"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf." (Hebrews 6:18-20a, NIV)
The NIV may not be the "best" translation, but many times it "speaks" in our "language," as most of us speak today. "We have this hope....It enters the inner sanctuary...," or, "....This hope...enters...." A "hope" which stays outside the, "inner sanctuary," is a lost hope, a hope which knows no fulfillment, a hope which fades into oblivion. Jesus Christ is, "this hope," which, "we have...." He entered the, "inner sanctuary behind the curtain...." No one else could do this. As the Holy Spirit will state later in the epistle, "Such a high priest truly meets our need-- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens."
Sometimes there is great flippancy with which people speak of "entering in." There is no entering in, no matter the wow factor of worship, personal charisma, or superstar status of those leading; if Jesus Christ is not central, preeminent, His Name consciously at the forefront of worship, no one is "going" anywhere. Our, "Great High Priest," entered the, "Holiest of All." No one may/can enter outside of Jesus; Father will simply not permit it. Indeed, my "access" to anything of the Godhead, the Kingdom of Heaven/God, saving grace, the, "Book of Life," and the "many mansions," is in Jesus Christ only, solely, exclusively, "No one comes to the Father," literally, "if not through Me." As a friend of mine once said, "It's amazing how much light the Bible sheds on all these commentaries."
Father, in Jesus' Name, and only, "through Me," Jesus, the richness of Your Words just keep expanding in my heart. Amen.
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If you are not keeping up, you are missing great prophetic news at: www.apf327.blogspot.com
The NIV may not be the "best" translation, but many times it "speaks" in our "language," as most of us speak today. "We have this hope....It enters the inner sanctuary...," or, "....This hope...enters...." A "hope" which stays outside the, "inner sanctuary," is a lost hope, a hope which knows no fulfillment, a hope which fades into oblivion. Jesus Christ is, "this hope," which, "we have...." He entered the, "inner sanctuary behind the curtain...." No one else could do this. As the Holy Spirit will state later in the epistle, "Such a high priest truly meets our need-- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens."
Sometimes there is great flippancy with which people speak of "entering in." There is no entering in, no matter the wow factor of worship, personal charisma, or superstar status of those leading; if Jesus Christ is not central, preeminent, His Name consciously at the forefront of worship, no one is "going" anywhere. Our, "Great High Priest," entered the, "Holiest of All." No one may/can enter outside of Jesus; Father will simply not permit it. Indeed, my "access" to anything of the Godhead, the Kingdom of Heaven/God, saving grace, the, "Book of Life," and the "many mansions," is in Jesus Christ only, solely, exclusively, "No one comes to the Father," literally, "if not through Me." As a friend of mine once said, "It's amazing how much light the Bible sheds on all these commentaries."
Father, in Jesus' Name, and only, "through Me," Jesus, the richness of Your Words just keep expanding in my heart. Amen.
*********
If you are not keeping up, you are missing great prophetic news at: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2