Thoughts
Because of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are acceptable to the Father. He is “entered into very heaven, to appear now in the sight of God for us.”
Hebrews 9
GNV
9 2 Comparing the form of the Tabernacle, 10 and the ceremonies of the Law, 11 unto the truth set out in Christ, 15 he concludeth that now there is no more need of another Priest, 24 because Christ himself had fulfilled these duties under the new covenant.
1 Then the first Testament had also ordinances of religion, and a worldly Sanctuary,
2 For the first Tabernacle was made, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread, which Tabernacle is called the Holy places.
3 And after the second veil was the Tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of all,
4 Which had the golden censer, and the Ark of the Testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein the golden pot, which had Manna, was, and Aaron’s rod that had budded, and the tables of the Testament.
5 And over the Ark were the glorious Cherubims, shadowing the mercy seat: of which things we will not now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the Priest went always into the first Tabernacle, and accomplished the service.
7 But into the second went the high Priest alone, once every year, not without blood which he offered for himself, and for the ignorances of the people.
8 Whereby the holy Ghost this signified, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet opened, while as yet the first tabernacle was standing,
9 Which was a figure for that present time, wherein were offered gifts and sacrifices that could not make holy, concerning the conscience, him that did the service,
10 Which only stood in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal rites, which were enjoined, until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come, by a greater and a more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this building,
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves: but by his own blood entered he in once unto the holy place, and obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling them that are unclean, sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh,
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ which through the eternal Spirit offered himself without fault to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause is he the Mediator of the new Testament, that through death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that were in the former Testament, they which were called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a Testament is, there must be the death of him that made the Testament.
17 For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead: for it is yet of no force as long as he that made it, is alive.
18 Wherefore, neither was the first ordained without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to the people, according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and purple wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the Testament, which God hath appointed unto you.
21 Moreover, he sprinkled likewise the Tabernacle with blood also, and all the ministering vessels,
22 And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was then necessary, that the similitudes of heavenly things should be purified with such things: but the heavenly things themselves are purified with better sacrifices than are these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places that are made with hands, which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary: but is entered into very heaven, to appear now in the sight of God for us,
25 Not that he should offer himself often, as the high Priest entered into the Holy place every year with others’ blood,
26 (For then must he have often suffered since the foundation of the world) but now in the end of the world hath he been made manifest, once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men that they shall once die, and after that cometh the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to take away the sins of many, and unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Thanks, Maria. I remember reading through the New Testament for the first time as a Catholic. I was troubled by many, many passages previous to Hebrews that contradicted Catholicism, but this epistle brought me to a crisis point because of its teachings about no more need for priestly sacrifice.
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Tom, God’s work is perfect in every respect – Redemption and drawing people to Jesus. So glad for His work in you!
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Thanks, Maria! I praise the Lord for your salvation in Christ and your outreach to the lost.
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Tom, thank you! If you see me transgressing the Biblical role for women would you speak up?
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Thanks, Maria! Some might disagree but I’m of a mind that our blog discussions are of an informal nature rather than a structured teaching/preaching event in a church setting. I’ve appreciated our exchanges even though we have disagreed on some secondaries a few times. 🙂
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Thank you for your insight, brother!
🙂
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PRAISE THE LORD!!! \o/ \o/ \o/ RIGHT THERE IN THE WORD OF GOD:
11 But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come, by a greater and a more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this building,
DONE ~ FINISHED!!! HALLELUJAH! SHARING ❤ ❤ ❤
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Beth, yes! God’s Word is so plain that Jesus’ work is sufficient, complete, absolutely perfect!! He saves to the uttermost!
💕 \o/
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One of these days I need to go through Hebrews to make a more careful study as stirred by your post
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Pastor Jim, that would be great for you and us!
Please let me know if I go beyond what a woman should do in my blogging. Thank you!
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Maria, I appreciate you as my sister in the Lord.
And I’m here to be your friend, and be an encouragement to you however I can.
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May I tell you something? You may or may not know that I used to be a Calvinist. And I regard you as a nice person, and I was only a Calvinist temporarily, a season if you will, but saved before my season of Calvinism.
And I hope that mirrors your journey as well. That Calvinism is just a temporary detour, as I experienced. So I try to help as best I can to share lessons I learned, as eye opening testimony for others to come out.
