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"Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath
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. Let us hold fast the profession of
our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much
the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:19-25
THERE ARE
TWELVE LESSONS FROM THIS TEXT PRINTED IN THE SPACE BELOW.
I HAVE RETAINED THE DATES THEY WERE FIRST PUBLISHED BY EACH OF
THE STUDIES.
LESSON 1:
(tuesday afternoon, december
21, 2004)
Whatever happens in this first
verse of our text occurs because of the Blood of Jesus!
See what I mean: "Having therefore,
brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest
by the blood of Jesus
..." Hebrews 10:19
The Greek preposition here
that is translated "by" is spelled: "en." It means not
only "by" ... but also "in" or "within!"
Literally we who are saved are IN the Blood of Jesus! We
have been washed IN the Blood of the Lamb of God!
And because we are IN the
Blood ... we can have boldness!
Because we are IN the Blood,
we can enter into the Holy Place!
And because of the Blood we
can do these things perpetually!
Paul here says we HAVE this
boldness ... via the Blood. "Having" ("echo" as a present
participle meaning to hold or possess or keep ... with the
action being continuous) such boldness is one benefit of the
Blood being applied in our lives!
The noun "boldness" (in Greek
= "parresia" means openly or plainly or confidently) combines
two words that mean to say all ... or to say everything!
The verb "to enter" is a Greek
word ("eisodos") that means "into" ("eis") the "road" ("hodos")!
There is a path that goes to the very Holy Place of God ...and
we can humbly but confidently walk it because we are IN the
Blood! Wow!
The exact word for "Holiest"
is rendered "Holiest of all" two times in Hebrews (9:3 and 9:8).
We are actually being told here that we have access into the
Holy of Holies ... because of Jesus' Blood!
And please do note that this
does not occur because of any ordinary blood! It is due to
Jesus' Blood! The Blood of the Lamb!
I don't know if we can
comprehend it or not ... but what has just been written (verse
19 of Hebrews 10 in the Scripture) is
so great and
represents such a
blessing that we should scarcely ever get over it!
Glory to the Name of the dear
Lord Jesus!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2:
(WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 22, 2004)
Verse 20 further describes our
"access" to God.
"By a
new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh." Hebrews 10:20
We come to God for daily
prayer and praise and worship through a veil? Through His
Flesh?
This is the Way?
Yes, that's what Paul is
saying.
Just as Jesus ascended (after
His death, burial and resurrection) and went into the Father's
very Throne Room (sitting right now at the Father's right Hand)
... even so we (says the Bible right here) have the same access!
Amazing!
And the WAY we do this is ...
(in One Word) ... JESUS!
Paul calls our way to
fellowship (into the very Presence of God) a "new and living
Way!"
The adjective "new" translates
a Greek word "prosphatos" which means lately slaughtered or
freshly killed! When God the Father looks at Jesus ... He
sees the Lamb as if He had just been slain! In Heaven
Calvary is always a "recent" event! It never looses its
wonder or power!
What a thought!
Heaven's "mind" is always on
the Blood and the Lamb!
The way is a "living" way too.
"Zao" means alive in its fullest sense ... really living!
(Abundant Life!) The term being a present participle, we
are told that this living is on-going and unfinished! (We
Christians know it is eternal!)
The noun "way" is "hodos"
which is just their word for highway or road. No wonder
Isaiah 35:8 talks about a "highway of holiness!"
This "way" has been
"consecrated" for us by Jesus. Our verb means to put into
force or to open or to inaugurate! (It can mean to renew
or renew or refresh too.)
The pronoun "us" is a dative
plural that means "to" or "for" us. Jesus did it for you
and me!
When Jesus went back to Heaven
...He went "through the vail." This is a reference to the
huge curtain that separated (upon penalty of death) the Holy
Place (in the earthly Temple) from the Most Holy Place, the very
abode of God in Israel! (When Jesus died this strong
curtain or veil was torn into two pieces from top to bottom,
indicating that the formerly denied access to God has been
opened!
This pictures Jesus as High
Priest making atonement for the people!
"Through" is the Greek
preposition "dia." (The "channel" through which One
passes)
The noun "vail" just means a
curtain that has been stretched across a room. (Here as a
barrier)
But what does this curtain
represent in Jesus' death? We are told here in our verse.
It is "His flesh." Jesus' flesh was torn (literally) ...
His Blood was shed (again, literally) ... and that has given Him
access into Glory to be eternally with His Faher!
