"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."Galatians 5:25
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

We are of Those who Believe


Every now and then I find myself drawn into the whole picture and flow of a Bible passage, and I want to sketch it out in words. This is one of those times and it was so encouraging to me, I wanted to share it here.

Hebrews 10:10-39
By His once and for all time offering, Jesus Christ has forever perfected me, cleansed me completely of all sin. His perfection, learned by His obedience, has been extended to me through His sacrifice.
And...
the Holy Spirit adds His testimony to this.
He writes His laws upon my heart.
He even adds...
"I will remember your sins no more."
Imagine that! My High Priest no longer remembers my sins!
Jesus, My High Priest is great and wonderful and noble.
He has opened a way for me through His own blood, through the sacrifice of His flesh.

Therefore...because of Him...and through Him...

I have full freedom, full confidence
I now have a true and sincere heart
unqualified, limitless assurance, absolute conviction
a conscience wiped clean of guilt
I should seize the hope
Seize it!
not weakly, not wavering
I should boldly come into God's presence.
But wait, look around.
I don't go alone.

All the while that I draw near, I must not forget to study and consider how to bring along with me my brothers and sisters in Christ. I must make sure that they come with the same bold confidence.
We do this together, we need each other, we are responsible for one another.
Otherwise, we could be in danger of falling away, of falling into the trap of sin.
For if you keep on sinning, know this, you face God.
You think that the punishment of death for breaking the Law is bad, it is nothing compared to falling into the hands of the living God.
You don't want to go there!
I don't want to leave you behind, unprotected.
Sure you're tired and feel like you can't hold on anymore. It would be so easy just to give up.
But remember you have been here before, you've been humiliated, suffered abuse, lost your possessions, and you did it all gladly because you knew that you had a better, everlasting possession.
Don't throw it all away!
You need endurance?
You have that in your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Live by your faith!
We are not of those who shrink back!
We are of those who believe!
Say it to yourself
We are of those who believe!

Do you know someone who needs to be reminded of that?


for more encouragement,
read to the end of the book of Hebrews

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