for you. You realize that you’re able to believe the invisible things that God tells or shows to you. He becomes much more than a Sunday get together. I remember reading ‘The just shall live by faith’ – after I’d read it a thousand times before- but this time ‘I heard it’… it scared me… because once I ‘heard’ it, I knew that I knew it was true.

Below is a record of people who heard God and got themselves mentioned in God’s word because of their faith.

For by faith the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

It was because of their faith that God testified ( sp0ke )to them, they obtained a good report from  Him.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

Yes, because faith comes by the Word and they must have heard somehow.

[Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.

Abel had heard God’s word and his faith believed, prompting him to bring the sacrifice that God spoke and approved of, and had shown him. Even though he died he still speaks- that the shedding of blood is required. (a life must be given, not Abel’s but in the sacrifice for Abel). And the power of Faith.

Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God.

Enoch walked with God and because of his faith in the things God told him, never experienced death because God had translated and taken him to heaven. But before that, he received testimony that he pleased and had been found satisfactory to God. 

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

The testimony that Enoch received, that he pleased God and he was satisfactory to Him could only be obtained by someone who had faith, because without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to God. For whoever would come near to God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him.

[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness (that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).

God had forewarned Noah, and Noah heard and believed. He constructed the ark as described by God when there was no evidence at all that such a thing as a flood could happen. Noah became an heir, and received righteousness from God. 

[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.

The motivation of what God spoke to Him when He called him caused Abraham to follow God even though he had no idea of what the place was like.

 

[Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.

Because of his faith, He lived as a temporary resident in the promised land in tents with Issac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. For thy waited expectantly for the city built by God. 

Considering all this writer has said, now  he proves that faith unto these things are the key to God and you need to keep it strong and forget the things that seek to steal you away- with whatever  has been told to you designed to seduce you with pretty words away from the true gospel! That your life maybe be saved.

With that thought we will finish Hebrews 11 with the next post- until then God Bless and show you His salvation.

 

HEBREWS 10

This book is so filled with soul freeing information, I wish I could teach it live. In any event, I will pray for you readers that it all may ‘jump’ directly into our heart of understanding. Please pray for me also, that I may deliver that which you need. 

 

1 FOR SINCE the Law has merely a rude outline (foreshadowing) of the good things to come—instead of fully expressing those things—it can never by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year make perfect those who approach [its altars]. For if it were otherwise, would [these sacrifices] not have stopped being offered? Since the worshipers had once for all been cleansed, they would no longer have any guilt or consciousness of sin. But [as it is] these sacrifices annually bring a fresh remembrance of sins [to be atoned for], Because the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to take sins away.

In a way, these ideas above could serve as a kind of test for modern Christians. Because if you are feeling guilt toward God it usually means that there is something you have or have not done. This signifies that a least there are times when you are not convinced of the power of the cross and the blood of Christ to clear your conscience from guilt. In other words you have placed yourself under some kind of law that you haven’t lived up to. The Holy Spirit will ‘convict’ you but never brings fear because of the guilt you feel. The scriptures above describe the most perfect law possible, for it was given by God. In it also are annual atonement provisions in order to erase any infractions committed by both the Tabernacle ministries and the people they represent. Plus provisions for trespasses committed by individuals during the year. Actually, these sacrifices only reminds the individual of his sins, for the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to take sins away. The law really was a foreshadowing of the good things to come– instead of fully expressing those things. It is impossible to find perfection through any kind of law.

Hence, when He [Christ] entered into the world, He said, Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead You have made ready a body for Me [to offer]; In burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no delight. Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God—[to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume of the Book. When He said just before, You have neither desired, nor have You taken delight in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings—all of which are offered according to the Law— He then went on to say, Behold, [here] I am, coming to do Your will. Thus He does away with and annuls the first (former) order [as a means of expiating sin] so that He might inaugurate and establish the second (latter) order. And in accordance with this will [of God], we have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One).