He then turns around and
invites us to follow Him there! (Through teh tattered
remnants of His broken Body and shed Blood!
The Blood could only have been
poured forth by means of the cuts and pierced openings and
bruises on His precious Body!
That's HOW we too can live in
heavenly places with Christ Jesus our Lord!
Right now ...Paul says we
enjoy such things!
"Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and
hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:5-6
Glory to God!
No wonder Peter said:
"Whom
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not,
yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory!" 1st Peter 1:8
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3
(THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 23, 2004):
Our verse today is rather
short!
"And
having an high priest over the house of God." Hebrews
10:21
That's all it says.
But just look at What it calls
Jesus!
He is our High Priest!
I believe the term "House of
God" is an expression used here for the Church of the Lord Jesus
Christ, His Bride.
The verbal "string" HIGH
PRIEST occurs 75 times in the King James Bible. In the Old
Testament it describes the Son of Aaron who happened to be
presiding as Israel's chief religious and worship leader.
By New Testament times the office holders had degenerated into
mere political operators, enemies of the true Gospel.
Then the term ("high priest")
disappears (for quite a while) from New Testament pages!
It is not found in Romans or 1st or 2nd Corinthians or Galatians
or Ephesians or any of Paul's Epistles until you get to Hebrews!
Then ... suddenly ... it explodes on the scene! (I count
16 times it is found in Hebrews!) And 11 of those times it
is specifically referring to Jesus! HE is our High Priest!
He serves not after the order
of Aaron (who was of the Tribe of Levi) ... but after the order
of Mechizedek. Jesus was NOT of the Tribe of Levi ... but
of Judah, the Ruling Kingly Tribe! Therefore He is
qualified to be both a KING and a PRIEST!
In fact, Jesus is not just our
High Priest ... but our GREAT HIGH PRIEST!
Here are some things Hebrews
tells us about Him as Such:
He is a merciful (and
successful) High Priest, making reconciliation for us sinners!
"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to
be made like unto his brethren, that he might be
a merciful and faithful
high priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people." Hebrews
2:17
He is a faithful High Priest!
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that
appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his
house." Hebrews 3:1-2
He is now "in the Heavens" in
the very Presence of God! How's that for being "on
location?" So says Hebrews 4:14 ---
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
profession."
We have a sinless High Priest,
yet One Who knows how we feel! "For
we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
We have a High Priest Who was
appointed so by God His Father! He is not "self-called" to
the Position! "So also Christ
glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that
said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee."
Hebrews 5:5
He is for ever our High
Priest! He will never die (again)!
"Whither
the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Hebrews 6:20
He is more fully described in
Hebrews 7:26 --- "For such an high priest
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners, and made higher than the heavens."
Wow!
He is at God's Right Hand
...the Hand that gives and protects and empowers!
"Now of the things which we have spoken
this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the
right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." Hebrews
8:1
He as High Priest only had to
make ONE Offering ... Himself! "But
Christ being come an high priest of good things to come ... by
his own blood he entered in
once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us." Hebrews 9:11-12
And ... back to our text ...
He is High Priest OVER us, the House of God. That
little preposition is "epi" and means on, upon, over, or even
for! Of us it can be said:
"And having an high priest over the house of God."
Hebrews 10:21
Today we have seen the
blessings we enjoy.
Lord willing, tomorrow we
shall see the responsibilities those blessings bring!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4
(FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 24, 2004):
Having learned how the Blood
of Jesus grants us access to the very Presence of God, we are
next encouraged by Paul to "draw near with a true heart."
This is in verse number 22. "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."
We shall just begin the verse
today.
The verb "draw near" (to come
close or to appear face-to-face) is in the subjunctive mood.
It is not expressed here as a command. Paul is sharing
with the Hebrews his longing or desire for them!
(That's what the "subjunctive" mood does.)
Come to the Throne of Grace!
The very Abode of God!
But come
"with a true heart."
The idea here is "sincerity."
(A Latin word meaning without ... "sine" ... wax "cere." The
history books and my old Latin teacher tell us that in Rome
furniture makers often would hide their mistakes and blemishes
and imperfections by smearing wax over the scratch or dent or
hole ... thereby masking it! Something "without wax" was
real. You got what you saw! It was "sincere!")
These two words are combined
in one way or another over a half dozen times in Scripture.
Even in the Old Testament! "Only
fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for
consider how great things he hath done for you." 1st
Samuel 12:24. Also 1st Kings 2:4 and 3:6 include the
words. Hezekiah the King lives in such a way too.
