Hebrews 9
First tabernacleverses 1-10
Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service
a worldly sanctuary
For there was a tabernacle made
the first – wherein was the candlestick – table – showbread
which is called the sanctuary
AND after the second veil
the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all
which had the
golden censer
ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold
wherein was the golden pot that had manna
Aaron’s rod that budded
And tables of the covenant
AND over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat
of which we cannot now speak particularly
Now when these things were thus ordained
the priests went always into the first tabernacle
accomplishing the service of God
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 Holy Ghost this signifying
that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest
while as the first tabernacle was yet standing
Which was a figure for the time then present
in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices
that could not make him that did the service perfect
as pertaining to the conscience
Which stood only in meats – drinks – divers washings – carnal ordinances
imposed on them until the time of reformation
Christ brings good thingsverses 11-16
BUT Christ being come a high priest of good things to come
by a GREATER and MORE PERFECT tabernacle
not made with hands – that is to say – NOT of this building
Neither by the blood of goats and calves
but by HIS OWN blood HE entered in once into the holy place
having obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us
FOR if the blood of bulls and of goats
and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean
sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh
How much more shall the blood of Christ
WHO through the eternal Spirit offered
HIMSELF without spot to God
purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God?
And for this cause HE is mediator of the New Testament
that by means of death
for the redemption of the transgressions that were under
the first testament – they which are called might receive
the promise of eternal inheritance
For where a testament is
there must also of necessity be the death of the testator
Blood necessary for remission of sinverses 17-22
For a testament is of force after men are dead
otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives
Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood
for when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according
to the law – he took the blood of calves and of goats
with water – scarlet wool – hyssop
and sprinkled both the book and all the people – saying
This is the blood of the testament which
God has enjoined to you
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle
and all the vessels of the ministry
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood
and without shedding of blood is NO REMISSION
Christ entered heavenverses 23-28
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens
should be purified with these
But the heavenly things themselves with BETTER SACRIFICES
than these
FOR Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands
which are the figures of the true
But into heaven itself – now to appear in the presence of God for us
nor yet that HE should offer HIMSELF often
as the high priest enters into the holy place
every year with blood of others
FOR then must HE often have suffered since the foundation of the world
but now once in the end of the world has HE appeared to put
away sin by the sacrifice of HIMSELF
AND as it is appointed to men once to die
but after this the judgment
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many
and to them that look for HIM shall HE
appear the second time without sin to salvation
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 15 And for this cause HE is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (3316 “mediator” [mesites] means a negotiator who acts as a link between two parties, go between, intermediary, arbitrator, reconciler, or referee)
DEVOTION: Jesus Christ is the mediator of a better covenant. It is a covenant where HE did all the work. HE shed HIS blood for our sins. HE ascended into heaven to be an advocate for all those who believe. The Holy Spirit convicts each of us of our sin and need for redemption.
Our choice is to repent of our sins and welcome Christ into our life. Only those who are called will respond in a positive way. The rest will continue to reject Jesus Christ until the day of their death.
Once we are in the family of God we have a promise of an eternal promise of heaven. We will set free from the penalty of our sins. Our sins are buried in the deepest sea. Our sins are as far as the east is from the west. Our sins are forgiven and no matter how often our enemy brings them up to us we can say that they are covered by the blood of the Lamb of God.
Jesus Christ is the one who works for us before the Father. HE is active today doing HIS work for our benefit. We have to count on HIM to continue each day of our life for our benefit.
Our responsibility is to go to HIM daily. We are to look to HIM for help in every situation we find ourselves. Remember our eternal home is sure.
CHALLENGE: With this confidence we can face any trial HE allows in our life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (3085 “redemption” [lutrosis] means ransoming, deliverance from the penalty of sin, liberation, or releasing)
DEVOTION: The author continues to contrast the difference between the old covenant and new covenant. The old covenant was done in a tabernacle made with hands after the pattern that Moses observed on the mountain top. He gave instructions as to how it was to be built. It was beautiful but nothing compared to the one in heaven.
The Holy of holies contained the Mercy Seat. There was three items in the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of holies: golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded and the two tables on which the Ten Commandments were written.
