Hebrews 2:14-18
nkjv
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
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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.
I’m so grateful that Pastor Sproul wrote his Statement about the Lord, and that he rejected compromise, refusing to sign documents such as “Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT)”. There are many men whose love and faith and ministry for the Lord aren’t as visible but just as genuine and acceptable to Him. The difference with R.C. was that he could have caused so many people to stumble because of his sphere of influence. To God alone be the glory!
The LIGONIER STATEMENT on CHRISTOLOGY
Affirmations & Denials:
ARTICLE 24
We affirm that Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, having made the perfect sacrifice of Himself on our behalf and continuing to intercede for us before the Father. We affirm that Jesus Christ is both the subject and object of the supreme atoning sacrifice.
We deny that Jesus Christ, being from the tribe of Judah and not from the tribe of Levi, is disqualified from serving as our priest. We deny that He continually offers Himself as a sacrifice in the Mass as victim and priest, even in an unbloody manner. We deny that He became a priest only in heaven and was not a priest on earth.
Thanks, Maria. I’m grateful for R.C. and his bold stand against ecumenism. Who are the next generation who will step up and take the place of Sproul and MacArthur in this fight. Sadly, the next generation, like Stephen Nichols who Sproul appointed to leadership positions at Ligonier, are agreeable to ecumenism with Rome.
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Good morning, Tom! Brother, I need to research Stephen Nichols. I’m glad you mentioned this. About men coming up to take their place, Paul Washer and Justin Peters come to mind but they don’t seem to have the wide sphere of influence that R.C. Sproul and John MacArthur have. Pray the Lord to send laborers into His harvest, and stay alert and watch and pray and labor ourselves!
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Good morning, sister! This day is another gift the Lord has given us! Yes, Washer and Peters are also excellent teachers and do not abide compromise. Whoops, I forgot, John Piper is also outspoken regarding ecumenism with Rome but not to the degree of Sproul and MacArthur. Nothing in book form. Yes, I agree we must pray, stay alert, and labor ourselves. Sometimes it seems like we are alone in this, but that is not the case (like Elijah and the 7000).
My reference to Nichols had to do with my two previous posts below. It’s clear Nichols has a completely different view on ecumenism than R.C.
https://excatholic4christ.wordpress.com/2017/10/26/betrayal-in-the-camp/
https://excatholic4christ.wordpress.com/2017/11/05/the-irony-just-slaps-you-hard-across-the-face/
Maria, would you please say a prayer for our son who is visiting with us for the next 10 days. He claims to be an atheist but has a great fascination with such movies as The Omen which deal with God and the end times. Thank you!
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Tom, I will pray with you and your wife for him – a son is a precious gift. That’s a curious interest! Keeps you on your toes! The Lord knows about him, this and everything else.
After I do breakfast, I want to read the post you linked to.
Please read this, if you feel it would be helpful:
http://pulpitandpen.org/2017/11/16/cracking-the-insidious-code-a-review-of-john-pipers-desiring-god/
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Thanks, Maria! I appreciate your prayers! Thanks for the link. I had actually read that article before. I don’t personally know a lot about Piper even though he is very popular. But I am grateful that he takes a stand against the RCC unlike most evangelical pastors today.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/clarifying-my-words-about-roman-catholic-heresy
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YW! Tom, I’ve read Desiring God but that was years ago. That is all I know about him firsthand.
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