Christ was well aware that this situation with the law existed, and when the time was finally right He entered the world saying (in Psalms first) Sacrifices and Offering You (God) have not desired (because of their ineffectiveness) but instead You have made a body for me to offer; In burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no delight. Then I said, behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God- to fulfill what is written of me in the volume of the book. (that is to suffer and die and be resurrected on the third day) in this way He does away with former order as a means of expiating sin so that He might inaugurate and establish the latter order. And in this will of God we have been already been made Holy through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ. 

I quoted most of this so that you would have reason to believe that this is part of the truth designed to set us free from the law and guilt. You need to believe! One way is to memorize scripture (like Isaiah 53) and say it out loud to your own heart until it gets it and you are able to believe) to stop guilt etc. and leave you with peace.

Furthermore, every [human] priest stands [at his altar of service] ministering daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over again, which never are able to strip [from every side of us] the sins [that envelop us] and take them away—Whereas this One [Christ], after He had offered a single sacrifice for our sins [that shall avail] for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, Then to wait until His enemies should be made a stool beneath His feet. For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy. And also the Holy Spirit adds His testimony to us [in confirmation of this]. For having said, This is the agreement (testament, covenant) that I will set up and conclude with them after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts, and I will inscribe them on their minds (on their inmost thoughts and understanding), He then goes on to say, And their sins and their lawbreaking I will remember no more. Now where there is absolute remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of these [sins and lawbreaking], there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin.

The old covenant where human priests daily offer the same sacrifices over and over again, sacrifices that are unable to strip away the sins that envelope us and rid us of them. For like them there is always something that they did or didn’t do. This Christ after He offered a single sacrifice for our sins that shall avail for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, until His enemies should be made a stool beneath His feet. His single offering has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy. For having said, This is the covenant that I will set up and conclude with them after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts, and I will inscribe them on there minds (on their innermost thoughts and understanding) and further He says, And their sins and lawbreaking I will remmber no more. Now where there is absolute remission (forgiveness and cancellation of the penalty) of theses sins and lawbreaking there is no longer any offering made to atone for sin.

(Note, this is so important, I have stuck to the original where I felt necessary).

 

 

 
Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh, And since we have [such] a great and wonderful and noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.
So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Since, Jesus has cleared us to have full freedom and confidence to enter into the Holy of Holies by the power and virtue in His Blood, by this new and living way which He initiated,dedicated and opened for us through the seperated curtain, that is, through His flesh. And since we have a great and wonderful and noble Who rules over the house of God, Let us all come forward and draw near with true and sincere hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personally on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power,wisdom, and goodness) having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water. Therefore, let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable and faithful to His word, And let us consider and give attention,continuous care to watch over one another, studying how we may stir up to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together as is the habit of some people, but admonishing one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. (Note: again this is so important I didn’t stray much from the original text. Make sure you read it).

This is for us:

For if we go on deliberately and willingly sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for [our] sins [no further offering to which to look forward]. [There is nothing left for us then] but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation which will consume those who put themselves in opposition [to God]. Any person who has violated and [thus] rejected and set at naught the Law of Moses is put to death without pity or mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse (sterner and heavier) punishment do you suppose he will be judged to deserve who has spurned and [thus] trampled underfoot the Son of God, and who has considered the covenant blood by which he was consecrated common and unhallowed, thus profaning it and insulting and outraging the [Holy] Spirit [Who imparts] grace (the unmerited favor and blessing of God)? For we know Him Who said, Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the meting out of full justice rest with Me]; I will repay [I will exact the compensation], says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge and determine and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people. It is a fearful (formidable and terrible) thing to incur the divine penalties and be cast into the hands of the living God!
But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which, after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured a great and painful struggle, Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults and abuse and distress, and sometimes claiming fellowship and making common cause with others who were so treated. For you did sympathize and suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession.
Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay. But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him. But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul.

 

Difficult reading and understanding, but don’t let the enemy convince you to pass it by.

HEBREW 9 Continued-

Now, finally, in this second half of Hebrews 9 we begin to learn about Christ and His present ministry in the heavenly places.

continuing where we left off.

