And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts,and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

Hebrews 10:1-18

And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts,and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Hebrews 10:15-17

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 10:1-18  - the author of Hebrews keeps building on this theme of Jesus is better as He does what the animal sacrifices could not do with the first covenant - He offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is better than the Old Testament as it pointed to Christ - the text today shares how Jesus quoted Psalm 40:6 where he says that His desire is not for animal sacrifice but for our hearts to love Him.  Vv12-13 Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, waiting for end times to finally defeat His enemies, including Satan.  Just as He does in Hebrews 8, Jesus quotes Jeremiah 31 and shares in vv15-17 that the "Holy Spirit also bears witness to [believers]" by first putting His Word in their hearts and writing on their minds.  Thus, the Holy Spirit serves to intercede and testify for us to God the Father to justify us and render us guiltless - able to be saved - how incredible!       
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv1-4, 8-9 demonstrate that the Old Testament sacrifices could not do what Jesus accomplished - to permanently offer forgiveness of sin. This reinforces a key part of the New Covenant through - that there is nothing any one of us can do to earn our salvation as Jesus has already done this.  We must therefore confess and surrender our lives to Him to be saved. V10,14 share how Christ not only saves us but He sanctifies us. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid thinking there is anything you can do to earn salvation.  Claim the promise of how the Holy Spirit testifies on our behalf and lives in our hearts and minds through the Word.  Confess with your tongue that Jesus is Lord and be saved! 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves and testifies on our behalf and justifies us in Your eyes!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You testify on my behalf and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.

Hebrews 8:1-13

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. Jeremiah 31:34b, Hebrews 8:12

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 8:1-13  - the author of Hebrews builds on Hebrews 7 - where the text discusses why Jesus is a better high priest - by describing how the new covenant through Christ's blood is a better covenant (than the first covenant).  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv1-2: Jesus is seated at the right hand of God in Heaven in a tabernacle not built by human hands.  V3: The sacrifice that Jesus offers is superior to those offered in the first covenant - it is perfect and final - and the those offered with the first covenant were only "a copy and shadow" of the things to come.  As such Jesus fulfilled prophecy.  Vv5-6: This new covenant is better because it "was enacted on better promises." Vv7-9: The first covenant required obedience to the law and God knew the people could not keep this covenant so He had already planned to send His Son and provide for the second covenant.  Vv10-13: With this new covenant, Jesus lives in our hearts and "all [believers] shall know" God as they have a personal relationship with Him.  This new covenant offers forgiveness in sins in a way that the first covenant could not because it required ongoing sacrifices.  With Jesus, the first covenant becomes obsolete and points to the end of times where heaven and earth are replaced with the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).  VV8-12 quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We are all born prone to sin and everyone needs a Savior - Romans 3:23 and 1 John 1:8.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid claiming your are without sin and don't need Jesus.  Claim the promises of Jesus and that Jesus is faithful to deliver on all of them.  See Jesus is not only better but better than anything else - He should be Your greatest treasure.  

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My Prayer: Father God, you are an awesome God and King of Kings who is faithful to deliver on all of Your promises.  I am not deserving of how You save and are faithful.  My sin is great and it  continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Hebrews 7:1-26

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Hebrews 7:26-27

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 7:1-26  - the author of Hebrews makes the case that Jesus is a better high priest than previous high priests who were imperfect.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is great high priest - similar to the Levitical high priests, but better.  He is guarantor of a "better covenant" (v22) as He is high priest permanently (vv23-24), and is able to always "make intercession" for those who believe (v25). Additionally, Jesus is "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens[, and] "He has no need, like [the previous] high priests, to offer sacrifices daily" (vv26-27). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Those who serve God, including modern day pastors, while held to higher standard than those in the church at large, remain imperfect and should be granted grace.  People should not inappropriately view church leadership - follow the lead of Jesus and worship Him alone. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid viewing church leadership inappropriately. Claim the promise that Jesus is always able to intercede on our behalf.  Follow and trust Jesus as great high priest. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and King of Kings whose throne is eternal.  I am not deserving of how You save and are able to intercede forever on behalf of those who call on You.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Hebrews 3:1-6

