Hebrews Archives – Sonshine's Journal

June 17, 2024June 17, 2024

Christ the True God

Hebrews 9 Christ Our Sacrifice

Recalling the battle where the Philistines captured the Ark and their fear. The Hebrews author gives us a graphic picture of what it must have looked like and why they were so afraid. They had said unwittingly, a god is in our presence yet they turned not to the Holy God but to their false god, Dagon. Men clearly are blind to the power of the true God! Three times God revealed His power to them that they might turn to Him but they chose not.

Now the Hebrews author turns our attention to the true sacrifice of Jesus who entered, not the earthly structure made by men’s hands, but blessed by the Lord, but to the heavenly tabernacle by his death. “For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”[Heb 9:24] Unlike the false god of the Philistines, our Savior is a true God who now intercedes for us to the Holy Father.

Be true to the True God, our Living and Interceding Savior, Jesus Christ!

September 11, 2023September 11, 2023

The Shedding of Blood

Ezek 45: The picture of the shed blood begins in Exodus as a picture of God’s overarching protection. Ezekiel is told that in the future, the priests will reinstitute that practice, and it mirrors that of Exodus 12, where the angel of death would see the shed blood and pass over the household on the night of the last plague where the death of the firstborn of Egypt would be taken. The Hebrews author reminds his audience that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. [Heb 9:22] Christ was the completed fulfillment of this when He shed His blood on the cross for the payment of our sins.

If Christ fulfilled this through the shedding of His blood, why then is it then reinstituted? Perhaps to remind us of our sinfulness and the price that had to be paid. Surely, this should stop us and remind us of the night in which He was betrayed. He then said: “this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink of it in remembrance of me.” [1Cor 11:25] Take heed, beloved, as you partake and seek cleansing of your sins and the price paid

August 28, 2016

How to Begin Your Day

psalm 94 begin day with God — Grab a cup of java and your Bible. Come join us each day here

It is good to talk in conversation with God and especially so when you know you will encounter those who are the unbelieving. Psalm 94 is what we might call a prayer and conversation as the writer voices his questions and his responses to his own queries. This alone is his answer to the wicked (the unbelieving). “How blessed is the one whom you instruct, O Lord, the one whom you teach from your law, in order to protect him from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed.”

The writer of Hebrews counsels: “And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works… but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.” This brings us to this profound reason as to why we spend time in God’s Word each day as well as attend our worship services. It is alone with God and corporately with others that we receive instruction and encouragement. The benefit is the blessings we receive from the Lord.

Beloved as you consider your day, begin with worship, go with a merry heart, a teachable spirit, and a countenance that reflects that you have spent time with God. This and this alone will assist you in the spiritual battle that the enemy erects.

June 9, 2014

The Radiance of the Son of God!

The theme of Hebrews is to persevere in and for the faith because Christ is superior. Point to consider: Written to 2^nd generation believers who are admonished to know that we are all one in Christ; that Christ is superior and to Him alone we are to focus. In this first chapter the author, who is an unknown, reveals to us succinctly who He is and why He is to be worshiped and not the angels as was occurring within the first century. Thus the author brings his audience back to the basics of why that is not God’s plan. He gives us in just the first 4 verses seven characteristics of who Jesus is that we might bow the knee in total reverence and humility.

He is the heir and yet He is God
He is the heir and yet He is Creator
He is the radiance of God’s glory
He is the manifestation of God in flesh
He is the Word by which He sustains all things
He accomplished cleansing for sin
He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High

As we read these 7 fully complete characteristics of our Savior, we recall these words of Jesus to Philip. John 14:8-11 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves.’

If you believe Jesus was the incarnate revelation of God, ponder these words and rejoice that we know Him, walk with Him, and one day will reign with Him. Have you been with the Savior today?

March 23, 2014

Prov 7 “Simpleton or Mature?”

Recently a post was written to young men/women about life after high school. It was interestingly similar to an instructional manual and could have come right out of Proverbs 7! Listen to some of the advice offered: To the gals: If a guy calls you at 2 AM to “hangout”…he is not boyfriend material. To guys and gals: go to church…not just because your parents instructed you to do it, but because in church God speaks and you need to hear his voice; now is the time to strengthen your relationship with God and follow his plan. To guys and gals: keep your morals and standards high. The poster asked: Will it be tough? Absolutely. Will you feel like the minority? Absolutely. Should you change to fit in? Absolutely not! This poster has it “right on.”