The descendants of Aaron were only to go into the Holy of holies once a year to first offer sacrifice for their own sins and then for the sins of the people. Christ entered the Holy of holies in heaven once with the blood of HIS once for all sacrifice on the cross for the sins of many. How many? All who become followers of Christ HIS blood could cover all the sins of everyone but the LORD gives each individual a choice to follow HIM or not. Most chose not to follow HIM. Most chose to spend eternity in Hell because they don’t take the Word of God seriously.
The first testament was the Law. It didn’t make things perfect. Again the author of Hebrews reminds us that the high priest only entered the holy of holies once a year with blood for his own sins and then for the peoples. Christ came and established a greater and more perfect tabernacle. There was one tabernacle of earth, which Aaron served. There is tabernacle in heaven. Christ came from heaven to earth to die for our sins by shedding HIS blood on the cross. Christ entered the holy of holies once for all. The veil is torn from top to bottom.
This signified that God accepted HIS sacrifice and now we can enter into the presence of God because of Christ any time. God sent HIS son to die on the cross to give us true freedom or liberation from a life of sin.
We will never be sinless but we can sin less. We need to mature in our faith daily. There will be setbacks but we can still move forward. God is a God who gives more than one chance. HE is a forgiving God. HE is a loving God. HIS children are important to HIM.
We were part of the family of Satan but because of Christ we were adopted into the family of God when we began to follow HIM. HE brought us back through HIS son. The ransom was paid to obtain our ETERNAL deliverance from the penalty of sin. Once we are in the family of God we will not be taken out of that family. It is an ETERNAL relationship. Praise the LORD.
Are we inviting others into this great family? Do we realize that our time might be short to witness to those we love? Our world predicts dates but those who are true to the Word of God NEVER predict dates. However, as we look around us, it seems that each day we get closer to HIS return for HIS own.
CHALLENGE: Witness to the ones you love. Christ shed enough blood for all of them.
: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot of God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (129 “blood” [haima] means red life-fluid of humans and animals, or hemorrhage)
DEVOTION: It seems so simple to talk about the blood of Jesus Christ being shed on the cross for our sins but the implications of HIS sacrifice last for a lifetime.
Jesus was God in the flesh. HE came to this world through the ministry of the Holy Spirit on Mary his mother. HE lived a perfect, sinless life for over thirty years. HE was tempted in all points like every other human being yet without sin.
HE wants us to purge our conscience form dead works. Our life can be made up of a life that is in service to the LORD or a life in service to ourselves. The problem is that often it is a mix of both. We have a natural tendency even after salvation to want to do what we want to do without reference to Jesus Christ. This causes us problems in our fellowship with the LORD.
Our dead works cause others to look at Christians and see them as no different as themselves. Our testimony is not one that pleases the LORD. We are to be different from the world. We are to admit when we fail the LORD to HIM and also to those around us.
Many church leaders try to come across as if they are not sinners after they accept responsibility in the church. They are lying to themselves and to the rest of the people in the church and their world.
God knows we continue to sin daily, that is why HE gave us instructions to confess our sins to restore fellowship with HIM. We don’t lose our salvation just our ability to be blessed of the LORD.
Our thinking or conscience needs to be clear before the LORD. This only happens with the realization that no matter what position we rise to in the local church we still need to keep short accounts with the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Do we truly understand where we stand with the LORD regarding eternity and our daily walk with HIM?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment (606 “appointed” [apokeimai] means awaiting him, reserved, to be governed by inevitable external circumstances, be one’s lot, one is destined, or to await)
DEVOTION: There are people who believe that there is a second or third chance after death for those who reject Jesus Christ while they are alive in this world. This is a lie of the devil. There is only one lifetime in which to make a decision to follow Jesus.
There are also those individuals who think that they can live their life the way they think they should without Christ and then at the last minute they will become a follower of Christ. These people are deceived as well. If you have a lifestyle that is against everything the Bible commands and think you will change at the last minute are not thinking straight.
The Bible states here that there is one death and then the judgment. NO second chance. If you know the truth of the Word of God that there is no salvation except through Jesus Christ. Then you need to make that decision today. Delay is wrong. Judgment is coming immediately.
