Hebrews Lesson 7: The Greater Priesthood

Jesus came with the greater priesthood resulting in a better covenant. Jesus has provided a new living way to live for God; stay yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

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Hebrews 7:1  For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,  2  to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace,“  3  without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 

Remember the last verse of chapter 6 said that Jesus was our forerunner into the Presence of the heavenly tabernacle, after the order of Melchizedek.  Hebrews 7 sheds the most revelation of who Melchizedek is and what the Holy Spirit  desires us to know about Him.  Some have labor in much speculation (including myself in the past) trying to figure out who Melchizedek is.  I believe the speculation and traditional thoughts should all be dropped.  Leave Melchizedek in the context of the written word and there is no room for error.  Melchizedek is the priest of the Most High God!  Abraham gave a tenth to Him.  Melchizedek is the king of righteousness and the king of peace!  Without father, mother, genealogy, and having neither beginning of days nor end of life.  Made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually!  Speculations that cast doubt on these truths need to be thrown out!

Genesis 14:18  Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.  19  And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;  20  And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

Melchizedek brought out the bread and wine and blessed Abraham.  Jesus after the order of Melchizedek has brought out the bread and the wine to establish the covenant by which we live; Jesus declared His flesh and blood to be the blood and wine. Abraham being blessed by Melchizedek gave a tithe of all!  It is a prophetic utterance for the church.

Hebrews 7:4  Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.  5  And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;  6  but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

We are instructed to consider how great this man Melchizedek was.  The Holy Spirit now repeats the fact that Abraham gave him a tenth.  Now the sons of Levi received a tithe by commandment of law of Moses.  However, Melchizedek received a tithes from Abraham not having any connection to the Levi Priests.  This being the third mention of Abraham giving him tithes in this 7^th chapter of Hebrews. 

Hebrews 7:7  Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.  8  Here mortal men receive tithes,but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.  9  Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,  10  for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Under the law mortal men receives tithes; but there in the Melchizedek priesthood tithes is received by the one who still lives.  The priesthood of Levites were subservient to the Melchizedek priesthood as they were in the loins of Abraham when he gave the tithe to Melchizedek.  Please see the Melchizedek Priest lives and is receiving tithes.  If you want to honor the Priesthood of Jesus Christ you can follow the example of Abraham giving a tithe.

Jacob’s promise

Genesis 28:22  "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.“

God sends Jacob back to Bethel :

Genesis 31:13  'I am the God of Bethel , where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.'"

Jacob fulfills the promise

Genesis 35:1  Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.“...  7  And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.

God is the God of the house of God.  Jacob fulfilled his promise to tithe by coming back to Bethel by the direction of God.  Bring your tithe into the house of God that is where it honors the covenant of Melchizedek.  Again a prophetic utterance for when God would establish His church.

Hebrews 7:11  Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?  12  For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

A greater priesthood is established after the order of Melchizedek!  By the power of the oath of God Himself this priesthood is established with Jesus being the eternal High Priest.  With the changing of the priesthood it is necessary there is also a changing of the law!

Hebrews 7:13  For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.  14  For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah , of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.  15  And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest  16  who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.  17  For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

Jesus is from the tribe of Judah ; Moses and law spoke nothing of this priesthood.  It was hidden in Abraham’s meeting Melchizedek.  Psalm 110 prophetically spoke of the Son being made priest after the order of Melchizedek.  Jesus did not come according to the law of the fleshly commandment; Jesus came according to the power of an endless life!  Under the law the priest had temporary results; Jesus brings eternal results.

Hebrews 7:18  For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,  19  for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 

When Jesus came after the order of Melchizedek there was and is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and not it not being profitable to one in its grip!  The could not and does not bring perfection; there is with Jesus the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.  The law and grace can not be mixed!  We are brought near to God through Jesus.  People who teach we are far off are not trusting under the Melchizedek priesthood.

