This weekend, millions of Americans will travel, grill outside, ski the lake, go shopping, etc. As I write this post, I'm sitting is a movie theatre, waiting for a show to start (no, I'm not blogging during a movie!). We all recognize the cultural value of family gatherings and leisure time; however, let's not fail to reflect for a moment on the real reason most of us are off of work on Monday, May 30th.
Our nation has, for a few centuries, enjoyed the freedom, prosperity and relative peace and safety that only a superior military can provide. On Memorial Day, our nation remembers those members of our military who gave all they physically could in the service of our nation--their very lives.
As we celebrate, travel, etc. This weekend, don't foget to assemble with the church this Lord's Day to remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Only His willingness to fight sin and evil to the death on our behalf allows to experience the liberty, blessings and peace as part of God's family. Jesus conquered death so we could have the ultimate victory.
Let's remember all of the blessings we enjoy and the high price--paid in blood--that was required to purchase them.
God Bless!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A Prayer for Diligence
Proverbs 10:4 NKJV: He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Father in Heaven,
Thank You for giving me the gift of another day;
Please help me to realize the true value of the time You entrust to me.
Thank You for any strength or ability You give which allows me to make use of that time;
Please help me to be a good steward of these gifts and to labor diligently.
Thank You for my occupation, through which You provide for my house;
Please help me honor my employer and serve my employees, as Your Word commands.
Thank You for Your mercy, and Jesus redemptive work on the cross;
Please forgive me for the wasted days of my past.
Thank You for the six days You labored to create the Earth;
After my work is finished, please allow me to rest in Heaven as You did on the seventh day.
In Jesus' name--Amen.
Father in Heaven,
Thank You for giving me the gift of another day;
Please help me to realize the true value of the time You entrust to me.
Thank You for any strength or ability You give which allows me to make use of that time;
Please help me to be a good steward of these gifts and to labor diligently.
Thank You for my occupation, through which You provide for my house;
Please help me honor my employer and serve my employees, as Your Word commands.
Thank You for Your mercy, and Jesus redemptive work on the cross;
Please forgive me for the wasted days of my past.
Thank You for the six days You labored to create the Earth;
After my work is finished, please allow me to rest in Heaven as You did on the seventh day.
In Jesus' name--Amen.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Last Post Before the End of the World?
Seriously? Another one? I was personally hoping for a 2012 end-time scenario based on the Aztec calendar, but--oh well! Or was it the Chinese I-Ching numerology? And on, and on, and on...
Personally, I hate that deceivers such as Harold Camping of Family Radio get so much press and media hype. His prediction is that the "rapture" of the Church will occur on May 21st, 2011, and that the "tribulation period" will begin. Essentially Camping believes there will be a period of fire and death on earth, during which the unsaved will suffer for 5 months. According to Camping, the world will truly be destroyed on October 21st, 2011.
First, Camping has a lousy track record at predicting the future. He's been wrong about this date before, actually prognosticating that the rapture was supposed to occur back in 1994.
Second, he's incredibly arrogant. He claims to have knowledge Jesus Himself didn't have:
Mark 13:32 NKJV: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Jesus is simply stating that specific knowledge of the Second Coming of Christ belonged only to God the Father. In the verses previous to this statement, Jesus outlined specific markers for the doom of Jerusalem. It's interesting that He gave no such signs to warn us of His return and the conclusion of Time.
Christians have always been concerned with the dating of the end of Time. This is especially true of the Thessalonians. Paul admonished their preoccupation with setting the date, and chided them for the futility of doing so:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NKJV: But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Paul says: "This is not news--I shouldn't even have to tell you--but you can't know when Jesus will return." The thief analogy is refuted by the likes of Harold Camping, saying that thieves coming at night bring nothing good. But look at the comparison for a moment. People cannot predict when a thief will suddenly break in. If people could, they would be waiting for him and prevent the harm he wishes to cause.
Jesus return likewise cannot be predicted. Look, I won't pretend to know anything the Scripture doesn't say. But what I know for sure is this: worrying about Christ's return is pointless--if you are ready to meet Him. Scripture doesn't encourage us to predict; however it commands us to to be ready:
2 Peter 3:13-14 NKJV: Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless...
So, let's forget about worry and focus on preparation. If you aren't ready to meet the Resurrected Christ, you need to know Him and serve him. For more details on how to survive the End of Time, send me an e-mail from my Blogger profile.
Personally, I hate that deceivers such as Harold Camping of Family Radio get so much press and media hype. His prediction is that the "rapture" of the Church will occur on May 21st, 2011, and that the "tribulation period" will begin. Essentially Camping believes there will be a period of fire and death on earth, during which the unsaved will suffer for 5 months. According to Camping, the world will truly be destroyed on October 21st, 2011.
