Holding Fast The Confession

The confession of our faith in Jesus should be the most valuable possession. Hold fast your confession!

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Holding Fast The Confession

Hebrews 10:18  Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.  19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  21  and having a High Priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

The promise of the hope of the believers faith is directed in Jesus Christ; He is and always will be faithful.  The faithfulness of God brings an unwavering confidence of the promises of God. 

Traditions of men have defined and redefined the confession.  I want to talk about the biblical confession and be sure our confession is the confession that the scriptures teach. 

1 John 4:14  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.  15  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

When the scriptures talk about your confession it points to the object of your faith being in Jesus and the work He performed at the cross.   If ever the object of your faith is not Jesus Christ and Him crucified, it is not the faith that brings salvation, it is not the faith that brings victory in every area of your life.

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?

This is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith!  The traditions of men can not be allowed to change the definition of faith and the confession of your faith.  If it is faith in Jesus Christ that saves, it is faith in Jesus Christ that maintains.  Let the object of your faith ever be in the obedience of Jesus Christ to the death of the cross.  He alone is the only one who can save anyone from sin.  Hold on to the confession of your faith.

Matthew 10:22  "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Jesus Himself has called the believer to endure to the end!  Many men love developing the to do list.  Some times they take the spiritual disciplines and exalt them to the place of giving you victory over sin.  It is Jesus Himself purged us from our sin and sat down at the right hand of God.  It is Jesus alone who saves.  Endure with your confession of faith.

Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,  … 6  but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

There are those who do not want to preach that the believer must hold fast to the end.  Your faith must be exclusively in Jesus and you must hold fast the confidence you have in Jesus firm to the end.  Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession!

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.

It is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that will present us holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight!   What an awesome message of the power of the cross.  However if we stop the message right there we preach only part of the truth.  If we don’t declare the whole counsel of God we will lead people into deception.  We must preach the 23^rd verse also.  …if indeed we continue in the faith.  Our confession of faith in Jesus Christ is the most valuable thing we possess. 

Romans 11:20  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.

The once saved always saved doctrine is erroneous and can lead people destruction.  We must consider the goodness and severity of God.  The goodness is toward the believer if we continue in His goodness.  Otherwise you also will be cut off.  Our standing with God is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that grace teaches us to live in His holiness.

Hebrews 10:24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,  25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The assembling of believers is for stirring one another to love and good works.  Do we come together for the purposes of God or our own agendas?

Hebrews 10:26  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

This is not a sinning on purpose or we would all be in trouble.  Rather it is a forsaking of the faith, it is taking the surrendered will back from God and it is called apostasy.

Hebrews 10:27  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.  28  Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  29  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

The danger of walking in sin is that the believer will begin to harden his heart.  If sin is allowed to do the finishing work it will bring death to the believer.  Purposefully walking in sin can extinguish the faith of the believer to the degree you will despise the work of the cross in your life.  Paul told Timothy is was searing over your conscience with a hot iron.  Grace covers the believer; however sin can bring you to that willful sin.  We must consider the goodness and severity of God.

Hebrews 10:30  For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people."  31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  32  But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:  33  partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;  34  for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.  35  Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  36  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

The sin that is unto death tramples the Son of God underfoot.  It counts the blood of the covenant is a common thing instead of holy, and it insults the Spirit of grace.  You must not cast away your confidence in the work of Jesus Christ.  You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

1 John 5:16  If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.  17  All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  18  We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

John the beloved made a distinction declaring there was sin not unto death and there was a sin unto death.  The Holy Spirit said through John that we should not ever pray about the one who sins unto death.  God did not save us to freely sin; God saved us from sin!

Hebrews 10:37  "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.  38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."  39  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

This covenant of grace is the covenant of faith!  God has shared with no uncertain terms that His soul has no pleasure in the one who sins the sin unto death; the willful sin of apostasy.  I love verse 39 starting with the but!  But we are not of those who draw back to perdition.  We are of those who believe to the saving of the soul.  Hold on to your confession of your faith to the end!

