| Hebrews | |
| The Son Superior to
Angels Warning to Pay Attention Jesus Made Like His Brothers Jesus Greater Than Moses If Warning Against Unbelief Christian Sabbath Jesus, the Great High Priest The Certainty of God’s Promises Priest and King Tithing The High Priest of a New Covenant The Blood of Christ The Earthly Tabernacle Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All Time A Call to Persevere By Faith Righteous Abel The Faithful Awesome Faith Less is More Jepthah The Fury of Fire God Disciplines His Sons Warning Against Refusing God Comparisons Concluding Exhortations |
The Son Superior to Angels (Hebrews 1) God spoke to our forefathers in the past at many times and in various ways; through the prophets of old, the future foretold but in our time (in these last days) he has spoken to us by his blessed Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he made the universe, and to us salvation brings. The Son radiates God’s glory, representing exactly his being, sustaining all things by his powerful Word, even things beyond our seeing. After providing purification for the sins of the human race, he sat down at the Father’s right hand, the source of majestic grace. Superior to angels became the risen Son with a name superior to theirs, because he and the Father are one. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “Today I’ve become your Father”? “Let all the angels worship him.” “Righteousness shall be your scepter.” He makes his angels blow as wind, his servants flames of fire. They take care of his children according to his desire. Angels are ministering servants to those who inherit salvation. They are not to be worshiped as equals to Christ, else we may inherit damnation. § Warning to Pay Attention (Hebrews 2) We must pay more careful attention to the things that we have heard, so we don’t drift away and miss the race. If the message of angels was binding, and punishment forthcoming, how can we escape if we ignore salvation’s grace? The old law was inferior to the law that Jesus gave, but disobedience was punished even then. If we fail to keep the better law, there’s no excuse to offer. We’re worse off now than we have ever been. This salvation, announced by the Lord and confirmed by those who heard him, was proved by signs and wonders long ago in miracles and spiritual gifts, according to his will, his majesty and power thus to show. The written word he left us, with all the signs and proofs, is a blessing without measure for our learning. We are even more responsible in this last dispensation to “divide aright the word”, its truths discerning. It’s the perfect law of liberty, now sealed against more changes, with warnings not to add or take away. Man has dominion of the world, but Christ holds all the power to rule the church until the judgment day. Pay attention to the signals of danger all around you, stay clear of Satan’s tempting territory. He is in charge of death, but we have no need to fear if we hold the hand of the One in charge of glory. § Jesus Made Like His Brothers (Hebrews 2) What is the Son of Man that God would care for him? He was crowned with glory and honor, his cup filled to the brim. Everything is subject to him who died to set us free. He tasted death for everyone, bore the stripes for you and me. Through suffering he was perfected, the author of salvation, bringing many sons to glory, the climax of creation. This perfection he now shares with us, the family he chose. He gladly calls us brothers who believe that he arose. He shared in our humanity, was the perfect sacrifice, is the perfect mediator, not his mother - only Christ. He understands the language of this old man of dust and to the Father he translates, interceding there for us. From slavery to the fear of death, he freed our mortal souls. To praise his name forever is our eternal goal. § Jesus Greater Than Moses (Hebrews 3) This book to Hebrew Christians who were being led astray back to the Jewish law, now obsolete, contrasts the law of Moses, with its outward ceremonies, to the system Christ made perfect and complete. Because he knew temptation in the flesh of humankind, he can sympathize with us and understand. As a messenger (apostle), our great High Priest and King, he is all we need, a constant helping hand. We who share in the heavenly calling should fix our thoughts on him, the builder of the house, the church of God. He is the firm foundation and drew up all the plans, using living stones, not brick or wood or sod. Although Moses was found faithful, Jesus earned the greater honor, the builder being greater than the house. Somebody has to build a house; not one is accidental, Darwin’s evolution theory to douse. God first created everything, and set it all in motion, using Moses as a faithful servant/guide. But Christ is faithful as a Son over us, God’s house, the church, as with hope and courage we walk by his side. He is absolutely man and absolutely God, gave everything he had to pay our debt. He can intercede for us to the Father when we pray, with words and groans beyond our alphabet. The Jewish law had no such function, only mortal priests whose sacrifice for sin was blood of beasts, a type and shadow of the blood that Jesus