Those who reject Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels. There is no waiting ground where there is a second chance.
CHALLENGE: Today is the appointed time.
:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation. (1208 “second time” [deuteros] means the second, the other of two. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: There were many times when I left home for work for an overnight (or longer) trip as our sons grew up. Even now, we travel from time to time, and even though our sons are grown up, our great promise to them is that we are coming back. There is something about the deepest relationships in our lives that does not want to have that physical proximity broken.
Jesus knew that pain as well. He was going to die before any of His disciples, and so would leave them.
That is why He was constantly reassuring them about His second coming (parousia). At their lowest point in the upper room, Jesus spoke frankly about the fact that He was going to prepare a place for them in heaven, and that He would come back again (John 14). Now, years later, the Jewish disciples had begun to be persecuted for their faith, and the author of Hebrews reminds them about their need to persevere based on Jesus’ second coming.
In addition, this description of Jesus’ second coming buttresses the argument of the author of Hebrews about the superiority of Jesus to the old covenantal system. The most that the old covenant could do was promise a Messiah who would come and save the people. They took that to mean a political salvation, rather than a spiritual salvation, because the Jews couldn’t imagine the Messiah as a suffering servant. That is why the author of the book of Hebrews stresses the dual identity of Jesus Christ (His hypostatic union). It is precisely His deity that makes His promises of coming back again a reality. In so doing, the author of Hebrews wants his readers’ focus to be on what lies ahead, not what they are currently experiencing. We can experience our comfort in this hope as well. Will we be found faithful?
CHALLENGE: Christ is coming again! This is the great hope of all Christians. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Shedding of bloodverse 22
Better sacrificesverse 23
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Ordinances of divine serviceverse 1
Worldly sanctuaryverse 1
Tabernacleverses 2-8
Candlestick
Table
Shewbread
Sanctuary
Second veil
Holiest of all
Golden censer
Ark of the covenant
Golden pot of manna
Aaron’s rod that budded
Tables of the covenant
Cherubims of glory
Mercyseat
Ordainedverse 6
Priestsverse 6
Service to Godverse 6
High Priest once a yearverse 7
Blood offered once every year
Offered for himself
Errors of the people
First Tabernacle yet standingverse 8
Offered both gifts and sacrifices
Not make perfect
Blood of goatsverses 12, 13
Holy placeverse 12
Ashes of heifersverse 13
First testament dedicated with bloodverse 18
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
First covenantverse 1
Ordinances of divine serviceverse 1
Carnal ordinancesverse 10
New Testamentverse 15
First Testamentverses 15, 18
Testamentverse 17
Lawverse 19
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 6, 14, 20, 24
Living Godverse 14
Presence of Godverse 24
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man,Messiah)
Christverses 11, 14, 24, 28
High Priest of good thingsverse 11
Perfect tabernacle – not made with handsverse 11
Blood of Christverses 12, 14
Obtained eternal redemptionverse 12
Without spotverse 14
Mediator of new testamentverse 15
Death of the testatorverses 15, 16
Redemption of the transgressionsverse 15
Not entered holy places made with handsverse 24
Entered heavenverse 24
Presence of Godverse 24
Sacrifice of himselfverse 26
Offer once to bear sins of manyverse 28
Appeared a second timeverse 28
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – ourcomforter)
Holy Ghostverse 8
Eternal Spiritverse 14
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Cherubimverse 5
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Conscienceverse 9
Patterns of things in the heavensverse 23
Foundation of the worldverse 26
Men once to dieverse 27
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Errorsverse 7
Uncleanverse 13
Dead worksverse 14
Transgressionsverse 15
Sinverses 26, 28
Sinsverse 28
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Eternal redemptionverse 12
Sanctifiedverse 13
Purge conscience from dead worksverse 14
Serve the living Godverse 14
Calledverse 15
Redemptionverse 15
Promiseverse 15
Eternal inheritanceverse 15
Remission – shedding of bloodverse 22
Salvationverse 28
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
First covenantverse 1
Ordinances of divine serviceverses 1, 6
Worldly sanctuaryverse 1
Tabernacleverse 2
Holiest of allverse 3
