Something so divine about the book of Hebrews is the explanation of the "New Covenant" and the comparison of it to the old covenant. This book was written to Israel, so who knew more about the rituals and customs that God ordained by Moses. The old promises that God had made were ready to be done away with at Christs death. Heb 8:13 (In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.) Israel knows that the law was for the sanctification of their flesh. now this "New Covenant" was being set in place, and it was made by Christs death, Heb 9:28 (So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation) This covenant was made open by who received it by faith. So every time the promise or New Covenant is mentioned it is faith based, and only entered into by faith. Heb 4 explains to us the rest that God had promised us, was not entered into because of the lack of faith, or unbelief. Heb 3:19 & 4:11
19. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
So let us believe more and more in the solid promise that God has given us. which is a new rest. He has promised us a rest from this world, and has given us a high priest to lead us there.
Unbelief being our biggest enemy to not being able to receive the promise given to us. I believe that Hebrews makes it clear to us what faith is by explaining it to the ones who were recognized to be having a problem with it. (which was Israel)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Hebrews 3
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God....
we see here that we are being warned of an "evil heart" of unbelief . We find out in vs. 13 "lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. " that sin will deceive you and harden our heart. So after your heart is hardened because of sin it makes your heart less sensitive to the communication that God is giving, Which you need faith to accept in the first place . So the overall conclusion is that being in, or partaking of sin brings us to a place that the faith we do have is strained of its power. Because of sin, un-confessed sin more precisely, your faith will not be enough. But that sin needs to be confessed and dealt with . then having a "clean heart" your faith is free to exercise itself.
If you ever find yourself needing to be able to step out in your faith, but something is holding you back. do not be deceived it could be un-confessed sin. there are many things that lead us to not confessing our sins. such as that we do not realize that it is sin, or it takes a higher place than Christ in our lives. this is where God is communicating with us and we can not hear him and the voices of the people He sends into our lives to help make us aware.
Let us as Christians be vigilant to always seek the lowly place of being humble with our faith. We wouldn't want our faith to be in our own ideas and not be able to lead us to repentance and deceive us about important matters.
we see here that we are being warned of an "evil heart" of unbelief . We find out in vs. 13 "lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. " that sin will deceive you and harden our heart. So after your heart is hardened because of sin it makes your heart less sensitive to the communication that God is giving, Which you need faith to accept in the first place . So the overall conclusion is that being in, or partaking of sin brings us to a place that the faith we do have is strained of its power. Because of sin, un-confessed sin more precisely, your faith will not be enough. But that sin needs to be confessed and dealt with . then having a "clean heart" your faith is free to exercise itself.
If you ever find yourself needing to be able to step out in your faith, but something is holding you back. do not be deceived it could be un-confessed sin. there are many things that lead us to not confessing our sins. such as that we do not realize that it is sin, or it takes a higher place than Christ in our lives. this is where God is communicating with us and we can not hear him and the voices of the people He sends into our lives to help make us aware.
Let us as Christians be vigilant to always seek the lowly place of being humble with our faith. We wouldn't want our faith to be in our own ideas and not be able to lead us to repentance and deceive us about important matters.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Book of Hebrews, chpt 2
Just the idea of who this book is written to "the Jews in Jerusalem" which erred in the original way by "faith", could you just say the faith in the wrong idea.
2nd
Starting in the 2nd chapter the very existence of your faith in Christ and His position is questioned . Asking us if we practically believe that everything is for Christ or not, and the purpose of Christ.... DO WE BELIEVE? Heb 2:5-10 Although it is to us at face value, something different than to the Jews this book was written to. When we read this, we must believe that Christ (the Son of the Most high God) with all power and might given to Him, was made like unto a man and vs.7 & 9 madest him a little lower than the angels.... And the Jews most of them were still caught up on the decision to believe that Christ was actually the promised Messiah or Not.