The Shadow The Pattern The Substance

Jesus is the substance of the shadows and patterns found in the practices of the law of Moses. Comparing and contrasting the two covenants exposes the power and strength of the new covenant ratified by Jesus Christ.

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The Shadow The Pattern The Substance

Hebrews 10:1  For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.  2  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.  3  But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

The law was a shadow and pattern of the good things to come!  Under the law the repeated sacrifices could not make the worshiper perfect.  The sacrifice was only a shadow of what was to come.  A shadow can do nothing but make a refection of things of substance.  Those who desire to continue to live for God under the law are faced with quiet a dilemma because a shadow does not have the power to make the worshiper who approaches perfect.  However, that which has substance has the power to bring perfection.  I’m jumping way ahead!  While we examine what the shadow could not do, it gives a clear refection of what the substance can do.  The Most Holy Sacrifice of substance, Jesus Christ, makes provision to take away the consciousness of sins.  While the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins, the blood of Jesus takes away the sins and nails it to the cross.  Again, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Hebrews 10:5  Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.  6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.  7  Then I said, 'Behold, I have come; In the volume of the book it is written of Me; To do Your will, O God.'"  8  Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9  then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second.

Jesus Christ came in the volume of the book!  The prophets of old told of His coming!  It is the will of God to take away the 1^st covenant (The law of Moses) that He may establish the second ( The covenant of grace and truth through Jesus Christ).  He truly take away the first so that the second can be established.

Hebrews 10:10  By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  11  And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

By the will of God the Father, we (the believer) have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE  FOR ALL.  Do you dare believe that the strength of Jesus Christ sacrifice can sanctify you?!  It is a once for all work of grace.  Jesus will never have to die again!  The shadow had to have the priests stand and minister daily and the sacrifice was repeated over and over and it still never took the sin away!  Jesus’ one time offering for sin took our sin away!  The sacrifice of this covenant was perfect and it was a perfecting work once and for all time!

Hebrews 10:12  But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13  from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14  For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Understanding between our spirit, soul, and body is so important.  By one offering of Jesus Christ, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  When one surrenders to the Lordship of Jesus Christ there is a joining Spirit to spirit.  There is a perfecting of our spirits.  We call it imputed righteousness.  May I remind you of Hebrews 4.

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.

Perfection is becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus.  The first dividing is perfecting your spirit.  There remains a work to be done in your soul which presents us with the need to renew our mind with the word of God.  After Jesus purged us from our sin forever, He sat down at the right hand of God.  His sitting down declares the work is finished.

John 4:22  "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  24  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Adam and Eve died a spiritual death the day they partook of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Jesus brought us restoration restoring the connection Spirit to spirit!

Hebrews 12:9  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

God the Father is the Father of spirits.  It is our spirit that a work of perfection is done.

Hebrews 12:22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,  23  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Don’t you see?  God does a work in the spirit of man a perfected work according to Hebrews 10:14. 

Romans 3:25  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 Father is the just One and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus!  Yes indeed, a perfected work in our spirit.  A progressive work in our soul, and our bodies join with creation waiting for that perfected work in our bodies.  The substance of  the sacrifice of Jesus brings us a purged conscience and a spirit reconciled back to the Father.

Hebrews 10:15  But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,  16  "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"  17  then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."  18  Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.  19  Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  21  and having a High Priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Jesus has brought us out of the darkness.  The veil that separated was now torn in two and access has been opened.  The word is now written upon the believers heart.  The sins and lawless deeds will be remember no more!  The greatness of the sacrifice brings us boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus!  That is why there is such an anointing when we are singing about the blood.  It is what has provided the way into the presence of God.  Trust totally and completely in your perfect High Priest.  We can approach God with a true heart in full assurance of faith!  My sins are gone I’m set free! 

John 8:34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Hallelujah I’m free from this world of sin by the washing in the blood of Jesus.  Jesus Christ is the substance of all the shadows and patterns found in the covenant of Moses.