Listen to him in 2nd Kings 20:3 --- "I
beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee
in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that
which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore."
David only wants around him
those who "walketh
uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and
speaketh the truth in
his
heart." Psalm 15:2
Something about the Presence
of God dispels lies and falsehood!
Lord, give us "true hearts!"
And, of course, such hearts
are only possible through the cleansing power of the Blood of
Jesus!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5
(SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2004):
There's something about the
Blood of Jesus that gives us ... "full assurance!" In
fact, literally we can have "full assurance of faith!"
That's according to Hebrews
10:22. "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."
Now all the "blessings" of
this verse are resultant from the access to God we have ...
through the Blood of Jesus!
The term "full assurance"
translates only one Greek word. However it's a compound
noun ("plerophoria"). Its first section, "plero," comes
from a word that means "covered." Although the expression
soon comes to mean "full to the brim!" Then, as you can
see, the root of the word is "phoreo," meaning to have a burden
... or to wear armour or clothing as a constant accompaniment!
(From "phoros," a load! And even further back, from "phero," to
bear a load!)
The word pictures one who is
heavily loaded with something!
But what?
That's where we must go back
to our verse and study the "context" of our word in focus.
"Full assurance" of FAITH!
A "truck-load" of faith!
Because of the power of the
Blood of Jesus!
I used to teach that there was
only one way to get faith! It is a "gift of God" and had
to be bestowed upon one I said. (That's still true I
think. Ephesians 2:8-9)
Then I added another Bible way
to my teaching (as I learned and grew in the Lord)! Romans 10:17
says: "So then faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The
Bible gives one faith as he or she studies, memorizes and
meditates in its precious truths! As well as hearing it
preached regularly!
Later I added a third point to
my teaching. One can pray for faith! "And
the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to
have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31-32
Faith can obviously be made stronger via prayer!
But, alas, now I must add
another point! Faith (a full "load" of it) can come by
realizing the power of the Blood of Jesus! The Blood that
gives me access to the very Throne Room of the Father with His
Son Jesus (my Intercessor, my Advocate, my Saviour) sitting by
His side!
Thank God such faith is
available!
Appropriate yours today, dear
saved friend!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6
(MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2004):
Today we examine the part of
verse 22 that says ...
"having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience ...."
What does that mean?
I have counted the times the
verb "sprinkled" is used in the Bible (as a past tense). This
does not count the related words "sprinkle" or sprinkleth" or
"sprinkling." I have found 25 times that things were
"sprinkled." Ashes were used to sprinkle once.
Just oil was sprinkled once. Water twice and dust once.
But BLOOD was sprinkled 14 times and blood and water combined
once. (Of the 25 "sprinkled" uses in the Bible ... blood
is involved in 15 of them! That's 60%.)
So ... when our text says that
our hearts are to be "sprinkled" from an evil conscience (and
the paragraph we're in deals with the Blood Of Jesus anyway) ...
one may safely say the BLOOD clears our evil consciences!
Just as It cleanses everything else!
The verb means to make clean
or to purify! Here it is framed as a perfect participle
... meaning that the deed is completed, but has lasting
consequences and benefits! You were "sprinkled" when you got
saved! But you will never get over it! It to this
very day still impacts your conscience!
Our clause here is probably a
"companion" statement to Hebrews 9:14.
"How much more shall the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to
God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
Wow!
Our consciences, which were
evil and filled with dead works, have been cleansed by the Blood
of the Lamb! We are cleared of the guilt and fear that
hounded us so long! We are forgiven!
The noun for "conscience" in
both verses is "suneidesis" and literally means "to see with."
It's that inner part of someone that can discern his or her most
private motives and desires and goals! It can relate to
the human spirit and interact with the Holy Spirit of God as
well!
And an "evil" conscience can
defile our hearts! "Poneros" (evil) means wicked or vile
in its most active and spreading and deadly sense!
Once a soul is Blood-washed,
there will be no more "plotting" to get even! No more
"revenge!" The evil thoughts are gone ... when the Blood
is applied!
One's conscience can be
defiled toward God or toward man! Either way, the Blood is
the answer and repentance is the avenue by which it is applied!
Once our consciences are sprinkled ... we may have to apologize
to some folks too! (Or, as Zacchaeus did, restore some
things taken illegally or wrongfully!)
What a side-effect, what a
by-product of the Blood we have studied today!