We have not been raised with the promise that they were talking about at that time. Today we either grow up being brought to church or later in our life are invited and all at once we are told that we are in sin, and that we need a savior from our condition and for our soul. They were raised to believe that a savior would come and bring them out of their troubles. and they had hoped for the Roman empire to be driven from their land. While we know that Christ had come to set them free from their Sin. The Jews at that time had to come to reality with that time of salvation coming and passing if this was that long promised Messiah! this was the moment their faith was tested.
Their faith was tried by shaking what they had put their trust in, the hyped promised leader to raise up Israel against the Romans or the real Salvation that this man they had put to death had been teaching them about. Often our faith will be put to the test. and God will see the result of our faith being put in Him and the solid foundation of His words and His plan, what we have made it to be.
2nd
Starting in the 2nd chapter the very existence of your faith in Christ and His position is questioned . Asking us if we practically believe that everything is for Christ or not, and the purpose of Christ.... DO WE BELIEVE? Heb 2:5-10 Although it is to us at face value, something different than to the Jews this book was written to. When we read this, we must believe that Christ (the Son of the Most high God) with all power and might given to Him, was made like unto a man and vs.7 & 9 madest him a little lower than the angels.... And the Jews most of them were still caught up on the decision to believe that Christ was actually the promised Messiah or Not.
We have not been raised with the promise that they were talking about at that time. Today we either grow up being brought to church or later in our life are invited and all at once we are told that we are in sin, and that we need a savior from our condition and for our soul. They were raised to believe that a savior would come and bring them out of their troubles. and they had hoped for the Roman empire to be driven from their land. While we know that Christ had come to set them free from their Sin. The Jews at that time had to come to reality with that time of salvation coming and passing if this was that long promised Messiah! this was the moment their faith was tested.
Their faith was tried by shaking what they had put their trust in, the hyped promised leader to raise up Israel against the Romans or the real Salvation that this man they had put to death had been teaching them about. Often our faith will be put to the test. and God will see the result of our faith being put in Him and the solid foundation of His words and His plan, what we have made it to be.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
My Journal of Faith
Recently I was inspired by a friend of mine to consider and actually attempt to post my fairly new journal i had been keeping. This friend had read through my Journal of Faith and commented that others might actually enjoy reading this, and since it is a journal I want it to be available to be read. I pray that who ever might read it could be inspired as much as i am by writing this.
My Journal of Faith
My prayer for this endeavor is that not only my personal faith can be established, and broadened but also built on and encourage others in the same God has given me.
Heb 11:1 "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." this is about the most widely known verse about faith. Which I believe that gives a very descriptive definition.
As a Christian, I have a hope for my end of salvation "of my soul" I Peter 1:9. This verse is encouraging to the life of my faith, showing me that the desire of my faith will be given to me. and that final part of my faith as that my life is glorifying to God, and have fellowship with Him, as He desires of me. Our Faith is critical not just the possession of faith but what our faith is in and how we show it. For faith is not merely in the mind, but becomes our basis for every action, even actions we can't reasonably justify.
Without it we can not please our Father. Heb 11:6 What is most uplifting is to know that when God says here that it is impossible to please Him, He also lets us know that He rewards us that diligently seek Him. Another contrast of the way to please God and faith is the scripture in Matthew that tells us that with Faith nothing shall be impossible to us Matt 17:20
The Very act of Prayer is an act of faith. Talking with a God as in fellowship, takes faith. the very ability to exercise fellowship with the maker of the universe and trust that He would even lend an ear to hear your words or thoughts shows the very act of faith.
To me personally, Abraham's faith was the most rewarding besides Christ' Himself. Abraham had the faith that God desired for him to have in several occasions. Abraham, in the most backward situations placed trust in God, and followed through with even the very serious command to sacrifice his only son. The scriptures explain this as being filled with the faith even knowing that God would bring his son back to life if he so desired to use Isaac for Abraham's promised lineage . He (Abraham) had the Faith that was considered pleasing to God. So much as to get God to call him His friend.
I pray earnestly that God Can Establish my faith in only Him and believe in nothing else. And fulfill the very command of living by faith and not by sight.
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