Ark of the covenantverse 4
Aaronverse 4
Aaron’s rodverse 4
Mercy seatverse 5
Ordainedverse 6
Once a yearverse 7
Carnal ordinancesverse 10
First Testamentverses 15, 18
Moses verses 19, 20
Spoken every precept
Law
Blood of calves and goats
Scarlet wool
Hyssop
Sprinkled both the book
And all the people
Blood of the testament
Blood on tabernacle
Blood on vessels of ministry
Purged with blood
High Priest entered holy place with blood for othersverse 25
Church (New Testament people of God)
Time of reformationverse 10
Better sacrificesverse 23
Last Things (Future Events)
Good things to comeverse 11
Eternal redemptionverse 12
Eternal inheritanceverse 15
Heavenverse 24
End of the worldverse 26
Judgmentverse 27
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
28 “So” introduces a correspondence with the “just as” at the beginning of the previous verse. The passive “was sacrificed” is interesting because it is much more usual for the author to say that Christ offered himself (cf. v. 26). Some see the thought here that Christ’s enemies were in a sense responsible for his death, but it seems more likely that it is the divine purpose that is in mind. Once more we have the adverb “once-for-all” (hapax) applied to the death of Christ. This means a good deal to the author, and he comes back to it again and again.
It is a little difficult to follow NIV in this verse, for an expression meaning “to bear sins” is here rendered “to take away the sins” while later in the verse “not to bear sin” is the translation of an expression that signifies “apart from sin” and has nothing to do with the bearing of sin at all. Sin-bearing is a concept found in the NT only here and in 1 Peter 2:24, but it is quite frequent in the OT, where it plainly means “bear the penalty of sin.” For example, the Israelites were condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years as the penalty for their failure to go up into the land of Canaan: “For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins” (Num 14:34; cf. Ezek 18:20, et al.). Many see here an echo of the fourth Servant Song: “He will bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:11); “he bore the sin of many” (Isa 53:12). So the author is saying that Christ took upon himself the consequences of the sins of the many (cf. Mark 10:45).
But this is not the whole story. Christ will come back a second time and then he will not be concerned with sin. The thought is that sin was dealt with finally at his first coming. There is nothing more that he should do. The second time he will come “to bring salvation.” There is a sense in which salvation has been brought about by Christ’s death. But there is another sense in which it will be brought to its consummation when he returns. Nothing is said about unbelievers. At this point the writer is concerned only with those who are Christ’s. They “are waiting for him,” where the verb apekdechomai expresses the eager looking for the Lord’s coming so characteristic of the NT. (Morris, L. (1981). Hebrews. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 93). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Once (ἁπαξ [hapax]). “Once for all” (verse 26) as already stated. Shall appear a second time (ἐκ δευτερου ὀφθησεται [ek deuterou ophthēsetai]). Future passive indicative of ὁραω [horaō]. Blessed assurance of the Second Coming of Christ, but this time “apart from sin” (χωρις ἁμαρτιας [chōris hamartias], no notion of a second chance then). Unto salvation (εἰς σωτηριαν [eis sōtērian]). Final and complete salvation for “them that wait for him” (τοις αὐτον ἀπεκδεχομενοις [tois auton apekdechomenois]). Dative plural of the articular participle present middle of ἀπεκδεχομαι [apekdechomai], the very verb used by Paul in Phil. 3:20 of waiting for the coming of Christ as Saviour. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Heb 9:28). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press)
9:27–28. With this observation, eschatological realities come into focus. Humans are sinful creatures destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. But this danger is turned aside by the fact that Christ was sacrificed once (hapax, cf. v. 26) to take away the sins of many people. The recurrence of “once” (9:26, 28) and of “once for all” (7:27; 9:12; 10:10) stresses the finality and the singleness of Christ’s sacrificial work in contrast with the repeated Levite ministrations. In addition, the “once”-sacrifice of Christ (vv. 26, 28) compares with the “once”-death of each person (v. 27). Now those who are waiting (apekdechomenois; used seven times in the NT of the return of Christ: Rom. 8:19, 23, 25; 1 Cor. 1:7; Gal. 5:5; Phil. 3:20; Heb. 9:28) for Him can look forward to His coming, not with a fearful expectation of judgment, but with the anticipation of salvation.