Thank you for giving me a moment of your time.
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Lee, yes, I remember that you’ve spoken about this more than once because it’s so important to you – it’s your history! – and it’s important to you to counsel others about this.
The word “Calvinist” troubles me because it’s a nickname that stands for only a part of what the Calvin and the other Reformers believed when the Bible was rediscovered as in Josiah’s day. It would be better to say that a Christian believes in election and sovereign grace.
For myself, I was saved in 1979 and my husband – praise God! – in 1981, but we knew nothing about the doctrines of grace until the mid nineties. Learning these truths brought me personally through the guilt that belonging to a missionary church had burdened me with. I couldn’t go back to believing as you do, having set my hand to the plough and wanting to please the Lord by being rooted and established in the whole counsel of God. What would I say to the Lord when His Word taught me?
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Thank you Maria for recognizing that my intention was to help you, not insult you.
Help me understand two points you made please…
What do you mean by missionary church?
And you couldn’t go back to believing as I do?
(FYI, I’m not baptist, or legalistic. I’m no denomination and no systematic theology. To summarize my views in a nutshell, I suppose it could be Romans 4.5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”)
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Lee, yes! Romans 4:5!
We were saved under the ministry of Christian Missionary Alliance church planters, me first in a home Bible study. The emphasis of this church was on personal holiness, evangelism, and foreign missions.
I can’t believe that I chose Jesus but believe that the Father effectually drew me to Jesus.
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Well, I’m not familiar with that church, so I have no comment about it.
You do what you feel led to do Maria. And I appreciate you discussing doctrine with me.
Keep praising the Lord 😇
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will do! Thanks, Lee!
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Lee, I’ve been thinking about this. I won’t discuss doctrine with you anymore because of what I’ve read at your blog, such as your labeling John Calvin a heretic and influencing your readers to do this, while promoting Gail Riplinger to them, and other things that are way off the mark.
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No hard feelings Maria, you do what is right in your conscience.
And if you ever change your mind and want to visit, you’re certainly welcome. 😇
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Lee, I can’t visit. You’ve slandered all those who hold the doctrine of election, including Christians who died for the testimony of Jesus Christ and/or so we could have the Bible in our own language.
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As a former Arminian (free willer) I would fight tooth and nail against election ( I didn’t know it was called Calvinism then), until, through answering my prayers, God showed me in His Word that He is the sovereign, not me, in my salvation by His grace. I have never been so humbled in all of my life! Still am. I never felt humbled as an Arminain. I figured that I had a hand in my salvation. I said the prayer so I was in like Flynn! I lived as a carnal Christian. I would regret making Jesus look bad but not like I do now when I sin before others knowing that God chose me before the foundation of the world! I did nothing for Him to look upon me. I still wonder, Why me, Lord? Why should You show such love, grace and mercy! Even Peter said that there are some things hard to understand about God. 2 Peter 3:16 The hardest thing is that God chooses some and rejects others-it makes Him look evil! But He does all things for His glory and for all of His creation to see, not just us, but His heavenly realm, also..
Romans 9:21-24 King James Version (KJV)
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
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Amen, Sherry! There are things which are hard to understand, as Peter stated in 2 Peter 3:14ff.
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Sherry: I’m always impressed with your love for and knowledge of God’s Word. When God changed my life, I was so happy; but I struggled to support that happiness until I saw the truth in His Word. As you have quoted Romans 9:21-24, it is so hard for some people to grasp the meaning of it [and numerous others] in light of election. No one on earth is perfect; even as hard as the reformers tried, they too made some mistakes. As a free willer, you are taking God’s sovereignty away from Him. Gee, that would make you more powerful than God. It is His world, and His creation, and His people. Hello out there, stop trying to out do God. You are still in our prayers, as always.
Blessings and comfort to you dear lady.
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Thank you for your uplifting comment, wturner1942. I try to keep it in mind that we are all growing in the grace and knowledge of Him and that we are all at different stages. This brings both prayer for those who haven’t quite grasped the truth yet and it keeps me humble and teachable-may I never think I know it all, Lord!
I am so very grateful for your prayers! God bless you as you have blessed me and then some more! \o/
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Lee, I know this. Thank you!! Lord bless you!
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