First, Camping has a lousy track record at predicting the future. He's been wrong about this date before, actually prognosticating that the rapture was supposed to occur back in 1994.
Second, he's incredibly arrogant. He claims to have knowledge Jesus Himself didn't have:
Mark 13:32 NKJV: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Jesus is simply stating that specific knowledge of the Second Coming of Christ belonged only to God the Father. In the verses previous to this statement, Jesus outlined specific markers for the doom of Jerusalem. It's interesting that He gave no such signs to warn us of His return and the conclusion of Time.
Christians have always been concerned with the dating of the end of Time. This is especially true of the Thessalonians. Paul admonished their preoccupation with setting the date, and chided them for the futility of doing so:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NKJV: But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
Paul says: "This is not news--I shouldn't even have to tell you--but you can't know when Jesus will return." The thief analogy is refuted by the likes of Harold Camping, saying that thieves coming at night bring nothing good. But look at the comparison for a moment. People cannot predict when a thief will suddenly break in. If people could, they would be waiting for him and prevent the harm he wishes to cause.
Jesus return likewise cannot be predicted. Look, I won't pretend to know anything the Scripture doesn't say. But what I know for sure is this: worrying about Christ's return is pointless--if you are ready to meet Him. Scripture doesn't encourage us to predict; however it commands us to to be ready:
2 Peter 3:13-14 NKJV: Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless...
So, let's forget about worry and focus on preparation. If you aren't ready to meet the Resurrected Christ, you need to know Him and serve him. For more details on how to survive the End of Time, send me an e-mail from my Blogger profile.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Jesus Vs. Chuck Norris?
At work the other day, a few of us guys were trading Chuck Norris "facts" and having a laugh. You know--the usual:
Chuck Norris was born in a log cabin--that he built himself.
When Chuck Norris wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.
One guy said, "Jesus may have walked on water, but Chuck Norris can swim on dry land." That one really made me laugh! What's really laughable though is any realistic comparison whatsoever between Jesus Christ and any man. Often we see Jesus portrayed in (really bad) art as some bent, emaciated, feminine character with droopy, sad eyes. I take issue with this portrayal because it flies in the face of everything we read about Jesus in Scripture.
Mark 1:21-22 NKJV: Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Here, we see Jesus taking the initiative and engaging people in Capernaum. After hearing him, people are blown away by his rock-solid doctrine! He taught with authority and clarity. He automatically caused the common man draw a distinction between Himself and the usual religious teachers of the day.
In the same city, Jesus caught the attention of a Roman centurion (commander of 100 troops):
Matthew 8:5-10 NKJV: Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Usually, it takes quite a person to impress a powerful military officer. This centurion was probably a battle-hardened veteran who still personally led his men into fierce battle when required. He commanded the respect and fear of all who served under him. Yet, he goes to Jesus to beg healing for a sick servant. Jesus wanted to go visit, but the centurion was so humbled before Jesus that he prevented Him from entering his own house. His reason? "I am a man of authority..." It's obvious that Jesus' life and work commanded the respect of many who who were themselves respectable.
Jesus also suffered injustice and insult like a true man. When Jesus commands us to "turn the other cheek" it is something He did Himself:
John 18:22-23 NKJV: And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?"
Jesus had the ability to come loose like Samson and tear the officer apart. Instead, Jesus answered with calm reason, asking the men for proof of any evil word. This is true power--power over yourself and submitting to God.
Proverbs 16:32 NKJV: He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
I wish I could always be a true man, like Jesus. He puts even Chuck Norris to shame.
Chuck Norris was born in a log cabin--that he built himself.
When Chuck Norris wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.
One guy said, "Jesus may have walked on water, but Chuck Norris can swim on dry land." That one really made me laugh! What's really laughable though is any realistic comparison whatsoever between Jesus Christ and any man. Often we see Jesus portrayed in (really bad) art as some bent, emaciated, feminine character with droopy, sad eyes. I take issue with this portrayal because it flies in the face of everything we read about Jesus in Scripture.
Mark 1:21-22 NKJV: Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Here, we see Jesus taking the initiative and engaging people in Capernaum. After hearing him, people are blown away by his rock-solid doctrine! He taught with authority and clarity. He automatically caused the common man draw a distinction between Himself and the usual religious teachers of the day.
In the same city, Jesus caught the attention of a Roman centurion (commander of 100 troops):
Matthew 8:5-10 NKJV: Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Usually, it takes quite a person to impress a powerful military officer. This centurion was probably a battle-hardened veteran who still personally led his men into fierce battle when required. He commanded the respect and fear of all who served under him. Yet, he goes to Jesus to beg healing for a sick servant. Jesus wanted to go visit, but the centurion was so humbled before Jesus that he prevented Him from entering his own house. His reason? "I am a man of authority..." It's obvious that Jesus' life and work commanded the respect of many who who were themselves respectable.
