Blog Archives - Created through Him

Created Through Him

Our God

6/10/2013

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:26-29).

God’s will and purposes in salvation are certain. This certainty is both comforting and at the same time a fearful thing. Certainty from God’s is unchanging and without exception. And so we approach our salvation with gratitude but also with fear since the God that called the world into existence is also the author of our salvation. We should never lose sight of the fact that God is all-powerful and perfect in His strength.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen

6/9/2013

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:1-3).

These verses attest that it is in God that we are to trust. For example, through faith we know that God created all that is out of nothing. That is, outside of God, nothing exists that was not created. We know that this is so because God’s word informs us that God created all. There are many other evidences from the Creation that there is a Creator. For instance, the level of complexity and order within the Universe, and the mere existence of intelligent life are just a few examples. However, even if all objective evidence pointed away from a Creator (which it does not), we must trust God’s word that He is Creator.

The assurance of faith

6/8/2013

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 profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:22-25).

There are two main themes in these verses. The first is the assurance of the effectiveness of salvation through faith. We are to have assurance and profess the true faith. This profession is from the heart, so it is something that is spoken with whole trust and confidence. The second theme is that faith is meant to be shared with love in a community. Faith is expressed not in isolation but as a way of edifying and strengthening one another.

The atonement

6/7/2013

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:11-12).

Christ’s sacrifice accomplished what could never be accomplished by all other sacrifices. This is so since Christ’s sacrifice was accomplished once and had the power to redeem. The redemption is over death, which is the consequence of sin. No other sacrifice could truly redeem since either the one that sacrificed or the actual sacrifice was tainted by sin. So Christ was both the high priest and the sacrifice and therefore atones for those that cannot do so through their own weaknesses. This is the grace of God.

The New Covenant

6/6/2013

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more (Hebrews 8:10-12).

The New Covenant is certainly in the form of the Old Covenant. The difference is in the fact that God is doing all the action in the new covenant. While God’s action in terms of the covenant towards Man has always been gracious, the new covenant is a complete and final act of grace on the part of God. God is removing the effect of sin from Man. Words such “no more”, are indicative of the permanent nature of salvation.

A pretty big deal

6/5/2013

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils (Hebrews 7:1-4).

There is much debate on the identity of Melchizedek. Some say he is a theophany or a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, while others say he is representative of Christ, but not Christ Himself, and still others deny he was a real person at all. What seems to be clear is that Melchizedek was a significant individual at his time in history. Also, there are clear parallels to Christ in that Melchizedek was both king and priest and that neither his kingdom nor his priesthood are derived or receive authority from this world. So, we have a king and a priest in Christ Jesus that is eternal.

Consequences

6/4/2013

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6).

These are sobering verses. While it has been debated for centuries what exactly these verses mean, it seems pretty straightforward to me. The debate may, in reality, be a case of not liking what the verses say. These verses warn about falling way from the faith. And they should cause us to stop and pause a moment about the importance of living according to our faith.

The author of salvation

6/3/2013

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 5:8-10).

Christ is the author of salvation. In order to be the author of salvation, He had to be obedient to the Father in life, suffering, and death. Christ in turn desires all who follow Him to be obedient. Since Christ is not from the earthly line of priesthood, He is able to advocate for us before God the Father. As high priest to those that are obedient, He will intercede based upon His own sacrifice. So we are saved through Christ’s righteousness, credited to us as a pure gift. And so the only proper response for us is to obey with gratitude.

Some qualities of God

6/2/2013

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession (Hebrews 4:11-14).

These verses from Hebrews tell us about some of the qualities of God. God as our Creator is our Sabbath rest. Our rest then is in Him. God is all-powerful and His Word therefore contains the very power of God. God is all-knowing and so there is nothing that is hidden from God. God through the person and work of Jesus Christ is the great high priest (on the order of Melchizedek). It is Christ then who intercedes for us before the Father and it is Christ that protects us from the accusations of our accuser (Satan). God is the all-powerful, all knowing Creator of heaven and earth with His sights set on redeeming people through the power of the living Word of God, Jesus Christ.

The consequences

6/1/2013

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation (Hebrews 3:13-15).

The writer of Hebrews is warning people not to get stuck in sinful ways. What happens over time is that sin becomes a way of life and crowds out the ability to live for Christ. We are to guard ourselves against persistent sin since eventually we will develop a hardened heart as a result of this sinning. Once the heart is hardened it can be impossible to undo. The road to destruction can be very subtle at first and may start with minor compromises but the road is destructive and without turning away will lead to eternal death.

Created Through Him