11 But [that appointed time came] when Christ (the Messiah) appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with [human] hands, that is, not a part of this material creation,

Christ came approximately 430 years after the last profit spoke to Israel. Israel was in bondage to Egypt 430 years before Moses appeared- the better things that come and are yet to come to us comes through the perfect tabernacle that He is the High Priest over and is not part of this material creation. 

He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us).

He entered once for all into the Holy of Holies, of  heaven not with the blood of goats and calves (which never were able to cancel sin) in order to make reconciliation between God and man but with His own blood. He found and secured a complete redemption for us.. Remember this redemption is secured forever for you and I.

For if [the mere] sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body, How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine person [ever] living God?

How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of [His] eternal Spirit [His own preexistent divine personality] has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?

First of all, He is the only unblemished human available- provided by God Himself. Can you really imagine offering your only Son Who You Love for beings that act like us. Unbelievable Grace! To purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the [ever] living God?

[Christ, the Messiah] is therefore the Negotiator and Mediator of an [entirely] new agreement (testament, covenant), so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance—since a death has taken place which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the [old] first agreement.

We are under a new covenant- the one spoken to come through out the entire Old Testament. It has Christ as it’s Negotiator and Mediator between Man and God. This is so that those who are called and offered it may receive the fulfillment of the promised everlasting inheritance, since a death has taken place (The death of Jesus) which rescues and delivers and redeems them from the transgressions committed under the old, first covenant.

For where there is a [last] will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, For a will and testament is valid and takes effect only at death, since it has no force or legal power as long as the one who made it is alive.

Whenever a last will and testament is declared and legal, the one who made it must die and His death be established before that last will and testament is legal, and God was in Christ (on the cross) and died with Him making the New covenant have force and legal power since that death occurred.

So even the [old] first covenant (God’s will) was not inaugurated and ratified and put in force without the shedding of blood. For when every command of the Law had been read out by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of slain calves and goats, together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and sprinkled both the Book (the roll of the Law and covenant) itself and all the people, Saying these words: This is the blood that seals and ratifies the agreement (the testament, the covenant) which God commanded [me to deliver to] you.

Because this is all true, even the old covenant was inaugurated and ratified and gained it’s force with the shedding of blood. For whenever the commands of the law was read out loud by Moses to all the people he took the blood of slain calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and using a bunch of hyssop, sprinkled the book itself and all the people, Saying these words: This blood seals and ratifies the covenant which God commanded you.

And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the [sacred] vessels and appliances used in [divine] worship. [In fact] under the Law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins. By such means, therefore, it was necessary for the [earthly] copies of the heavenly things to be purified, but the actual heavenly things themselves [required far] better and nobler sacrifices than these.

Also, and in the same way he sprinkled the tabernacle, and the sacred vessels and appliances used in worship. Under the law almost everything is purified by means of blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no release from sin and it’s guilt or the remission of the punishment for sins. These things were necessary for the earthly copies of the heavenly things to be made pure, but the actual heavenly things themselves required far better and nobler sacrifices than these.

For Christ (the Messiah) has not entered into a sanctuary made with [human] hands, only a copy and pattern and type of the true one, but [He has entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the [very] presence of God on our behalf. Nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary to] offer Himself regularly again and again, as the high priest enters the [Holy of] Holies every year with blood not his own. For then would He often have had to suffer [over and over again] since the foundation of the world. But as it now is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice [of Himself].

For Christ has not entered into a sanctuary which is a copy and a pattern and type made with hands but has entered into the true sanctuary which is in heaven itself, now to appear in the very presence of God Himself on our behalf. He did not enter to offer Himself regularly again and again as the earthly high priest here enters the Holy of Holies every year with blood not his own. For then Christ would often have had to suffer since the foundation of the world. But the way it now is, He has once for all at the consummation and close of the ages appeared to put away and abolish sin by His sacrifice of Himself.