Jesus also suffered injustice and insult like a true man. When Jesus commands us to "turn the other cheek" it is something He did Himself:
John 18:22-23 NKJV: And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?"
Jesus had the ability to come loose like Samson and tear the officer apart. Instead, Jesus answered with calm reason, asking the men for proof of any evil word. This is true power--power over yourself and submitting to God.
Proverbs 16:32 NKJV: He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
I wish I could always be a true man, like Jesus. He puts even Chuck Norris to shame.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Whoever is of a Willing Heart
I was reading in Exodus 35 and 36 when I found these striking passages:
Exodus 35:4-9: And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 'Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; 7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. (NKJV)
Exodus 36:3-7: And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. 4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, 5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do." 6 So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary." And the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done--indeed too much. (NKJV)
In this passage, God commanded His people to give of their resources in order to build and beautify His tabernacle--God's dwelling place among His people. The command was specific to a certain class of people: those with willing hearts. Notice that God didn't ask everyone to bring the same thing. Everyone brought an offering to benefit the tabernacle using what God had blessed them with.
Not only did every willing heart bring of what they had, but the craftsmen told Moses that the people brought too much! Can you imagine the offerings of wealth? Is there a lesson we can learn?
The Apostle Peter teaches that the Church (the people; not a building or institution) are a temple where God dwells, and each member is a living stone. He also teaches that we are to offer spiritual sacrifices:
1 Peter 2:5: ...You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
The Lord isn't necessarily asking us for gold or badgers' skins today (although I'd like to see some elder try to figure out what to do with a bundle of them!). What Christ does ask of us is that we use our lives to build and improve the New Temple, the Church of Christ:
Ephesians 4:11-12: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ... (NKJV)
Paul teaches us here that the offices of the Church are given to equip the saints (that's you and me) for the work of building up the Church. Often, we think it's the elders' or preachers' job to build the Church, but that's not what Paul teaches here. They help each member to join in this great work.
In closing, wouldn't it be great if the leadership of the Church had to restrain us from working in God's Kingdom? If they issued an announcement next Lord's Day morning, telling people to stop giving so much money, to quit volunteering for stuff, to slow down conversions so that we have enough room and mentors for new Christians. What a great problem to have!
Exodus 35:4-9: And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 'Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; 7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. (NKJV)
Exodus 36:3-7: And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. 4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, 5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do." 6 So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary." And the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done--indeed too much. (NKJV)
In this passage, God commanded His people to give of their resources in order to build and beautify His tabernacle--God's dwelling place among His people. The command was specific to a certain class of people: those with willing hearts. Notice that God didn't ask everyone to bring the same thing. Everyone brought an offering to benefit the tabernacle using what God had blessed them with.
Not only did every willing heart bring of what they had, but the craftsmen told Moses that the people brought too much! Can you imagine the offerings of wealth? Is there a lesson we can learn?
The Apostle Peter teaches that the Church (the people; not a building or institution) are a temple where God dwells, and each member is a living stone. He also teaches that we are to offer spiritual sacrifices:
1 Peter 2:5: ...You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
The Lord isn't necessarily asking us for gold or badgers' skins today (although I'd like to see some elder try to figure out what to do with a bundle of them!). What Christ does ask of us is that we use our lives to build and improve the New Temple, the Church of Christ:
Ephesians 4:11-12: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ... (NKJV)
Paul teaches us here that the offices of the Church are given to equip the saints (that's you and me) for the work of building up the Church. Often, we think it's the elders' or preachers' job to build the Church, but that's not what Paul teaches here. They help each member to join in this great work.
In closing, wouldn't it be great if the leadership of the Church had to restrain us from working in God's Kingdom? If they issued an announcement next Lord's Day morning, telling people to stop giving so much money, to quit volunteering for stuff, to slow down conversions so that we have enough room and mentors for new Christians. What a great problem to have!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Biblical Response to Osama bin Laden's Death
When my wife told me that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. Military in Pakistan, it almost didn't register. Honestly, I had quit thinking much about him, and assumed that he would die of his various illnesses before the United States government could take vengeance. My first thought was relief. I am relived that he can't hurt anyone or construct plots for others to do so either. I've seen news coverage of many people's reactions, and heard others discuss it today. Mostly, the responses I hear are celebratory, happy or hateful.
But how does the Bible say I should respond? The one passage that keeps coming to my mind is from the Old Testament:
Ezekiel 33:11 a: ...'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. (NKJV)
When I see people cheering and celebrating because Osama bin Laden was killed, it seems this attitude is at odds with God's heart concerning sinners. In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel gives a warning to the wayward nation of Israel about impending destruction because of sin. God's utmost desire is not for blood, but love--not punishment, but a relationship.