Colossians 2:13  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,  14  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  15  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.  16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 

The Provision of the Tabernacle

The provision of the heavenly tabernacle is eternal!

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The Provision of the Tabernacle

Hebrews 9:1  Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.  2  For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;  3  and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,  4  which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;  5  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.  6  Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.  7  But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;

The earthly sanctuary was a shadow and pattern for the heavenly tabernacle.  Every part of the earthly tabernacle shows a revelation of Jesus Christ. The lamp stand gives revelation that Jesus is the light of the World.  The table of the show bread gives revelation that Jesus is the bread of life.  The golden censer shows that Jesus would be the sweet smelling aroma that would please the Father.  The ark of the covenant was the place that the glory of the Lord dwelt.  Above the ark of the covenant was the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.  Once a year, on the day of atonement,  the high priest would come in and put the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat.  The sin of the nation would be rolled back for another year.  Under the mercy seat inside the ark was three items.  The pot of manna showing God would always be the provider,  Aaron’s rod that budded showing God has divine order, and the law of the ten commandments.  When the sacrifice for sin was offered the worshiper was not examined but the sacrifice was examined.  The sacrifice had to be good enough if the sin of the people were to be rolled back.  In this covenant of Grace the provision of the Tabernacle is based upon the greatness of the sacrifice Jesus Christ.  I’m jumping ahead…

Hebrew 9:8  the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.  9  It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience;  10  concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Holy Spirit indicated that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet manifested while the first tabernacle was standing.  Today there is a way to enter into the Holiest of All.  It called the new and living way and the provision was made by Jesus Christ.  The earthly tabernacle was symbolic and could not make the worshipers perfect in regard to conscience.  That is something only the blood of Jesus can do.  Oops I’m jumping ahead again…  The earthly tabernacle was concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.  When we speak of the law of Moses and the priesthood of Levi we find these verses in Hebrews talk about a new way into the Holiest of all and the end of law being imposed.  Jesus is the greatest reformer ever know to man and He brought the greatest reformation.  This reformation brought direct access to God bringing us into a greater covenant based upon greater promises.  Instead of a temporal work of rolling sin back, Jesus did a once for all offering that purged us from sin.  Note it was a purging from sin not to sin!  Okay, again I’m jumping ahead.

Hebrew 9:11  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.  12  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

JESUS, with His own blood, entered the Most Holy Place in heaven!  With His own blood once and for all placed it on the mercy seat in heaven completing an eternal work obtaining eternal redemption.  Jesus saves to the utter most.  Praise the Lord!

Hebrews 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,  14  how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The blood of bulls and goats sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh.  It was a temporary work in the flesh.  It was necessary to repeat it over and over again and again!  HOW MUCH MORE shall the blood of Christ cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  Jesus does a sanctifying work in the conscience of man; it was a work that the ordinances of the law could not perform with the blood of bulls and goats!  This work is a work of the eternal Spirit.  Do you understand what it is to have an eternal work done in your conscience to empower you to serve the living God.  There was no empowerment for service in the covenant of law just a temporal work in the flesh.  It is time for every believer in the body of Christ to awake to the work that God does in the conscience.  It is a complete cleansing of your conscience from dead works! 

Hebrews 9:15  And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant that we may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.  It is time to awaken to the fact the true believer has an eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 9:16  For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17  For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

Jesus is the testator of this covenant; His death brought us the power of an endless life.  At His death was perfect atonement; the blood provided perfect cleansing!

Hebrews 9:18  Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.  19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,  20  saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you."  21  Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.  22  And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin!  The blood of Jesus is the only source for the remission of sin in this new covenant.

Hebrews 9:23  Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  24  For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

The provision made in the heavenly tabernacle is superior and greater than any and all provisions made under the law.  Jesus with His own blood appeared into the presence of God  for us!

Hebrews 9:25  not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another;  26  He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Now at the end of the ages, Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself! 

