Mon, Oct 31st - 2:36PM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Brothers and sisters, as the eternal family of priests of God our Father under the High Priesthood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, let us bring forth our love offerings, pouring it out unto Him with the sweet sacrifices of our praises and blessings, giving honor and glory to His Holy Name, for He is eternally worthy.

Who would ever think that Paul (formerly known as Saul), who had been a very great persecutor of the church would ever become a chosen vessel of God to preach the gospel?! We know that after Lord Jesus met and dealt with Paul on the way to Damacus to further persecute the saints (G40 hagios), in a powerful profound way, Paul believed on Him. Later Jesus commissioned Him to preach the very gospel he had once resisted: See Act 9. Paul went forward faithfully counting all his knowledge coming only from the Law, with the pride in his Hebrew genealology as dung, to lay hold on the true knowledge of eternal life in Jesus Christ: Phl 3:8-14.

But the question is, dearly beloveds, how could somebody having so much knowledge about God ever think that He was doing God a favor by persecuting His church? Paul does gives us the answer- that He did it out of unbelief and not even knowing it was wrong to persecute the church: See1Ti.  

Okay, we understand, we get that. The question is exactly what was Paul taught and by whom?  This is where we come to understand and know the reason for his condition of ignorance. The high priest, elders, Pharisees amongst other factions disagreed on many things. However, they all agreed on stopping the spread of the gospel message to prevent losing their place, status and money by any means necessary.

Again, holy people, they saw the gospel of Jesus Christ as a threat to their kingdom rule on earth. They were no longer interested in the furtherance of God’s kingdom they much preferred their own and would do anything or use anyone to keep it.

We know, brethren, that the Jews had the whole history of God with mankind from Genesis on down to Abraham/Messianic promises, the Law, all the kings, prophets, etc., because God gave it to them. Therefore, the high priest, elders, teachers knew that Moses prophesied that another far greater prophet was coming that would rightfully succeed Him.

They also knew that fulfillment of the Abrahamic/Messianic promises would result in a New Covenant/ new High Priest that would not only succeed the Mosaic Law/Levitical system, but would nullify any need for the Mosaic Law with its Levitical system ever again, and they were determined not to have this ever take place.

These men to preserve their turf, taught only the Law as the sole standard by which all Israel was to obey and to live. They indoctrinated Paul, no doubt others as well, to see that any threat against the Law and its Levitical system was the enemy that had to be destroyed. They did a good job of weaponizing, twisting the word of God to use Paul, who unwittingly became their highly effective, rabid, raging tool, although ignorant.

Yet, brothers and sisters, Jesus did not see Paul as a raging evil enemy worthy of death. In all of the fury and anger Paul had toward the believers, Jesus saw the ignorance of his heart that made him think he was doing good for the kingdom of God. Therefore, Jesus had mercy on Paul. Instead of destroying Paul, Jesus opened up his eyes after which he believed and became a willing vessel in service to God.: 1Ti 1:13.

Saints (G40 hagios) we can understand Paul’s zeal, as we return to find him armed with everything of the knowledge of Jesus Christ in God, as he continues to relentlessly spiritually plunge these Hebrew believers deeply into the understanding of who Lord Jesus is, so as to aid them to move forward in their spiritual growth towards spiritual maturity. Our Identity is in Christ not in our personal opinions, or the works of our hands, etc., for without Jesus we can do nothing: Jhn 15:5

Many already know, yet there are others who would like to know, as I mentioned earlier, whether Christians are obligated to tithe or not. Some believe that tithing is not a part of the New Covenant, while others believe it is. There is a tremendous controversy over this that is totally unnecessary. Let us continue patiently in the word, and God will provide the answer.

Some say the problem is solved in that that Christians should just feel free to support any ministries doing God’s work on earth. Yet, others believe all ministers should have a job, and would therefore not need to “free load” off the people. This will not be a subject of this study as the Bible well answers these questions too.

Dearly beloveds, let us we keep in mind that the very fact that Melchisedec was received without question by Abraham, amplifies our understanding of how great this priest was. Therefore, the following verses gives us a profound understanding of who Jesus is and the extreme magnitude and nature of His God powers that He laid aside in coming to earth and taking on human form: Phl 2:6-11 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God…

Jesus was always equal with God, although on earth prior to the resurrection He declared God to be greater.

We have to ask questions here too. Why would anyone, in error attempt to make or believe themselves to be an expert on the Bible based on nonbiblical attainment of a degree, or any works of self- righteousness, or would eliminate these verses Phl 2: 6-11: Jhn 5:18, to pervert scripture in vain attempting to make Lord Jesus a lesser God, although we know that Jesus Himself declares the eternal truth that:  Jhn 10:30.

We all have knowledge, dearly beloveds:  1Co 8:1. We must all be careful of making an idol of our accomplishments or anything else. Unfortunately, for some, knowledge puffs them up so that they make more of themselves than they ought.  We know, holy brethren, God resists the proud. Does not our Lord Jesus teach us?: Luk14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

It is absolutely true that Jesus always obeyed God His Father. It is true that God sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins. However, this absolutely does not mean, nor does it reduce Lord Jesus to be God’s mere errand boy who had no say in the matter, or that He was just a vicarious tool to use to accomplish God’s agenda.

Jesus was never forced to obey God His Father. Jesus had the right not to sacrifice Himself for our sins, without offending God His Father.  Jesus speaks for Himself:  Jhn 10:17-18.

Jesus was never abandoned on the cross by God His Father. Jesus who is the Word of God spoke these last words while dying on the cross, quoted: Psa 22:1. When we read it to the end, we understand what Jesus meant.  Jesus was never abandoned on the cross in any manner, not for a minute or any time by God His Father seeing they are all one. The scriptures boldly declare:  

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto  himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Again, and again, holy brethren, God absolutely did not force Jesus to die on the cross. God does not force anyone to obey Him. Praise God our Father who first trusted in God His Son Jesus Christ and for giving Him for us out of love for us. Thank God our Saviour Jesus Christ for freely giving Himself to pay for our sins for all who believe in Him out of love for us and God His Father. Our trust and love for God should be the absolute driving force of our obedience too, not fear or some carnal or personal agenda.

We will look more at the tithes next time, until then brothers and sisters:

Phl 4:7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Fri, Oct 28th - 4:35PM

STUDY IN HEBREWS

CHAPTER SEVEN

Brothers and sisters, thank Jesus for His eternal love, mercy, and eternal salvation.The Lord’s blessings and peace to you all.

Schools have their own requirements for degrees earned with titles of Magna cum laude that differs from school to school. There is no set standard for it at all. The value can depend on the schools ranking amongst schools. The question, dearly beloveds is if a degree and title determine one’s ability to be a minister of God, how does one weigh it amongst many, many others who have the same degree and title? Would such a degree be of more value if from Oxford, Harvard, or Cambridge? Do you look at who has the highest gpa amongst them? This would be problematic if they were all the same amongst many thousands. Such man- made standards create divisions and exalts some Christians above others who do not have these things. This always happens when we don’t trust God to take Him at His word.

The true biblical qualifications for an elder could not be determined from watching somebody attend a class once a week or so, sitting silently unless answering a question or doing something else related to class work. It is remarkable and wrong that someone would try to tear Lord Jesus down, whose Name is above every name, yet glorify themselves on account of attaining a degree Magna cum laude (the highest honor).

