Life's "Main Point"

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying:  We have such a High Priest...."  (Hebrews 8:1a)

 

The phrase, "this is," is not in Greek manuscripts.  It is just, "Now the main point...."  All Scripture, yea, life itself will daily bring us back to, "Now the main point....-------------------- We have such a High Priest." 

 

The word which is translated here, "main point," is from a root word which means "head."  Vine says that it is used in the verb form in Ephesians 1:10, "[He planned] for the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth" (Amplified).  Jesus Christ is, "the main point," the summing up of not only the message of Hebrews, but the totality of the Bible, of the universe.  The only recorded words of Father which we have in the New Covenant Writings affirm the Man and the Name.  Why?  All which is Father and the Holy Spirit is in Jesus Christ, as the Scripture says, "bodily."  No one has ever seen Our Father and the Holy Spirit.  This is why God gave us Himself in Jesus Christ, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father."  The hymn says, "God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity," not three gods, not three personalities, but Three Persons.  No, I don't fully grasp it either.  John Wesley once said, "Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man who can comprehend the Trinity." 

 

But for now, it should suffice to know that, "we have such a High Priest," the One described in a previous portion of the Epistle as, "a Great High Priest."  And indeed He Is.  And so I encourage you today, my friend, with the words of Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them"-- our, "Great High Priest," at work for us.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I cannot thank You enough for such a Great High Priest."  Amen.

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Keeping up may be difficult, but we need to stay informed.  The King is, "at the door"-   www.apf327.blogspot.com

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, 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

Devotional and Prayer Request

The Faces of Hate

 

"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, by the translation of his name, 'king of righteousness,' and then also king of Salem, which is 'king of peace....For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens." (Heb. 7:5 & 26, NASB) 

 

Regardless of the cursed press, politicians who just want to get reelected, and the spiritually drugged populace, Islam is a religion of hate.  The faces above reveal this.  This is not about Mubarak, or so-called "palestinians," or "freedom," or, or, or.  This is about who rules the world, which includes your world and my world.  The faces in the photo above are expressions which all of us have seen over the last 30+ years.  They are the faces of a growing hatred of Jews, Christians, the West, and all who do not embrace their moon god, Allah, a hatred which will lead to nothing but Armageddon.  

 

"Into" a world full of hatred, unrighteousness, and war, came Jesus Christ, "King of Righteousness, and...King of Peace."  That is Who Jesus Is.  Whether you or I or Muslims or Hindus or Buddhists or New Agers or humanist in general wish to receive Him into our lives as The, "King of righteousness," He Is, as The, "King of peace," He Is, as The Savior He Is, and as The Immanuel, "God with us," He Is----- is all up to us (sorry extreme Calvinists).  This is the scariest part of life.  We can go to Heaven or Hell, we can live in this life with The, "King of Righteousness," The, "King of Peace," dwelling in us, ruling in us, being our Everything, more accurately, our Everyone, frighteningly, it is all up to our obedience.  The command to the world is the same as that to the Jews over three millennia ago, "Choose you this day."

 

I would highly recommend that if you want your country to come out of what is surely coming on all the earth in the best possibly scenario, vote for people who realize the truth of all this.  Planet Earth as we have known it does not have long, but in Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest------ you do!

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You are my righteousness, you are my peace.  Amen.

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Please continue to pray for our granddaughter, Hazel.  Her bilirubin count is elevated.  Thanks so much

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, 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

If The Church is to Live Correctly, The Church NEEDS Right Theology

"So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You.'" (Hebrews 5:5)

 

 I took part in a survey over 25 years ago in a prominent church in Pittsburgh.  One of the questions had to do with the Trinity.  It was shocking to hear that very many "mature" Believers (if not most; I can't recall) believed that the Doctrine of the Trinity proclaimed three Gods.   Now maybe you can understand my obsession with Trinitarian Theology.  Such error in belief will produce error in behavior, yes it will.  When people, however, get a better understanding (for that is all we can do concerning the Godhead) of the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we will not be duped by such comments I have heard in recent years, "We need to give more honor to the Father."  Jesus made it very, very clear, "....All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."  It just cannot be made any more clear.  

 

John 1:18, says, "No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."  The word here translated, "Son," is not the Greek word for, "Son;" it is "Theos," the Greek word for, "God."  Two translations get it more closely to the "intent" of the Holy Spirit.  The NASB says, "No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten (brought forth, revealed) God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."  The NIV says, "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only...has made him known."        

The word, "Begotten," is from the Greek word monogenes, which means "only-born, i.e., sole."  Vine says, "With reference to Christ, the phrase 'the only begotten from the Father,' John 1:14, RV, indicates that as the Son of God He was the representative of the Being and character of the One who sent Him.  In the original the definite article is omitted both before 'only begotten' and before 'Father,' and its absence in each case serves to lay stress upon the characteristics referred to in the terms used.  The apostle's object is to demonstrate what sort of glory it was that he and his fellow apostles had seen.  That he is not merely making a comparison with earthly relationships is indicated by [the Greek word], para, 'from.'  The glory was that of a unique relationship and the word 'begotten' does not imply a beginning of His Sonship.  It suggests relationship indeed, but must be distinguished from generation as applied to man."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I declare with Isaiah, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,..He will teach us His ways."  Amen.

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, 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

Got Rest?

"There remains therefore a rest to the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9)

 

Reading through the Bible quarterly is like listening to the same sermon and teaching over and over again.  Yet some religious people just cannot live without what they call "a fresh word," the latest "prophetic revelation."  It is a little disconcerting as to what all that may mean.  I find in this one verse power for the day, a life sustenance-- "There remains therefore a rest to the people of God."

 

Our text reveals a blessed promise for, "people of God," yet what an illusive promise for so many.  "Rest"-- the root Hebrew word means to "desist from exertion."  Yet this is the mantra of so many church people.  Their "work" in the Kingdom is nothing but "exertion," humming bird like, so much activity, so much busyness.  Their church work wears them out, exhausts them (and others) and we eventually hear from them or about them----------- "burn out."  Over the years I have heard much talk of "burn out" among Christians.  Yet  only, "wood, hay, straw," are burned up.  "Gold, silver, precious stones," are not. 

 

Hebrews 4:6 and 11 reveal that the reason people do not live in the, "rest of the people of God," is, "disobedience."  If you and I work on our obedience, we will indeed enter that, "rest," which, "remains...to the people of God........"Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of disobedience.  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword...."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, this is glorious, "labor."  Amen.

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If you want the truth about the current Egyptian "crises," go to:

www.apf327.blogspot.com

 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, 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