Romans 5:18  Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Whose obedience are you trusting in?  It needs to be exclusive trust in the obedience of Jesus Christ.  The object of your faith must be in the heavenly provisions make in the heavenly tabernacle by the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,  28  so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.  To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Jesus faced your judgment at the cross!  To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin , for salvation!  Have faith in the provision of the heavenly tabernacle.

Jesus, Our High Priest, Brings The Better

Jesus, our High Priest, wants you to be a partaker of the better promises He has provided

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Jesus, Our High Priest, Brings The Better

Hebrews 8:1  Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,  2  a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

Jesus, our High priest, is seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Jesus is a Minister of the sanctuary of the true tabernacle.  The tabernacle is the place where God dwells and Jesus stands as our Minister in the true tabernacle.  Not the tabernacle Moses built, but the one Moses' was patterned after.  The Old Testament tabernacle was the place where the children of Israel would meet with God.  However Jesus in His ministry went to the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, not man.

Hebrews 8:3  For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.  4  For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law;  5  who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

The High Priest of the Heavenly tabernacle has something to offer.  This offering is not like the earthly high priest offering that was at best temporal.  The offering in the heavenly tabernacle has eternal gifts and eternal consequences.

Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  7  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

God’s mercy unveiled in ways never known under the covenant of the law of Moses.  The Father’s love revealed in new heights.  While you were and are sinners undone and separated by spiritual death, God poured out His Mercy.  He made us alive together with Christ.  The offering of our High Priest offers life to erase our certain death!  God’s rich mercy brings life to such great degree we have a seat together with Christ in the heavenly places.  Oh the depth of the riches of God’s gift to us!  Oh there should be a great praise on our lips for His greatness unveiled.  Hebrews 6:20 teaches us Jesus is our forerunner into the presence of God.  Only our High Priest, Jesus Christ, could offer such a great sacrifice and provide such a holy offering that unlocked heavens riches.  Faith in Jesus Christ avails us of the Father's gift.  The Father Himself has made us partakers of the heavenly covenant where Jesus stands as our High Priest.

John 1:17  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.   

When you consider the greatness of our High Priest Jesus Christ it is no wonder for us to believe in the distinctions between the covenant of grace and the covenant of the law of Moses.  Jesus, our High Priest, has beyond a shadow of doubt brought the greater!

Hebrews 8:6  But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.  7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

Jesus obtained a more excellent ministry greater than the ministry founded upon the law of Moses.  Now there stands an agreement in the heavenly tabernacle.  Jesus, our Mediator, speaks on our behalf making us partakers of the better promises that He established for us.

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  2  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Our High Priest is our Advocate that brings fellowship with God Himself.  Our High Priest has brought the divine influence that we need to bridge the gap between sinful man and the Holy God!  We can trust our advocacy of Jesus Christ being our propitiation!  Jesus acting as our High Priest appeased a Holy God by the greatness of His offering and making an atoning sacrifice. 

Hebrews 8:8  Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;  9  "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD.

The New Covenant is not based upon the performance of men.  Men failed at the covenant of the law of Moses and God disregarded it.  This greater covenant based upon better promises was based upon the performance of Jesus Christ Himself; this covenant will never be disregarded by God.

Romans 5:17  For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)  18  Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Our High Priest brings the better gift of righteousness through the abundance of His grace.  It was and is the One Man’s righteous act of obedience to the death of the cross that brings the justification of life for those who will believe in the greatness of the sacrifice.

Hebrews 8:10  "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  11  "None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.  12  "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."  13  In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

What a covenant of better promises where sins are not imputed but instead His righteousness is imputed.  This place where the sins and lawless deeds are remembered no more.  The High Priest has made us partakers in the new covenant!

