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: Monday, December 23, 2024
Chapters: Hebrews 10-13
Message: Perfection Through Affliction
Hello My Friend,
I mentioned the other day that I had been out of focus for a while and while things are a little better, I am still not where I want to be. I keep thinking back to prior years and how despite my indiscretions God continued to use me and often taught me more than when I had so much fear in me that I was afraid to make a move. What God just reminded me of today is that there is not one of His faithful who has not failed Him a time or two, but He never gave up on them either. Did it ever occur to you that the things that you are going through are used to get you in the will of God?
[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.]
We do not think that it is even possible that God would use us if we had gotten caught up in sin or backslid because we got angry with Him, but everything that we go through God uses to His advantage. Why? If we never experienced the things that we did, then we would not have learned to trust Him more. Let me tell you, we are never going to be perfect, but we do not need to be because Christ is the one who fills in all the cracks that sin broke us with. As we come to the end of the reading of Hebrews, we are reminded that while the Law of Moses, was a shadow of redemption, was not perfect.
[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.]
[offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.] [Perfect; Finished; Complete; Spotless.] Sin is what breaks us up into pieces, I mean when you stop to think about it, we are all sinners who struggle with something, whether it be a bad habit, pride, envy, and etcetera. The more sin we struggle with, the more broken we are, even if we are saved, because it is not us that we are sinning against, it is God, and our conscience knows this, which is why we become unbearable, [Psalms 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.]
[a remembrance again made of sins every year.] The biggest difference between the animal sacrifices and the sacrifice that Christ made for us is that even if one was forgiven and reconciled with God over their sin when they offered the sacrifice to God, they still had the remembrance of it. However, Christ’s one time sacrifice not only made atonement of sin permanent, it was forgotten by God completely. Now, we who believe in and receive Christ as our Saviour have permanent salvation and are made perfect through Him.
[Hebrews 10:9-14 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 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.]
[he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.] 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 love Him. And the reason why God hates sin so much is because it breaks our connection with Him. He wants willing and faithful bodies to be living sacrifices, which means letting go of the sin, and this goes beyond our sin nature sins that we are custom to.
[Hebrews 10:18-22,26-27 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 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.]
[a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,] Those who are saved and just living life by the thread of their salvation, with not one concern about removing sin from their lives, suffer more than anyone because they are sinning against God here and starting a war with Him.
[Hebrews 10:30-32,38-39 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; 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.]
[but if any man draw back,] Those who were never serious about their salvation, meaning they never truly believed in Christ, but just played the part for a while, while God has hope in these as well, He will not force them to receive His Son, but He will not be mocked either.
[Hebrews 11:1-5 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.]
[Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,] God’s Word tells us everything about the world that we know, that He just spoke and it was done. And let me tell you, it takes much more faith to believe that we evolved out of a spec than it does in God creating everything just by speaking His Word, [Hebrews 11:6 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.]
[God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.] This was referring to when Cain killed Able out of a fit a rage because God accepted his sacrifice over his. Cain, proved himself righteous with God when his offered his sacrifices with all his heart.
[Hebrews 11:7-8,11 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 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. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.]
[Sara herself received strength to conceive seed,] Sarah, may have laughed when she heard that she was going to have a baby when she was ninety years old, but she believed and that was counted for her righteousness.
[Hebrews 11:13-16,32 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. 32 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:]
[if they had been mindful…they might have had opportunity to have returned.] Even though these great men and women of faith did not always see or was forfeited the earthly promise because they did something that provoked God, that did not stop God from fulfilling His promise of giving them eternal life.
[Hebrews 11:35-40 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 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.]
[all, having obtained a good report through faith,] That is all every true Christian ever wants, to stand before Jesus and have Him say to them, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” but that is not always the case, some of us only have our faith in Christ to our account, but keep in mind that none of God’s faithful are perfect.
[Hebrews 12:1-3 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.]
[run with patience the race that is set before us,] We all have a race of life to run, while some seem to face more obstacles than others, in the end the ones suffering the most will be the ones who never accepted Christ as their Saviour.
[Hebrews 12:9-13 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 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.]
[rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?] Believe it or not, we much rather deal with the chastening that we get from God than what we received here from man, God, is much more merciful than we are.
[Hebrews 12:18,22-24 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, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.]
[are not come unto the mount that might be touched,] The mountain that the people dare not touch as it would destroy them instantly, [Exodus 19:12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:] had the very presence of God and the reason they would be destroyed is because they were defiled with sin. Until we receive Christ as our Saviour we are defiled with sin and cannot stand before Him.
[Hebrews 12:27-29 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.]
[the removing of those things that are shaken,] Before Christ’s passion, any believer would go to a prophet or ordained priest to get answers from God. They could pray, but 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, speak to Him one on one, and if we pray anything in His name, He will answer us, [John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.]
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? We are given some examples.
[Hebrews 13:1-6 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 5 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.]
[but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.] This again is in reference to those who just play the part of a Christian, but never received Christ as their Saviour. 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. Yet so many people believe in the Gospel, but fail to believe every word of God and that is worse than not believing at all.
[Hebrews 13:9-14 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. 10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.]
[whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.] This is in regards to the priests when they would eat at the table that was before the veil, but no sin sacrifice was accepted, it was actually burned on the altar outside of the Tabernacle/Temple. In other words, we are to never mix the Gospel with any other doctrine as doing so will bring eternal death and if we are saved, keep pressing forward because the day will come when we will see the same promise as those whom have gone before us are.
[Revelation 21:6-8 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Hebrews 10:12-14 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.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You know that I live by faith in my salvation, having never seen Your Son, fully trusting in what He did for me on the cross, but I want the rest of my life here on earth living by that same faith. Jesus, 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, perfecting me by making me a reflection of You 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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