After giving instruction to his son in chapter 6 along with a list of the things God hates, the father in chapter 7 instructs his son (also applicable to daughters) about what God loves and that begins with being morally pure. Five times he uses the word “keep.” As a dad I implore you to “keep” my words and treasure them. “Keep” my commands and obey my instruction as you would the pupil of your eye. “Keep” wisdom so intimately close that she may “keep” you from the man/woman who fails to “keep” his/her feet at home. Why this concerted effort in using this word? The father knows that without this the adolescent before him will fall victim to the ways of the seducers of the world. Bob Deffinbaugh wrote: “Being simple is a stage in the development of every person, very much like adolescence….being simple is one short step from being a fool, so this critical period in life must be lived very carefully.” As a child still under the parent’s roof he/she is going through a stage and therefore must be instructed. It is not a sin to be simple but it is a sin to not grow from simpleton to maturity. That was the sin that the author of Hebrews spoke about: “But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.”

As Proverbs 7 closes there is a profound warning to those who ignore and become the fool: “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways – do not wander into her pathways; for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many.” The warning is clear. “when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. Do not be led astray” [James]

Beloved, perhaps you are the parent of a simpleton because of their age or because of their naiveté. How are your parenting skills holding up in this time? Will you choose to instruct those under you with the tool that God has given to you? “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” The last is critical…training begins in the home so that the child of God may leave the nest with a pure and reverent conduct.

July 6, 2013

Authentication and Proving Required

So far in the book of Matthew, we have walked through the first three chapters and seen that as a superior researcher and writer, Matthew has given us three areas to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. First was the genealogical record, second his birth, thirdly, the world’s reception, and now in chapter 4 we will see his power over temptation.

Job may have been God’s “s”ervant who proved to be blameless but Jesus is the “S”ervant who not only proved blameless but left us with the truth of how to face the arch enemy of our souls.

The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus and led him into the wilderness. The Israelites were proven to be faithless but Jesus will prove His faithfulness. Sometimes we too are led into the wilderness to be proven. It is in these times of barrenness that we either rely upon God and His trustworthiness or succumb to the enemy’s bait.

We say Satan doesn’t get it, but in reality he does get it. He is persistent and his one aim is to destroy and change the plans of God. Allen Ross wrote: The temptation episode was God’s way of showing that Jesus was the perfect man, that He could resist sin, that he could defeat Satan. He has conquered and therefore can intercede for us. [Heb 4:14-16].

And so the temptations begin with Satan dangling his bait just as he did in the garden, in the wilderness, did with Peter and does with us today. Jesus was discerning and so we should be as well. Hebrews reminds us to be feeding upon the meat of the Word, memorizing it so when he comes calling, disguised as an angel of light or otherwise, we can discern him for what he is: a liar and a thief. We are told by Paul to put on our armor for we will be wrestling not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of darkness.

A truth we can count on: Satan sees only one side of God’s coin, he is not omniscient! Satan saw a garden destroyed but Jesus saw a wilderness–that is you and I, ready to be redeemed. Satan saw an earthly pinnacle but Jesus saw heaven’s portal – I am the Way, the Truth, the Life [ John 14:6]. Satan sought temporary worship of warring conflicting kingdoms but Jesus sought to bring men into God’s eternal kingdom exhibiting peace. Through it all, Jesus proved He was Conqueror and Victor, because He knew the right choice of scripture better than his tempter and He would not be deterred to be removed from God’s eternal plan for mankind. He was steadfast and immoveable [1Cor 15:58].

Upon the completion of the temptation angels came and ministered to Jesus. So when we have found our way of escape from the tempter’s grasp [ICor 10:13], we will be fed the manna of heaven or angel’s food as Irving Jensen called it.

While I or you face these temptations how will we be sustained? By the Word or by the flesh? Do we face the path of least resistance or are we ready with our sword and shield of faith etc. When the storm is passed how do we revel, in God’s glory or our own? Thoughts to consider.

But while we face these proving trials we must ask: What is it that sustains us in these times? When tempted and tried are we joyful and seek wisdom? [James 1]. Can we resist with scripture so the enemy must flee? [James 4:7]. Do we give God the glory when the storm has passed and we see His rainbow calling us to His work?