This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness[.]

Hebrews 7

This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”  For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness[.] Hebrews 7:15-18

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 third division "The Eternal Priesthood of the Son," which refers to Hebrews 7:15-18.  Here, the commentary highlights two key points in the text.  First, Jesus's priesthood is not based on "bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life" (v16).  The commentary shares that "[s]omething infinitely greater and eternally superior (than bodily descent) qualifies him for the position—namely, an indestructible life."  The text and the commentary then pivots to shortcomings in the law and how obedience to the law is always insufficient for our salvation - works cannot save anyone, only Jesus can.  Examining the language of the text, the law may always be useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17) but it is weak in its regard to save.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You accomplished what obedience to the law never can - my salvation!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation.  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.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.

Hebrews 6

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.  Hebrews 6:1-3

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, I maintain my focus on Hebrews 6:1-8, as I lean on my commentary and explore what the commentary describes as the first division "Leaving the Elementary Foundation," which looks at Hebrews 6:1-3.  In this text, the commentary highlights how the author of Hebrews calls out how the original audience (Jewish believers deeply familiar with the Old Testament) "were neglecting the great salvation offered in Christ. As a result, they were stalling out in their spiritual growth and abandoning the faith."  The commentary then highlights, from the text, "three foundational truths about Christ:

• A foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God
• Instructions about washing and the laying on of hands
• Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."

Broadly, the commentary describes how the Jewish believers were slipping back into their old ways of doing things, including a focus on works, ceremonial washings (vs Christian baptism), and a failure to truly grasp that "[u]nless Jesus Christ stands as our advocate and our substitute, we cannot stand before God in the judgment that is coming."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for taking my place on the cross and for giving me victory over sin and death - I know there is nothing I can do to earn this - it is only by Your grace.  I am undeserving...my sin is great and it continues.  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.

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Psalm 119

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. v16

Jesus tells us that "[b]lessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)." It is also written that:

1. We will find God when we seek Him with all of our heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
2. Faith and salvation are through God alone - and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Lord Jesus, please help me deepen my desire for You and my faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God and You have deepened my faith and desire for You.  Thank You Jesus.  But I continue to be broken and I want more.  I worry and I want to rid myself of worry.  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 do.  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.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. v10 and 12

David writes this Psalm after being confronted by Nathan regarding his sin with Bathsheba and the resulting efforts to cover up his sin.

We must recognize that we ALL need a savior - to save us from the sting of sin and death.  Only Jesus can save us and create in us faith and a pure heart.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has given me a desire to pursue You and please You - thank You Jesus.  Yet I am far from perfect - I continue to be broken.  I worry far too much.  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 do.  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. 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.

“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord.

Nehemiah 10

“The rest of the people—priests, Levites, gatekeepers, musicians, temple servants and all who separated themselves from the neighboring peoples for the sake of the Law of God, together with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand— all these now join their fellow Israelites the nobles, and bind themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord our Lord. v28-29

In Nehemiah 9, we have a great summary of God's grace and mercy - in face of Israel's sin - over the course of Israel's history from the time of Abraham through to Moses and the kings that followed.

In Nehemiah 10 we see Israel make a covenant to re-dedicate themselves to the Lord.  Yet as believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we should recognize that there our efforts are insufficient to save us - we need Jesus Christ.

My church did a series on the "solas" from the reformation - including one entitled Sola Gratia.

John Piper also writes about how it is the grace of Jesus Christ that we are saved and have faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You would send Your one and only Son so that I could be saved and have eternity in Heaven with You.  Thank You!  What an amazing gift - without a doubt the greatest gift of all time.  I am not worth such a gift.  I worry...and I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me.  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 do.  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.  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.

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Zephaniah 2

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. v3

The Lord is "slow to anger and abounding in love", and He is full of grace and compassion.  In fact, it is by grace alone that we as believers are saved:


For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

In this passage of Zephaniah, even in God's anger, You can see God's perfect love.  He is angry and full of love as He provides an opportunity to repent and turn to God.  We all face this moments in our life and we must take the gift AND recognize that it is only by God's grace that He can save us.  

My Prayer: Lord, You ARE an awesome God who wants to save ALL of His children...even those who deny You and are full of sin.  You love us THAT much...even then we cannot understand the depth and breadth of Your love.  Thank You for Your perfect love, Your grace, and Your compassion.  I am not worth such love. I worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You and help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  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. Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.