shed for all, and the old Mosaic dispensation ceased. § If (Hebrews 3) When we see the small word “if” in the scripture here and there, responsibility soon will be apparent everywhere. “If you are faithful”, “If you obey”, “If you persevere”. “If you love me, keep my commandments”, from Jesus’ lips we hear. Our personal responsibility to stay in step with Christ demands obedience and faith, our will to sacrifice. Faithfulness is a habit we need to cultivate, destroy the seeds of sin and doubt before they germinate. So, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts against the Truth”. Every day you have a choice. “I was angry with your fathers when their hearts would go astray. They tested me and tried me and have not known my ways. In my anger I declare an oath: ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ From bondage in Egypt I saved them, but they failed the desert test.” A greater rest than Canaan is the Christian Sabbath, heaven, if we hold on firmly to the end, trusting Christ to be our leaven. § Warning Against Unbelief (Hebrews 3) To Hebrew Christians comes the warning: See to it that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns from what is true. Encourage one another through each and every day so that deceitfulness of sin can’t in your heart hold sway. We all have come to share in Christ if we’ve confidently held to the faith we had from the very first, unlike those who rebelled. For God had saved the Israelites, with Moses as their guide, baptized in the cloud and in the sea, yet they would not with him abide. They disobeyed for forty years, were left to their own way and died there in the desert, a heavy price to pay. Our patient God had suffered long and gave them plenty rope before they were abandoned without an ounce of hope to gain the promised Canaan land and the end of all their grief. So we see that in the eyes of God, disobedience is unbelief. § Christian Sabbath (Hebrews 4) Since the promise of eternal rest still stands for you and me, let none of us fall short of it, but follow God’s decree. There yet remains a Sabbath-rest for those who will obey, retired from earthly labor to enter heaven’s way. The Jewish Sabbath was among the laws nailed to the cross and if we resurrect it now, it is a tragic loss. It was a type and shadow of our rest beyond the grave, as was the land of Canaan for the faithful and the brave. God’s word is living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword, judging thoughts un-hidden from God, laid bare as a glaring billboard. Let us make every effort, then, to enter that sweet rest, allow the living, active Word to change us for the best. If we hear or read it daily, our faith will grow and thrive through the power of the Gospel that shouts “Christ is alive!” § Jesus, the Great High Priest (Hebrews 4 & 5) Christians have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who can sympathize with weakness and temptation. Like us, he was tempted in every way, yet yielded not an inch, lived a perfect life to save us from damnation. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence and faith for grace and mercy in our time of need. He will intercede for all our prayers to Father God, the King, our righteous prayers devoid of selfish greed. The Jewish high priest was human, from Aaron’s tribal line, God-chosen, yet he had sins of his own. He could understand the nature of brothers led astray, make sacrifices, sins thus to atone. The sacrifice of animals was a copy and figure of Christ whose blood atoned for sins of every age. He became the source of salvation for all who would obey, using scripture as a holy, righteous gauge. The first-born from among the dead was “begotten” when he arose, and, likewise, we can all be born again, begotten of the Father when we die to mortal sin and cleansed, arise, a new life to begin. Then the Holy Spirit takes our prayers up to the Great High Priest, even when we may not know the proper words. Our thoughts and attitudes are apparent to the Lord, and he promises our every prayer is heard. Sometimes we don’t get what we want, but always what we need, and in the best time frame for all concerned. We may never see the outcome in this short life on earth, but we see by faith the thing for which we’ve yearned. § The Certainty of God’s Promises (Hebrews 6) When God made his vow to Abraham, he declared his promise true, swearing by himself, the Great I Am, “Many heirs will I give to you”. Abraham waited patiently, obeyed the Lord’s commands, receiving what was promised from the Father’s loving hands. God’s nature is unchanging. His oath put to an end any argument of purpose; on his word we can depend. God cannot lie, which gives us hope, an anchor for our souls. In him we’re safe from any storm that would dash us on the shoals. As spiritual descendants of faithful Abraham, we are secure, bought with a price, the blood of the perfect Lamb. He always has delivered, never broke a single vow, and we know by the evidence - his Word is certain now. § Priest and King (Hebrews 7) Melchizedek, king of Salem, was priest of God Most High before the time of Israel and the priestly tribe Levi. He met Abraham and blessed him, receiving a tenth of the