King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 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.]
Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Chapters: HEBREWS 1-5
Study: The Everlasting Covenant
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
I was wide awake at three thirty this morning, that after only going to bed past midnight, I figured that God had something important for me to say so I got up and started to pray. It was not my normal routine, the first thing I did was ask God to forgive me for barely talking to Him last night, and basically I was just pleading with God to get me in His will and protect me and my family today. Then this popped up this morning, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, so I went to the verse, [2 Samuel 23:5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.]
What a verse! I do not have to tell you that the majority of our family, loved ones, or people we know outside of our church family do not share our views on our faith in Christ, even those who are saved. I told you that God had something important for me to say, and it all begins with an everlasting covenant. The Book of Hebrews is the nineteenth book of the New Testament, the fifty-eighth book of the Bible, and contains thirteen chapters. The author of this epistle (letter) was Paul and it was written to the Jewish believers, known as the Hebrews, around 65BC. The purpose of the letter was to present Jesus Christ as superior over all. What we are to learn from it is that Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant, established on better promises, [Hebrews 8:6 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.]
During the Christmas season we tend to see a lot of references about angels, after all, the Bible does say, [Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.]. Angels, actually come in several forms, as we will see through the reading of Hebrews that while they do not have special powers (only what God tells them), they are God’s messengers. Many Jews had a superstitious or idolatrous respect for angels, they looked to them as mediators between God and man. Seeing this, Paul, begins his letter to the converted Jews a little differently than other letters that he wrote, he just comes right out to the point in that while God did use the prophets as mediators in the past, Jesus became much more than a mediator, He became our inheritance.
[Hebrews 1:1-4 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.]
[Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,] Talk about an everlasting covenant! An inheritance with Christ Himself. There is only one way to God, and to obtain this inheritance, and that is through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Why? Everything on this earth will perish, but Christ has always been promised.
[Hebrews 1:9-14 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?]
[They shall perish; but thou remainest;] People do not realize, even many saved, born again, Christians, that when God told Adam that they would die if they ate of the fruit from the forbidden tree that that curse would also come upon the earth as well. This is why the earth will be destroyed, and unlike what the flood did in Noah’s days in that it destroyed life on earth, the fire that will come down will destroy the entire earth all together, [2 Peter 3:6-7 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.]
[sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?] We, who are heirs of Salvation through our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, are surrounded by angels that protect us. And I can attest to this, these past few years, I have seen some shields around me and my family like you would not believe. We can pretty much account that angels have a special place with God and are called to assist Him in many ways, but what they and no one else could ever do is save our soul, and Jesus alone is the only one capable of that, [Acts 4:1012 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.]
Whether you believe that or not, we will all stand before Jesus and give an account to whether or not we believed in and accepted Him. As Paul continues his letter, he stresses the importance of their understanding that the Law of Moses was not their salvation, and it never was, not even from the beginning.
[Hebrews 2:1-3,9-10 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.]
[if we neglect so great salvation;] Jesus, with all the power of God, and above the angels, lowered Himself to be less than the angels by putting on the flesh that we have, becoming the sacrifice necessary to bring permanent salvation to all who believe in Him, and gave us life through His sinless death. Not only that, we become joint-heirs with Him, [Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.]
[the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.] Christ is “the Captain of salvation”, and is so rightly called as He is the author and finisher of our faith, [Hebrews 12:2 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.]. It was through His sufferings on the cross that we are made perfect through our faith alone in Him.
[Hebrews 2:14-18 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.]
[but he took on him the seed of Abraham.] Do you understand what that means? God, with all the power that He has, who can hear, see, and do anything and be anywhere, all at the same time, had one thing that He never did or experienced, and that was what it was like to live in the flesh. That all changed when He came here in the flesh through man, in the person of Jesus Christ. He became just as you and I, subjected Himself to hunger, pain, and death, and He did it all because He loved us too much to see us perish as the earth will, [John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.]
[he is able to succour them that are tempted.] Succor; To aid, help, or assist. To run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering.] This is why the Bible says, [James 1:13-14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.] We who are saved have the power within us to resist every temptation, and that power is the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us. Our salvation was never meant to justify sin or keep us from suffering anymore, it is solely meant to assist us, and deliver us from the second death and hell, [Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.]
It was necessary for Paul to remind the Jews, who held Moses in such high esteem, that he was just like the rest of us, a sinner, who just happened to win His favor because he was faithful to God. The Law was the foundation that every believer, whether Jew or Gentile, would follow until He sent His Son.
[Hebrews 3:1-6 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.]
[but he that built all things is God.] Remember, God does not dwell in a building with some walls, some windows, and doors, He dwells in every believer. Naturally, since He dwells in every believer we can pretty much account that He will not let us remain as we were. This will actually send a lot of people packing up and leaving Christ, which is why we must believe this until our last breath on earth.
[Hebrews 3:12-14,17-19 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.]
[hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;] This reminds me of what happened when Jesus told the people following Him that they needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood, several walked away, [John 6:53-54,66 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.]
[they could not enter in because of unbelief.] God, did not save all the Jews that left Egypt, in fact, the majority of adults who left Egypt did not make it into the promised land because of their unbelief, [Numbers 14:29-30 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.]
The Gospel, is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ who was born of a virgin and remained sinless the entire time that He lived here on earth. If anyone believes anything other than this, even if you do not believe that Mary was a virgin, then you are not saved. You must believe in all of the Gospel in order to be saved. Why? You cannot believe that one part of the Bible is true and another part is not. You must believe that the entire Bible is true! Jesus, is our rest from the work that we never could do enough of to save our own soul.
[Hebrews 4:1-2,6,8,10-11 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.]
[but the word preached did not profit them,] This is the majority of those who walk away from Christ. You see, when we come to Christ it is not like the world portrays Christianity to be, as though we will never feel pain or sorrow again. We suffer, are afflicted, falsely accused, often for our faith, and go through a lot of pain, and since it does not profit them, they walk away. Why then do we stay true to Christ? His grace.
[Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.]
[but was in all points tempted like as we are,] We will never be sinless while we have this flesh, but we can be faithful, and show our love for Christ by living the rest of our lives in our faith. Jesus gave us the greatest example of obedience, and yes, He was tempted just as much as we are.
[Hebrews 5:8-9,11-14 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.]
[yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;] It is actually the suffering that we faced and endured for sin that taught us that the struggle is real and we need Jesus hour of every day, [2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]
[he first principles of the oracles of God;] [Oracles; The place where the answers were given. The communications, revelations, or messages delivered by God to prophets.] Somehow, the world has crept into the church, in fact, the devil has, there are false prophets everywhere, and they are teaching this false doctrine that is literally sending people to hell. We are too complex in our reasoning to ever comprehend everything that God wants us to learn in His Word, but as we study it for ourselves, through the Holy Spirit, we learn that God really in not that complicated at all, the everlasting covenant that God gives believers of His Son, is by trusting in Him as our Saviour, [John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, I will never understand how I can be saved simply by believing in and accepting You as my Saviour, but I do understand that I am saved by my faith alone in Your finished work. Thank You for saving me, it is not always easy to get through the pains and sorrows, but I know I can endure them through You. Lord, Lead me and guide me, teach me Your truths so that I can teach them to others, and when I start to doubt or feel like things are hopeless, keep me looking to You, my Saviour, my God, my everything. I love You, LORD, and am nothing without You. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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