Please don't misunderstand me. I do not mourn bin Laden's death, either. I think that his repentance and obedience to Christ's saving Gospel would have been a much better course of events. Unfortunately, the Navy SEALs found bin Laden before I could. While Osama bin Laden's death was probably necessary to save the lives of literally thousands in innocent people, we can hardly read Ezekiel 33:11 and call his killing an "optimal solution."
To take another turn on this, I wonder how the early Christians felt when Saul of Tarsus came to Christ instead of meeting a bloody end? We know that initially, many people reacted in amazed disbelief. We can also read that instead cheering in the streets after his death, they glorified God because of Saul's rebirth:
Galatians 1:22-24: And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God in me. (NKJV)
It's a greater glory to God to convert an enemy into a son, rather than destroy him. So, in the end, the way I emotionally feel about bin Laden's death is less important than what God's Word teaches on the subject. Personally, I think that God is neither mourning nor rejoicing; rather, He simply dispenses justice on those who hate Him and grace to those who love Him:
Deuteronomy 5:9-10: ...You shall not bow down to [false gods] nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (NKJV)
But how does the Bible say I should respond? The one passage that keeps coming to my mind is from the Old Testament:
Ezekiel 33:11 a: ...'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. (NKJV)
When I see people cheering and celebrating because Osama bin Laden was killed, it seems this attitude is at odds with God's heart concerning sinners. In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel gives a warning to the wayward nation of Israel about impending destruction because of sin. God's utmost desire is not for blood, but love--not punishment, but a relationship.
Please don't misunderstand me. I do not mourn bin Laden's death, either. I think that his repentance and obedience to Christ's saving Gospel would have been a much better course of events. Unfortunately, the Navy SEALs found bin Laden before I could. While Osama bin Laden's death was probably necessary to save the lives of literally thousands in innocent people, we can hardly read Ezekiel 33:11 and call his killing an "optimal solution."
To take another turn on this, I wonder how the early Christians felt when Saul of Tarsus came to Christ instead of meeting a bloody end? We know that initially, many people reacted in amazed disbelief. We can also read that instead cheering in the streets after his death, they glorified God because of Saul's rebirth:
Galatians 1:22-24: And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God in me. (NKJV)
It's a greater glory to God to convert an enemy into a son, rather than destroy him. So, in the end, the way I emotionally feel about bin Laden's death is less important than what God's Word teaches on the subject. Personally, I think that God is neither mourning nor rejoicing; rather, He simply dispenses justice on those who hate Him and grace to those who love Him:
Deuteronomy 5:9-10: ...You shall not bow down to [false gods] nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 10 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (NKJV)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
God: I will Dwell Among My People
I was doing a daily reading and it happened to be from Exodus 29. In this chapter, God instituted all the ritual sacrifices that Aaron and his sons would perform to consecrate the Tabernacle of Meeting. It was a very involved process that included animal blood and various burnt offerings and sacrifices. When all this was complete, God would come and dwell with Israel above the Mercy Seat, which covered the Ark of the Covenant.
Here is the conclusion of the chapter:
Exodus 29:42-46: This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. 44 So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
God instituted all these measures to ensure that His people (In this case, Israel) would have a pure place to meet and commune with Him--a place free from any sin or corruption. When we understand that all this was a type and shadow of things to come in Christ (Hebrews 10:1), what can we learn?
We learn that God also provides a place for people today to meet and commune with Him in purity because of Christ's sacrifice:
Hebrews 9:11-14: But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for 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, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Jesus went to the cross once to consecrate a supernatural tabernacle, His Church. Through Him, each Christian is a holy priest who offers prayers before God and can commune with Him in the security of Christ's perfect cleansing. If you are outside of the safety of Christ's cleansing, you cannot approach God to meet Him. For more information about how you can become a Christian, please contact me via e-mail by clicking on my profile.
Thanks, and God Bless.
Here is the conclusion of the chapter:
Exodus 29:42-46: This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. 44 So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
God instituted all these measures to ensure that His people (In this case, Israel) would have a pure place to meet and commune with Him--a place free from any sin or corruption. When we understand that all this was a type and shadow of things to come in Christ (Hebrews 10:1), what can we learn?
We learn that God also provides a place for people today to meet and commune with Him in purity because of Christ's sacrifice:
Hebrews 9:11-14: But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for 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, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Jesus went to the cross once to consecrate a supernatural tabernacle, His Church. Through Him, each Christian is a holy priest who offers prayers before God and can commune with Him in the security of Christ's perfect cleansing. If you are outside of the safety of Christ's cleansing, you cannot approach God to meet Him. For more information about how you can become a Christian, please contact me via e-mail by clicking on my profile.
Thanks, and God Bless.
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