Thank God, He left the church His absolute standard that men must meet to qualify to be appointed to have oversight of believers in the local body in all the churches. God's standard is absolutely quantifiable, measureable, observable, and evidenced with sound observation and discernment of others, to test, try and prove those fit or not to be ordained into the ministry.

Thank the Lord for the many churches that still choose to appoint ministers of the body God’s way. God’s way is the only right way, and the only right way is God's way. God’s standard is higher than the uninformed, and unreliable standard of men.

  Tit 1:5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

The false gospel of prosperity as taught by Pat Robertson and others teaches:

 All material poverty is self -caused. 3. Christians give in order to gain material compensation from God. 4. Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity. 5. Prayer is a tool to force God to grant prosperity. Being the founder of a school does not turn these lies into the truth, they will always be lies.

The righteous will repent, but the wicked never will. Brothers and sisters let us put our trust in God according to His word, never the doctrines of mere men.

Love and truth, serola

Tue, Oct 25th - 6:28PM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

CHAPTER SEVEN

Brothers and sisters, what a mighty God we serve! Blessings, honor, and praises to you Father God, and to you God the Son Jesus Christ, and to you God the Holy Spirit. Had each of us your people a thousand tongues to praise you God, it would still be insufficient to rightly proclaim all the praises due to your great Name. Nevertheless, God, we thank you that you will receive from our tongues which you have created within us, our continual heartfelt professions of love and trust in you.

Thank you Lord Jesus for the faithful elders, bishops, pastors, teachers, deacons and the body general who work tirelessly, and faithfully to help every believer grow in grace. Any ministry trying to grow without the word of God, will fall flat in just a matter of time, regardless of the works they might have. Every congregation not fed with the word of God will suck dry any elder, pastor, or bishop in desparate attempts to fill themselves up spiritually in some way.

Anybody with oversight of such congregations will eventually feel resentful and drained over time.  Not to mention, the congregation will feel resentful, and empty, seeing the only true way for any believer to be fed spiritually is with the word of God. Thank God for the many faithful believers who trust in God and His word to serve God acceptably and to fully satisfy their spiritual needs, not gimmicks, programs, or the doctrines of men.

God does instruct us, dearly beloveds, to beware of false teachers. In the scriptures God commands His church to ordain men to have oversight of the gospel message in the body to be first tested, tried, and proven, to have certain qualifications for their office, affirming their trustworthiness to handle the gospel, and ability to carry out their office faithfully.

Unfortunately, holy brethren, there have arisen amongst the true church, a substitute church called a college, university or some other organizations whose standard is to grant degrees to those who pay for it and/or earn an acceptable grade to be pastors, ministers, or reverends. Many of these are pastors on paper, who validate themselves on the basis of the degree they worked for and/or paid a certain sum for, not the blblical without cost standard that God has set for those ordained to minister in the body of Christ.

Sometimes if a donation to the organization or school is substantial the donor might be granted an unearned doctorate in honorium which in some cases is considered equal to anyone having paid and completed the courses for it.  

Pat Robertson, among others, ceo of a university he founded, churns out paper pastors who claim to be experts in the gospel based on the work that they have done to obtain a degree. There is no way to know what was taught in these courses, or what was added that might not be relevant to scripture.

In the secular world we know degrees are often necessary to obtain employment, but should it be that way in the church? Does God command the church to ordain people for office in the church on the basis of  ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE? Do we put our trust in anyone on the basis of their works of righteousness in their eyes such as grades they have earned or a degree they worked for, or do we trust the many like Paul the apostle who is tested, tried, and proven a faithful minister of the gospel evidenced in his word and deed? God’s word tells us that those like Paul are the one’s we should trust in the manner of the Bereans.

This is certainly not an issue with people having degrees. However, such requirements are the commandments of mere men not God for He has set a much higher standard for service in His church and does not charge a fee for it.

I do not doubt Pat Robertson is sincere, or that he has done many works; however, he is a teacher of the false doctrine of the prosperity gospel: Beware of False Prophets Who Teach A Prosperity Gospel jesus-is-savior.com/False Doctrines/Charismatic...

Pat Robertson is not my hero, I'll tell you that! The 700 Club is a notorious example of what the prosperity gospel heresy is. That's all they teach! The entire Ecumenical Movement is saturated with prosperity heresies.

Paul continually exalts Jesus. He does not leave out scripture that absolutely confirms that Jesus is equal with God, or that God the Father has exalted the Son with Himself to be above every name that is named, declares the Son to be God, and has given Him the Judgement Seat of Christ, and a throne on His right hand. I believe God who cannot lie.

Dearly beloveds, Paul is humble, patient, trusting that the word of God will do its work in these Hebrew believers if they will trust in it as we all must. Again, Paul praises and does not fault these Hebrew believers for their love and works ministry to the saints (G40 hagios). He meticulously teaches them that everything we do and believe must spring out of the foundational truths of God’s word rightly interpreted, not works alone. Leave out the word, and leave out the wisdom, safety, protection and growth that only the word of God can provide as we believe, trust and live it in the world.

Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Brothers and sisters, if any body knew God, Abraham did. God referred to Him as “Abraham my friend”, and God had many times spoken directly to Him. Yet, without question, Abraham meets Melchisedec whom He highly esteems a priest of God, a Mediator, superior to himself, receives blessings from him, and gives Him a tithe of all that he had.

From this, holy brethren, we can see how great a man is Melchesedic appearing not only as priest, but also as Mediator between Abraham and God: 1Ti 2:5.

Keep in mind, Abraham was not commanded by God to give Melchisedec a tithe, neither did Melchisedec command Abraham to give Him a tithe. Abraham counted Mechisedec so great a priest of God that he voluntarily gave a tithe as a lesser person does to one whom He considers to be so much more superior and greater than himself. This is the first time a priest of God was ever mentioned directly in the Bible: Rev 1:17. The inference of such a priest present on earth however is in Gen 3:21.

The study will continue, saints (G40 hagios). We leave here understanding that although the tithe was commanded under the Law, Abraham gave his tithe voluntarily to Melchisedec not by the commandent of God. Jesus is the first priest of God and He shall be the last forever. Amen.

Sat, Oct 22nd - 8:21AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Brothers and sisters, let us always praise and thank our God for sending God His Son Jesus Christ to save us from all of our sins and to translate us into the kingdom of God through His final finished and complete work of atonement for the salvation of all who believe in and on Him.

The Bible is clear, Jesus is equal with God, and frankly stated He and His Father are One. Jesus said God His Father was greater, because before His resurrection He had made Himself lower than the angels, and taken on humanity to suffer death and to give Himself as the perfect sacrifice for all sins for any who believe on Him in the whole world.  Jesus in His resurrection, having accomplished all that God His Father sent Him to do, has all the glory/equality that He had from the beginning with God the Father.

Search the scriptures, dearly beloveds, and we will find not one word from the mouth of God the Father that lessens the full equal divinity of Jesus Christ, with God His Father.

God the Father sets Paul before us as a wonderful example of how we should walk in humility and love for God the Father, and God His Son Jesus Christ, our brothers and sisters and all men.

