Paid in Full 🚮

 Hebrews 9 is rich in its teaching. We read of the Tabernacle that was made in the wilderness. We first read about this Tabernacle in the Book of Exodus..

Exodus 25:8 (KJV) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 25:9 (KJV) According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

The Tabernacle is a picture of Jesus Christ as we read here in Hebrews 9. We can see Christ our Savior pictured in the Tabernacle. In the High Priest and what he did within the Tabernacle for the people. Once every year the High Priest would take a blood sacrifice behind the second veil. There alone once a year the High Priest would offer for himself and the people.

Hebrews 9:7 (KJV) 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: The High Priest went behind the second veil only once a year and then he never went behind the second veil again. The next year another High Priest would go, the next year another and so forth and so on. Go forward to the Cross and Jesus dying. On that day this happened. Matthew 27:51 (KJV) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Why was this so important? That we are taken from the Cross and the death of Jesus, God’s son to the Temple? Jesus our High Priest entered once behind the second veil and paid the sin debt for all mankind. The veil was torn stating Jesus paid the sin debt of all mankind. That’s why Jesus could say  

John 19:30 (KJV) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Never again will a High Priest have to go behind the second veil for the Great High Priest has once and for all paid the sin debt of mankind.

Your Choice 👉🏿🤔👈🏻

Hebrews 8:12 (KJV) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

As I read that verse there are some words that jump out at me. The first one is “merciful” Webster say this “Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses” Having exercised Mercy? MERCY is “treat an offender better than he deserves ” the next word is “unrighteousness” Webster says “a violation of the divine law ” then the word “SIN” Webster says “The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act ”Here are three words that need be understood as we read this verse. As we dissect this verse and look at it. Here is what we read: For I God will have compassion and pity to forgive the offenses of the offenders. Those that voluntarily depart from a known rule. A divine law or violation of a divine command or a wicked act. Here’s the best part: “will I remember no more” Only God can do that. What’s so important about that? Can you do that? One morning I was sitting eating breakfast with some men when this man came and said hi to me and the other men, who didn’t have a clue who he was. He offered to give us a book of poetry that he had written. He said wait let me run to the car and get you each one. He left to go to his car and I said this to those at the table. He may write good poetry but don’t accept a check from him because it probably won’t be any good. He has written to me more than one that was bad. What did I do by saying that to those men?  No matter how well that book of poetry was written I had destroyed the author by my unkind words. Not only that I had not shown a good Christian attitude. Although what I said was true, my actions were completely wrong. In this verse God says “their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” It’s not that God has forgotten our sins nor our iniquities. But God chooses not to remember or voice our sins to others. That’s not what I did at all. I chose to voice this man’s fault to me to others. Know what? God taught me a powerful lesson on that morning over 30 years ago about knowing something about another and keeping my mouth shut. Would I or you like for God to share with others our sins? I think not! Call it gossip, call it sharing or even call it asking another to help you pray for it. It all boils down to the same thing: choosing to remember or choose not too. The word Choosing is present tense and the word chose is past tense. Which do I prefer, remembering (Choosing) or not remembering? 

Forgiven or Only Warned 🧐

 Hebrews 8:7 (KJV) For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

The first covenant had no forgiveness for sin only atonement..When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement he can make for it is, to warn others not to fall into the like. Is that not what this man said? 

Luke 16:22 (KJV) And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:23   (KJV) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luke 16:24  (KJV) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Luke 16:25  (KJV) But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Luke 16:27 (KJV)  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

Luke 16:28 (KJV) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

If the Priest could have forgiven sin then Jesus Christ would not have had to come. But as you just read, all you and I can do is warn others not to do what we have done. 

Galatians 2:21 (KJV) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:17 (KJV) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Are you just warning others or have you realized there’s real forgiveness for sin in Jesus Christ? 

The Sum 🧮

Hebrews 8:1 (KJV) 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;

”This is the sum!   The Highest  “We have” What do we have? “an high priest” where is this High Priest? “in the heavens”  when we talk about sums we speak about all. The sum of money in my pocket is $22 and 40 cents. That’s not all the money you have but it is all you have with you at the time. If you were to go to a financial advisor he would be more interested in the sum of all you had. Why? So he could help you plan for the future. In this chapter we read of the sum of what matters. All that matters is you and I understand what the real sum is. When the time comes that we should depart from this life. It will not matter how far you or I made it up the corporate ladder. How much property we owned, how big house we had nor will it matter how much money we had in our accounts. This chapter tells us the sum of what really matters. But it goes on and tells the reader that each and every person is to KNOW “teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: KNOW “absolutely” absolutely know this HIGH PRIEST remember who He is? 