Hebrews 7:20  And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath  21  (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn And will not relent, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek'"),  22  by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

God swore by an oath by the very strength of who He is that Jesus became priest after the order of  Melchizedek and not from the Levitical priesthood.  By the will of God much more Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant!

Hebrews 7:23  Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.  24  But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.  25  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Upon the strength of this new covenant Jesus saves to the uttermost!  This is the unchangeable priesthood that brings eternal results.  Jesus always lives to make intercession for those who have come to God through faith in Him.

Hebrews 7:26  For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,and has become higher than the heavens;  27  who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

The KJV says such a High Priest became us.  Jesus as our High Priest looks good on us!  Like a lady who comes in with a new dress; down south they would say, that dress becomes you!  Our High Priest is fitting for us!  He is holy, undefiled, and separate from sinners.  However, He looks good on the believer!  It is time for tradition to be thrown out and the believer to see Jesus our High Priest has set us free from sin!.  Jesus died for sin once for all when He offered Himself upon the cross!

Hebrews 7:28  For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Which priesthood shall we trust in?  The law with priests with weaknesses and sins reminder, or trust in the Priest who was appointed by the word of oath by God!  This is the one who has been perfected forever; this is the Priesthood of our complete and total deliverance.

Hebrews Lesson 6 “God’s Oath”

He is the God of oath! Another great revelation of Jesus, He has become our forerunner into the presence of God

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Hebrews Chapter 6 “God’s Oath”

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  2  of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  3  And this we will do if God permits.

Last lesson we covered these first few verses with chapter 5. The word of maturity is the word of righteousness and how Christ indeed rules with the scepter of righteousness.  The righteousness that is from God is found exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,  5  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,  6  if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

The most precious thing we possess is our confession of faith in Jesus our Messiah.  This falling away is not a mere sinfully act in the life of the believer.  It is an abandonment of faith in Jesus the Messiah.  Notice it is only those who have been partakers of the Holy Spirit, they have tasted the heavenly gift and the word of God that can fall away.  This is a forfeit of the rights and privileges found in the covenant of grace.

2 Peter 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.  20  For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.  21  For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.  22  But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.“ 

Notice the Holy Spirit careful wording here in Peter while speaking of the act of falling away.  It is more than getting entangled in the pollutions of the world; it is being entangled and overcome; it is a departure from faith in the Messiah.  It would have been better to have not known the way of righteousness.  Sober, but the warning is clear.

Hebrews 6:7  For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;  8  but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.  9  But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.  10  For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  11  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,  12  that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The thorns and briers will be burned!  I love the “but” of verse 9.  Beloved we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation.  I have often said I believe in eternal security found exclusively in Jesus Christ; however I do not accept the mantra of once saved always saved.  There is a continuing in the faith; Jesus called it enduring to the end.  It not about continuing in good works; it is about keeping the object of your faith exclusively in Jesus Christ the Messiah!

Romans 11:19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. “  20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.  21  For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.  22  Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 

You stand by faith; consider the goodness and severity of God.  On those who fell severity; but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness.  Otherwise you also will be cut off.  The danger of walking in sin is the hardness of the heart; hardness of heart can give birth to walking away from the faith by which we stand. 

Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God remembers and is mindful every labor of love which you have shown toward His name.  Cling to the love of Jesus!  Show diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end; yes, it is an eternal security!  Heed the warning do not become sluggish but imitate those who those who through faith and patience inherit the promises!  Come into fellowship with those who are in pursuit of relationship with God. 

Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight; 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul , became a minister.

Jesus indeed presents us holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.  However there is an “if” there and we must not ignore the fullness of the truth presented.  We must continue in the faith!  If the object of your faith remains in Jesus Christ the Messiah you will not be moved away from the hope of the gospel.