Paul the apostle and our brother, is a study in humility. He was a well educated man, and a powerful apostle of God with apostolic authority. Yet, he used none of his education nor apostleship to give himself a special title of superiority, such as reverend to elevate himself above his brethren.

Again, Paul is not trying to exalt himself because of his greater knowledge. Instead, he is seeking to share it to jump start and get these Hebrews back on track to the knowledge of scripture to grow them and help them go on to maturity, established in the faith. The times were way too dangerous then for any believer to be neglectful or slothful in the study and living of the scripture. Now, holy brethren, the times have gone way past too dangerous to be slothful or neglectful of scripture today.

Paul well understood that they were all equal as brethren, which did not diminish/devalue his greater knowledge of the gospel, responsibility, accountability and apostolic authority in the body of Christ.  

Paul did not slyly attempt to deceive these believers or to make them think that they were doing wrong to worship or exalt God the Son Jesus Christ equally with their worship of God the Father.

No, instead, Paul at the very beginning of Hebrews frankly shows them that God the Father has made God the Son Jesus Christ equal with Himself in that He calls His Son Jesus Christ God, without ambiguity of any kind.  Is there any that would call God a liar?  God declares in His word: Rom 3:3

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Let us go on into the study where Paul is seeking to help us understand that the absolute and only entry that we have to God is through faith in God His Son Jesus Christ, and why God the Father commands us to trust in His Son, being extremely careful of anyone who wilfully puts Jesus down, while exalting themselves as “ reverend”.

Heb 7:1 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;

 Heb 7:2 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;

 Heb 7:3 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.

Abraham well knew that it was not his power, but the power of God that gave Him the victory over the kings who had taken his nephew Lot captive when he dwelt in Sodom. This is why he honored Melchisedec with a tithe in gratitude to God. See chapter 14 of Genesis.

The  question that we seek to answer here, is who is this enigmatic Melchisdec, (Gen 14:18; Psa 110:4),  who is also mentioned in the Old Testament?

We must conclude, dearly beloveds, that this Melchisedec is the preexistent Christ, for besides God The Father, and the God the Holy spirit, only God His Son Jesus alone perfectly checks off all the boxes descriptive of Melchisedec in the verses above.

There is no fourth person of the trinity, there are only three:  1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

How is it, brothers and sisters, that we even have a priest showing up here before God even established the first church in the wilderness, on earth, under Moses and Aaron? This is because God had already established the true church in heaven, with its priest. The Mosaic tabernacle on earth was a mere imperfect shadow reflecting the pattern of the true church that would later be revealed in the promised Abrahamic perfect atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

This absolutely establishes the reason that although Jesus, in His earthly ministry, preached the gospel even to the Levites, He never once paid a tithe or worshipped in the Levitical synagogues. Indeed, He could not. This will be fleshed out even further along in the study.

Next time, dearly beloveds, we will begin to look more at the tithes. Until then, holy people, the Lord  help us to remember those who are in need of help and support and be ready to comfort them with the word and to share our earthly goods with them as we are able.

Wed, Oct 19th - 10:28PM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS     

CHAPTER SEVEN

Brothers and sisters, we arrive again at our Lord’s table. Jesus our Lord and Saviour always invites us to voraciously eat and drink of Himself, our spiritual food for all eternity, by the will of God our Father.

We should resist the temptation to think we only need food for the body. Jesus reminds us that man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word of God: Mat 4:4; Luk 4:4.

We should not neglect a healthy diet to grow and retain good physical health, neither should we neglect a healthy spiritual diet from God’s word the only source of spiritual nourishment to grow and retain good spiritual health, because we are spiritual peoples.

Some in error think that God is unknowable, or that  no one can really know God. However, the New Covenant guarantees and the Old Covenant confirms, that any believer can indeed know God deeply and well through His word.

God’s word has primacy, because everything we preach, teach, and live, even our work, must absolutely be based on its inerrant, eternal love and truth in the standard and boundary that God has established for all eternity in God His Son Jesus Christ: Jhn 14:6.

Again, holy brethern, lets say this and believe this in our minds and hearts; the Bible, rightly interpreted, is our beginning, middle, and ending in holy living, and serving God in ALL matters regarding HIS church, and among all men, according to His commands as set forth in the standard and boundary of God the Son Jesus Christ, not our personal opinions or private doctrines.

Dearly beloveds, find chapter 7 of the book of Hebrews laid out for us to go through and speak to our hearts and minds. Melchisedec comes up again. Tithes comes up in this chapter, also in other places in scripture, which is in much controversey today, some being for tithing and others not so much. This issue will not be the focus of this study. However, seeing God’s purpose for the tithes might surprise some and answer many questions regarding it.

Heb 7:1 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;

 Heb 7:2 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;

 Heb 7:3 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.

Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Heb 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

 Heb 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Heb 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

 Heb 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

 Heb 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

 Heb 7:10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

(Psa 110:4 )

 Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

 Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

 Heb 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

 Heb 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Heb 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest

Heb 7:16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

 Heb 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

 Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

 Heb 7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

 Heb 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

 Heb 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

 Heb 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

 Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

 Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

 Heb 7:27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

 Heb 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Tue, Oct 18th - 10:46AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS               

CHAPTER SIX

Brothers and sisters, let us  thank our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for His eternal, love, mercy, blessings of salvation, and for counting us worthy through faith in His great Name to be made children of God, His royal forever family.

Dearly beloveds, I love you and appreciate your patience and participation with me in these studies, which are often repetitive so that it can help get deep down in our understanding that will make application of God’s word easier to apply and to practice  our character, conduct, and conversation.

 Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Holy people, its great, fitting that these Hebrew believers had firm evidence of love in their work and ministry: Eph 2:10.

However, holy brethren, now Paul is urging them to stop being lazy, careless, and neglectful of learning, retaining, and practicing the word of God. They should instead do as Paul had taught Titus:   

Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

We know that all must be faithful, and steadfast to do the work of God plus the doctrine of Christ without corruptness of it, both out of love. Without love both are worthless and do not count in the sight of God, for God is love. Certainly, the work might help some, and some might be saved through the preaching, but it will not garner benefit to those who did any of it without love: 1Co 13:1-13.

Holy people is it any surprise that those who forget, or are too lazy to labor in the word, tend to forget who they are too, even losing a sure sense of their identity as Christians?

Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Dearly beloveds, thank God, we can frankly examine ourselves also, confirming that we have this pattern of works plus the word done out of love, or fall short of it. If we fall short of it, we do not have to stay in that condition; which means we can, without condemnation, correct any of  our short comings by the grace of God.

Paul encourages the Hebrew believers, and indeed us also, that we can all learn from and follow the faithful examples of the many saints (hagios G40) that have gone on before us to accomplish the  same attainment of all that God promises to His faithful people, just as they had.

These Hebrews believers, brothers and sisters, were highly receptive to Paul’s loving although firm corrections. They did not have a bad attitude that Paul was somehow messing in their business and should get along and take care of his own business, and quit worrying about theirs. They did not see Paul as an enemy or take offense at his corrective interventions, although the Galatians did to whom Paul replied:

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Lord Jesus help us to remain correctable and teachable in your word, that we shall be settled and rooted in your word, for your glory.

Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Heb 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Wow! Amazing! Dearly beloveds, God went full on and sealed His promises to Abraham, by making an oath that no man, no creature, not even God Himself could break for all eternity! God’s oath bound in His absolute truth and power fully assured Abraham that God, for whom it was impossible to lie, would absolutely keep His promises for all time. Therefore, Abraham believed God, and through all the trials and hardships he suffered, remained  patient, faithful and obtained the promises.

Lord Jesus, cause us your people to rest steadfast on the promises of God our Father, for whom it is impossible to lie, to the glory of God.

Heb 6:16  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Now, holy brethren, these promises that God made to Abraham, based on the eternal fact that God’s promise by His oath is absolute, eternal, unbreakable, unalterable, unchangeable, is set in God His Son Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God is still speaking to us today. Therefore, holy brethren, with the absolute assurance and confidence in God who cannot lie, let us have THE SAME faithfulness and patience like Father Abraham, and like all who have gone before us. Let us fly to lay hold on Jesus our eternal, sure, steadfast hope, refuge and the anchor of our souls in God, who has entered for us into the true tabernacle in heaven, into the holiest of holies, with all power and authority, made our High Priest forever.

If we have confidence in God, brethren, let us also as God commands have this SAME confidence in God His Son, Jesus our High Priest, our Anchor. Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is unmoveable, unshakeable, unbeatable, unconquerable, undefeatable, no man nor creature can snatch us from His nail scarred hands, nor the hands of our Father God.

Jesus  who is God the Son-Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, is steadily working in me, you, us. He is strengthening, shaping, molding, guarding, guiding, building us His people up in His image; while tearing everything off of us that does not look like Him or represent His Father God, nor His kingdom, to the glory of God the Father. We are the candles of the Lord, and He lights us up to be a light set on a hill which cannot be hid.

We end this chapter, brethren, with the fact that Jesus Christ operating forever in the holiest of all, in the tabernacle in heaven not made with hands, is made the PERMANENT High Priest by God for all eternity, by the oath of God the Father. This represents a vast change in the High Priesthood, and a change in the order  of the Prieshood to that of  Melchisedec. Dearly beloveds, lets gear up and get ready to read and ride into chapter 7 of Hebrews.

love and truth, serola

Tue, Oct 18th - 10:46AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS               

CHAPTER SIX

Brothers and sisters, let us  thank our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for His eternal, love, mercy, blessings of salvation, and for counting us worthy through faith in His great Name to be made children of God, His royal forever family.

Dearly beloveds, I love you and appreciate your patience and participation with me in these studies, which are often repetitive so that it can help get deep down in our understanding that will make application of God’s word easier to apply and to practice in our character, conduct, and conversation.

 Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Holy people, its great, fitting that these Hebrew believers had firm evidence of love in their work and ministry: Eph 2:10.

However, holy brethren, now Paul is urging them to stop being lazy, careless, and neglectful of learning, retaining, and practicing the word of God. They should instead do as Paul had taught Titus:   

Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

We know that all must be faithful, and steadfast to do the work of God plus the doctrine of Christ without corruptness of it, both out of love. Without love both are worthless and do not count in the sight of God, for God is love. Certainly, the work might help some, and some might be saved through the preaching, but it will not garner benefit to those who did any of it without love: 1Co 13:1-13.

Holy people is it any surprise that those who forget, or are too lazy to labor in the word, tend to forget who they are too, even losing a sure sense of their identity as Christians?

Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Dearly beloveds, thank God, we can frankly examine ourselves also, confirming that we have this pattern of works plus the word done out of love, or fall short of it. If we fall short of it, we do not have to stay in that condition; which means we can, without condemnation, correct any of  our short comings by the grace of God.

Paul encourages the Hebrew believers, and indeed us also, that we can all learn from and follow the faithful examples of the many saints (hagios G40) that have gone on before us to accomplish the  same attainment of all that God promises to His faithful people, just as they had.

These Hebrews believers, brothers and sisters, were highly receptive to Paul’s loving although firm corrections. They did not have a bad attitude that Paul was somehow messing in their business and should get along and take care of his own business, and quit worrying about theirs. They did not see Paul as an enemy or take offense at his corrective interventions, although the Galatians did to whom Paul replied:

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Lord Jesus help us to remain correctable and teachable in your word, that we shall be settled and rooted in your word, for your glory.

Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Heb 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Wow! Amazing! Dearly beloveds, God went full on and sealed His promises to Abraham, by making an oath that no man, no creature, not even God Himself could break for all eternity! God’s oath bound in His absolute truth and power fully assured Abraham that God, for whom it was impossible to lie, would absolutely keep His promises for all time. Therefore, Abraham believed God, and through all the trials and hardships he suffered, remained  patient, faithful and obtained the promises.

Lord Jesus, cause us your people to rest steadfast on the promises of God our Father, for whom it is impossible to lie, to the glory of God.

Heb 6:16  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Now, holy brethren, these promises that God made to Abraham, based on the eternal fact that God’s promise by His oath is absolute, eternal, unbreakable, unalterable, unchangeable, is set in God His Son Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God is still speaking to us today. Therefore, holy brethren, with the absolute assurance and confidence in God who cannot lie, let us have THE SAME faithfulness and patience like Father Abraham, and like all who have gone before us. Let us fly to lay hold on Jesus our eternal, sure, steadfast hope, refuge and the anchor of our souls in God, who has entered for us into the true tabernacle in heaven, into the holiest of holies, with all power and authority, made our High Priest forever.

If we have confidence in God, brethren, let us also as God commands have this SAME confidence in God His Son, Jesus our High Priest, our Anchor. Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is unmoveable, unshakeable, unbeatable, unconquerable, undefeatable, no man nor creature can snatch us from His nail scarred hands, nor the hands of our Father God.

Jesus  who is God the Son-Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, is steadily working in me, you, us. He is strengthening, shaping, molding, guarding, guiding, building us His people up in His image; while tearing everything off of us that does not look like Him or represent His Father God, nor His kingdom, to the glory of God the Father. We are the candles of the Lord, and He lights us up to be a light set on a hill which cannot be hid.

We end this chapter, brethren, with the fact that Jesus Christ operating forever in the holiest of all, in the tabernacle in heaven not made with hands, is made the PERMANENT High Priest by God for all eternity, by the oath of God the Father. This represents a vast change in the High Priesthood, and a change in the order  of the Prieshood to that of  Melchisedec. Dearly beloveds, lets gear up and get ready to read and ride into chapter 7 of Hebrews.

love and truth, serola

Sun, Oct 16th - 10:10PM

 HELL IS FOR REAL

Brothers and sisters, we must tell people the whole truth that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour and only by faith in His name can anyone be forgiven of their sins and become children of God. Many years ago, a lady who spoke very well of her pastor invited me to her church’s night of prayer. She gave me a brochure about it, and it seemed like it would be a good thing to spend the night in prayer. However, when I got there the pastor began to preach that Jesus said that we were cursed and began to read the curses for those under the Mosaic Law. He purported that he had the power to break the curses that those present had over their lives.

He got really angry when I told him that I was under no curses whatsoever through faith in Jesus Christ my Saviour. He got even more angry and seemingly wanted to make an example of me, saying that I was under a curse and did not believe him because I had secret unconfessed sin in my life. One by one he called out aloud what he believed were my secret, unconfessed sins.

