GOD IS CREATOR By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. —Hebrews 11:3 What do we know by faith (Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1)? We are told that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17) and that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). By…

SPUR EACH OTHER ON! And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:24-25 I have run into those many times who have said that they do not need to attend a local church. Those who say such things do not have an understanding of what God says about the universal and local church, Jesus being the only Head of it. There are professing believers that say they don’t need to attend a local church, but…

HOLD FAST! Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. —Hebrews 10:23 Are you holding unswervingly to the hope you profess? You can because “He who has promised is faithful! You say, “Well, I am not feeling like that right now! I feel like throwing in the towel. I feel like giving up, giving in.” What is it that is making you “feel” that way? Remember… we are in spiritual warfare and there is an adversary that would love for you to call it quits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsQ58qn7G_4 Satan is a destroyer. How many times has he used “feelings” to destroy work relationships, business relationships,…

ONLY ONE SACRIFICE Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. —Hebrews 9:1 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. —Hebrews 9:8-9 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to…

OUR LOVING, COMPASSIONATE AND FAITHFUL GOD Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. —Lamentations 3:22-23 This verse brings out four great truths: 1- He has great love for us. 2- His compassions never fail. 3- His compassions are new every morning. 2— His faithfulness is great. Now we look to the cross and think about what Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what…

JESUS SAID, “IT IS FINISHED” Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all…

JUDGMENT “Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields! The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon. The Lord will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple. —Jeremiah 51:11 Prepare the nations for battle against her— the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the countries they rule. —Jeremiah 51:28 The Lord will destroy Babylon; he will silence her noisy din. Waves of enemies will rage like great waters; the roar of their voices will resound. A destroyer will come against Babylon; her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken. For the Lord is a…

RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. —Hebrews 5:12-14 Are you growing? Are you serving? Are you being fed milk when you should by now be fed with solid food? In the context above these believers were still on milk when they should have been on…

BEWARE OF UNBELIEF See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was…

HE DIED SO WE COULD LIVE! But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. —Hebrews 10:9 Jesus tasted death for me and you and for every person on this planet. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2). He “who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21).…