Hebrews 6:13  For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,  14  saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.“  15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.  16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.  17  Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,

God swore an oath by Himself!  Based upon the strength of who God is He speaks a word of promise.  Let there be an end to the dispute in your own heart; God wants to convince you His promises are true and cannot be muted!  Think about the depth of the goodness of this truth, God made a determination to convince you His word is truth!  He is God and could have said here is truth, take it or leave it!  His goodness says he wants “to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, and confirmed it by an oath.”  Are you in covenant with God?  He wants to show you the strength of His word and the immutability of it.

Immutable: Not subject or susceptible to change!

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

There are two immutable truths that the object of your faith can always rest in!  The first is it is impossible for God to lie!  Let it bring you strong consolation; let His truth be your hope and assurance.

Hebrews 6:19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,  20  where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The second immutable truth is Jesus Christ is your forerunner!  Jesus tore the veil of separation between God and man!  Jesus made every provision as your forerunner.  Who is this God/ Man that humbled Himself to be our forerunner?  This immutable truth is almost too good to be true, but only almost because it is immutable truth.   Jesus made provision as our High Priest and now we are expected in the throne room of grace.  

Hebrews Lesson 5 “The Author of Eternal Salvation”

Hebrews Chapter 5 “The Author of Eternal Salvation”

Hebrews 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.  2  He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3  Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.

In Hebrews chapter 3 we begin a comparison between the household of the law and the house of grace.  The comparison is continued to the end of Hebrews.  In these opening verses of chapter 5 we look at the high priest from the law.  Using animal sacrifice they offered sacrifice for sin not only for the people but also for themselves.  The high priest under the law were born with a sin nature just like every other man!  These high priest had compassion on those who were ignorant and going astray since he shared in the same weakness.  The order was for the high priest to offer sacrifice for his own sin and then for the sin of the people!

Hebrews 5:4  And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.  5  So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.“

The sons of Aaron were where the high priest which the scriptures call the “Levitical priesthood.  Chosen by God for this service and likewise Jesus was chosen by the Father for this priesthood.

Psalm 2:7  "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

Here prophetically speaks of the Father calling His Son!  Jesus is indeed the only begotten of the Father.

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus is the One and there is no other one!  The object of your faith must be in the only begotten!

Hebrews 5:6  As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek";

Psalm 110:4  The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

Moses household had the Levite priesthood; we have the Melchizedek priesthood!  Jesus is the High Priest that lives forever!

Hebrews 5:7  who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,  8  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Have you ever imagined what this prayer meeting between Jesus and the Father looked like?  The Holy Spirit opened the windows of a most private moment between Jesus and the Father.  Jesus prayed vehemently and with tears He cried out to the Father to save Him from the moment of death!

Luke 22:41  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,  42  saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.“  43  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  44  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke describes this prayer between Jesus and the Father.  This was no wimpy little prayer.  Jesus was pouring out His heart to His Father asking if it would be possible to not partake of this baptism of suffering!  After agony Jesus agreed with the will of the Father!  Nevertheless not my will but Your will be done.  There is a little secret not revealed in the Hebrews 5 or in Luke 22. 

Hebrews 12:2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

After the agony Jesus faced the cross with joy!  You are the joy that was set before Him.  He was able to handle the shame and suffering because He seen you as a great prize to be had by God, if He would but suffer!  The Father revealed to Jesus the many sons that would come to glory.  That was the joy set before Him.  Jesus did not remain in the agony, He came to the place of  the joy set before Him.  It was the strength He needed to endure the cross!

Hebrews 5:9  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,  10  called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,“  11  of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Jesus became the author of eternal salvation!  Praise the Lord salvation has been brought down to man by the One perfect Jesus Christ!  The quality of the salvation is eternal salvation!

1 Peter 2:21  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  22  "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

Our great example suffered for us!  We now follow His example of entrusting ourselves to our heavenly Father! Jesus Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness!   Old testament priest only rolled sin back.  Jesus bore the sins of the world and God the Father was appeased, completely appeased.  Jesus did a finishing work on the cross of Calvary !