Maybe then we can say with
Paul the Apostle ... "And herein do I
exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence
toward God, and toward men."
And that's possible ... only
through the Blood!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7
(TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2004):
I am learning so much from
this series of verses!
And today we are being taught
that the Blood of Jesus even has an impact on our very bodies!
His Blood ... our bodies!
Here's the whole verse:
"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."
(Hebrews 10:22) This "drawing near" is a result of the
Blood of our Lord having been shed on Calvary!
Now look closely at that last
clause again:
"And
our bodies washed with pure water."
First of all let me say that
this text is NOT speaking about some kind of water baptism!
It does not say that and it does not even imply that!
It seems to be a reference to
the priests of the Old Testament era (Jewish Priests ...
"Hebrews") who daily had to wash themselves at the Laver in the
Tabernacle. See Exodus 40:31-32. "And Moses and
Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat
(the laver): when they went into the tent of the congregation,
and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD
commanded Moses."
This washing with water is
only possible after one has passed the blood stained brazen
altar. Daily cleansing follows Blood application!
And Paul here in Hebrews is
telling us that, like the priests before us, we have been
(because of the Blood of Jesus) also bathed in the water (of the
Word) and thus cleansed for daily service!
Our "hearts" were changed in
the previous clause ... and now our "bodies" are too!
This is TOTAL salvation!
Perhaps I should better say:
This is TOTAL salvation that leads to sanctification!
And Jesus did it all!
Praise the Lord!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8
(WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2004):
Next, because of the Blood of
Jesus, we are told to "hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering." Hebrews
10:23a
One of the "benefits" of the
Blood is the empowerment to "hold fast!"
This verb, "katecho," means to
have or to hold something ... to hold it down! To keep
firm! To maintain possession! It is in subjunctive
form. Paul here is expressing his desire and yearning for
the Hebrew believers. And it has the time sense of
"present" action. Keep on holding fast! (Habitual,
on-going action!)
The word "profession" is "homologia"
and means that which we confess! ("Homo" means "same" and
"lego" means "to say!" The word indicates a "saying of the
same thing" or an agreement with another! Our "profession"
of faith is our saying the identical things that Jesus has
already said or that the Bible has already said! We are
agreeing with the Word of God!
"Faith" means that body of
doctrine to which we assent and by which we live our lives.
"Without wavering" translates
the Greek word "aklines." The verb "klino" means to
recline to lay on a bed. The "a" that prefixes it means no
or not. Live for Jesus without "laying down on the job!"
This is the only time our word is used in the whole Bible!
After all, we can be steady
and unswerving and diligent because "He is
faithful That promised!"
Once Jesus said that because
He lives ... we can live also! (John 14:19)
Now Paul just said that
because God is faithful ... we can be too!
God has never failed to keep
His good Word!
Listen to Joshua at the end of
his earthly life. "And, behold, this
day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in
all your hearts and in all your souls, that
not one thing hath
failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake
concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing
hath failed thereof."
Joshua 23:14
Amen!
Through the Blood ... we have
stability to live for Jesus!
No wonder Paul could elsewhere
command: "Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1st
Corinthians 15:58
The next time we sing "There's
POWER in the Blood," I'm going to pay better attention to
those words!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 9:
(THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2004)
Next
Paul insinuates that our access into the "Holiest" (the very
Presence of the Lord God Almighty) "by the Blood Of Jesus" ...
should help us do some things for each other!
Here are
his exact words: "Let us consider one
another to provoke unto love and to good works." Hebrews
10:24
The verb
"consider" is "katanoeo" and means "to keep in mind." To
deliberately and diligently ponder something or someone! "Noeo"
means to exercise the mind ("nous"). The words are believed to
be derived from "ginosko," to know. The word is used 19 times
in the New Testament.
I just
made a list of the things we are told to "consider" as
Christians. Jesus said it was wise to consider: our own
weaknesses and sins (Matthew 7:3 and Luke 6:41), the ravens ...
for whom God provides food (Luke 12:24), and the lilies ... how
God clothes them (Luke 12:27)! Paul adds that we are to
"consider" Jesus Himself! ("Wherefore,
holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the
Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 3:1) Then comes our text, to
"consider one another!"
Even the
pronouns here are significant! "Another" translates the Greek "allelon,"
meaning another of the same kind! (Had it been another of a
different kind ... "heteros" would have been used!) We
Christians are cut from the same pattern! We bear similar
traits!
