Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Lesson 2174

(Lesson 2174)(11-21-17)  Hebrews 7:8:1-10
    “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.”

    In today’s quote, the author established that Melchisedec was the chosen high priest before Moses was born and long before Moses was given the laws that were to govern the Jews.
    Therein, the author goes to great length to explain the greatness and Godly position of Melchisedec so as establish him as the most high priest before the coming of Jesus Christ who was predestined to be the ultimate high priest and savior of the world.
    As the quote relates, Melchisec was honored by Abraham himself even before the everlasting covenant was made.
    The author of today’s quote related all this information about Melchisedec so as to demonstrate by the comparison to Jesus, just how truly majestic is our Lord Jesus Christ.~

Monday, November 20, 2017

Lesson 2173

(Lesson 2173)(11-20-17)  Hebrews 6:7-20
    “For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

    Today’s quote further verifies the promise God made to those of us who have faith in Jesus Christ that we are assured of un-revokable and eternal life upon the acceptance, through faith, of the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed into us by that faith. That promise is assured from the mouth of God in today’s quote when the author said, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the *immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two *immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
*Immutable is defined as: an item or state that cannot be changed or altered after it has been created. Therefore, once a lost soul has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, that soul CANNOT, ever again be lost.~

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Lesson 2172

(Lesson 2172)(11-19-17)  Hebrews 6:1-6
    “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

   When the author of today's quote said, “leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ”, he set up a hypothetical situation that could not, in reality, exist within the truth of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. That hypothetical was that if a saved individual were to “fall from grace” by committing some sin, that person would again become lost and bound for eternal damnation in hell.
    After the hypothetical, the author clearly stated that “it is impossible for those who were once enlightened” to fall away. He then said that, in essence, that if one could indeed lose his/her salvatiof  a, in order for that one to regain his/her salvation, that one would need Jesus to be brought back to earth and re-crucified. As the author clearly established, that will NEVER happen.
    Therefore, the contention, made by many of today’s “Christian” denominations, that a lost soul can lose his/her salvation after having once been saved, is herein proven to be false.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Lesson 2171

(Lesson 2171)(11-18-17)  Hebrews Chapter Five
    “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

    In today’s quote, the author of this letter compared Jesus to what a Jewish high priest should have been. By his comparison to Melchisedec, the author expressed that Jesus was perfect in that He accomplished everything that was required of a high priest, and more. 
    Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, lived a perfect life worthy of His chosen status as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.~

Friday, November 17, 2017

Lesson 2170

(Lesson 2170)(11-17-17)  Hebrews Chapter Four
    “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

    In today’s qoute, the author assures us that those who believe in Jesus Christ have entered into the “rest” of completion, as God the Father did on the seventh day after creating the heavens, the earth and all things therein, “For we which have believed do enter into rest”.
    The author referenced the ancient Jews as “we” in the first part of the quote and warned that the ancient Jews, although they were the first to hear the word, rejected it. He warned the Hebrews, to whom this letter was written, not to make the same mistake.
    To Christianity today, the outstanding lesson is that the ONLY way of securing eternal life is through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ which is obtained by total faith in Him.~

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Lesson 2169

(Lesson 2169)(11-16-17)  Hebrews Chapter Three
    “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

    In today’s quote, the author encouraged the Hebrews to faithfully hold on to their faith in Jesus Christ. He also reminded the Hebrews of the fate of those who fell away and denied the leadership of Moses as they escaped Egyptian bondage. He warned them not to repeat the error that caused those Jews to be disallowed entry into the promised land.

    This lesson should also be a warning to those today who distort the the gospel of Jesus Christ, by adding to and taking from God’s simple plan for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ crucified.~

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Lesson 2168

(Lesson 2168)(11-15-17)  Hebrews Chapter Two
    “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”


    Today’s quote further qualifies Jesus as being above the angels in that He is the Son of God and also places Him lower than the angels so that He would realize the suffering and temptation of mortal mankind, rising above it all while living a perfect, sin-free life so as to be a fitting sacrifice for the sins of all who will put their faith in Him.~