King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Saturday, December 23, 2023
Chapters: HEBREWS 10-13
Message: 
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today I just had to start with this passage, [Hebrews 12:28-29 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.]
This is why I always say two things, one; those whom have truly believed in Christ can never fall from grace since it is Jesus who hangs on to them, [John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.]
And two; we must hold on to our faith in Christ until the very end, [Matthew 24:12-14 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.]
As we come to the end of the reading of Hebrews, we are reminded that while the Law of Moses, also known as the Mosaic Covenant was a shadow of redemption and atonement for the soul who comes to God willingly for forgiveness, but it did not remove sins permanently.
[Hebrews 10:1-6 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.]
[can never with those sacrifices…make the comers thereunto perfect.] It was never about the sacrifice with God, it was about fearing Him, loving Him, and being faithful to Him. He knew from the start that we would sin, all He ever wants from anyone is respect and to love Him as much as He loves them. Think about it, when someone you love does you wrong over and over again, and does not even feel one bit of remorse, how do you react? You disconnect from them. In fact, you do not even want to be around them, yet still have hope that they will repent. Jesus, gave His own body to be the one sacrifice that would be our remission once and for all.
[Hebrews 10:10-18 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.]
[expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.] Referring to this passage, [Psalms 110:1-4 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.]
Remember, we just read about Melchizedek yesterday, Christ, sitting at the right hand of God really does speak as much terror to His enemies as it speaks happiness to His people. Just think how much terror Satan has toward God, I mean, while God does use him to send judgment and test His people, he is still under His subjection and trembles at Christ, [James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.] Now, that does not mean that he will repent anytime soon nor give up the fight until it is over. We who believe in and receive Him are saved by a new a living way.
[Hebrews 10:22-27 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. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.]
[For if we sin wilfully after…there remaineth no more sacrifice] This is in regards to the apostasy within the Church. Once a person has converted to a Christian it is impossible for them to return to a life of sin, they will either die a premature death in their sin or become worse than they ever did before they were saved, [Luke 11:24-26 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.]
Do these part time Christians think that Jesus did not know that they believed Him in vain? Do they think that Jesus did not know that they would fall their faith? Of course, He did. That did not stop Him from using them to reach true believers before their fall. It truly is fearful to fall into the hands of the only living God.
[Hebrews 10:29-33 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.]
[Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock…partly, whilst ye became companions] Yes, true believers are not only made a spectacle of the world, but are mocked and shamed even by fellow Christians who pick and choose what they want to obey from God’s Word. If they are believing in only what they want to believe, they are going to have a rude awakening when Jesus tells them that He never knew them. God, knows the difference, and since He gave His all, and we chose to come to Him, then He does expect us to give our to Him. And if you think that the Law made things any different, think again, they people who were here before Christ’s passion had to live by the same faith that we do.
[Hebrews 11:1-6 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. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.]
[that he pleased God.] Enoch, was one of two people since God created man that never died in order to see heaven. Enoch, walked in the fear of God well before it was know from who Jesus would descend, he did not have the Law to guide him and he was around when it was near impossible to find anyone who would fear God. And this is why God sent the flood that would destroy life on earth, except God did have some compassion in that He saw one man’s faith, Noah. Through His faith he, [became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.] The Ark itself took a hundred and fifty years to build, and talk about being made a gazing stock. However, the entire event from his building the Ark with just his family, was a picture of Christ. Many of these people suffered in their faith, but died in their faith, knowing that there were much better promises ahead.
[Hebrews 11:8,10,13-16 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.]
[For he looked for a city which hath foundations,] Abraham, left his country of Ur completely by faith in the fact that God had a better country waiting for him. Canaan, while it had its share of idols and heathen nations, it would be a land flowing with milk and honey, given to Him by God Himself. Canaan, was the promised land, a description of heaven, it was a city, a regular society, well established, well defended, and well supplied. It is a city built on a sure foundation, the infinite merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the promises of the everlasting covenant, and it is a city whose builder and maker is God, [2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.]
Those who died having never received the promise, never saw Jesus come here physically, but never lost hope in God’s promise, which is why they are in heaven right now awaiting His return there. Paul, goes on to describe many Old Testament saints who were saved by their faith.
[Hebrews 11:32-35,39-40 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.]
[that they without us should not be made perfect.] Old Testament saints needed to have the Same faith that Christ would come as we do that He has come. They are perfectly justified, perfectly sanctified, and perfectly glorified, just as New Testament saints, but their perfection was not by the Mosaic Law, which had no excellency but in its reference to Christ and the gospel, but rather the Messianic Law.
[Hebrews 12:1-6 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.]
[lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.] The longer you walk with God the more you will discover just how quick He is to let you know that you did something that He is not happy with. When we are about our Father’s business we can expect Him to chasten us, after all, how we would we become more like His only begotten Son. The key to being about our Father’s business and knowing what that is is diligently seeking Him.
[Hebrews 12:11-14,18,22,24 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.]
[But ye are come unto mount Sion,] You know, before Jesus, any believer would go to a prophet or an ordained priest to get answers from God. Oh, they could pray, but they could not get into the temple itself nor hear God respond to them directly unless they were blessed to have the Holy Spirit with them. Today, because we have Jesus, we can stand before God, we can speak to Him one on one, and if we pray anything in His name, He will answer us. Those who reject Christ can mock, ridicule, and even go as far as to kill our body, but they will answer to God for that, and we will be safe in Sion (Zion), the city of the only living God. Now, with that said, what exactly are the living sacrifices that God expects from us? Paul gives us some examples.
[Hebrews 13:5-9 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.]
[For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;] Coveting, is envy in the worse way, it is treating someone with hatred over something someone else has. By faith, we who also believe in Christ, that we will be in heaven, and much more than that, spend eternity with Him. God, is not so angry that He strikes down anyone who looks at Him the wrong way, He is a just God, but He is also a loving, forgiving, faithful God, who accepts all who come to Him through His Son. People who do not live by faith will always covet what true Christians have, even the devil, but are too proud to admit they are sinners so they can receive the same things, [Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.]
Today’s Prayer: God, I live by faith in my salvation, having never seen Your Son, fully trusting in what He did for me on the cross. I want the rest of my life here on earth to also be living by faith, being about Your business. Lord, as I diligently seek You and Your business, teach me Your ways, lead me and guide me on the straight path, and let me live a life that is most pleasing to You. Let me not be entangled by those who rebel against everything You stand for, let me also have compassion and boldness to speak Your truths to reach a lost and dying world. Fill me with Your mercy, grace, protection, and power against all evil, perfect me by making me a reflection of Your Son as I live by faith. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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