Isaiah 59:16  He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.  17  For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.  …  20  "The Redeemer will come to Zion , And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the LORD.  21  "As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore."  60:1  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

This new covenant is brought to us by God’s own arm.  This is not a man performance covenant; this is salvation brought by the arm of God.  His own righteousness is the sustaining factor of the new covenant.  God wants to put the terms of this covenant in your mouth.  It time for the saint to sing “It is Jesus, It is Jesus in my soul”.  “It is my High Priest, Jesus Christ, who looks good on me and He has saved me to the uttermost”.  God is drawing you to put His Word in your mouth.  As His Word is in your mouth you will have the strength to arise, shine and walk in the understanding your Light has come and His very glory is risen upon you!  Jesus our High Priest brings us His glory; as you allow the glory to shine greatly upon you, change beyond your imagination will come about.  Declare it!  Jesus is my High Priest!

The Bridegroom Jesus Christ

There is joy and fulfillment in submitting the the BRIDEGROOM.

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The Bridegroom Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:24  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,  26  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,  27  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  28  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  29  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.  30  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.  31  "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."  32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This week God gave me a dream.  I was brought into a beautiful room.  I knew I was in the room of a bridegroom’s father.  Yet in this room the father was picking the brides gown.  It was the most beautiful wedding gown my eyes have ever seen.  It was pure white when you looked straight at it.  Yet when it was moved there was the most beautiful glittering color I have ever seen.  In my dream I immediately began to reason how strange for a bridegroom’s father to be putting finishing touches on the bride’s dress.  Then I awoke in the presence of God.  I immediately got up and  begin to write what the Holy Spirit was pouring into me.

“Awake, awake oh bride of CHRIST.  JESUS CHRIST is ready to adorn you.  The wedding preparations have been made.

"The wedding gown has been chosen by the BRIDEGROOM’S FATHER; it has been  arrayed with HIS own holiness.

"As the FATHER has adorned Israel as HIS bride, so the SON is about to adorn HIS own bride.  The wedding chamber is ready, the wedding gown is laid out, and the jewels for the bride’s adorning has been prepared.

"First there must be the washing of the water of the WORD.  Submit oh bride of CHRIST.  Know the BRIDEGROOM comes to prepare you.  Awaken to how HE cherishes, nurtures, and delights in you..  Awaken to HIS intimate touch as HE reveals HIMSELF.  Submission to HIM is the bride’s delight.

"The BRIDEGROOM’S attention is now upon HIS bride.  As the BRIDEGROOM is washing with the water of HIS WORD, the bride is about to see new glories.  Awaken to HIS touch, awake to HIM calling your name.  It will not be long before the voice of the bride will be in unison with the voice of the SPIRIT OF GOD.”

Romans 7:1  Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?  2  For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.  3  So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.  4  Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another; to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.  5  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.  6  But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Being in union with Jesus Christ is powerful.  Married to Jesus is a concept that is clear here in scriptures.  Like the Ephesians passage declares we are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.  Oh that the bride of Christ would understand the strength of the union we have with Him.

Hebrews 10:19  Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  21  and having a High Priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

We have boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.  The plan of God will not fail.  He is coming for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle washed with the pure water of the Word.

Hebrews 13:20  Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,  21  make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Here is a picture of the BRIDEGROOM’S FATHER working in and with the bride.  The blood of the everlasting covenant is working on our behalf.  That great Shepherd of the sheep is the overseer of our soul!  Who is doing the work?  The Father!

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

The work that God does in the believer is a reconciling work.  It is in union with Christ's work.  It is a new creation work.  It is a supernatural work that begins at salvation and continues until He comes

We can trust the BRIDEGROOM and the eternal work He produces in us!  We can draw near with a true heart in full assurance; it is safe to surrender to complete submission to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Giving Honor To The Priesthood

Giving honor to the greater priesthood of Melchizedek!

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Giving Honor To The Priesthood

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.  4  Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.

Hebrews is a building block book and chapter 7 begins by laying more blocks.  The priesthood that Jesus derives His priesthood from becomes the front and center piece.  The greater covenant that Jesus Christ has brought is the foundation for our hope, inheritance, and the power of God working in us.  Remember Abraham is before the law and He runs into this Man Melchizedek the priest of the Most High God.  We are commanded in the word of God to consider the greatness of Melchizedek

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.

