'Things We Know'
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (I Peter 5:4).
In these days of relativism, situational ethics, and changing morales, it does a Christian good to note the many things in Scripture we can know, things we can count on, things that do not change. Following is a sampling of such truths, with little comment, intended to encourage the reader:
We can know that Jesus Christ is God: "Jesus said, I and my Father are one" (John 10:30).
We can know that we are saved: "Jesus said, He that believeth on me hath (present tense) everlasting life" (John 6:47).
We can know we are His dear children: God's Word the Bible says, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (I John 3:2).
We can know His protection: "And they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).
We can know He answers prayer: "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14).
We can know He will help us through temptation: "In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
We can know how we should act: "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done" (John 13:15).
We can know He desires us to speak on His behalf: "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you . . ." (I Peter 3:15).
We can know that He will come again: "I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3).
We can know of our eternal rewards, as in our text: "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (I Peter 1:4).
JDM
GOD BLESS!
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH
www.icr.org
Friday, September 14
The perfect hope
"The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect); and a better hope is introduced by which we draw near to GOD." Hebrews 7:18-19.
So what of the people in the past is always the question that comes to me when I speak of my faith to others, "What of those who came before Christ?" It was the Law that allowed them to overcome sin's sorrow; death. But even the most 'righteous' of the priesthood couldn't defeat death. The Levitical priesthood couldn't save themselves, much less the souls who came to them, that was in God's hands.
But then the High Priest, this new and everlasting priesthood, another priest according to the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron, made perfect the hope that He brought.
How?
He defeated the very thing that Aaronic priest couldn't, due to their own human fragility, Death. He has the power of endless life in Himself and keeps this path opened for those who rely upon His sacrifice and intercession. The legal dispensation and the Sinai covenant of Abraham have been trumphed.
The Mosaic Law, as the Old Testament covenant has been called, could not justify or grant sanctification to those who followed it. The new covenant, brought by Jesus Christ, brings the entire church and each believer of the body into clearer light, more perfect liberty, and more abundant privileges.
Our advantages in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus are well beyond those of the Old Testament and the purity of the sacrifice is why. The everlasting High Priest can go into the very darkness of death to save His own.
Which begs the question, "Why, knowing this is the power and perfection of the sacrifice that Christ gave, do we as His followers and benefactors of that sacrifice not live in that understanding and desire to achieve what is given for us?"
Why do we not live for Christ since He died for us?
So what of the people in the past is always the question that comes to me when I speak of my faith to others, "What of those who came before Christ?" It was the Law that allowed them to overcome sin's sorrow; death. But even the most 'righteous' of the priesthood couldn't defeat death. The Levitical priesthood couldn't save themselves, much less the souls who came to them, that was in God's hands.
But then the High Priest, this new and everlasting priesthood, another priest according to the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron, made perfect the hope that He brought.
How?
He defeated the very thing that Aaronic priest couldn't, due to their own human fragility, Death. He has the power of endless life in Himself and keeps this path opened for those who rely upon His sacrifice and intercession. The legal dispensation and the Sinai covenant of Abraham have been trumphed.
The Mosaic Law, as the Old Testament covenant has been called, could not justify or grant sanctification to those who followed it. The new covenant, brought by Jesus Christ, brings the entire church and each believer of the body into clearer light, more perfect liberty, and more abundant privileges.
Our advantages in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus are well beyond those of the Old Testament and the purity of the sacrifice is why. The everlasting High Priest can go into the very darkness of death to save His own.
Which begs the question, "Why, knowing this is the power and perfection of the sacrifice that Christ gave, do we as His followers and benefactors of that sacrifice not live in that understanding and desire to achieve what is given for us?"
Why do we not live for Christ since He died for us?
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