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: Sunday, December 22, 2024
Chapters: Hebrews 6-9
Message: An Anchor of The Soul
Hello My Friend,
I believe that one of the hardest things for those who have some sort of faith in God to understand is salvation, this is due to the extreme mixture of religion, culture, and sin itself. I say this because there are hundreds of “versions” of the Bible, not to mention books that are derived from the Bible, and they are all written with ones intent, the acceptance of sin. For example, there are perversions of the Bible that point to the acceptance of polygamy, sodomy, and execution. It does not take one to be a Bible scholar to understand that we are in the days of Noah, but it does take simple faith to understand what that means.
[Hebrews 9:11-14 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?]
God, gave us His Word for a reason and the Law within it was never to be a means for salvation, rather a better understanding of it. Even before the Law came into existence those who believed in God knew that sin came with an eternal consequence and that they needed a redeemer. Job, said this, [Job 19:23-27 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.]
Little did Job know that when he was going through his troubles that his words would become part of the greatest book of all time. Having faith in God is a firm belief of the existence of God, His nature, attributes, and perfections, not to mention, the Trinity of His persons, and the whole mind and will of God as He revealed in His Word, in particular what relates to the Christ. As we continue in the reading of Hebrews, we are reminded of what Christ did for us and this is how we are to be living our lives.
[Hebrews 6:1-6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 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. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.]
[repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,] Repentance from dead works, and faith towards God always go together because they are the foundational principles that when applied to our walk with God get us out of religion and into becoming faithful witnesses of Christ. An example of dead works are listed here, beginning with the [doctrine of baptisms]. It seems that the converted Jews were continually baptizing believers after they repented of their sin. Water baptism is a public profession of ones faith in Christ before the Church upon ones spiritual baptism, and is not to be repeated, [Mark 1:4,7-8 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.]
[laying on of hands] They believed that their sin was transferred from the persons that laid their hands on them to the sacrifice on which they were laid. This was unacceptable because Jesus, stopped the need for sacrifices, His one sacrifice on the cross was enough to give those who believe in the Gospel and receive Him permanent salvation.
[resurrection of the dead] They understood that their dead bodies would unite with their souls to be eternal companions together in happiness or woe, according to their state towards God when they died. This was far from the truth, even before Jesus returns to earth there will a resurrection of His people in which their bodies will reunite with their souls, and they will receive new immortal bodies to live with Him, [1 Corinthians 15:52-53 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.]
[eternal judgment] They believed that the both the soul and body of everyone at the last day will go to their eternal state, every one to their proper society and employment to which they were entitled and fitted here on earth. This also was far from the truth, right now, the souls of those who received Christ as their Saviour go to heaven, whole those who did not are cast into hell. When Christ returns and judges the dead, meaning those in hell will resurrect for their eternal judgment, which is the lake of fire.
[Revelation 20:12-14 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.]
Those whom have accepted Christ as their Saviour and are faithful may mimic what is written in the Law of Moses, but they are not under the Law by any means. We are reminded that we do need to be mindful of what we are doing because after all, Jesus saved us from hell, the least we could do is be thankful to Him.
[Hebrews 6:9-12 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 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. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.]
[followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.] True believers of old before Christ’s passion and even before one word was written in the Scriptures are the greatest examples of how we are to live by faith, none of them even seen Jesus, but they had faith in God’s promise that He would send someone to save them, which was confirmed by a high priest named Melchizedek.
[Hebrews 6:17-20 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 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: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.]
[Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steanchordfast,] I love that phrase it tells me that, “Jesus, is an anchor to my soul!”. An anchor keeps a ship from drifting off into the unknown somewhere and can even help it weather a violent storm. That is the same way that Jesus is with our soul, in fact, He holds on so tight that He cannot let us go, [John 10:28-30 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. 30 I and my Father are one.]
Jesus, is the forerunner for all who believe in Him, He is our King and High Priest, who stands at the right hand of God as our mediator. Now, to understand the significance of Melchizedek, and why Jesus is known as King and High Priest, the letter goes on to explain how and why he was compared to Christ.
[Hebrews 7:1-3,11-12 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 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? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.]
[first being by interpretation King of righteousness,] Melchizedek’s name means, “King of Righteousness,” and the name of his city, Salem, means “Peace;” signifying that he was the king of peace, as Jesus is the Prince of peace, [Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.]
[If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,] Although Melchizedek was not the only begotten Son of God, he was represented as being a high priest well before Abraham had Isaac, who had Jacob, who had Levi, the father of Aaron, who was the first high priest under the Law, and is known as the Levitical priesthood. All if this changed when Christ, who is the High Priest, of the tribe of Judah, became the middleman between God and the sinner.
[Hebrews 7:14-17,19,22,25 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 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.]
[not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.] Jesus, became the means of a better hope than what was written in the Law, and that hope was eternal life with God. So, in other words, if salvation could have just been given to those who came to God through the Levitical priesthood then there would have been no need for Jesus to die on the cross.
[Hebrews 8:1-3,6-7 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.]
[For if that first covenant had been faultless,] Faultless, meaning if the animal sacrifices were enough from the beginning then God would not have came up with the plan of Him becoming the one and only sacrifice that would bring permanent salvation to those who believe in Him. The Law of Moses was never meant to be a permanent means of salvation, nor just something for the Jews to follow until Christ, it was merely an example of what should follow as the Law of grace was replaced. Still today, most of the Jews reject Christ, but there will come a day when they will accept Him as the Messiah they are still waiting for.
[Hebrews 8:10-13 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.]
[they shall not teach every man his neighbour,] There will come a day when we do not need to go door to door and on the streets preaching the Gospel because everyone will know who Jesus is. In fact, the tabernacle and temple itself, from the walls to the candlesticks, used to offer God sacrifices was also a foreshadow of Christ, also known as the sanctuary.
[Hebrews 9:1-3,7-9 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;]
[the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest,] Since the high priest was a sinner, just like everyone else, they had to be consecrated before he could accept the offerings. Our faith in Christ alone removes our sin forever, unlike the sacrifices before when all they did was cover the sin. How is this possible? Jesus died on the cross one time.
[Hebrews 9:15-18,22 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.]
[redemption of the transgressions that were under the first] The covenant of eternal life through Christ was not just between God and the Jews only, it would be for all who believe that Christ is their salvation. God, never stopped anyone from coming to Him prior to this, He never denies anyone. Until Christ became the sacrifice the animal sacrifices were a temporary fix. They did not however, remove sin forever.
[Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.]
[unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time] Do you see why we only need to ask Jesus to save us once, and it is a done deal? If Jesus came here every year to offer Himself then that would defeat the purpose of our receiving eternal life. In fact, we would not because it is only by our faith in Him that does save us. All we need is Jesus Christ, and just like the people had to willingly admit their sin and bring their offering to the High priest, we too have to willingly come to Jesus. God cannot, and will not save any person who does not know His Son, we must believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Saviour in order to be redeemed and be able to stand before Him the second time without sin, [1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Hebrews 6:19-20 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You never promised that once we accept Your Son as our Saviour that we will suffer no more while we are here, but You do promise that you will never leave nor forsake us. As we live and walk by faith, let us wait patiently for the hope that can only be found in Christ, who is the anchor of our soul. Lead us and guide us, cover us with Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, and protection. Put Your hedge around us and shield us from all the evils of this world, remind us that we who endure until the end will never suffer no more and keep us looking for that blessed hope of eternal life well beyond this life. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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