A strange thing happened his church members began to scream, fall out, and some foamed at the lips as he called out each of my so-called secret, unconfessed sins. This went on so long that besides me and him and the two men with him in the pulpit, the whole congregation were writhing on the floor begging for help due to their secret and unconfessed sins. The place actually smelled acrid like fire and brimstone.

He called for a break and got all the people up and they went out to take care of themselves, I remained standing, and feeling perfectly fine. When we resumed, he took a bunch of little sticks and would snap his fingers and break a little stick each time he read out a particular curse that he was so called breaking from the congregations’ lives. Next, he asked the people to form a line and stood in front of it to lay hands on the people to heal them. As the so-called pastor and the two men with him laid hands on the people, every one they touched fell down screaming, writhing, and foaming at the lips. I was strongly led by the Lord to get in the line and as I came near the three men, great fear fell on their faces, and they yelled out to each other not to touch me. I had no fear of these false teachers and knew they had no power with God. God empowers His people to stand in faith for His name and against all lies of the devil. They abruptly shut down the so called prayer meeting, and I left.

The story does not end here. No amount of urging to get the lady that had invited me out of that false church worked. Her so-called pastor died suddenly not long after. The lady began to suffer strange illnesses, boils all over her body, and wasted away to skin and bone and died.

 Brothers and sisters God does not teach that people can be saved by having one foot in the Law and the other on Grace. God's point in the Law of Moses is that none can be saved by nor through it, but turn to His Son Jesus Christ to be saved from their sins, and fully delivered from the Law of death, the curse and condemnation. Those who impenitently adhere to this blasphemy will suffer the fate of all of God’s enemies. Salvation is through grace alone, by faith alone, by God through Jesus Christ alone, and confirmed by the Holy Ghost. The Bible is clear only the gospel saves, not Law nor any other doctrine, nor any other doctrine mixed in or substituted with the gospel of grace.

We, brothers and sisters, must fully rebuke those who "tweak" the gospel message to be "nice", to make it more "palatable", more "relevant" to the so-called modern culture, and diverse populations. The gospel ain't broke and does not need any fixing. When the gospel message is preached it will do its work in the hearts of men to receive it or reject it. We must not fail to tell all men the whole truth that there is a price to be paid for those who reject Jesus Christ-hell ain't nice, but hell is real.

Love and truth, serola   reprinted from 2016

Sun, Oct 16th - 1:05AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

CHAPTER SIX

Brothers and sisters, we meet once again, to devour the word of God and freely partake of its abundance in inerrant knowledge, and understanding of Him, that we may grow, live, love and have hope in His everlasting arms.

Again the Bible absolutely declares that Jesus Christ is equal with God His Father. Dearly beloveds, you see when anybody lies and falsely claims that Lord Jesus is not equal with God it impugns His atoning work of salvation, cast doubt on the worship of Him, is a blatant attempt to deny the fullness of His Godhood, and is a doctrine straight from the devil:  Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him ALL the fullness should dwell,

Col 2:9 For in Him dwells ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

 God the Father declares Jesus is God in the very first chapter of Hebrews  without any equivocation and absolutely no evidence that Jesus is somehow a “lesser” God. We should take the word of God above that of mere men. God said it and I believe God:  Heb 1: 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

God never gave total power to Adam, Moses, none of the prophets, none of the apostles, and no other mere human being on earth, and certainly not the devil, angels nor any other creature. Only to His Son Jesus Christ did God give all power and authority, the same power and authority as He has.

God  ABSOLUTELY trusts in His Son, because He knew that only Jesus who is equal to Him is worthy of the power and authority bestowed upon Him and would absolutely never abuse it in anyway, that’s why God did send Jesus to save us knowing that Jesus would absolutely obey His will, follow every precept of His commands out of love and trust in His Father, to accomplish all things commanded by God: Eph 1:12.

Holy brethren, again God in His word absolutely states that Jesus is equal with God: Phl 2:6 -8.

God commands equal worship of His Son Jesus Christ: Phl 2:9.

Consider, the following Scriptures, brothers and sisters: John 5:17,18 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself EQUAL WITH GOD.

Jesus lists 3 major ways that He is equal to God. Giving Life—John 5:21, 26. Both present eternal life and in the final resurrection, Jesus gives life to mankind. He learned this from His Father. Just as God raised the dead and gave them life, Jesus also “gives life to whom He wishes.”

Jhn 5:23 That ALL men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Jhn 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

Open your Bibles, saints (G40 hagios). Let’s go to the the book of Revelation, chapter 4 we find God the Father receiving worship. Now let us go to chapter 5 of the book of Revelation, to see that God the Son Jesus Christ is worshipped too, IN THE PRESCENCE OF GOD THE FATHER, JUST AS THE FATHER RECEIVES WORSHIP.

Look, read carefully, holy brethren, God the Father is sitting right there on His throne looking at and watching it all. We don’t see anywhere God the Father tries to stop it for any reason or on the basis that Jesus is not equal with Him So if it pleases God the Father that His Son Jesus Christ receives equal worship the same as Him, we are commanded to do the same.

God is not jealous of or in competition with His Son Jesus Christ. God the Father is pleased, not angry that we bestow our worship on Lord Jesus the same as we do our Father God. To those who have had their faith shaken by the lie that Jesus Christ our Saviour is not equal with God, I pray you will come believing what the Bible absolutely declares that Jesus is equal with the Father, and to receive equal worship.

Sometimes people make mistakes in interpreting scriptures. The righteous will receive correction, but the wicked never will and therefore reveal themselves as heretics, anti- christs.

Studies in Hebrews will continue. Lord Jesus grants us His peace for He continually is watching over us His flock.

Fri, Oct 14th - 5:47AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS 

CHAPTER SIX

Brothers and sisters, let us recall that right away in chapter one of Hebrews God our Father lavishes the highest of praises and accolades upon our Elder Brother, God His Son Jesus Christ; such as God has never done for anyone else. God our Father explicitly, exhaustively declares that Jesus is greater than the prophets and any other human being who ever lived. God our Father declares that Jesus Christ, God the Son is His sole Spokesman today through whom He is speaking. God the Father declares not only is Lord Jesus His express image, but that Jesus is God His Son, enthroned on His right hand.

God in His word declares that God His Son Jesus Christ is equal with Him: Phl 2:6 -8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:Then God goes even further and commands that God His Son Jesus Christ be worshipped by all men as God the Son: Phl 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10   That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Phl 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Holy people we know that God cannot lie, so if God declares that Jesus is God His Son, equal with Him and to receive worship from all men, the same as with the Father, I believe God.

1. Luther and Hitler: A Linear Connection between Martin Luther ...

scholarship.rollins.edu/mls/20 Martin Luther and Adolf Hitler are inseparably linked with their extreme anti-Semitism and nationalism. It is impossible to assume that Luther did not have any influence on Hitler and his views, for it cannot be mere coincidence that Hitler’s anti-Jewish sentiment of the 1930s and 1940s mirrors that of Luther’s anti-Semitism of the 1500s.

