Beginning the New Year 2017 with thoughts from the letter to the Hebrews. This is an appropriate beginning as the writer of Hebrews teaches us Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. 12:2.
ONE GOD but Elohim
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" Hebrews 3:12,13
After the opening four verses of chapter 1 establishes Jesus' Deity, the writer jumps right in with OT proof of the afore stated matter and continues on for several pages of the Theocratic position of Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent GOD of heaven and GOD the Son, Jesus, called the Christ.
You can't miss the point he's making unless you tear the entire book from the Biblical text while never having read it!
Jesus is GOD the Son, Co-equal with the GOD the Father. You cannot separate the Two from being ONE. And since the Holy Spirit is the One who helped the writer with the accuracy of Scriptures, GOD the Holy Spirit is speaking the Almighty truth of what is written through the entire book.
Three in ONE GOD.
Perfect Sacrifice
Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me."
"In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure."
Then I said, "Behold, I have come---In the volume of the book it is written of Me--To do Your will, O God."
Previously saying, "Sacrifices and offering, burnt offerings and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law) Hebrews 10:5-8.
The sacrifices that the Law required to take away the sin of Adam inherited by all people, (For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:32), were not to please God and therefore gain forgiveness. The blood of bulls and goats and lambs was to substitute for the earned death of the sinner.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 6:23.
God did not make man to be a sinner, nor does He desire sinners to die. (2 Peter 3). So something has to die to save the sinner, otherwise the sinner dies for their sin alone. God does not take pleasure in the sacrifice of animals, nor did He take pleasure in sacrificing His only begotten Son.
When the perfect time came, Jesus became the substitutionary sacrifice to fulfil the need of the death of all mankind.
Only GOD could do that. Only GOD could carry out such a perfect plan. Only GOD could die on the cross and resurrect from the dead, thus overcoming the sin debt.
"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" Hebrews 10:12,13,14.
One offering---Jesus
Our Faith
"By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." Hebrews 11:4.
The faith that gives the more excellent sacrifice makes one righteous. Born again Christians have put their faith in Jesus as the more excellent sacrifice, which, alone, makes the believer righteous.
That's all that is done and all that can be done for you to be saved for ever and ever and ever.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" Hebrews 11:6.
Faith to believe Jesus died in your place for your sin is all God asks and He rewards that believing faith.
Seek God today with diligence as if you were seeking a paramedic to staunch a life threatening injury. It's for your eternal life after all.
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