Hebrews 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  14  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Notice the solid food belonging to the mature, is the word of righteousness!  How righteousness comes exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ is the only righteousness God offers.  Every other form of righteousness falls short of God’s holy standard.  When you come to exclusively trust in Jesus Christ and the cross, you have come to the place to discern both the good and the evil.  Hebrews chapter 1 declared that Jesus rules with the scepter of righteousness.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

The just shall live by faith; there is not another way to walk to please God!

John 15:4  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  5  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  6  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

The word of righteousness brings the believer to abide in Jesus Christ!  Jesus taught it first!  We abide in Christ and He abides in us!  He is the vine and we are the branches to the vine!  Abiding in Him makes us fruitful; abiding in Him makes every desire be fulfilled!  God calls His children to abide in Jesus!  Paul said to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of us!  Intimacy of relationship with Jesus!

Romans 3:21  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22  even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;  23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The word of righteousness can not be ignored if we want to mature out of the sandbox of Christianity!  Righteousness is exclusively found by faith in Jesus Christ.  Heaven’s court of justice freely justifies by divine influence all who put the object of their faith exclusively in Jesus!  It is a just and righteous act of God to justify the one who has faith in Jesus!  It comes by faith in Jesus, it is nurtured by faith in Jesus, and it is completed by faith in Jesus!

1 John 2:12  I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.  13  I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.  14  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.  15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16  For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.  17  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The word of righteousness keeps reminding the children of the faith their sins are forgiven.  The word of righteousness to the young men causes them to love the word and overcome the enemy.  The father’s of the faith continue in knowing God in intimacy!  However, the children must know the path to maturity is in knowing God!  When you love the Father you long to do His will!  The greater the revelation of His love toward you the more you love what God loves and abhor what He abhors!  Maturity leaves one longing to do the will of the Father!

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  2  of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  3  And this we will do if God permits.

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES

v     1. Repentance From Dead Works: Luke 24:46-47, Matthew 4:17, Acts 3:19, Luke 18:10-14, and Hebrews 9:14.

v      2. Faith Towards God: Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:1,6, Acts 14:27, Acts 20:21, Acts 26:17-18, John 5:24.

v      3. The Doctrine of Baptisms: Into Christ Galatians 3:26-27, 1 John 4:14, 1 John 5:1 Into water 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 8:35-37, and the Holy Spirit baptism Mark 1:8, Acts 2:32-33,38.

v      4. The Laying On of Hands: James 5:14-15, Acts 5:12, 6:3-6, 13:3-4, 19:11-12, 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6

v      5. The Resurrection of the Dead and The Eternal Judgment: John 5:24-29, 12:38-31, Romans 2:5, 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, 1 Peter 4:17-18, 2 Peter 3:7, 1 John 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Indeed the elementary principles of the word of God need to be founded and established.  However we must ever be mindful we have been called to the word of righteousness!

Luke 10:17  Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  18  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  19  "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20  "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

I am so thankful the demons have to flee at the name of Jesus!  However I am even more grateful that my name is written in the lambs book of life.  Only Jesus can provide God’s righteousness!  This is the word of righteousness God calls us to preach!  Jesus is indeed the author of eternal salvation!

Hebrews Lesson 4 “Entering Into the Covenant of Rest”

Hebrews Chapter 4 “Entering Into the Covenant of Rest”

Hebrews 4:1  Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.  2  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.  3  For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  4  For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works";

The works were finished from the foundation of the world!  What an amazing statement!  The first prophetic utterance in the bible is God  rested from all His works on the seventh day.  There was a place of rest He desired His children to live in.

For we who have believed do enter that rest!  This place of rest comes by believing!   Never forget the foundation laid in chapters 1,2, and 3.  Jesus the exalted One, Jesus is the One we can see, and Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confess.  What you believe about Jesus will determine your destiny!