spoils from Abraham’s defeat of the kings, returning from war’s turmoil. His name means “king of righteousness” and also “king of peace”. He had no genealogy, forever remains a priest. He was greater even than Abraham, and so is Christ our Lord who is in the order of Melchizedek, two priests of one accord. Christ was not from the line of Aaron, the high priest of the Jews, yet his reign will last eternally, King of the chosen few. And with the change of priesthood must be a change of law. The old will now has been replaced by One without a flaw. His rule is based on power of an indestructible life, with a better, perfect covenant for the church, his bride, his wife. Such a high priest meets our every need - who is holy, blameless, pure, exalted in the heavens where our future is secure. § Tithing (Hebrews 7) When Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the spoils before the law of Moses was in force, it set a precedent for the followers of God, a good example we can well endorse. “I will not give what costs me naught”, said David long ago. Skim off the top, give God your very best. We have more blessings in this age than David ever knew, the written word to help us pass the test. God lavishes his love on us, gave us his only Son. We can never out-give him if we should try. Out of gratitude, poor righteous saints of Macedonia’s church gave freely til their bucket came up dry. We oft don’t reap a harvest because we sow few seeds, the moldy stuff from the bottom of the heap. With tight-clenched fists, it’s hard to work in the kingdom of the Lord. We can grow no crop with the kernels that we keep. If we give as we are prospered, of money, talent, time, a tenth is just a handy place to start. Even if we give all that we have, our pockets empty out, we cannot pay for the peace within our hearts. § The High Priest of a New Covenant (Hebrews 8) Every high priest was appointed to offer sacrifice, but the beastly blood of bulls and goats could never quite suffice. They served at a sanctuary that was only a copy and shadow of what awaits in heaven, our home in that great tomorrow. But the ministry of Jesus is superior by far to the priesthood of the old law. It is our new lodestar. It offers better promises, is perfect and complete, enforced by Christ, both priest and king, upon the judgment seat. The holy of holies had no place for the Jewish priest to sit, but Jesus now sits on the throne and is our advocate. His law is not external rites, but a grateful attitude that prompts his children to obey in humble servitude. The Spirit searched the mind of God and revealed it through the Word to our hearts and minds, producing faith in the best news ever heard. § The Blood of Christ (Hebrews 9) When Christ came as the great high priest through the greater tabernacle, through heaven, not a part of this creation, he entered not with blood of goats in that Most Holy Place, but his own blood, sacrificed for every nation. He obtained eternal redemption to sanctify us all, to cleanse the conscience, freeing us to serve. Christ is the mediator of the covenant he brought, so that we avoid the pitfalls and the curves. We may receive the promised inheritance eternal, now that he has died, a ransom, freeing those who sinned so long ago, under that old covenant, by the cruel death that he so gladly chose. With him we now can enter the new Most Holy Place, our conscience cleansed, now spotless, justified. Born of water and the Spirit, assured of our salvation, we can with him forevermore abide. For a will to be enforced, first there must be a death, which was symbolized by blood in Jewish law. It represented (copied) the later death of Christ, a learning tool on which we now can draw. We believe unto, repent unto, confess unto salvation, then baptized into Christ, we rise anew, becoming saints and priests by his blood that sets us right, we’re clothed in Christ, who always sees us through. At the end of the ages he appeared to do away with sin, to die once for all time, and live again. When he appears the second time to take his charges home, there will be no need for him to bear our sins. § The Earthly Tabernacle (Hebrews 9) A sanctuary for worship, by the Jewish covenant, was a tent, a tabernacle they could move. It had many regulations, in building and in worship, activity the Father could approve. The lampstand and the table, the consecrated bread in the Holy Place were for the Levitical priest. Then inside the Most Holy Place, the high priest, seed of Aaron, sacrificed for all, the greatest and the least. It had the golden altar with the offering of incense, gold-covered ark of the covenant with God, with a golden jar of manna, stone tablets brought by Moses, and his helpful brother, Aaron’s budded rod. Above the ark were cherubim, representing Glory, overshadowing atonement’s awesome place where the High Priest brought the sacrifice of blood just once a year, to ask again for God’s amazing grace. As long as the tabernacle was standing and in use, the way into the Most Holy Place was not disclosed, illustration for the present that those gifts and sacrifices could not clear the conscience until Christ arose. They were only a matter of food and drink and ceremonial