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Hebrews 3:5-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 3:1-6 - to help Jewish believers who well understood the Old Testament and its biblical heroes such as Moses, the author (key theme of entire book) helps readers better understand Jesus and emphasizes the supremacy of Jesus.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is faithful (v2) and appointed by the Father (v2).  He is worthy of more glory than Moses (v3).  God built all things (v4). He is God's Son (v6).  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Believers have a heavenly calling (v1) that we share with Jesus - to whom we can confess sin (v1).  Moses was faithful (vv2, 5), but less so as Jesus is perfectly faithful - we know Moses sinned (including murder, lied).  Moses testified to things that were to come - to the promised land and beyond. Believers are God's house (v6)- the temple - as the Holy Spirit resides inside our hearts.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid seeing anything greater than Jesus - He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. We should claim the promise of Jesus' faithfulness - all of the promises of God find their yes in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).  We should follow the example of Moses who served faithfully, and of course Jesus!  Trust in Jesus and rest in His promises! 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who created all things and is faithful!  I can rest in Your promises.  Thank You Jesus for saving me and for giving me a peace that surpasses understanding.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

Mark 12:35-40

And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’  David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly. Mark 12:35-37

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 12:35-40.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of two) division (vv35-37):

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "Turning Theologians on Their Heads" and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv35-40) is "Jesus’ identity as the true God-Man demands genuine devotion and obedience rather than hypocritical piety." 
• "Jesus has just answered the question on the greatest command (12:28-34). Prior to that He had addressed His authority (11:27–12:12), paying taxes (12:13-17), and the reality of the resurrection (12:18-27). Jesus answered these questions so well that “no one dared to question Him any longer” (12:34). It is now Jesus’ turn to ask a question, and in doing so He turns the theologians upside down. And He did not ask just any question; He asked the most important question. He asked the question concerning the identity of the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world."  
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "The Coming of Jesus Reveals a Greater David." 
• "Jesus begins simply enough by establishing that the Christ will be the son of David. No problem here."  See also 2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 89:3-4; Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; 11:1-4, 8-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:9, 33:15-17, 22; Ezekiel 34:23-24; Hosea 3:5; Amos 9:11; and Micah 5:2-5. 
• Jesus shares text from Psalm 110. "Psalm 110 is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament. The first verse reads, “This is the declaration of the Lord to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” So Jesus asks, “David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how then can the Messiah be his Son?” Here is a problem no one had seen until Jesus raised it. The Messiah is both David’s Son and David’s Lord at the same time. Think about it. What father would ever call his son or great-grandson his Lord? The Messiah is not simply David’s Son; He is David’s Sovereign. He is God’s Son who reigns as King seated at His heavenly Father’s right hand. David’s words will not work if Messiah is just a human being. He must be more. This is where Jesus is trying to take them. This is what they had failed to see. Tragically, many still don’t see it." 

Indeed, once we hear of Jesus (and there are still many who have either not been reached or have very limited access to the Gospel - see the Joshua Project), we must all come to terms with who Jesus is and either accept Him or not.  If we don't we are eternally condemned - that is why the commentary refers to this as the most important question.  We are commanded to save people from all nations - see also Matthew 28:19-20 and Jude 22-23. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who saves!  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for the mercies You pour out daily for me and that never cease!  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous.

Ecclesiastes 8

There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. Ecclesiastes 8:14

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 8 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the second division of the commentary for chapters 7-11: Sin Leads to Brokenness and Meaninglessness. V14 succinctly encapsulates the futility of life without God - regardless of what you do, apart from God sin persists.  Solomon is a product of the Old Testament and the ceremonial law that led people to believe that works (without a heart set on pleasing God) were pleasing to God.  The point of course is that Jesus Christ and His death on the cross ended the need for the ceremonial law and the sacrificial system as He died as the spotless lamb - the once and for all time perfect sacrifice for all of humanity's sin.  Solomon's futility pointed to the need for Jesus.  Hebrews 8 serves as a fantastic example from scripture that illustrates that what Jesus offers is infinitely better than covenant offered to Israel in the Old Testament.  God does not want animal sacrifices, He wants Your heart and life surrendered to Him.  See also Psalm 50:8; Hosea 6:6; Psalm 51:16; Psalm 40:6–8; Isaiah 1:11–31; Jeremiah 7:21–23; Hebrews 10:4–10.  Surrender and believe!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - saving me and pour out Your mercies ceaselessly. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and compassion and mercies.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.          

Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 8

Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 14.  Here, John Piper unpacks what occurs in the hearts and lives of believers through the better covenant that is described in Hebrews 8:6 and related text.  Piper first starts by explaining that Christ is a mediator of a new and better covenant because the blood of Christ (His crucifixion and resurrection - see also Luke 20:20, Hebrews 13:20) "finally and decisively purchased and secured the fulfillment of God’s promises for us." Piper continues by sharing that this means that "God, according to the new covenant promises, brings about our inner transformation by the Spirit of Christ.  And it means that God works this transformation in us through faith — faith in all that God is for us in Christ.  The new covenant is purchased by the blood of Christ, effected by the Spirit of Christ, and appropriated by faith in Christ." Piper then refers us to Hebrews 13:20-21 where the text, in Piper's words describe "[t]he best place to see Christ working as the Mediator of the new covenant."  Expanding on Hebrews 13:20-21, Piper then concludes the devotion by sharing that "[t]he words “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight” describe what happens when God writes the law on our hearts in accord with the new covenant. And the words “through Jesus Christ” describe Jesus as the Mediator of this glorious work of sovereign grace. So, the meaning of Christmas is not only that God replaces shadows with Reality, but also that he takes the Reality and makes it real to his people. He writes it on our hearts. He does not lay his Christmas gift of salvation and transformation under the tree, so to speak, for you to pick up in your own strength. He picks it up and puts it in your heart and in your mind and gives you the seal of assurance that you are a child of God."  For believers, Christ working in our hearts and lives is dramatic as we and others see the fruit of our faith through heart and life transformation as God molds us into His image.  It is not of course always a fun process but nonetheless God gives us joy and a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  You continues to mediate and interceded for me to the Father.  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for working in my heart and life.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For you have not (emphasis added) come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

Hebrews 12

For you have not (emphasis added) come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. Hebrews 12:18-19

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:18-24, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text.  Broadly, the commentary's main point is how the text contrasts the Old Covenant made on Mount Sinai with the New Covenant made through Jesus, primarily through the people of Jerusalem - represented eschatologically as Mount Zion or the New Jerusalem.

I. Mount Sinai (12:18-21): The commentary first highlights how the text uses the word "for" to build on the previous text and use it as means to share how believers are to strengthen their hands and weakened knees, and straighten the paths for their feet (see v12-13) by recognizing that they have come to a better mountain - Zion.  In the Old Testament (see Exodus 19-20), Sinai represented [God's] incomparable power, might, and sheer holiness.  Thus, this mountain was a place of awe and terror for Israel. Any animal that touched Sinai was to be stoned (see Exodus 19:12-13, Hebrews 12:20) and the commentary describes this as demonstrat[ing] the costliness of uncleanness in the midst of God’s holy presence.  The command for animals to avoid touching Mount Sinai was used "to show just how incomprehensibly terrifying God’s presence on Sinai was for the people of Israel. It was so fearsome that even Moses was afraid."

II. Mount Zion (12:22-24): The commentary then contrasts Mount Sinai with Mount Zion to underscore the author of Hebrews key point in verse 18 how believers how come to a different mountain - not Mount Sinai.  The commentary shares: "He paints this terrifying picture of Sinai for his readers in order to make the contrast with the radiant, glorious, and gracious new covenant. The awful terror of Sinai, which is not the mount to which we have come, shows the radical mercy of Zion. At Zion God embraces us with his grace and administers to us a covenant where he does not merely write the law on tablets of stone but on the tablets of our hearts." We are reminded that the picture described is of the New Jerusalem - and our experience now is simply a foretaste of heaven, which of course will be glorious. 

Be encouraged that we have such an approachable God who is saving us a place in such a glorious place as Heaven!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are such an awesome God that we can now approach you daily and directly without terror.  Of course we are to fear God and hate sin so as to flee from it but at the same time we know we have a God that washes away our sin and is full of grace and mercies that are new every morning.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Hebrews 12

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:22,24

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:18-24, and my unaided observations of the text. Here, building on verses 12-17, the author of Hebrews describes how believers through Jesus, have come to a better place through a better mediator - than what is described in Old Testament scripture.  In verses 18-21, the author of Hebrews is apparently referencing how God appeared to Moses and the Israelites on Mount Sinai as described in Exodus 19-20.  The scene at Mount Sinai was intended to strike fear in the hearts of the Israelites - to obey.  But we know that obedience through fear ultimately did not work because it is not through our own strength that we obey - it is only through submission to Jesus Christ who works in our heart to bring about a love of God verses love of sin.  Thank You Jesus for being a better mediator and offering a new way to God through Your Son!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good, full of amazing grace, compassion, and mercy...and You give Yourself so that I can approach God with confidence...directly.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace and mercy.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:28-40, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text: 

III. Surprising Faith in the Covenant-Keeping God (11:28-31): Here, the commentary reminds believers of the faith of Israel in crossing the Red Sea, that God would hold back the waters allowing them to cross on dry land while drowning the following Egyptian army.  We are also reminded of the faith of Israel in how they followed God's battle plan in Joshua 6 where they are instructed to march around the walls of Jericho.  The commentary also highlights the text where it discusses Rahab's faith from the Jericho story and how, although she was a prostitute and not an Israelite, "[s]he was motivated by faith. Rahab trusted in the God of Israel not only to fulfill his promise to his people but also to protect her from the destruction of Jericho. In a time of danger, she identified herself with the people of Yahweh and believed his promises, even though she was not an Israelite."