And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment, Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.

With this wonderful last verse, I’ll leave you till next time with Hebrews 10. Love and blessings for all-

HEBREWS Chapter 9

1 NOW EVEN the first covenant had its own rules and regulations for divine worship, and it had a sanctuary [but one] of this world. For a tabernacle (tent) was erected, in the outer division or compartment of which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the showbread set forth. [This portion] is called the Holy Place.  

As far as the first covenant with it’s rules and regulations  for worshiping God. We start with a look at the earthly Tabernacle  which points us to the true tubercle built by God in the Heavens.  We see it was basically a tent  erected with an outer compartment containing the lampstand and a table with the loaves of showbread setforth this is called the Holy Place.  All this , is (of course, a shadow) of that which would come when Christ arrives.                  t

But [inside] beyond the second curtain or veil, [there stood another] tabernacle [division] known as the Holy of Holies. It had the golden altar of incense and the ark (chest) of the covenant, covered over with wrought gold. This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the [two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments]. Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.

But beyond the second veil, there stood another tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies with it’s golden alter of incense and the ark off the covenant covered with wrought gold. This ark held contained a golden jar which held the manna and the two stones slabs of the covenant with the ten commandments. above the ark and overshadowing the mercy seat were representations of the cherubim, winged creatures which were the symbols of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things. ( I might say that the six wings which each Cherubim had were arranged to hide the mercy seat from the High Priest, for that kind of mercy from God was not to be know during this covenant). 

Everything that exists inside the ark represents what God will put into our hearts once the new covenant comes: The manna represents the daily bread which is always present- the rod of Aaron means we become priests- the ten commandments means God engtaves His Law in our hearts. We also are able (through the death and resurrection) to be aware of the mercy seat, which means we are aware of God’s mercy (eternal) for us. Just believe!

These arrangements having thus been made, the priests enter [habitually] into the outer division of the tabernacle in performance of their ritual acts of worship. But into the second [division of the tabernacle] none but the high priest goes, and he only once a year, and never without taking a sacrifice of blood with him, which he offers for himself and for the errors and sins of ignorance and thoughtlessness which the people have committed.

By far most of the priestly activity took place in the the Holy place , for the High Priest entered into the Holy of  Holyies only once a year during the day of atonement wherein He brought blood from the sacrifice to be sprinkled on the corners of the ark of the covenant for the sins of himself and for the people. 

Jesus is permanently in the Holy of Holies with His blood keeping us clean from sin.

By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing, Seeing that that first [outer portion of the] tabernacle was a parable (a visible symbol or type or picture of the present age).

Of course this happened a few years after Jesus came (thank God for it opened the door for Jesus our forerunner to enter the Holy of Holies in the heavenly for our sake and made the New Covenant available for you and I. 

In it gifts and sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper.

That is, in the old covenant, yet the blood of animals was never able to make a change in the nature of man or perfecting the conscience of the Israelite. In the new covenant to come (but is here now) our conscience is perfected and our nature is changed. 

For [the ceremonies] deal only with clean and unclean meats and drinks and different washings, [mere] external rules and regulations for the body imposed to tide the worshipers over until the time of setting things straight [of reformation, of the complete new order when Christ, the Messiah, shall establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a better covenant].

So we see again that everything portrayed in the old covenant was to ‘tide the people over’ until Christ, the Messiah shall establish the reality of what these things foreshadow- a better covenant. The one you are in. 

We will fonish Hebrews 9 next- God Bless

HEBREWS Chapter 8

1 NOW THE main point of what we have to say is this:  We have such a High Priest, One Who is seated at the right hand of the majestic [God] in heaven,

We can’t emphasize the importance of getting this scripture from Hebrews one into our hearts enough-  

When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,

As officiating Priest, a Minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle which is erected not by man but by the Lord.

He ministers today in a realm that is beyond our ability to perceive using our natural senses. His ministry is in the true tabernacle which exists in the heavenly, or Spiritual reality.