The
infinitive "to provoke" is unusual! It is spelled "paroxusmos"
and means to "sharply" motivate! It contains the Greek word for
"point," something very sharp! The only other time it's used in
the Bible is in Acts 15:39 where Paul and Barbnabas had that
argument over John Mark. "And the contention was so sharp
between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and
so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus." Wow! (There
the words "contention ... so sharp" are all a translation of "paroxusmos!)
It is an emotional word!
We are
literally to think and ponder and devise ways to incite fellow
believers to better love one another and more fervently work for
Jesus!
Wow!
Love is
our old friend "agape," God's love, unselfish love, giving
love! It's a love that keeps on functioning even when nothing
good is returned!
And
"good" works ("kalos") are the kind that have a spreading,
infecting, influencing goodness about them! They become
"contagious" within the Body of Christ!
And
since our good "works" do require effort, the word here is "ergon,"
a forerunner of our English word "energy!"
Here the
Blood of Jesus, Which gave us access to God's very Presence, has
brought us back to earth to help other live for Jesus!
What
power!
Now, go
out and "provoke" someone ... to love and good works!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 10:
(FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2004)
Now we come to
the last verse of our paragraph, our text. "Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much
the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Hebrews 10:25
Technically speaking, this is
NOT a command! It is not an imperative mood verb! It
is a participle (a verbal adjective) that convey "present" time.
The word "forsaking" translates "egkataleipo" (3 words fused
together ... Paul's style) which means to be absent form a
place! "Leipo," according to the lexicons, means to lack
or to leave or to fail or to be absent. The other two
prefixes primarily intensify the main verb's meaning! "Kata"
may imply that when we miss church ... we let "down" our
Brothers and Sisters in Christ. "Kata" is the Greek
preposition that often means "down." The "eg" in front of
it all is in Greek "en" and here means a fixed position of being
"in" the assembly. Spelling often changes some during word
"assimilation."
Do NOT miss the Church
services ... Paul says here!
The noun "assembling" is
interesting too. It fuses "epi" and "sun" and the little
verb "ago." When we meet we come "together" (Greek =
"sun") "upon or within" (Greek = "epi") to "be led" (Greek
"ago") by the Word of God and the man of God!
It seems that in Paul's day
many were already missing church services regularly! How very
up-to-date the Bible is!
The noun "manner" is derived
from a word ("ethos") that has a verbal background meaning "to
be used to," implying a habit. Folks had minimized the
importance of being in the worship services!
But Paul is here teaching us
that if we fully realize what has been done for us (by means of
the death of Jesus on the Cross and the shedding of His Blood)
... we WILL faithfully assemble with our brethren in the regular
meetings of the church!
And, here, WHY do we meet?
Or at least ... WHAT is one side-effect of our meeting together?
We "exhort" one another!
This verb ("parakaleo") is the
same basic word used of the Holy Spirit as our COMFORTER and of
Jesus as our ADVOCATE! It means one who encourages
another! One who strengthens another! ("Para" means
"alongside." And "kaleo" means "to call" a person. A
"paraclete" is one who comes alongside another to help him or
her in a time of need!)
Just by being at church ...
you well may encourage your bothers and sisters in Christ!
And by NOT being there, you may discourage them!
And, with hard days ahead,
this exhortation is going to be needed more and more Paul says!
"The day approaching" may have reference to the soon-coming
destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and ensuing persecution of
Christians that will follow. This happened in 70 AD.
Going to church and being
encouraged in one's spiritual life is good preparation for hard
times that may come!
"So much the more" in Greek is
spelled "tosoutos mallon." We have here a pronoun followed
by an adverb. "Tosoutos" means "so great" or "so large" or
"so many." More just means a greater portion of anything!
(All the more! Or ... the more the better!)
One reason folks miss church
and are unfaithful to our local assemblies is that they have not
yet realized what Jesus did for them on the Cross ... THROUGH
HIS BLOOD!
At least ... that's exactly
where this Passage began several days ago!
We have discover another fresh
"batch" of benefits flowing from the Blood of Jesus!
How "blessed" we Believers are
"in Christ Jesus!"
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 11:
(SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2005)
Let me mention
one last thing it appears the Blood of Jesus does for us.
That is according to our text.
It's found in
the last words of verse 25. "... As
ye see the day approaching!"
This likely has
reference to some terrible day of trouble and judgment for the
whole land of Israel. Paul is here writing to the
"Hebrews!"