Hebrews 3:1 (KJV) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 4:14 (KJV) 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.

 Hebrews 6:20 (KJV) Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

So the SUM of the whole matter is Know Jesus Christ!

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. So what really matters? What will others say about you when the time for your departure comes? Where will they say you have gone? Where will you have gone? “teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord” Were you ever taught? Did you know the Lord? Do you now know the Lord? Or is your answer “I hope so.” Wrong answer. Here is what the Bible has to say.

1 John 5:13 (KJV) 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.

Do you have the desire that Paul had? 

Philippians 3:10 (KJV) That I may know him,(Jesus Christ) and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Paul had a real desire to know Jesus Christ. Once you realize what Jesus Christ has done for you, you will want to know Him too.  There is no, I hope so. I have been married to the Love of my life for a real long time. Over the years as I built a relationship with her there are things I know about her that no one else does. Why is that? Because I have spent a lot of my time with her. One of her favorite restaurants is Chili's. I know what she will order before she orders. How do I know that? I know her! After so many years I still have a desire to know her even more. So it is with my Lord, that’s why I spend time with Him every day. “That I may know him”

The Wind Blew 💨The Sail Torn ⛵️ The Anchor Held ⚓️

Putting our trust in the one that cannot lie does give us a great surety. Some time ago I was fishing in Florida with my brother-in- law. The current kept pulling us away. My brother n law dropped an anchor into the water to hold us at the spot we were fishing. Webster says and ANCHOR is  “An iron instrument for holding a ship or other vessel at rest in water.” So an anchor is used for holding in one place to keep from moving.  

Hebrews 6:19 (KJV) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; A anchor of the soul which is SURE and STEDFAST.  God has not and will not lie to us. When we put our trust in the Lord Jesus as our savior it’s a sure thing. Just because one goes to Church doesn’t make them heaven bound. I personally wanted to go to Church after I put my trust in the Lord as my savior. But going to Church is not what made me heaven bound. Oh no it was trust in Jesus Christ and what He did that made me Heaven Bound. I have been hurt at Church by good people but I didn’t leave Church because I was hurt or taken advantage of. Why not, you may ask? Because I’m sure unbeknowingly I have hurt others also unintentionally to which all I could do would be to apologize if I only knew. But Salvation is sure and it’s steadfast, unmovable because it has an ANCHOR. The wind will blow but the ANCHOR won’t.

The anchor holds 

Though the ship is battered 

The anchor holds 

Though the sails are torn

I have fallen on my knees 

As I faced the raging seas 

The anchor holds 

In spite of the storm

Why is that? Simple. God cannot lie! That’s number 1, Number 2  John 14:18 (KJV) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) 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. Do you have an anchor that’s holding? 

What Do I Trust 🙆

I’m a fairly simple man. I might not understand the deep things of God. Nor do I understand the wonderful prophecies of things to come. But I do and can understand this, God wants everyone to put their trust in Him. So here we read simple things easily to be understood by all. 

Hebrews 6:18 (KJV) 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: Do you see the simple, easily to be understood? “it was impossible for God to lie” Believe that 

Titus 1:2 (KJV) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Back in verse 6 we read the word CONSOLATION what’s that? Webster said this about CONSOLATION “Comfort; alleviation of misery, or distress of mind;” It is Impossible for God to lie that we might have comfort and alleviation of our misery and the distress that goes on in our mind.   Who fled for refuge “Shelter or protection from danger or distress.” Just coming to Jesus doesn’t give you peace of mind nor a home in heaven. Oh no, you must put your trust in Jesus, Why? Because He will not lie! Therefore you can trust what He says. Twenty times in the Gospel you will read the little phrase “To Jesus” Peter walked on water to go to Jesus.  Matthew 14:29 (KJV)

The scribes and Pharisees also came to Jesus.