For every high priest is appointed to offer up gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this [High Priest] to have some offering to make also. If then He were still living on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are [already priests] who offer the gifts in accordance with the Law.

So then, if we consider this present life and in this present world Jesus would not qualify as a priest at all. There is already an earthly priesthood which operates under the law. The linage of Aaron and Levi who minister in a tabernacle built by man.

[But these offer] service [merely] as a pattern and as a foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, See to it that you make it all [exactly] according to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain.

The entire ministry and the tabernacle instituted by Moses and given to Him on the mountain was never meant to be the final ministry for mankind (especially Israel). But was all a type and shadow of the ministry to come. The ministry of Christ Jesus, the author and finisher of the true tabernacle in the heavenly realm whose Priestly Order was foreshadowed by Melchizedek.   

But as it now is, He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.

He presently- at this moment- now, and for you- possesses a ministry as much superior and more excellent than the old earthly ministry as the covenant that He Mediates is superior and more excellent because it is enacted and rests upon more important, higher, and nobler promises for God’s children.

For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one.

He is taking about the covenant of the Law, which Israel choose rather than listen to the voice of God. They told Moses: ‘Moses keep Him away from us, for who can hear His voice and live? Go to Him and find out what we should do and this shall be our righteousness with Him’

However, He finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the hand to help and relieve them and to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide in My agreement with them, and so I withdrew My favor and disregarded them, says the Lord.

God said yes to their request to be judged by the Law. Under the Law their righteousness with God depends entirely on their behavior. Since no one can be justified by the Law, they failed encoring the wrath of God towards their disobedience to the Law which they choose. God in His mercy replied this way- 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

So God promises a new covenant whereby He will make sure they live up to His work in them

And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more. When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.

This is the covenant we who have believed the work Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. The covenant you and I are under if we are born again-

HEBREWS 7 B Melchizedek Continued-

Continuing with Melchizedek, we are learning a lot concerning the importance of who He is and the order of priesthood He represents and also established. 

Resuming where we left off-

 

Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.

This Melchizedek has no record of any birth plus we’re told that he doesn’t have beginning of days nor ending of life, he resembles the Son of God- the thing that reveals who he is, is that he continues to be a priest with out interruption and without successor- we know that Christ becomes the High Priest- so He must have been always the high priest- He couldn’t be a successor to Melchizedek because Melchizedek is without interruption and without successor. Perhaps that’s part of what Jesus meant when He asked God to restore Him to the glory He had with the Father since before time began. Somehow Melchizedek must be the Word of God before He put on flesh and became Christ Jesus.

Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.

God must have opened the eyes of Abraham’s heart as to who Melchizedek was for him to give a tenth of everything- He also refused some spoils from the other kings with him, he said no, lest you say the world made me rich-

And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people—which means, from their brethren—though these have descended from Abraham.But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham [himself] and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God]. Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.

The only priesthood  commanded to receive tithes was the Levitical priesthood and they were commanded by the law. Melchizedek has nothing regarding the Levitical ancestry yet He received tithes from Abraham himself. Abraham received a blessing from Melchizedek and it’s absolutely beyond any doubt that the lesser person is blessed by the greater one. 

Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually].

The Jews of that day were required to pay a tenth (tithes) to the priests who belonged to the Levitical order which was established by the Law of Moses. Men who death reined over. Melchizedek, on the other hand, it was testified that he lives eternally.

A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham, For he was still in the loins of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him [Abraham].

Levi, the patriarch of the levitical priesthood, was still in the loins of Abraham when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, (remember, this all occurred hundreds of years before Levi and the Levitical priesthood that he fathered was even born) so one could say that Levi and his decedents paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham. 

Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people were given the Law—why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?  For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity an alteration of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well.

It is impossible for anyone to make themselves righteous in God’s eyes through the Law. Which means it’s also impossible to have true fellowship with the Father and His Son under the Law. Since the Law was given through the Levitical Priesthood. God has revealed a new, eternal and different priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.  This priesthood is ours in Christ Jesus and the Law is gone. Christ who is our eternal High Priest can bring perfection and fellowship with The Father and The Son, where the Law can never make anyone perfect in God’s eyes and provide fellowship.