Genesis 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.  2  And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.  3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

God calls us to His rest.  Some have unwittingly tried to find their rest by being Sabbath keepers.  The fuller picture of the rest of God is not a day, it is a life time of rest!

1 John 5:4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.  5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

When the object of our faith is in Jesus Christ we have the overcoming faith.  Jesus asked the disciples who do you say that I am?   The whole kingdom of God is built upon the confession that Jesus is the Messiah.  Rest is found exclusively in Jesus.

Hebrews 4:5  and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest.“  6  Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,  7  again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.“  8  For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.  9  There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Rest was not found with Moses, Joshua, David.  Rest was found in the promise of God.  Rest is found by those who hear the voice of God!  Jesus is indeed that place of rest

Hebrews 4:10  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

When you enter into God’s rest you cease form your labor just as God did from His.  We are called to be diligent to enter that rest! 

Matthew 11:28  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

At salvation we come to Jesus and find rest for our spirit.  However if we are going to walk in that abiding rest we must come and learn from Jesus.  As we learn from Jesus, we will find rest for our soul.  When our spirit and soul are aligned at rest we are walking in a confident victory.  Measure for yourself!  Is the yoke in life hard; if so, it's not from Jesus.  If the yoke is easy, it has come from Jesus.  Is the burden too heavy to carry?  Trade it in for Jesus' burden is light.  What an awesome truth.  We have an invitation from Jesus Himself, come and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart!

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  9  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and greatness of the sacrifice!  By divine influence we have been made right with God.  Accepting the gift by faith brings rest.  No longer walking in your own good works.  Walking the divine influence will cause us to overflow and fill the destiny God has for us from the beginning!  One labors for righteousness and never finds rest.  One finds rest and is able to walk in the works God prepared beforehand.  Rest is found by faith in the Messiah.

Romans 11:5  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  6  And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

The Holy Spirit does not want us to miss it!  If it is by works than it is not grace.  Those who enter God’s rest cease from there labor just as God did from His!  If it is of works it is not of grace.  The measuring stick is easy.  The law says it is of works; graces says it is of faith.  The early church error was to practice the law with a mixture of grace!  The purpose of Hebrews was to bring an exclusiveness to Jesus Christ apart from serving law.

Romans 4:3  For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.“  4  Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.  5  But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,  6  just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:  7  "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;  8  Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

I am the blessed one whose sins are forgiven!  I am the blessed man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin!  Grace is abounding!  If the place of rest could be earned it could no longer be called grace.  I labor and at the end of the month they come and give me a pay check.  They don’t hand out a gift; they give me what is owed me.  Yes, they give me my wages; I work for every penny of it!  Wages and gifts are two different things.  The place of rest can only be found by those who cease from their labor as God did from His.  It is the place of rest God never intended His children to leave.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  13  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Jesus Himself said learn from me!  It is the word of God that will change our soul!  It is the word of God that is such a great change agent it will bring us into rest.  From the place of labor it is scary for all thing to be open and naked, never certain if enough labor was put in!  From the place of rest the word of God is welcomed to bring refreshing change.  You are glad nothing is hidden and His word will make division in every area needed.

Hebrews 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  15  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  16  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hold on to the confession of your faith toward Jesus; it is the most valuable thing you possess.  Our High Priest sympathizes with our weaknesses.  He never failed and that is the strength by which we can stand.  Come boldly at the greatest hour of need.  Come boldly just as your are; come with the mess in hand!  The promise is you will find the divine influence and mercy in your greatest time of need.  What a promise!  Come into the presence of God boldly in your weakness!  Yes this is the place of rest for every believer!  It not your performance the Father is looking at; it is the obedience of Jesus Christ that makes this place of rest.  Even under the law when the worshipper came it was the excellence of the sacrifice that made the worshipper worthy to approach God.  How much the more now that we have the One True Perfect Sacrifice.  Rest in Jesus!