His first advent was to bear sins away—but His second will be not to bear sin (lit., “without [reference to] sins”).
Deftly the author implied that “those who are waiting for Him” constitute a smaller circle than those whom His death has benefited. They are, as all his previous exhortations reveal, the ones who “hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first” (3:14). The “salvation” He will bring them at His second coming will be the “eternal inheritance” of which they are heirs (cf. 9:15; 1:14). (Hodges, Z. C. (1985). Hebrews. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 803). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Its ministry is final and complete (vv. 25–28). There can be nothing incomplete or temporary about our Lord’s ministry in heaven. The writer pointed out again the obvious contrasts between the Old Covenant ministry and the New Covenant ministry.
|
Old Covenant |
New Covenant |
|
Repeated sacrifices |
One sacrifice |
|
The blood of others |
His own blood |
|
Covering sin |
putting away sin |
|
For Israel only |
For all sinners |
|
Left the holy of holies |
Entered heaven and remains there |
|
Came out to bless the people |
will come to take His people to heaven |
In short, the work of Christ is a completed work, final and eternal. On the basis of His completed work, He is ministering now in heaven on our behalf.
Did you notice that the word “appear” is used three times in Hebrews 9:24–28? These three uses give us a summary of our Lord’s work. He has appeared to put away sin by dying on the cross (Heb. 9:26). He is appearing now in heaven for us (Heb. 9:24). One day, He shall appear to take Christians home (Heb. 9:28). These “three tenses of salvation” are all based on His finished work.
After reading this chapter, the Hebrew Christians who received this letter had to realize that there is no middle ground. They had to make a choice between the earthly or the heavenly, the temporary or the eternal, the incomplete or the complete. Why not return to the temple but also practice the Christian faith? Why not “the best of both worlds”? Because that would be compromising and refusing to go “without the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:13). So there is no middle way.
The believer’s sanctuary is in heaven. His Father is in heaven and his Saviour is in heaven. His citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20) and his treasures should be in heaven (Matt. 6:19ff). And his hope is in heaven. The true believer walks by faith, not by sight. No matter what may happen on earth, a believer can be confident because everything is settled in heaven. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 312). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
9:28 to bear the sins of many. See note on Is 53:12 (cf. 2Co 5:21; 1Pe 2:24). second time. On the Day of Atonement, the people eagerly waited for the High-Priest to come back out of the Holy of Holies. When he appeared, they knew that the sacrifice on their behalf had been accepted by God. In the same way, when Christ appears at His second coming, it will be confirmation that the Father has been fully satisfied with the Son’s sacrifice on behalf of believers. At that point salvation will be consummated (cf. 1Pe 1:3–5). without reference to sin. See notes on 2:17, 18; 4:15. This phrase testifies to the completed work of Christ in removing sins by His sacrifice at His first coming. No such burden will be upon Him in His second coming. eagerly await. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 9:28). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, &c.] As man dies but once, Christ was offered but once, or he suffered and died but once; and that was not on his own account, or for his own sins, but to bear the sins of many; not of angels but of men, and these not a few, but many; which is said to magnify the grace of God, to exalt the satisfaction and righteousness of Christ, and to encourage souls to hope in him: hence many are brought to believe in him, and many are justified by him, have their sins forgiven them, and are glorified; though Christ bore not the sins of all men; for as all men have not faith, all are not justified, pardoned, and saved: what he bore were sins; all kind of sin, every act of sin, and all that belongs to it; its filth, guilt, and punishment, even the iniquity of all his people; which must be a prodigious weight, and than which nothing could be more nauseous: his bearing them supposes they were upon him, though not in him, imputed, though not inherent; that he did not sink under them; that he made an entire satisfaction for them, and bore them wholly away, both from the persons of his people, and from the sight of justice. The way in which he came to bear them was this; he became a surety for all the elect; his father imputed to him all their sins, and he voluntarily took them upon himself; where justice found them, and demanded satisfaction of him for them, and he gave it; which is an instance both of his great love, and of his great strength: and unto them that look for him; with affection, faith, and patience: shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation; this is to be understood of Christ’s visible and personal appearance on earth, which will be a glorious one; he will appear