Admittedly, the Book of Hebrews is complicated reading. Nevertheless, if we are to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Lord God's plan of salvation -- combined with the breadth and depth of our Lord God's love for His creation, we need to search all of the scriptures -- and yes, that includes Hebrews. In fact, the Bible tells us that when we seek the truth, we shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free. (John 8:32)
Indeed, Matthew writes: "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7) This same principle applies to reading scriptures that perhaps, initially, we don't readily understand. Hebrews definitely fits into this category. Chapter one opens with the following verses:
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-5)
Herein, our heavenly Father has established His plan of salvation for you and I --- His plan to redeem us that was predestined from the beginning of time. As well, these verses are in many ways introducing us to who God is. Certainly, we learn that in the old testament -- when the world lived under the old covenant that consisted of specific commandments and laws -- that God used others to deliver His message of redemption through sacrifices to the people.
Today, however, in what is referred to as the last days, we live under a new covenant of grace. It is no longer a time when we understand God's purpose through other human mediators. Rather, we now have one High Priest, one Good Shepherd, one mediator between God and man for our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord --- whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the world.
Why? Because all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Jesus. God with us -- He being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins. The scriptures state that He who knew no sin became sin so that we could be forgiven. His grace and mercy extended to everyone of us who -- by birth -- have all fallen short of the glory of God.
But the good news gospel is that the Holy Spirit blood flowed in the veins of the man Jesus the Christ --- the life of God's humanity in the blood. And this is what Hebrews is about -- sharing the greatest love story ever told. That is, it was the Lord Himself who sacrificed His own body on a cross at Calvary, purchasing for man the right to inherit redemption. It was because of His sacrificial offering that we can through faith in Jesus' sacrificial death receive freely the gift of the Holy Spirit of Life that was in the man Jesus the Christ.
Indeed, Matthew writes: "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7) This same principle applies to reading scriptures that perhaps, initially, we don't readily understand. Hebrews definitely fits into this category. Chapter one opens with the following verses:
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-5)
Herein, our heavenly Father has established His plan of salvation for you and I --- His plan to redeem us that was predestined from the beginning of time. As well, these verses are in many ways introducing us to who God is. Certainly, we learn that in the old testament -- when the world lived under the old covenant that consisted of specific commandments and laws -- that God used others to deliver His message of redemption through sacrifices to the people.
Today, however, in what is referred to as the last days, we live under a new covenant of grace. It is no longer a time when we understand God's purpose through other human mediators. Rather, we now have one High Priest, one Good Shepherd, one mediator between God and man for our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord --- whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the world.
Why? Because all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Jesus. God with us -- He being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins. The scriptures state that He who knew no sin became sin so that we could be forgiven. His grace and mercy extended to everyone of us who -- by birth -- have all fallen short of the glory of God.
But the good news gospel is that the Holy Spirit blood flowed in the veins of the man Jesus the Christ --- the life of God's humanity in the blood. And this is what Hebrews is about -- sharing the greatest love story ever told. That is, it was the Lord Himself who sacrificed His own body on a cross at Calvary, purchasing for man the right to inherit redemption. It was because of His sacrificial offering that we can through faith in Jesus' sacrificial death receive freely the gift of the Holy Spirit of Life that was in the man Jesus the Christ.
Yes, God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. God's spiritual humanity, love, mercy, compassion and truth were embodied in the man Jesus the Christ, who was God manifest in the flesh. It was in that body that all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily.
You see, God made a way whereby man could be redeemed but in order for the sacrifice to be sufficient, it required the blood of a sinless man. But a man without sin could not be found. Therefore, God put Himself in our place fulfilling all the demands of sin by the sacrifice of His own prone to sin -- yet sinless body. God’s love and mercy redemptive mission was now accomplished by God Himself at no cost to man.
Further, according to Hebrews, Jesus, being the Son of the Holy Spirit inherited all things, for He said that all that my Father has is Mine, and all that is Mine is yours. This is the last living will or testament of Jesus prior to His crucifixion. God covenanted with Himself as a Son and that Covenant is an everlasting Covenant, independent of us. For salvation is of the Lord, paid in full for each and every one of us.
As a consequence, what we do have is the last living will or testament of the man Jesus the Christ who bequeathed all of His rightful inheritance to us. His redeemed people which He purchased to Himself with the shedding of His own blood. This is why God offers all forgiveness if we would only recognize His substitution death at Calvary.
Believe upon the name of the Lord Jesus today. Accept His unconditional love. Stand in the offering plate.
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