Tag: forgiveness

February 1 2023 – Hebrews 9 – Cleansed to Conscience

In Hebrews 9, the author is showing the superiority of Christ as our sacrifice for sin over the Old Covenant sacrifices. “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?” Hebrews9:13–14NASB1995  Under the Old Covenant, a person’s flesh was cleansed from being defiled. However, under the New Covenant, even your conscience has been cleansed from dead works. It wasn’t just an outward cleansing, it was a cleansing right down to our very spirits.

Reading on in the chapter we understand again that at just the right time, the consummation of the ages, Jesus bore all sin, once for all. “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.” Hebrews9:26–28NASB1995  We hear again, that it was a cleansing right down to our spirit.

We are eagerly awaiting the return of Christ, because we love him and have no fear for our sins, since they have all been atoned for by Jesus once for all.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, our Great High Priest and saving sacrifice, thank you for atoning work that saved me and took away all my sins. Help me encounter and share this Good News with those whose consciences are burdened with the weight of their sins. Amen.

January 30 2023 – Hebrews 7 – Atonement for Our Sins

I am no expert on Old Testament law, but as I understand the instructions in Leviticus, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was to go before God and first make sacrifices for his own sins, then make sacrifices for the people. Unless you had a special need to go before God, (and there were lots of special needs… vows, to prove you had been cleansed for a skin issue, etc.) you were okay with God. However, that was a perpetual, year after year event. Every year sacrifices had to be made on the Day of Atonement to remove the sins of the High Priest and the people of Israel.

The concept of resurrection from the dead wasn’t as completely developed in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament. The Israelites were having their sins removed on the Day of Atonement so they could be right with God in the here and now without much thought for the afterlife. In the New Testament the reality of resurrection is realized. We understand that sin needs to be atoned for so that we are right with God in the here and now and in the world to come.

In Hebrews 7, Jesus, as our great High Priest is being compared to those priests in the Old Testament sacrificial system. There needed to be many of them because they sacrificed every day, year after year, and eventually they all died out. “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.” Hebrews7:23–25NASB1995  Because Jesus lives forever, he is able to save forever all who put their faith in him.

The Old Testament sacrificial system, was an imperfect foreshadowing of the perfect that was to come. “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.” Hebrews7:26–27NASB1995  Jesus died to do away with, sin “once for all when He offered up Himself.”

Our sins… past, present, and future… have been completely atoned for thanks to our great, High Priest, Jesus our Christ!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your perfect Son to save me from the curse and penalty of sin. Thank you that Jesus’ perfect work of atonement covers all my sin and saves me forever. Help me to share this good news with those still trying to atone for their own sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

January 26 2023 – Hebrews 4 – Our Great High Priest

In Hebrews 4, two things caught my attention. The first was when the author of Hebrews quoted David from the Psalms. “…Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews4:7NIV  I grew up in a very evangelistic tradition. We were always inviting people to be saved. I can remember hearing preachers pleading with people at the end of the service altar call. “If you hear Jesus calling you, do not pass up this opportunity… be saved today!” There was the implied and sometimes spoken idea, that the Spirit of God may not come back around to you again. You hear that idea in the song Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior.

There is something else in the words of David quoted by the author of Hebrews… the idea that we can and do harden our hearts to God. The warning is not so much that God isn’t calling, rather don’t harden your heart. That can be cherishing sin and refusing to repent or it can be as simple as hearing God’s will and saying not today. The burden of responsibility in that statement is on us. “…Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews4:7NIV

The other thing in Hebrews 4 that caught my attention is at the end of the chapter. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews4:14–16NIV

In these verses we learn than not only did Jesus pay the price for our sins, he knows exactly what we are going through when we are tempted. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way, yet without sin. When you struggle with sin, know that Jesus endured the same temptation and did not sin. He knows what you are going through because he was tempted in every way just like you.

Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit to be able to resist temptation. Because of Pentecost you have the Holy Spirit living in you. That same power that was able to deliver Jesus from temptations is available to you. When you feel overwhelmed by temptation, go to Jesus in prayer. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews4:16NIV

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for atoning for my sins! Thank you for being able to understand and empathize with my weaknesses because you were tempted just like me. Lord help me to yield my will to you when I hear your Spirit and not harden my heart. Amen.

January 24 – Leviticus 25 – Jubilee

If you look on the internet, you will discover that around 22% of the world’s population lives in poverty. You could assume, as some would have us to believe, the world is over populated and we need to reduce the number of people living on the planet. However, if you think about other possibilities, such as war, exploitation, and greed, you realize that some in the world are profiting off of the systems in place while others are suffering. The world can support the population, and then some, if we used it’s resources justly. Before someone reads something into my comments that isn’t there, let me say I am for a free market economy and for having a military to defend our nation.

Although, I am for a free market economy and do support our military, just a little critical thinking reveals a banking system that has been gamed to benefit the lenders. War has also been exploited and gamed to benefit lenders. War is destructive and costly for the nations that engage in it. It is doubly costly if it happens on a nation’s home soil.  Throughout history lenders have financed both sides of the war. No matter who wins the war, or if their cause was just or not, it is a win-win for the lenders.