Matthew 15:1 (KJV) But not for the same reason that Peter did. Here’s the simple facts: just because you go to the circus doesn’t make you part of the circus. Peter went for a different reason than the scribes and Pharisees did. Peter put his trust in Jesus and he walked upon the waters to Jesus. You know the same is true for you and I. There are many storms that we can walk in when we put our trust in the one who doesn’t lie. He is our place of refuge. So don’t get hung up on the things you don’t know, put your trust in what you do know “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised”  

I’m a fairly simple man. I might not understand the deep things of God. Nor do I understand the wonderful prophecies of things to come. But I do and can understand this, God wants everyone to put their trust in Him. So here we read simple things easily to be understood by all. 

Hebrews 6:18 (KJV) 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: Do you see the simple, easily to be understood? “it was impossible for God to lie” Believe that 

Titus 1:2 (KJV) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Back in verse 6 we read the word CONSOLATION what’s that? Webster said this about CONSOLATION “Comfort; alleviation of misery, or distress of mind;” It is Impossible for God to lie that we might have comfort and alleviation of our misery and the distress that goes on in our mind.   Who fled for refuge “Shelter or protection from danger or distress.” Just coming to Jesus doen’t give you peace of mind nor a home in heaven. Oh no, you must put your trust in Jesus, Why? Because He will not lie! Therefore you can trust what He says. Twenty times in the Gospel you will read the little phrase “To Jesus” Peter walked on water to go to Jesus.  Matthew 14:29 (KJV)

The scribes and Pharisees also came to Jesus.

Matthew 15:1 (KJV) But not for the same reason that Peter did. Here’s the simple facts: just because you go to the circus doesn’t make you part of the circus. Peter went for a different reason than the scribes and Pharisees did. Peter put his trust in Jesus and he walked upon the waters to Jesus. You know the same is true for you and I. There are many storms that we can walk in when we put our trust in the one who doesn’t lie. He is our place of refuge. So don’t get hung up on the things you don’t know, put your trust in what you do know “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised”  

Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies

Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise

Oh, they tell me of a home where my friends have gone

Oh, they tell me of a King in His beauty there

And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold

Oh, they tell me that He smiles on His children there

Oh, the land of cloudless day

Oh, the land of an unclouded sky

Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise

Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day.

And all I have to do is put trust in the one that cannot lie. How simple is that?

How Will They Ever Get Help? 🤳🤺

Hebrews 6:11 (KJV) And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Hebrews 6:12 (KJV) That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God’s not forgetful and our desire should be that we aren’t either. God’s not going to forget His children but I’m afraid we do. We forget to pray one for another. If a brother or sister is overtaken in a fault we are ready to disband them from our fellowship not restore them.  

Galatians 6:1 (KJV) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Ye Which Are Spiritual Restore. It didn’t read ye which are spiritual, reject. Too many times we are quick to judge and reject. 

Luke 6:37 (KJV) Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Don’t mess up or: wait, wait, stop. God teaches us to be ye kind one to another. Remember not all of us do showboat sins. All do not get caught by human eyes, maybe you didn’t. Too many are thrown out when they should have been restored and brought in. 

 Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Be Kind, Tenderhearted, Forgiving just like God was to you “as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you” Oh how soon we forget.. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

My wife and I spend a lot of time helping helping those who for whatever reason have gotten themselves entangled in an addictive behavior. A few year back a man told me that he nor his church; how does he know how the people that attend his church feel? He said that he didn’t want those kind of people attending his church. I asked him this question “ sir what kind of a person was you before you put on a suit and stuck a Bible under your arm? Jesus died for those whom this world has gobbled up. If those who think they are better push others away because of their sin then how will they ever get help? The better than you attitude will only hinder, it never helps and that's not the attitude Jesus taught us to have. Be ye kind, tenderhearted, long suffering, forgiving. Is that not the way you would like to be treated? We can read of both attitudes when Jesus was brought before Pilate. Jesus was accused of perverting the nation. There was no fault, no crime so they decided to beat Him and strip Him and then nail Him to a cross. That’s the attitude of unforgiveness. Then Jesus said this after all He had experienced and endured..

Luke 23:34 (KJV) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. That’s the attitude  of forgiveness. Oh you might say that I don’t understand. I’m sure I don’t but God’s attitude is there is nothing too bad or awful that God will not forgive. Oh but I have never done anything awful. In your eyes no; but none the less you have never done enough good that you don’t need God’s forgiveness. Why do I say that?  

Romans 3:12 (KJV) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.