washing, a type and shadow of the things to come, external regulations that applied til the new order (the law of Christ) became the rule of thumb. § Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All Time (Hebrews 10) The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming- not realities that offer us salvation. It cannot make us perfect by the blood of bulls and goats, sacrificed year after year in expectation, an annual reminder of the need for something better, a perfect sacrifice for guilt of sin. Christ set aside the first law to put in place the second, to make us whole, a new life to begin. When this new priest had, for all time, offered his own blood for many, he sat down at the right hand of the King, his Father God upon the throne, now satisfied forever with the flawless sacrifice, his own offspring. When, by his blood, we’re born again, adopted as his brothers, we can enter into that Most Holy Place with prayers and petitions -by his loving intercession- to the Father, in communion face to face. § A Call to Persevere (Hebrews 10) At the death of Christ, the curtain into the Most Holy Place was torn from top to bottom, finished, gone. The old way now had ended, was nailed upon the cross, a brighter day, the Christian age, had dawned. A new and living way opened for us through the curtain, the body Jesus gave to set us free, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us openly live our faith for all to see by drawing near to God with a sincere, contrite heart, in full assurance of our faith and hope. Our guilty conscience being cleansed by water and the blood, we now view life from a better, higher scope. Let us spur one another on, though pain may be involved, toward love and good deeds patterned by the Lord. By regular meetings, encourage each other, preparing for the Day when Christ returns to bring us all aboard. To deliberately keep on sinning after knowledge of the truth, no longer is there sacrifice for sins, just a fearful expectation of raging fire at judgment, unless repentance comes before the end. What do you think? the writer says.- He lets us be the judge- What punishment would any man deserve who has trampled underfoot the perfect Son of God, the One whom he has volunteered to serve, who has treated as unholy the blood that sanctified him, brought insults on the Spirit of God’s grace? It is mine to avenge; I will repay, say the Lord who is the judge. It’s a dreadful thing to meet him face to face. Recall those earlier days after you received the light, when you stood your ground and suffered with the rest. Exposed to persecution and insult for the faith, you lost some property but aced the test. More valuable possessions are stored beyond the grave, if you always persevere and never quit. God calls us to be soldiers, armed only with the Word, and he supplies the fortitude and grit. § By Faith (Hebrews 11) Now faith is being sure of the things we cannot see, a certainty that God is true and that he holds the key to everything eternal for which our spirits crave. Of creation, he’s the architect, and he alone can save. Faith can start from observation of the awesome universe, created out of nothing, galaxies we can’t traverse. The word of God expands that faith and tells us what to do to live in harmony with him here and hereafter, too. Some things beyond the visible are much more true and real than those which we can see and touch, more than emotions feel. Hope, based on solid bedrock truth, the Gospel’s inspired word, can urge us on to better things, being different from the herd. Faith and hope are temporary, not needed later on when we see the Father face to face, after this short life is gone. Only love forever will endure in that sweet home on high, but now we still need faith and hope for strength until we die. § Righteous Abel (Hebrews 11) The ancients had no scripture but directly dealt with God. They were commended for their faith with a holy, loving nod. By faith, a better sacrifice of blood was Abel’s gift, compared to the offering of Cain, whose soul had gone adrift. These brothers represent two types of people here on earth, those who obey and those who don’t, as to the second birth. Abel was commended as a righteous man, because he followed faithfully the righteous Father’s plan. By faith he speaks to us today, though he has long been dead. We, too, can be made righteous if we heed what God has said. Abel brought the very best he had, according to command, a gift so freely sacrificed by his loving hand. Then jealous Cain killed Abel. But that’s not fair! we say. The righteous still are persecuted everywhere today. It was not fair that Jesus died -the perfect, sinless One- a hateful death of pain and shame, yet in the end, he won! § The Faithful (Hebrews 11) By faith Enoch was taken directly from this life, by-passing death when ushered up on high. He had been judged as pleasing in the sight of God, and now in glory never says goodbye. Like Enoch we cannot please God without an active faith, must seek him earnestly by night and day, and follow his instructions that guide our weary feet, help others that we meet along the way. When Noah was warned of things not seen, by faith he went to