IV. Final Examples of Faith (11:32-40): The commentary then pivots to what it describes as "flawed lives marked by remarkable faith" in the concluding verses of chapter 11 - the "hall of faith."  All described in the text are highlighted by the commentary as sinning greatly, yet hailed by their faith regardless.  This includes Gideon (who demanded signs from God and led Israel to sin - Judges 6, 8), Samson (who was sexually promiscuous and broke his covenant with God - Judges 13-16), Jephthah (who vowed to sacrifice his daughter Judges 11, 34-40), and David.  Also highlighted and described in the commentary are the women who received back their dead (v35), as the commentary points to the work of both Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17:17-23, 2 Kings 4:18-36). 

The commentary pauses on the final verses of chapter 11 to share - regarding verses 39-40 - that those mentioned in the "hall of faith" are commended because although they "only had preliminary glimpses of God’s wondrous fulfillment of his promises," they still believed and had faith. It also comments on v40 how "[a]part from the new covenant, there is no hope of perfect, unmitigated fellowship with God on the last day."

Believers, endure in your faith and model those in the "hall of faith" as we have a better possession waiting for us in Heaven.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me my faith, the Holy Spirit, my church, Your Word, my brothers and sisters in Christ - all of which support me in my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Hebrews 9

 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrews 9:25-26

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 9:23-28, as I lean on my commentary for the entirety of this text by way of introduction, and also a specific examination of the commentary for the first division - 9:23-26 which the commentary entitles "The Superlative Sacrifice of Christ." The commentary highlights the "sufficiency, singularity, and effectiveness of Christ’s sacrifice." Christ's sacrifice is described as better and superior to the sacrifices of the first covenant and Old Testament because as the commentary shares: "it is associated with heaven itself—the place of God’s very presence." The commentary wraps by then describing the "unprecedented" impact of Christ's sacrifice: it "dispenses sin, exiles it, places it under judgment, and ultimately defeats it."  The unprecedented nature of Christ's sacrifice is then described as being truly revolutionary for those reading Hebrews when originally written. The Jewish Christian readers at the time needed this book to help them see how Jesus is "better".

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who defeated sin and death and gave me an eternal inheritance - thank You Jesus for the victory You already won and give to me.  I am not deserving of such blessings and gifts.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 9

 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 9:23-28, and my initial unaided observations of this text. Here the author of Hebrews once again compares the Old Testament and first covenant, including the associated sacrifices required by the law, with the New Testament and new covenant. Specifically, the author looks at how Christ only needed to die once as the once and for all of redemptive history as the penalty for sin and to satisfy God's wrath for sin.  V23-24 look at how Old Testament worship represented a foretaste, copy, or shadow of things to come.  V26b focuses us on Christ's death on the cross, "put away sin" - believers should rejoice in this "already won" victory, which of course includes victory over death as well.  In v27-28 we have this interesting text where it compares how a man only dies once and is then judged to determine whether he is saved or condemned, with how Jesus only died once but will come again to those awaiting His return.  The implication in Christ's 2nd coming is not explicit in the text here but my sense is that this is focused on how Christ's return will be the end of times as described in the book of Revelation.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace for me and who has given me victory over both sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am of course not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time!  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Please help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 9:11-22, specifically looking at the fourth division covering 9:16-22, which the commentary entitles "The Better Blood of the New Covenant." Here, the commentary seeks for believers to recognize the importance of not just what Christ did through His death on the cross but also how He did it.  The commentary first describes how the author of Hebrews uses the analogy of a last will and testament and how it only takes effect upon someone's death.  It then moves to how in both the Old and New Testaments, the shedding of blood inaugurates the old and new covenants.  We are referred to Leviticus 17:11, where blood is described as key to life.  Shed blood, then, is essential as a sacrifice to atone for sin - God's wrath must be satisfied.  With Christ's blood, we have the new covenant and a direct path to God for not just forgiveness of sin, but also eternal life - praise Jesus!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who shed His blood for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and gift - the greatest gift of all time.  Yet my sin is great...and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 8

