Bible Readers

October 30 – Today’s Readings Hebrews 10-11 and Psalms 120

I would like to outline a theological point for you this morning. Have you ever thought of yourself as “perfect”? If the answer is yes, then I venture other people would consider you deluded, conceited and very much deceived. Consider this however – according to the author of Hebrews – you ARE perfect!

Hebrews 10:14 reads, “Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

The “sacrifice” being referred to is of course the sacrifice of Jesus. It was He who made us faultless in God’s sight. When we trusted in His sacrifice for our sins, we became “holy” – perfect in His sight. Now we know that in heaven there is no sin and we also understand that no human can enter God’s presence if they have sin in their lives. It’s sin that separates us from God. When we remain “in the faith” however, we are deemed to be “clean” in His sight.

Here is the difficulty. Theologically speaking we now know that we are made perfect in Christ but from a human perspective we have all kinds of shortcomings in our lives. How do we reconcile these two realities?

1 John 1:8-10 says; “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

So – I am both “a sinner” and “a saint”. I have hundreds of shortcomings in my life – yet because I am “clothed in Christ” I am holy and without sin. How does this work itself out in a practical fashion? As I walk in The Holy Spirit, He speaks to me hour by hour – minute by minute. He convicts me of sin – I confess my sin to Him – and turn from it. This is a constant activity because I am being conformed into the image of Christ. Hour by hour and day by day I am constantly returning to holiness. All of this happens, however, under the covering of Christ who allows me to be a Son of God and who allows me access to the presence of Almighty God.

Does all this still not make sense? Then relax and know that Holy Scripture is full of “circular” thinking. God is full of grace yet full of justice. God is going to judge the world yet He loves the world. You know that salvation all depends on God yet we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling”. None of these things are in conflict when you read and begin to understand “God thought”. So – You are Holy – Perfect – Righteous – A saint in God’s sight!!

Questions:

1. God’s character is incredibly complex! Give other examples of how God has one attribute, yet also possesses “the other side of the coin”.
2. Give an example from Scripture where God said one thing then ended up doing another – [think Jonah, Abraham etc.]

October 28 – Today’s Readings – Hebrews 7-9 and Psalms 118

A “will” – a “covenant” – a “testament” – a “bequest” – all these words are interrelated and have great meaning for our lives. We are living in the days of the New Testament. We are in the New Covenant. Jesus has written His Will and you’re in it! God the Father has bequeathed great things to you!

Years ago Linda and I went to the lawyer and asked him to write up our will. When we received it from him, it was titled “The Last Will and Testament”. My portion of this document consisted of a one-way covenant with my wife, my children and others – telling them, in part, what I wished to bequeath to them. This document concerned the disbursement of all my earthly goods, which were to be allocated to people or charities in a certain manner. The “testament” of my “will” would not come into effect till after my death.

Jesus, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, also wrote up a “last will and testament”. We routinely call it the New Testament. It is God’s covenant with us, and for the most part it is a one-way contract. The only part we have to play in receiving all that there is in “the will” is to believe it to be true and to remain in good relationship with the Author of that will. In other words, God does not bequeath all He has to someone who does not have a relationship with Him.

There is one thing – God also expects us to not hoard His incredible inheritance to ourselves. We are required to give it away! Do you ever wonder why Jesus was willing to die? It was because the New Covenant (His Will) could not come into effect till after He died. When He returns in glory, the entire covenant He made with us will be brought to fulfillment. At this moment we are named heirs to a wonderful inheritance that we can do nothing to earn. Furthermore, this covenant is to be “preached” in the entire world so that many can enjoy the limitless blessings of God. This is the greatest news mankind could ever receive – that people can be children of God – at peace with their maker – and inheritors of the greatest treasure of all.

“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:10-12)

As an aside – do you ever wonder whether “tithing” [giving 10% of our income] is a New Testament practice? Re-read and meditate on Hebrews 6:20 – 7:16 and see what the Spirit speaks to you about – I dare you!

Questions:

1. What things are in our heavenly Father’s “will”?
2. Which of these things can we access right away?
3. Which of these things will we have to wait on till we see Him face to face?
4. Did you re-read Hebrews 6:20-7:16? What does this say about tithing?