work, and used God’s pattern for an ark of wood. The flood destroyed all humankind except the precious few, saved by water, against all likelihood. By faith, our father Abraham obeyed the Lord and went when promised an inheritance to gain. Although he knew not where to go or how he would survive, he trusted God to send sunshine and rain. God promised him and Sarah a child in their old age, and by faith he knew that it would come to pass. For many years they waited, impatiently at times, but the promised miracle came true at last. And when God tested Abraham, he planned to sacrifice the promised son and heir he loved so much. When Abraham had raised the knife, God gently stayed his hand, said, “Now I know I truly have your trust”. Til death, these people lived by faith, according to command, as aliens and strangers on the earth. They were looking to the future, to the better promised land, where their treasures are of great eternal worth. § Awesome Faith (Hebrews 11) Moses grew up in the palace as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, educated by the best that Egypt knew. But he chose to be mistreated with his family, God's people, rather than the pagan worship to pursue. For the sake of Christ the Savior, he preferred to be disgraced than inherit Egypt's treasures as a king. Looking forward to the coming of the Christ, he had no fear of the punishment his new life choice might bring. By faith he persevered, seeing him who is invisible, and led the Israelites by God's command. His sprinkling of the blood to observe the great Passover, by faith was apt to stay the destroyer's hand. It took awesom faith to cross the sea between two walls of water, in which pursuing soldiers then were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell at the sound of trumpets after seven days of walking 'round and 'round. By faith Rahab, the prostitue, helped save God's chosen people, and she, herself, was saved with all her house. She had heard of this great God, and earnestly she sought him, the Israelite religion to espouse. There were many who, through faith, conquered kingdoms, ruled as judges, quenched the fury of the flames, yet unafraid. Their weaknesses were turned to strength, grew powerful in battle, their trust in God so bountifully displayed. Yet in this life they never saw fulfillment of the promise that Christ would come to save their troubled souls. But, together now with us, their perfection is complete and we'll rise to meet him when he calls the roll. § Less is More Judges 7 (Mentioned in Hebrews 11) As the weakest in his family, within the weakest clan, Gideon wondered at God’s choosing him to be the leading man to save his people from the varied eastern pagan hordes who swarmed the land like locusts, refused to serve the Lord. He summoned all the neighbors to help him in the fight, but God said he had too many troops to do this thing up right. Trimmed down to just ten thousand, it seemed a hopeless cause, and still God sifted them some more- yet the faithful never paused. Three hundred men with trumpets against the Midianites, a laughable comparison except for Godly might. Three companies - one hundred each - surround the enemy camp, then blow their trumpets, torches lit like one huge glowing lamp. “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon”, goes up the battle cry, and the Midianites turn tail and run, God’s wisdom verify. Large numbers have no meaning without him in control. A majority is God plus one with righteousness our goal. § Jepthah Judges 11 (Mentioned in Hebrews 11) Jepthah’s half-brothers drove him away from Gilead of old. His mother was a prostitute; you’re unwelcome, he was told. Yet when Israel needed warriors against the Ammonites, who did they choose but Jepthah to help them win the fight. Led by the Spirit of the Lord, he rashly made a vow that if God gave him the Ammonites, he’d sacrifice somehow whatever met him at the door from his triumphant feat, perhaps a favored pet, a lamb, burnt offering of meat. But ‘twas his only daughter who danced into his arms, and broke his heart asunder with her multitude of charms. His vow would be unbroken though it cut him like a knife to know she’d never marry, but serve the Lord for life. Like Samuel, consecrated for tabernacle work, she gladly served the Lord of Lords, would not her duty shirk. Likewise, we vow to serve him with heart, soul, mind and strength in the marriage rite, baptism, for life, whatever length. There the blood of our redeemer makes us spotless, justified, and he lavishes with untold joy his perfect, sinless bride. § The Fury of Fire Daniel 3 (Mentioned in Hebrews 11) The Worship of an emperor was once a common thing, and in Babylon they made a golden image of the king. Nebuchadnezzar gave commands that everyone should kneel and worship this huge idol, or heat of the furnace feel. Most Israelites had strayed from God, but still there were a few, a remnant who were loyal to Jehovah of the Jews. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego refused to bend the knee to this egotistic leader, though he could set them free. What god, he asked, can rescue you from what I have in store? He made the furnace hotter than it ever was before. It killed the strongest soldiers who threw the three Jews in, but they walked unscathed through the fire, no blisters on their skin. Then said King Nebuchadnezzar, Praise be to this great God of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednigo who would not be ruled roughshod. They were willing to give up their lives rather than to worship me. He promoted them to higher rank, those godly, faithful three. Stand firm, in spite of hardship; God always will restore the losses you encounter and untold blessings more. § God Disciplines His Sons (Hebrews 12) The faithful remnant of the Jews surround us like a cloud as witness to advantages of life above the crowd. Throw off all things that hinder, entanglements of life, be it hobbies, job, acquaintances that cause us needless strife as we run the race marked out for us in the words of holy writ, have courage to make changes, don’t look behind or quit. Old clothing of the sinful life has been discarded, burned, and now we’re dressed anew in God’s own Spirit as we learn obedience in hardship, the discipline of love as sons and daughters of the King, our Father God above. The Father of our spirits will care for all our needs including painful discipline to make us strong as reeds. His Word, the tangible form of Christ, produces in our hearts the righteous fruits of joy and peace that never will depart. Even Jesus learned obedience by suffering and shame and we must follow in his steps if we would wear his name. Our relationships with God and Christ and people as a whole depend on knowledge of the Word and practice toward the goal. We must be honest with ourselves, identify our foes that hold us back from serving God, inflicting many woes. We can strengthen puny feeble arms, our weak and wobbly knees, make level pathways for our feet and heal our soul disease by careful study of God’s truths, the perfect planning guide that draws us closer to him if we stick by his side. § Warning Against Refusing God (Hebrews 12) Make every effort (working hard) to live in peace with all, to live a godly, holy life so that you will never fall. The devil tries to tell us that sin is unimportant, that social issues come before morals and deportment. Without the holiness required, no one will see the Lord. Few will be saved, most will be lost, according to his word. Not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord” in worship every week will enter his great kingdom unless his will we seek. Esau, who sold his birthright as leader of the clan for just a simple bowl of stew was called a godless man. To his eyes this rejection may have seemed severe, but he brought about no change of mind, although he offered tears. Our feelings at the moment, of hunger, sadness, panic, are motivators just as sure as becoming too romantic. Decisions based on feelings can lead us far astray just like big brother Esau who sold his soul that day. § Comparisons (Hebrews 12) With Christ we have come to Mount Zion, the home of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where many angels trod. It is nothing like Mount Sinai, with darkness, gloom and storm and a voice so terrifying, even Moses was alarmed. The church of the firstborn from the dead (our Savior, Christ the Lord) whose names are written in heaven await that great reward. The better covenant of Christ, the blood of his precious word, speaks better than the blood of Abel, like the warble of a bird. The blood of Abel spoke revenge, of hatred and damnation. The sprinkled blood of Jesus brings forgiveness and salvation. If Israel did not escape when Moses warned them here, can we expect more mercy? Heaven’s message is so clear. Brought out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son, we have no excuse for failure as the righteous race we run. It is a life-long marathon, unlike a short, fast sprint. We must pace our stride while following Christ Jesus’ own footprints. § Concluding Exhortations (Hebrews 13) Keep on loving each other as brothers in Christ, share blessings with the strangers that you meet. By this you may have entertained angels unaware, perhaps the homeless person on the street. Remember those in prison, as if you languished there, and suffer with mistreated brothers all. We fulfill the law by loving our neighbor as ourselves, lend assistance when his back’s against the wall. Give honor to your marriage vows, be true to your one mate, for God will judge adulterers and such. Keep free from love of money, be content with what you have, seek his kingdom first and you’ll be blest with much. He will never leave, will not forsake, he is our greatest help. We have no cause to fear what men can do. They can only kill the body, but the soul remains secure in Christ who stays the same, forever true. By grace our hearts are strengthened to withstand deceitful spirits teaching doctrines that would lead our souls astray. To return again to Jewish law negates the death he suffered, the blood that took our heavy sins away. Through Jesus let us offer God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips confessing his great name. Do good and share with others, with which our Lord is pleased, and lovingly his wondrous Word proclaim. cgtrent@att.net Home |