 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 8:1-13, specifically on the text of 8:6-13, leaning on my commentary for its observations on the second division entitled "The Superiority of the New Covenant".  Here, both the text and the commentary make it clear that the new covenant ushered in by Jesus and His shed blood in superior in all ways.  The commentary starts by pointing out how the first covenant was "incomplete" and it was not "final."  Yet, Jesus's death on the cross, as the commentary points out to us by referring us to John 19:30, finished the need for "an unrelenting need for constant sacrifices...the wrath of God toward the sin of his people was finally paid in full."  The commentary then makes this emphatic point: "[i]ndeed, a better priest with a better ministry has come to mediate a better covenant enacted on better promises."  The commentary also shares how the author of Hebrews uses Jeremiah 31, as already done with Genesis 14 (Melchizedek) and Psalm 110, to show [the original readers of Hebrews] them that "they should have been anticipating a priest according to the order of Melchizedek."  The commentary then wraps for this text by describing the "extraordinary promise of the new covenant [as] not that God would dismiss the old covenant but that he would be merciful toward our iniquities and remember our sins no more.  Our greatest problem is sin, for it severs us from the presence of God. Our sin and his holiness are incompatible, yet God promised to reconcile sinful people to himself through the mediator who would inaugurate the new covenant. He chose to do this through his Son, Jesus Christ, the mediator who established the new covenant in his blood (Luke 22:20)."

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God whose covenant with His people is better in all ways - thank You Jesus!  You paid the ultimate price so that I would have victory over sin and death and life to the full now and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such sin.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.

Hebrews 8

 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. Hebrews 8:1

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 8:1-13, focusing on the text of 8:1-5 specifically, and leaning on my commentary for its observations, including observations for the entirety of the text v1-13 and for v1-5 which my commentary refers to as the first division entitled "The Superiority of the Great High Priest". The commentary focuses on how the text for v1-5, for the Jewish believers reading the original text of Hebrews, reinforces the need for Jesus as a great high priest "who mediates a new and better covenant." It describes the Old Testament priesthood, fulfilled by the Levites, as "terrestrial" while the New Testament priesthood, fulfilled by Jesus, is heavenly, and Jesus's stature is "exalted" above all names.  The commentary refers us to Philippians 2:8-9 where Paul shares Christ's exalted status. The commentary then lays to rest any doubts that Christ's work is complete - instead it shares how Christ's "mediatory work is [His] primary occupation," and how He is coming back at the end of times to "vindicate His church and judge the nations." Finally, the commentary explores in detail how the text for today describes how Christ operates in a Heavenly tent or tabernacle created by God vs with human hands.  On the other hand, the sacrifice and the ministry offered by the Levites was merely a shadow of what was to come - Christ. Believers, rejoice in how we have Jesus Christ - a Great High Priest who offers a new and better covenant!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who came down from Heaven and died on the cross for me...and You continue to mediate for me daily and never leave or forsake me.  You also offer hope...through victory over sin and death.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 8

 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 8:1-13, and my initial unaided observations of this text.  Here the text builds on how Hebrews has previously discussed how Jesus is a better, permanent, and perfect Great High Priest to describe how Jesus offers a new and better covenant based on Jesus's shed blood.  First, Jesus enters the most holy place set up by God, not in a tent erected by man (v2).  This tent, the and the entirety of the First Covenant was merely a shadow of things to come in Jesus (v5).  The author of Hebrews quotes (v8-12) Jeremiah 31 where Jeremiah prophesies of the coming Messiah.  Jesus is the Messiah Jeremiah spoke he - Jesus fulfills prophecy.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the promised Messiah and You offer a better covenant - through Your blood...I am not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

Hebrews 7

And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:20-22

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, my focus is on Hebrews 7:11-22, as I lean on my commentary, and how it unpacks the fifth division "A Better Hope for a Better Covenant," which refers to Hebrews 7:20-22. The text and associated commentary highlight how the author of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus is a superior High Priest than one from the Levites because He swore an oath to Himself from Psalm 110:4 that ‘You are a priest forever.’  This oath is "unchangeable." The commentary closes by sharing that "[i]n verse 22 the author [of Hebrews] also connects priesthood to covenant. This is an idea that he will more fully explain in chapter 8. Yet for the time being, the author hints at the fact that not only is Jesus a better priest, but his priesthood is actually part of a better covenant, the “new covenant” spoken of in Jeremiah 31[:31-34]....God’s covenant promise cannot fail because God’s priest, Jesus Christ, cannot fail." Believers: rest in the promises of God and His faithfulness!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is faithful - all of Your promises are true and we can count on You like no other!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide and how You are faithful.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You, with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.