1. Martin Luther and antisemitism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_and_antisemitism

In 1543 Luther published On the Jews and Their Lies in which he says that the Jews are a "base, whoring people, that is, no people of God, and their boast of lineage, circumcision, and law must be accounted as filth." [14] They are full of the "devil's feces ... which they wallow in like swine." [15]

1. Martin Luther Refuted - jesusisprecious.org

www.jesusisprecious.org/false.../lutheran/martin_luther.htm

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a fraud, a heretic. Tragically, this man who has been dead for 466 years is still brainwashing people with his damnable heresies, leading them into Hellfire. Here are the words of one such deceived soul...

Holy people we can take God at His word:

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

Let us, brethren, always drink and dine abundantly upon the word of God as our Lord always commands us to. We come to where Paul assures and encourages these Hebrew believers.

Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.

PERSUADED:  persuade, trust, have confidence, believe,  be confident .

BETTER THINGS: better, best; more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous, more excellent.

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Brothers and sisters, Paul is totally persuaded that these Christians are genuine and in no danger of falling away. He encourages them, and assures them that their love of the brethren is apparent in their good works and ministry in the sight of God, who will not fail to reward them for it. However, faith does not arise out of works, our works arise out of faith:  2Co 9:8

Without study of God’s word and retaining what they learned, how could they grow towards maturity, live as God commands, witness, or even preach a gospel they no longer remembered. The word of God is our spiritual food, because we have been made spiritual  people through the atoning work of Christ.

Paul rightly warns these believers to stop being slothful - Indolent; inactive, and to follow the many examples of unwavering faithful believers recorded in scripture. It is in and through God’s word that our identiy is clearly rooted in/ laid out within the standard and boundary of God’s word.

God’s word protects us from being gullible to apostates, from ignorantly teaching unbiblical doctrines that contradicts His word, strengthens, equips, comforts, guards, guides us without error to live godly lives in this present evil world, to help and encourage one another, to meet our needs, to be able to rightly interpret the word of God and to preach/teach it in the world, and so much more:  Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The Bible instructs us that the word of God and the work we do are not either or, because God commands us to do both. Some Christians just value preaching the word, and have no works. Some just value the work, minus the word. However, it is in:  1Co 13:1-13 we fully comprehend that our laboring in the word and our works count as nothing of value with God if it is not done in love.

Mon, Oct 10th - 11:36PM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

CHAPTER SIX

Brothers and sisters, its amazing that our great merciful Lord, God the Son, Jesus Christ, willingly in loving trust of God the Father, dared to love His enemies, die for them, and save those deserving utter destruction for all eternity. Amazing also is that God the Father would give His only eternally sinless well beloved Son God Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins.

Think about what and how they must have felt, this being between them since before time began. Jesus was tested horribly, unjustly tried, however in all of it He proved He really is God the Son, for God is love, and He showed it by dying for those who hated Him. Our Jesus, dying for our sins, having atoned for our sins, raised to life, was lifted up to heaven and received in the arms of His and our Father God, and seated on His own throne. Oh, dearly beloveds, to have been present with the angels in heaven to witness the great Joy of God our Father receiving His only Son Jesus back in His arms again, well and alive forever more!!

In imitation of Lord Jesus, although we the church are hated by our enemies, while we hate the evil that they do we nevertheless pray for them and bless them that they might come to believe and be saved. No question, we are not doormats and have authority from God to protect/defend our loved ones and ourselves if needed from every evil person, if they come to do us harm. Thank God, he has also left us His authorities on earth to control and punish evil, although we know, holy brethren, the time is coming that these authorities will be completely corrupted when the man of sin appears, whom our Lord shall slay: 2Th 2:8.

Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

The word of God continues in the above verses and throughout scripture, brothers and sisters, meticulously, explicitly, exhaustively from the general, specific and even the minutiae comparing and contrasting how the gospel tests, tries, and proves everyone that declares to have believed it.

God with great care not willing that any be lost sends His gospel messengers with urgency to often proclaim and teach it to people relentlessly. The above verses plainly teach us that this process will produce faith in the good hearts of those who believe the gospel and proves those whose evil hearts will never believe in Jesus no matter if they heard the gospel preached until the end of time, or at His glorious appearing.

Backsliding as under the Law, holy brethren, is no longer an accepted tenet of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Indeed, Lord Jesus gives examples contrasts/comparisons that confirms this. There is no mixing of the two i.e., good bad guy or bad good guy- does not exist in God’s economy. What we believe faithfully or impenitently not believe of the gospel sets the eternal permanent truth of God in His determination of whether one is good deserving eternal life or evil deserving eternal death. God’s judgment is the only one that matters for all eternity.

Dearly beloveds, what we really believe is revealed when our God tries us in the temptations, tests, and trials that we go through in our lives. Feel free to study more of this on your own the Bible gives examples of this. We can know, (we can test ourselves), where we stand by the boundary and standard of God’s word. Are we counting these tests, temptations, and trials with persistent unshakeable joy, or are we persistently angry with God when we go through these things? Brothers and sisters, we don’t get upset and think our trials are strange, even when some of our trials are fiery: 1Pe 1:6-9.  

Understand this too, dearly beloveds, God is judging us His house now in this present world through our tests and trials to prove us. This is why all who are proven faithful at His coming will absolutely never be judged worthy of condemnation.  Our testing's is not for no reason, God teaches us their purposes and all we need to know and our attitude we should have to deal with them successfully to please Him in them: 1Pe 4:12-17. Fear not, let not your hearts be troubled, or afraid. Bring all your burdens and cares to the Lord, brothers and sisters, He knows everything, He is your strength in the day of trouble.

2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Sat, Oct 8th - 7:29PM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

CHAPTER SIX

Blessings, peace, honor, and glory to you Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us to yourself, to your Father God, and to God your Holy Spirit, and made us your house and your dwelling place forever. Lord Jesus you are out first love, pure and holy, you are ours forever, and we belong to you, and you have given us to one another as your eternal holy family of priests.

Brothers and sisters, thanks be to God for you, a peculiar people of God through faith in His Son and eternal Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise His name that we can hold one another up in love and prayer to Him continually, bringing Him all our cares, and needs day and night, knowing our good Shepherd is always there even in us watching over us His flock.

Dearly beloveds, we know without question that God wants us all to grow spiritually. He sets the apostle Paul before us as one of His many examples to teach/instruct us how to grow and to help our brothers and sisters move forward in the faith to maturity. He sets the understanding that our growth is dependent on first gaining the mastery of the basic underpinnings of our faith.

It is through and after this attainment of the basic underpinnings of our faith, walking and living in them, that we all can move forward to gaining the comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the deeper more difficult tenets of our faith. It is always a preventable tragedy that some ministries go off course, become hurtful and damaging to the body of Christ, and fail, because they are based more on enthusiasm, emotionalism, and personal opinion/interpretations than on the necessary basic tenets of the faith.

We know, holy brethren, all of our further learnings must be tethered to and rooted in the basic doctrine of Christ. let’s keep saying and teaching the truth that there is no need for any Christian to remain ignorant of the doctrine of Christ. No Christian needs any special degrees, or permissions from any person to be taught, study and to know God for themselves. Every spiritual baby is expected at some point to grow and be able to feed himself and others that might have need. 