For the One of Whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line but] to another tribe, no member of which has officiated at the altar. For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.

As was said before, the order of Priesthood Melchizedek belonged to existed long before Moses and Aaron and Levi were even born. Melchizedek met Abraham before he had even received his first promised son, long before Israel existed. Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah, a tribe unable to produce a priest according to the Law. Melchizedek didn’t belong to any tribe since He had no beginning and therefore wasn’t born to anyone or any tribe.

And this becomes more plainly evident when another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Melchizedek, Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement [an externally imposed command concerning His physical ancestry], but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life.

It is Jesus (of course) who has risen and He and Melchizedek resemble each other. They are both priests and belong to the same order of priesthood. They have both been declared a priest not on the basis of any legal requirement but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible life.

For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness— For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we [now] come close to God.

For somewhere in Psalms it has been said of Jesus, You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. For the Law has been cancelled. The Law of physical regulation and command with it’s weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness. But Christ is introduced through whom we now come close to God.

And it was not without the taking of an oath [that Christ was made Priest], For those who formerly became priests received their office without its being confirmed by the taking of an oath by God, but this One was designated and addressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Again, the quote was spoken by God in Psalms. Jesus was the only priest to be confirmed by an oath.

In keeping with [the oath’s greater strength and force], Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) agreement [a more excellent and more advantageous covenant].

Jesus is our Guarantee of a stronger, more excellent and a more advantageous covenant- all because God has teaken an oath.

[Again, the former successive line of priests] was made up of many, because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office];

Since the priests all had to die, each one realized that the day would come when he would die, only to be replaced by another man who would eventually also die.

But He holds His priesthood unchangeably, because He lives on forever. Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

The Priesthood of Christ will never change since Christ lives forever. His salvation is also forever making Him able to save us to perfection, for all time and eternally.

[Here is] the High Priest [perfectly adapted] to our needs, as was fitting—holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens. He has no day by day necessity, as [do each of these other] high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements] once for all when He brought Himself [as a sacrifice] which He offered up. For the Law sets up men in their weakness [frail, sinful, dying human beings] as high priests, but the word of [God’s] oath, which [was spoken later] after the institution of the Law, [chooses and appoints as priest One Whose appointment is complete and permanent], a Son Who has been made perfect forever.

Since all that has come before was a type and shadow pointing to the coming of Jesus, which in the salvation offered us today is eternal and unshakable, let us welcome it, and cherish it when we find ourselves in it.

Hebrews chapter 8 coming soon.  Thank you and God Bless-

HEBREWS 7 Melchizedek

So far, We’ve been learning how high, and what a greatness The Farther has bestowed on His only begotten Son Jesus. And how it was in the Father’s plan to save those of us who have been covered because we are decedents of Abraham. He is the spiritual father of all who come to God through faith alone in Jesus- we are saved by grace through faith and that is not of ourselves but it is a gift from God. 

Concerning Jesus Hebrews one tells us:

in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the3 out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.

When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,

We would do well to spend some time meditating and even confessing this scripture out loud when we’re by ourselves. You will end all fear and guilt.

First, an interesting look at Abraham- 

Let’s talk about Abraham for a moment since God’s plan for the maturity of the human race begin with Abraham. Before He was Abraham his name was Abram which means Father of a great Nation. That promise to Abram was fulfilled with the nation of Israel. However, after God made that promise with Abram, He changed His Name to Abraham which means Father of many nations. Where are these other nations that God promised- Let’s look at Isaiah 54

SING, O barren one, you who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child! For the [spiritual] children of the desolate one will be more than the children of the married wife, says the Lord.

Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, 3 For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and depressed, for you shall not be put to shame. For you shall forget the shame of your youth, and you shall not [seriously] remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.

For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.