Most teachers
believe Hebrews was written a few years prior to the destruction
of the Temple in Jerusalem (70 AD) by the Roman Army.
Perhaps that is
the day in mind here.
But whatever the
event prophesied ... being in church with one's bothers and
sisters will help them face those coming terrible hours!
And why are we
in church together?
To exhort and
encourage one another!
And to what end
are we encouraging one another?
To stay faithful
and steady in our love fervency for the Lord!
And why will we
stay faithful?
Because we have
been washed in the Blood!
Because we have
access to the very Throne Room of God ... through the Blood!
What benefits
... all because of The Blood of Jesus!
Here's the list
from our whole text:
1. BOLDNESS to
enter into the Holiest Place ... where Jesus is interceding for
us!
2. A HIGH PRIEST
in Heaven ministering on our behalf!
3. FULL
ASSURANCE of faith!
4. A pure
CONSCIENCE!
5. A sanctified
BODY!
6. FAITHFULNESS
(no wavering)!
7. A firm
PROFESSION OF FAITH (doubts gone)!
8. Ability to
ENCOURAGE OTHERS in Christ!
9. Desire to
ATTEND CHURCH regularly and consistently!
10. Strength to
face the EVIL DAY ahead!
... all because
of the Blood!
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 12:
(SUNDAY, THE LORD'S DAY, JANUARY 2, 2005)
We have recently
been investigating the "Benefits" of the Blood of Jesus.
Our Bible "text"
has been Hebrews 10:19-25.
I however thought
it would be good to expand that investigation and see what the
whole New Testament had to say!
Just what does the
Blood of Jesus do for the soul of man?
Here are some verses that help answer the
above question.
Romans 3:25 says of Jesus:
"Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through
the forbearance of God." If we have faith in The
Saviour's Blood, our sins are washed away! This is
"propitiation" through the Blood! The word literally means to
"appease" or "satisfy" (in this case A Righteous God)! Jesus'
Blood, once applied to my heart, removes God's wrath on my soul!
Read John 3:36 --- "He that believeth on
the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son
shall not see life; but
the wrath of God abideth on him." Wow! 1st John
2:2 perhaps explains it even more clearly.
"And He (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for
ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Then notice with me Colossians 1:19-20.
"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they
be things in earth, or things in heaven." We have PEACE
through Jesus' Blood! The Greek noun for "peace" is "eirene."
(This gives us the English name Irene!) It pictures two people,
formerly at enmity with each other, now being brought together
in harmony as one! Glory!
We also have redemption and forgiveness
through His Blood! "In Whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of his grace." What a verse! These words
are found in Ephesians 1:7. Jesus' Blood is the price paid to
"redeem" (to buy back) us! Truly the answer to the age-old
question "What can wash away my sins?"... is The Blood of Jesus!
Now that's forgiveness! Also here read 1 Peter 1:18-19.
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot."
We also are sanctified through the Blood!
"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might
sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the
gate." The Blood set us apart, makes us holy! I've just
given you Hebrews 13:12. (How can we Blood-washed Christians
wallow in the filth of the world, having read this verse?
Answer: A Blood-washed Christian can't! He may accidentally
fall into sin ... but he will not plan to jump into it!)
Then we also have LIFE through His Blood.
Jesus, speaking metaphorically said in John 6:53 ...
"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of
man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." To
drink His Blood is to believe on Him as Saviour!
"As many as received Him ...."
(John 1:12) Trust His Blood, you have Life! Reject His Blood,
then comes death, eternal death in a place called Hell!
Lastly we have victory through the Blood
of our Lord! How can that be proved? It's in Revelation 12:11
that we read: "And they overcame him by
the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and
they loved not their lives unto the death." That verb
"overcame" translates "nikao," meaning to conquer or prevail!
The "him" of our verse is the devil! The devil is whipped via
the Blood!
Let me close today by saying this: Thank
God for The Blood!
I'm sure we have yet to discover all that
Calvary's Precious Flow does for us!
But what little I have learned ... is
thrilling my soul this Sunday morning!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
THIS BRINGS US TO THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS VERSE-BY-VERSE SERIES. I ADMIRE THOSE
OF YOU WHO HAVE STAYED WITH THIS MATERIAL TO THE END! YOU HAVE
THE CHARACTER OF A REAL BIBLE STUDENT! HOW VAST ARE THE
EFFECTS OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS! (AND LIKELY THE HALF HAS
NEVER YET BEEN TOLD!)
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