Again, it must be clear that if a person has a degree that is their choice, but God our Father does not require it in His kingdom and has no need of it, Himself being the God of ALL wisdom and knowledge.

 Heb 6:4 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,  

Heb 6:5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

 Heb 6:6 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.

Because we are rooted in the basic underpinnings of the gospel message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we know from what has been previously taught that the above verses do not and cannot ever refer to Christians:  Jde 1:24. Our Lord Jesus teaches us that those who fall away, despite being well taught in scripture, never believed in the first place.

Therefore, brethren, those who sooner or later fall away have a conditional belief, i.e., their faith based on believing only as long as things were going well, that they would suffer no hardships, no temptations, no discipline, no accountability or responsibility, wanting only endless good feelings and prosperity. Those who fall away are just as hostile to God and of the same ilk as those who blasphemed and crucified our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. God gives them absolutely NO excuse.

The warning here is not that any Christian can ever fall away, but that our faith must rest in Jesus Christ alone not in the things of this raggedy, tattered, teetering, failing world, seeing that all things of the world along with the world itself will be burnt up at the appointed time by God.

Saints (G40 hagios) the word of God prepares and equips us to be ready for anything, that we shall stand no matter what losses or difficulties we suffer, because our hope which is truly rooted in Him is imperishable, eternal, indestructible and everlasting.

Let us understand this too, dearly beloveds, it is not that God does not want to restore those who fall away. The problem is that such persons impenitently choose not to believe-to have no faith, and for this reason it becomes impossible for Him to restore them, seeing they choose to never repent.

The impenitent tastes the good things of God, but rejects receiving the whole of it, he or she absolutely refuses to drink it. God will not force anyone to believe in Him against their will, but such persons shall in no wise escape the penalty for it. The Bible gives us the example of tasting something but refusing to drink it: Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

Nevertheless, when it came to doing the will of His Father, Lord Jesus drank every drop in His cup of passion showing unshakeable in faith in His Father, wherein we stand and must follow His example.

The love of Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters, cover your minds and hearts, and cause you to rest and find unshakable peace in Him at all times.

Fri, Oct 7th - 12:24PM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS       

CHAPTER SIX

Dearly beloveds, blessings, peace, and love to you, in the gracious name of our Saviour, God the Son Jesus Christ, praise His Holy Name forever.

We find the apostle Paul urging his brethren, the Hebrews that in order to move forward in their growth it was necessary to be grounded in the elementary tenents of the faith upon which all subsequent growth must be tethered to, grounded upon. 

How sad it is to see the often-disastrous injurious results to those who jump into ministries with no concept of the Christian faith. Paul's intervention with these Hebrew believers is as much preventative as it is restorative to the practice of knowing and living sound doctrine.

Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.

ETERNAL

Eternal without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be without beginning; without end, never to cease, everlasting.

Judgment:  damnation, condemned, condemnation, judgment.

Brothers and sisters, we know that God forbids us from withholding any part of the gospel message of God the Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour because He most certainly never did. Our Lord gave the complete gospel message to everyone, regardless of their social status, and He never worried about folks being offended by it.

Some criticize God’s people for talking about eternal judgement, in error claiming that Christians attempt to “scare” people into heaven. Firstly, our love for all men and desire and agreement with God that all men be saved compels us to have the utmost urgency in spreading the gospel that as many people as possible might believe it and be saved, and not be condemned. 

Most certainly the day of judgment should scare the unbelievers to understand that there will be extreme catastrophic eternal irreversible consequences for all and any who reject Jesus Christ the only Saviour. Only through faith in Jesus Christ will all who believe be saved- receive the forgiveness of all sins and eternal life.

 Jhn 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Believers and unbelievers will be judged. The believer will be judged at the judgement seat of Christ. The unbelievers will be judged at the great white throne of God. However, the believer has nothing to fear, and will inherit eternal life and joy with God forever. The unbelievers have every reason to fear and no reason for hope, for they will be judged by God and receive the punishment due to the wicked which is to be cast into the lake of fire, brimstone, and Sulphur, where they will be tormented forever.

For the Christian eternal judgement is irreversible. It is the unchanging, immutable promise by God to the believer that: through faith in Jesus Christ:

Jhn 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

It is true, brothers and sisters, all Christian will appear before the judgment seat of Christ:

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

However, we are coming to our Lord Jesus to have our works, judged, not our inheritance, because we did not work for that. Lord Jesus Christ gave us our inheritance as a gift. Although some might lose a reward due to the poor quality of their work, none will ever lose their inheritance.

Dearly beloveds, in the day of eternal judgment, we need not approach our Lord’s throne in fear, but in great joy, trust, and confidence in Him: 1Jo 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  

 Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Because of Jesus Christ, every believer is washed, sanctified, and justified in His atoning work forever: 1Co 6:11.

 Christians have no reason to fear the wrath of God thanks be to the atoning work of Lord Jesus Christ: 1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Because of Jesus Christ, all Christians rest confidently, watching, working, and waiting because:

 Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Eternal judgment, dearly beloveds, for the unbelievers is also irreversible, unchanging, and is for all eternity. God has promised the impenitent unbeliever:  Jhn 3:36

…and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

The scriptures present the impenitent unbeliever as not passive, indifferent, or benign: 1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

In the day of judgement there will be no mix up or indecision by God as to who is good and who is evil: Mat 7:18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 12:35

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

God’s final, eternal, irreversible reward to all unbelievers, evil, wicked people is punishment and torment in the lake of fire for all eternity: 

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Mat 25:46

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

I pray urgently that if there is any amongst us who claims salvation on the basis of being a member of/or the gospel combined with any denomination, organization, institution, unbiblical doctrines of men, or Jesus plus works or anything else that they would repent while there is still time and come believing in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation that they might be saved and escape the wrath of God to come, and judgment in the lake of fire. DON’T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE!!!

Tue, Oct 4th - 8:38PM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

CHAPTER SIX

Brothers and sisters, let us give fervent praises and blessings to God our Father, for His love and mercy endures forever. Thanks be to God our Father that we are living on the resurrection side of the cross of our Lord and Saviour God the Son Jesus Christ.

We are ALL members of the body of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ and members one of another, indwelt by Him, God our Father, and God our Holy Spirit:  Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

For this reason, holy people, we are bound by God to remember that we are no longer alone nor on our own. We belong to God and to one another. We are of all  nations, cultures, colors, cuisines whether Jew or gentile we are all one in the Lord therefore: 1 Cor 6: 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

There is room and a place for all believers in Lord Jesus Christ. There is no need for any believer to fret or worry about trying to “fit” in the body of Christ, for He has already figured all that out for us: 1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. So, any brothers or sisters worried about such matters, RELAX, get involved, problems already solved by Lord Jesus, because it is no problem in Him. We know when Jesus places us because we find our particular time and talents are useful in the areas Lord Jesus places us. No need to fret about how long this might take, keep studying, knowing its important for us to wait on our particular ministries, because God takes time to get us ready for it, to prepare us for it and give us wisdom and knowledge in that particular ministry:  Rom 12:7

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving us the gospel of the New Covenant, whereby every believer can learn of you and be fully equipped to serve you:, we cannot teach it often enough: 2 Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.     