For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken, grieved in spirit, and heartsore—even a wife [wooed and won] in youth, when she is [later] refused and scorned, says your God.  

For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion and mercy I will gather you [to Me] again.

In a little burst of wrath I hid My face from you for a moment, but with age-enduring love and kindness I will have compassion and mercy on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.

For this is like the days of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.

For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 53 talks about Christ on the cross. Isaiah 54 (above) God talks to His Son regarding His death on the cross and the born again children that will result. These are the nations that God’s promise to Abraham (Father of many nations) That’s you and I if you are born again. Somewhere it is said ‘As Issac was (a promised child) so are we’ Pretty amazing!

Back to Melchizedek:

1 FOR THIS Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,  

As far as Melchizedek, I believe this is the first time a priest is spoken of in scripture. He met Abraham after Abraham’s victory in the battle of the kings and Blessed Him. He is also the King of Salem which later becomes Jerusalem. Strong spiritual things are taking place here.

And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all [the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.

Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of his increase (he had gained spoils from the ten kings he had defeated- a large amount) as did Issac his son Abraham would have later in his life. Melchizedek (as His name indicates is primarily King of righteousness which means he is able to make one righteous before God. He is also King of peace which means He can give one peace. Sounds a lot like Christ after He’s death and resurrection. Strong spiritual things are happening here!

Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.

This Melchizedek has no record of any birth plus we’re told that he doesn’t have beginning of days nor ending of life, he resembles the Son of God- the thing that reveals who he is, is that he continues to be a priest with out interruption and without successor- we know that Christ becomes the High Priest- so He must have been always the high priest- He couldn’t succeed Melchizedek perhaps that’s part of what He meant when He asked God to restore Him to the glory He had with the Father since before time began. Somehow Melchizedek must be the Word of God before He put on flesh and became Christ Jesus.

We are getting into a lot of words, so I think I’ll finish with my next post- God Bless!

 

HEBREWS SIX Towards Maturity

 

He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.                                                                                                                                                                                                   When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,

After all that has been said concerning Christ Jesus up to this point in Hebrews, it should be apparent that if we find that we are a participant in this born again Christianity, we are involved in a very spiritual (heavenly), personal, relationship with God The Father and His Son Jesus.

Starting at verse one of Hebrews six:

1 THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity.

This may be a word that is so important for the average church today. It seems like it’s so easy to just park yourself in some religious place and just go on with your life, without noticing that your spiritual growth has become stagnant. Sometimes for a very long time.

Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,  With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. If indeed God permits, we will [now] proceed [to advanced teaching].

Notice that the writer is telling us NOT to be teaching again the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works and dead formalism and of the faith to God about purifying etc.

I was the adult teacher in a small church during the Charismatic Movement when the Pastor read this and immediately told me to teach the very things we are instructed not too keep teaching. Of course I found a way around it. I never forgot it. It showed me how much even people in authority just couldn’t get it sometimes. 

For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit, And have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age and world to come, If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance—[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace.

For the soil which has drunk the rain that repeatedly falls upon it and produces vegetation useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated partakes of a blessing from God. But if [that same soil] persistently bears thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

These scriptures above are written for the Hebrews who may be close to being seduced by the jews who have infiltrated the church. What the writer is saying, is that you can’t be a born again Jew and then (out of fear) give it all up and return back to the Jewish religion- you would put yourslf in serious spiritual trouble. You’ll see this attitude through out the book of Hebrews. That the Hebrews will come to their sences is reflected in the following scriptures.

 Even though we speak this way, yet in your case, beloved, we are now firmly convinced of better things that are near to salvation and accompany it. For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do. But we do [ [strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full assurance and development of [your] hope until the end,  

Now this is really what (Peter or Paul) wanted the Hebrews to know. That the church as a whole wanted to protect them in love. Maybe I’m a bit cynical but it’s a bit hard for me to imagine the same attitude in the churches I see today. Love, which was the binding force in the early church and the goal the Holy Spirit is after in every born again child of God just isn’t held in the esteem it was in those days, I hope I’m wrong.

