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It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Therefore when Jesus comes into the world, he said … In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you have had no pleasure. … Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first [covenant], that he may establish the second. By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, until his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever those that are sanctified. The Holy Spirit also is a witness to us. For after he said, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; he said, And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holies by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. from Hebrews chapter 10 * Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry. He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault, he says, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant, and I did not regard them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he says, a new covenant, he has made the first old; now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away. from Hebrews chapter 8 * And Zacchae'us stood, and said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said to him, This day is salvation come to this house, for as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was close to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well, you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be you also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared you, because you are an austere man: you take up that you laid not down, and reap that you did not sow. And he says to him, Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: wherefore then gave not you my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said to them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that has ten pounds. (And they said to him, Lord, he has ten pounds.) For I say to you, That to everyone which has, shall be given [more]; and from him that has not, even that he has shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring here, and slay them before me. And when he had thus spoken, Jesus went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. from Luke chapter 19 * You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. from 1 Peter chapter 2
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. from Titus chapter 1
Paul writes, we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. from 2 Thessalonians chapter 2
now once in the end of the world has Christ 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, he shall appear the second time without sin to salvation. excerpts from Hebrews chapter 9 * A note from the author: I want to look next at our daily life as a child of God.
* Jesus said, And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spoke; and the people wondered. from Luke chapter 11
Now in the morning as Jesus returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say to this mountain, Be you removed, and be you cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. from Matthew chapter 21 * A note from the author: Jesus models two types of life as a son of God. The first is speaking to creation and creation obeys. The water and the wind obeyed Jesus. The fig tree obeyed Jesus. Creation is subject to Jesus because Jesus is the firstborn son of God. Jesus tells us we have that same authority to speak to creation and it will obey us. He has delegated to us his own authority. Creation is now subject to us. Being a son of God, as Jesus is the son of God, we speak to creation and it obeys us. The second type of life Jesus models is prayer, asking God our Father for something, or to do something, on our behalf. Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened. Jesus says God the Father listens to a son of God. You will always receive God’s favor and you will always have your request. There is a reason this is an absolute, always, yes. Because you are righteous, your every request is righteous, and every answer therefore can be yes. God has given you the ability to always ask for what is good. It is your nature. This is why James writes, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Righteousness is the foundation of a powerful prayer life. What is Jesus doing now as he is seated beside the Father? Praying for us because he loves us. * I want to look next at how our daily life with God is built by prayer, by the conversations we have with God. * Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it to you. All things that the Father has are mine: therefore I said, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it to you. from John chapter 16
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give to them eternal life; and they shall never die, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. from John chapter 10
the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. from John chapter 14 * A note from the author: Jesus says my sheep (that’s us) hear his voice. How do we hear him? The Holy Spirit speaks to us. We are born in baptism a spirit. And the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Spirit talks with spirit. The Holy Spirit says to us what he hears from Jesus and the Father. Because the Holy Spirit dwells inside us, we hear his words in our thoughts rather than hearing his words as an external sound. The Holy Spirit is our perfect companion, he can perfectly hear God and he never misspeaks. He makes sure we hear perfectly what Jesus and the Father say to us. Jesus is our Lord and Teacher. Our Father instructs us in the way we should go. Daily life with God is always a conversation, from him to us, and us to him. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to hear and speak with God. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us by asking God to give us that good gift. We ask and we receive. Jesus reassures us that the Holy Spirit is something God desires to give us. * Let’s look at how the Holy Spirit arrives to both the Jews and the Gentiles and then explore what Paul tells us about what the Holy Spirit is doing now and how the Holy Spirit does his works. * Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form to two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest: neither they believed them. Afterward Jesus appeared to the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. from Mark chapter 16 * And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this noise was heard abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. excerpts from Acts chapter 2
* There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter, he lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell you what you ought to do. And when the angel which spoke to Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually, and when he had declared all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends. [Peter comes. And Cornelius describes the vision.] Then Peter said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) that word, I say, you know; which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they killed and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of living and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. excerpts from Acts chapter 10
Peter said, [speaking about this experience with Cornelius,] And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell you words, whereby you and all your house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did to us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. from Acts chapter 11 *
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JESUS : THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
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