in his own glory, and in his father’s glory, and in the glory of the holy angels, and in the glory of his power, to the joy of saints, and to the terror of the wicked; for every eye shall see him: and this is said to be the second time; that is, that he appears on earth, and personally; for though he often appears to his people, it is in a spiritual way; and though he appeared to Stephen and to Paul, yet not on earth, but in heaven; and this is called the second time, with reference to his first appearance in human nature at his incarnation, and after that he ascended to heaven; and as this will be the second, it will be the last: the manner in which he will appear, will be, without sin; without sin itself; without any thing like it: without any infirmities, which though not sinful are the effects of sin; without sin imputed to him, with which he appeared before; without being a sacrifice for sin; and without sin upon his people that come with him, or he shall meet whom he shall raise, or change, and take to himself: and the end of his appearance with respect to them, will be unto salvation; the end of his first appearance was to obtain salvation for his people, and he has obtained it, and there is a comfortable application of it made unto them by the spirit of God; but the full possession of it will be hereafter, and into this will Christ put them, when he shall appear: the Alexandrian copy adds, by faith, and also some other copies. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 442). London: Mathews and Leigh)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Franklin Graham: Did God show up? In watching the news after the election, the secular media keep asking “How did this happen?” “What went wrong?” “How did we miss this?” Some are in shock. Political pundits are stunned. Many thought the Trump/Pence ticket didn’t have a chance. None of them understand the God-factor.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians from across the United States have been praying. This year they came out to every state capitol to pray for this election and for the future of America. Prayer groups were started. Families prayed. Churches prayed. Then Christians went to the polls, and God showed up.
While the media scratches their heads and tries to understand how this happened, I believe that God’s hand intervened Tuesday night to stop the godless, atheistic progressive agenda from taking control of our country.
President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence are going to need a lot of help and they will continue to need a lot of prayer. I pray that President-elect Trump will surround himself with godly men and women to help advice and counsel him as he leads the nation. My prayer is that God will bless America again!
Jesus becomes involved in controversy with religious leaders over His true identity.
INSIGHT
When iron and aluminum shavings are mixed together, they are indistinguishable. You cannot identify them by sight; you must sweep a magnet through them. The magnet will attract all of the iron filings, but the aluminum filings will remain undisturbed.
The Lord Jesus Christ has exactly the same effect on those to whom He ministers. Those whose understanding is anchored in faith are drawn to Him like iron to a magnet. Those who choose not to believe remain undisturbed, as though nothing special has happened.
Some of the multitude were saying, “This is the Christ” while others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He?” Understanding, combined with faith, understands even more. Unbelief blinds people. (Quiet Walk)
My Glory
“O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.” (Psalm 108:1)
This seems a somewhat strange expression. A similar statement is found in Psalm 30:12: “To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.” Also, note Psalm 57:8: “Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp.”
The Hebrew word is the normal word for “glory,” as in Psalm 19:1, for example: “The heavens declare the glory of God.” But what, then, is meant by “my glory”? The explanation is found in the way the New Testament quotes Psalm 16:9: “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth.” In Acts 2:26, this verse is applied to Christ, and translated “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad.”
It becomes clear, then, that in such passages “my glory” simply means “my tongue.” In fact, the word was translated “tongue” in these and other similar passages in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament.
But why, then, did the inspired Hebrew text here use the words “my glory” instead of the usual Hebrew word for tongue? The answer probably is that when our tongues are used to praise the Lord, they do, indeed, become our glory!
It is this very ability, in fact, that primarily distinguishes man from the animals. Animals can bark, roar, grunt, and send out sonar signals, but they cannot speak in intelligible, symbolic, abstract speech. This is an unbridgeable evolutionary gulf that cannot be crossed, because only men and women were created in the image of God.
Mankind alone has the ability to speak, for the simple reason that God desires to communicate with us so that we can respond in praise to Him. This is our glory! “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.