In order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards,

This is the attitude that seems to be overtaking the church. Satan loves apathy.

but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith ( by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.

This is the answer, really the answer for all of us. To live as though we do really believe, watching and listining to those we know do trust and believe… until we find ourselves believing for real, confessing and reading God’s word. Renewing our heart and mind, It will overcome our slump and return us to the joy of the Lord. 

For when God made [His] promise to Abraham, He swore by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, Saying, Blessing I certainly will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you. And so it was that he [Abraham], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained [in the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what God had promised him.

Read Gen 15: When Abraham saw God passing through the pieces as a Smoking Furnace and a Burning Lamp (The Father and the Son) instead of Abraham, he saw that God made covenant with Himself and knew God could never break a promise made with Himself and so Abraham waited until he was no longer able to have a child with Sarah and God fulfilled His promise.

Men indeed swear by a greater [than themselves], and with them in all disputes the oath taken for confirmation is final [ending strife]. Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath.  This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].

The covenant God made with Abraham included us, and we can rely and have hope always because of it. Never stop believing, no matter how good or bad you see yourself.

[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil, Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

AMEN.

HEBREWS CHAPTER FIVE

In this chapter we will learn what made, and was required of, the high priest, and how Christ  became the eternal high priest. Of course. this was written to the Hebrews. who had to endure pressure by those of the Orthodox  Jewish Faith- because these Hebrews had found Christ. As a result, these Hebrews had left the beliefs of the Jews including the high priest when they decided to follow Christ. 

FOR EVERY high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in things relating to God,to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 

The High Priest (The highest office in the Priesthood) must be a decedent of Aaron and see himself as an advocate for men towards God, to offer gifts to God and sacrifices for sins including the Day of Atonement which happened once a year. During that time and only that time the high priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies in order to sprinkle blood from the sacrifice on the altar for the sins of the people of Israel. 

He is able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is liable to moral weakness and physical infirmity. And because of this he is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins, as well as for those of the people.

A worthy High Priest must be a very humble man, dealing with the slow learner and others who would err without his guidance because he (the high priest) is well aware of his own moral weakness and physical infirmity. He is obliged to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as those of the people.

Besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor of being high priest, but he is called by God and receives it of Him, just as Aaron did.

Aaron was, of course, called by God, as well as his decedents. Throughout the history of Israel the high priest, to be accepted by God, must be descended from Aaron.  

So too Christ (the Messiah) did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed and exalted by Him Who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have begotten You;  As He says also in another place, You are a Priest [appointed] forever after the order of Melchizedek. 

‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You’ Was spoken out loud as the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove landed on Jesus and was witnessed by John the Baptist. ‘You are a Priest appointed forever after the order of Melchizedek’ was spoken in the Psalms. It is not important as to who Melchizedek was when He met Abraham after the defeat of the kings. What’s important is that there existed an eternal order of  Priesthood before and different than the priesthood of Levi or Aaron. It is this eternal order of Priesthood which existed before Levi or Aaron were even born that Jesus belongs to.

In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death,

Not only was it difficult for Jesus, but it provides a clue for us. We need to offer up special petitions for what we want, and need and supplication with strong crying and tears to Him who was always able to save us out from death

and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].  Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him, Being designated and recognized and saluted by God as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. 

God heard Him because He feared God (knew that whatever God said that would be the final answer and God was aware of His piety, in that what He feared most was the separation from the bright presence of the Father). In the garden He sweated blood because He realized He would have to face that separation on the cross. And although He was a Son He learned obedience through the things that He suffered. The completed experience perfected Him and equipped Him to be the Author and source of eternal salvation to those who give heed and obey Him. Belonging to the order of Melchizedek He became a High Priest in a order ageless and existing long before Israel existed. An order always existing, from the beginning to the eternity of the eternities. 

concerning this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your [spiritual] hearing and sluggish [even slothful in achieving spiritual insight]. For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.