Dearly beloveds, let us say it repeatedly, we need no person’s permission to be taught the scriptures, nor is it limited to a select elite few. Besides elders, teachers, every individual believer, and the church as a whole are commanded by God:  2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Thank God for the many elders given oversight of the flocks of God who teach them the Bible and have continuous interactive study groups to help their members grow in grace and be protected from false teachers.

One of the most damaging and destructive things we can do as believers, dearly beloveds, is to jump out there trying to do a ministry or serve God without being grounded in the doctrine of Christ; ministries fail, people get hurt, some even die, the name of Christ is damaged, the gospel and God’s people are looked upon with suspicion. This can happen even with some who have been in Christ a good while, but who never bothered to study and learn the comprehensive message of the gospel of God the Son Jesus Christ. Thank Jesus none of us have to stay ignorant, but humbly study the Bible and seek any godly believer well versed in scripture if we need help. God always grants our desires to know Him.

APPROVED: accepted, pleasing, acceptable.

STUDY: to hasten, make haste- to exert oneself, endeavor, labor, be diligent.

Saints (G40 hagios), how generous and kind God is to give us so many easy examples to see in His apostles, prophets, and here in Paul the apostle and our brother how effective and useful we can be in the body when we ourselves reach spiritual maturity in the word of God. Brothers and sisters, it is a sheer joy to behold how mightily Paul is laboring with these Hebrew Christians, to correct, encourage and stabilize them in the word of God, in order to bring them forward, beyond the basics, to the mature comprehensive understanding of the word of God. No matter what level of growth we are in, each of us are to help a brother or sister who might not know it, as we continue on the road to perfection-spiritual maturity in the knowledge and understanding of God which is to be practiced, and lived publicly and privately.

We know, dearly beloveds, from other books that Paul had admonished the gentile Christians as well, who were not growing in the word: 1Co 3:2. Paul did not play favorites and did not let anyone, whether Jew or gentile, slide when He saw them going off course of the gospel. Yet, at all times he ministered to them as his family, not as somebody sitting in a pew and told homilies and to return next week for more of the same. Paul is fully engaged with these Hebrew believers just as he was with the gentile believers. We are the priests and family of God, to which Paul attests: Eph 3:14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Thank God for the wise elders who preach the gospel faithfully and greatly work to help the believers see themselves as the family of God and priests who must minister to one another. I pray Lord Jesus that you will greatly bless them, help them, and continually encourage them in their work in your behalf. Lord bless the brethren meeting in house churches, in coffee shops, school auditoriums, gym rooms, libraries, under the freeways, in parks, beaches, and in hospital meeting rooms, hotels, and in their own buildings etc. The church is living, breathing, and acting. While Christians meet together locally, wherever the believers go there goes the church.

To the horror of the congregation, a pastor tore down the name of the church, and wrote across it instead the meeting place of the church. The congregation was pleased and relieved when he taught them that they were the church for whom Christ died and rose again, and the building was just a mere building where they meet of no importance as they could find another building anywhere.

Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.

If God permits, meaning that God is not offering a blanket permission to everyone to participate or learn the gospel message. His permission is limited to those who believe and do His word. However, those who impenitently reject His Son Jesus Christ whom He sent to save all who believe, are excluded from ever having God’s permission to any part of His gospel Or His kingdom.

OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

Dearly beloveds, the subject of the resurrection, brings a great deal of joy to every believer. However, it can bring a great deal of tears and sadness too for those who have family, friends or know people who reject the salvation that only faith in Jesus Christ can give. 

It hurts the heart to know the last we shall see of those who impenitently reject salvation is when they are thrown alive into the lake of fire with the devil and His angels. We agree with God, who desires that none should perish, but have eternal life: 2Pe 3:9. Even our Lord Jesus in His earthly ministry wept over Jerusalem because they stubbornly rejected Him: Luk 19:41-42. Paul too was so heartbroken over his Jewish brethren who rejected Christ, that he wished he could somehow take their curse upon himself so that they could enter into the kingdom in his place: Rom 9:3. However, he understood the impossibility of this as Jesus is the sole source of salvation that all must come to directly for themselves.

Dearly beloveds, although we speak of the day of resurrection, we know that Jesus Christ is the resurrection: Jhn 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Jhn 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Only God knows when the day of the resurrection will occur. What we have to keep in mind is that our human concept of what constitutes a day is very limited to a time frame of 24 hours. God sees time in this way, but not only in this way: 2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

So, we have to be careful, holy brethren, and not try to put God in our box thinking that He will do the resurrection day according to the human time frame of 24 hours. God does whatever He wants, however He wants to whomever He wants or not, and doesn’t need anyone’s permission to do it nor cares a fig about anyone’s personal opinions of how He should do His will and work.

According to the Bible there will be One resurrection. However, it will be in two parts over the course of His timing. Jesus separates the sheep from the goats: Mat 25:33, and they are each judged separately: Mat 25:34; Mat 25:41. The good and the evil will not be mixed together forming a line each approaching the throne to enter heaven, or to be thrown into hell. The good and the evil are absolutely separated by God.

Jhn 5:29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. This is directly from the lips of Lord Jesus Christ.

Obviously, dearly beloveds, the judgement seat of Christ is His throne. This resurrection called the Resurrection of life pertains to only all of the righteous is completed in the 20^th chapter of Revelation: Rev 20:.

The resurrection of damnation which is the final judgement of the wicked takes place at the great white throne of God: Rev 20:11. The sequence before the great white throne of God appears is the coalition of all the evil nations in league with the devil being killed directly by God with fire from heaven. After this the devil, his angels, the false prophet, and the beast thrown into the lake of burning fire to be tormented forever and ever is also completed here in Rev 20.  It is here that the last of the wicked are judged by God, this is the second death, the resurrection of damnation, and only applies to the wicked.

One of the important features of the revelation, although all of it is, is that we get to see our God showing up, showing off His dreadful Mega powers, casting down cities and unbelieving people still on earth and those who finally believe after being totally terrified by Him and know that He is real and He does not play,  Rev 11:13 ; as opposed to those wicked persons who seeing Him and experiencing His terrifying power still curse Him. It is easy for people to understand the good, but nothing gives us the fullest understanding of evil as in the response of this latter:   Rev 9:20-21;  Rev 16:9; Rev 16:11.

Some might be shocked to read that the gospel will be preached to the whole world by a flying angel, or even that some people will still be saved during this time. 

From reading Revelation, brethren, we must conclude that we must understand that the day of resurrection also called the day of the Lord is timed along God’s conception of this particular day, His day, and not according to a human beings limited understanding of a day as 24 hours: 1Th 5:2;  2Pe 3:10. We should be careful to note this chapter's references to THE FIRST RESURRECTION, and urgently work to ensure that we will be worthy of it, and help as many as we can to enter into it.

Confirming this is that after a lapse of a thousand years’ time the last of the wicked are all destroyed by God, including the devil and his evil hosts. We clearly see events occurring over a period of time well exceeding that of the limited 24-hour day of a man.

Brothers and sisters, feel free to study further on your own. You will see that God has a role for both believing Jews and gentiles during the time of revelation, come to understand that God even in His wrath is still merciful. Besides reading about it, rather than worry or be anxious about it God commands that all of us should always stay ready for it whenever it comes.