Interest and interest rates have also been gamed to benefit the lender. The goal for them is not to necessarily have us pay our loans off. It is for us to continue to pay interest on the loan. They would rather refinance a loan when we get in trouble than take the collateral because they make money off of the interest we pay. If you want to see how the banking system has been gamed to be very lucrative for a few while making many more impoverished, read The Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin.

Sometimes we wonder what the world will be like when Jesus returns. I don’t believe Jesus will be content with a world where more than 20% of the population languishes in poverty. In Leviticus 25, we hear of a concept that God set up called Jubilee. In the year of Jubilee, certain properties that were sold were returned to their original owners. In the year of Jubilee, debts were canceled. In the year of Jubilee if one had sold themselves into slavery to pay debts, they were set free. There is a clear message that comes from the concept of Jubilee. In the explanation of Jubilee in Leviticus we read, “Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus25:17NIV

Poverty and the systems that keep some people in poverty for generations are not God’s plan for humanity. One day when Jesus returns, systems that have enslaved people will be broken. Until that day, we should help others when we can with the resources God has given us. We should also work to free people from oppressive systems by either fixing the systems or replacing them with something better.

Jubilee was God’s idea! Let’s work toward it for the benefit of all mankind.

Prayer:

Dear God, Thank you for creating a world of abundance! Thank you for your love for me and for my fellow man. Help me not to take advantage of others for personal gain and help me to work to free people from poverty. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

January 23 2023 – Hebrews 1 – Who Is Jesus?

Who was Jesus? That is a question that is pondered in academia still today. In the modern world, some “scholars” will side step the plain teachings of Scripture to try to piece together a historical picture of who Jesus was. They have seminars where they speculate about him. They cast their votes as to the authenticity of his words presented in the Bible. In these votes, they have almost eliminated all of the words attributed to Jesus in the gospels.  He was a good teacher seems to be the consensus outside of Christendom. Some people would go so far as to say Jesus never even existed, ignoring ample historical evidence outside of Scripture.

In beginning Hebrews 1, the unknown author gives us a description of Christ. In Hebrews, the author is showing the supremacy of faith in Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant. The readers of Hebrews at the outset are given an understanding of just who Jesus is.

First, we learn that God spoke to us through Jesus. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” Hebrews1:1–2NIV  In that statement we understand that as heir of everything, all that is, belongs to Jesus. As a result of our faith in Christ, Paul tells us that we are co-heirs with Christ so we share in the inheritance.

In verse 2, we also learn that the universe was made through Jesus. We have heard and many of us memorized John 1:1-3. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John1:1–3NIV  Hebrews 1:2 reinforces our understanding that Jesus is not just a good teacher, he is a co-creator with our Heavenly Father.

What does God look like? Does he look like Michelangelo’s commonly accepted presentation of the gray-bearded, old man upstairs? The Bible tells us God is invisible and God is Spirit. However, Hebrews tells us, “the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…” Hebrews1:3NIV  If you want to know what God looks like, look at Jesus.

We also learn that everything in the universe holds together in Christ. “…[He, Jesus, is] sustaining all things by his powerful word…” Hebrews 1:3 NIV  John Wesley said that Jesus holding the universe together is like a person holding up a rock. If he were to let it go, everything would undo into nothingness.

Who is Jesus? Jesus is God! Jesus was with God in the beginning and everything that is, was made through him and belongs to him. He holds it all together through his powerful word. He is the exact representation of God and the radiance of God’s glory. He is also our redeemer. When we were dead in our transgressions and sins, he bore them on the cross for us and ransomed us back to God. Hebrews tells us, “…after he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews1:3NIV  At the appointed time, the Heavenly Father is going to send Jesus back to get us and we will be with him where he is.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you for creation made for and through you! Thank you for representing the Father to me! Thank you for atoning for my sins! Lord help me to live for you through your Holy Spirit. Amen!

January 15, 2023 – Leviticus 16 – An Audience with a Holy God

Because of the lovingkindness, patience, and forgiveness we receive through the grace offered to us in Jesus Christ we sometimes forget that God is a Holy God. Now, we are always able to go to God with our praises and petitions. There isn’t a time too early or too late. We are told to be in a constant conversation with God. The Apostle Paul tells us to, “pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians5:17NRSV  However, it wasn’t always that way.

In Leviticus 16, God is giving Moses instructions to give to Aaron about when and how he is to approach him. The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.” Leviticus16:2NIV He goes on in detail giving instructions on how Aaron is to make atonement for his sins and for the sins of the people. All of this is important because God is a Holy God. Our sinfulness and our sins make it impossible to live in the presence of a Holy and righteous God without having atoned for our sins.

Thank God, he removed the barriers and now we can come to him without fear, fully atoned for through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews4:14–16NIV

Let us never forget that God is a Holy God. It will help us to appreciate the wonderful work of atonement that Jesus the Christ did for us in his death and resurrection!

Prayer:

Holy God, thank you for Jesus, his death, and resurrection that made atonement for all of my sins. Help me to come to you in complete confidence in the grace you offered to me and the world in Jesus. Amen.