Abraham had gone to war with just the servants in his household to rescue his nephew Lot and his family.  The city Lot lived in had been attacked and taken captive.  God gave Abraham a great victory; He rescued Lot and the entire city Lot lived in.  There was much spoil of war that was gained.  King Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God,  met Abraham and provided bread and wine and blessed Abraham and exalted God for bringing Abraham such a great victory over several kings.  The word defines King Melchizedek as the “king of righteousness” and  the “king of peace”.  This was no less than a divine encounter for Abraham.  As an act of worship Abraham gave a tenth of all the spoils to Melchizedek.  More than 400 years later the Levitical priesthood came to administrate the covenant of the law of Moses.

Psalms 110:1  The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."  2  The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion . Rule in the midst of Your enemies!  3  Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.  4  The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."    

Prophetically the psalmist wrote about the Messiah who was coming.  The promise was that Jesus would be a priest forever according the order of Melchizedek.  The greatness of the priesthood was prophesied twelve hundred years before its fulfillment.

Hebrews 7:5  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.  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.

The blessing on the promises Abraham had came from the Melchizedek priesthood.  The lesser priesthood from the Levites is blessed by the better priesthood.  The earthly priesthood coming from the Levites is called the lesser.  Verse 8 is revealing that while under the law that earthly priesthood received tithes; under the greater priesthood of Melchizedek this is a still a receiving from tithes.  Our High Priest serves us the bread and the wine of this covenant, and like Abraham, tithing is the way we honor the greater priesthood of Jesus Christ.  Notice verse 8 puts it in present tense “receives them”.  The eternal priesthood is presently receiving tithes.  There are those who claim tithing is only under the covenant of the law and is not apart of our covenant.  Frankly, at one point, I was one who stood in that position; however, this passage changed my heart and mind.  When I begin to admit the greatness of the priesthood of Jesus Christ I had to admit He lives eternally and His priesthood still receives tithes.  I am committed to becoming a reflection of His Word.

Hebrews 7:9  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.  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.

The superior priesthood, according to the order of Melchizedek, shows there had to be a changing of the law.  When the priesthood changed of necessity this is also a change of the law!  The greater priesthood brings in the greater covenant.  Jacob was the second patriarch in the Bible that gave a tithe.  Jacob had a dream of angels ascending and descending upon a ladder.  Jacob anointed the rock upon which his head rested while having this heavenly encounter.  He promised if God would deliver him, he would give a tithe of all.  Oh, by the way Jacob renamed the anointed place Bethel (the house of God).  Twenty years later God spoke to him again.

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.'"  … Genesis 35:7  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 Himself has declared He is the God of the house of God.  When it came time to give Jacob’s tithe he was directed to the house of God.  Tithing to the house of God is paying honor to the greater priesthood where it is said he still receives tithes; it is not tithing based on the law of Moses and the Levite priesthood.

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."

Another priest has arisen not according to the law of fleshly commandment.  This priesthood arises according to the power of an endless life.  The testimony of God Himself is “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, just as prophesied in Psalm 110.

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.

The new priesthood brought in an annulling of the former commandment.  The law is identified here as weak and not profitable.  We do no honor to the priesthood of Jesus Christ if we try and bring the believer under the law; the law could not make anything perfect.  But the priesthood of Melchizedek could because it is based on the power of an endless life.  The better hope of drawing near to God is not derived from the law but from the priesthood of Jesus Himself.

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. 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.  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.  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.

It is not acceptable to live under the covenant of the law because we have the better covenant. This covenant brings salvation that saves to the uttermost!  This covenant gives us a high priest who always lives to make intercession for us.  His offering on our behalf was and is once and for all based upon His perfection.  Give honor the order of Melchizedek Priesthood for that is the covenant that has provided us with our new birth!