Increasingly, it seems, we who believe in Jesus by faith are being instructed to align with the Law and Ten Commandments originally designed to serve as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, rather than the numerous promises that the Lord has given to those who seek after Him in this current dispensation of grace. Repeatedly, here, we have stated that there is more than just a blank page between the old covenant and the new testament in your Bible, and that the difference between the old and the new is significant.
Two very different dispensations but each with the intent of showing us that the volume of the book is written of Him -- God our Saviour; God in Christ Jesus; God manifest in the flesh; God in the world and the world made by Him, and His abundant saving grace. (Titus 3:4-7; John 1:10-11; Isaiah 9:6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31; Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 2:9; Revelation 1:8, 11)
The old testament (or first covenant) having also ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary, and when these things were thus ordained the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God, and the high priest alone entering into the second once every year and not without blood for the errors of the people. Sadly, too many religious are still bound in this form of former covenant, having not learned the Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holies of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was yet standing. (Hebrews 9:1-8)
There had to be a death of the testator for a testament is of force only after men are dead; otherwise, it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Without a testator then, there could not be a last will and testament complete with inheritance. Thus, salvation could not be accomplished while the first was still standing, "in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience, which stood only in meats and drinks and diverse washings, and cardinal ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation."(Hebrews 9:9-10)
Indeed, this is further confirmed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which elaborates on those faithful men and women who by faith were victorious -- "who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in flight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection, and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment ... of whom the world was not worthy ... ad [yet] these all having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise -- God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:33-40)
Did these turn back? Not a chance because they understood the promise which was to come, ushering in a new testament. "Of this man's seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus." (Acts 13:23) "And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise was made unto the fathers ..." (Acts 13:32)
The promise that was decided before the world was formed.
"Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:11-14)
"And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance ... 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." (Hebrews 9:15-28)
The law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. This is why He had to take away the first, that He may establish the second, by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:13)
In other words, by one single offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
"Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us, for after that He had said before: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," saith the Lord, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:15-17)
So why are those of us who have not yet resisted unto blood continually spending our lives striving against sin, rather than taking hold of Author and Finisher of our faith -- our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ -- and moving forward by faith in fulfilling His purpose for our life.
Because as apostle Paul wrote, "there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." (I Corinthians 10:13)
And this He does even though "we ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another, but after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life -- this is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which hav believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." (Titus 3:4-8)
Because of His kindness and love, God willingly became our Saviour. He paid the ultimate price with each drop of blood that fell to the ground. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:3-10)
"By His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many for He shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:11)
Thus, instead of focusing on what is going wrong, why don't we hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering -- for He is faithful that promised. (Hebrews 10:23)
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." (James 1:12)
"Hearken, my beloved brethren, "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?" (James 2:5)
"And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life." (I John 2:25)
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 1:1-2)
You have been set free to stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1)
You have been set free to stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1)
"Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord ..." (Philippians 4:1)
Get to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death in water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, as apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the saints at Philippi -- "if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead, not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus ... forgetting those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus -- let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded ... (Philippians 3:11-15)
Most of all, be found in the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, "not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know Him" in all things.
Stand in the offering plate.
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