Heb 13 SACRIFICE OF PRAISE
Monday, February 28, 2022.
Heb 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name: in the Old Testament animal sacrifices pleased God but now in the New Testament, since Christ has taken away our sins, we offer God thanksgiving and praise. Our sacrifice is from our lips not from our animal possessions.
Application: Jesus deserves our worship for His great sacrifice and love for us. There is nothing better than praise from our lips which pleases God, for we are acknowledging our gratitude for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
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Heb 12 COMPLETING THE RACE
Sunday, February 27, 2022.
Heb 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us: the saints who came before us (mentioned in Hebrews 11) have finished their races and are faithful models. As we experience trials, we look to their examples, who did not receive the promised kingdom, yet remained steadfast. So, the writer is preparing the Jewish people of his time to expect the coming persecution but to persevere.
Application: God promises not to leave or forsake us Heb 13:5 and to expect trials, which demonstrates that we are legitimate children of God Heb 13:6. We are encouraged to run the race marked out for us and when we become weary, to fix our eyes on Jesus Heb 12:2 and recall the suffering He endured to finish His race. There will be a wonderful celebration at the completion of our race, so do not lose heart.
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Heb 11 FAITH
Saturday, February 26, 2022.
Heb 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see: believing in God, who we cannot see, requires faith, which the writer says is having confidence in what we hope for. A Christian’s hope is that he will live with God forever. We have never seen God but we have an assurance that He exists.
Application: We look at nature and realize that a designer had to create this complex and beautiful world. Our consciences tell us that a designer has created us and the Word of God has proved its’ validity through 100% fulfilled prophecies about Jesus Christ. We know we are sinful creatures in need of a Savior and Jesus has proved His worthiness by living a sinless life and being resurrected from the dead—a promise that He will also resurrect believers from the dead.
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Heb 10 FINAL SACRIFICE
Friday, February 25, 2022.
Heb 10:2
Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins: Christ’s sacrifice forgave all of our sins as He no longer remembers them Heb 10:17. Presently, when we sin, our consciences aid us in identifying the iniquity while the Holy Spirit directs our desire to turn away from it. Yet, there is peace inside of us, knowing we will never have to face judgment for our sins because Jesus paid the judgment price on our behalf.
Application: Because of this great gift of forgiveness, we live to honor God and avoid carrying out sin, while we strive to live in obedience of God’s will.
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Heb 9 WHEN DOES THE NEW COVENANT BEGIN
Thursday, February 24, 2022.
Heb 9:17
Because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living: the writer of Hebrews wanted his readers to understand that the New Covenant could not go into effect until Jesus had died, having paid for our sins. While Jesus was alive, He and everyone else were still under the Old Covenant and thus their sins could only be covered. However, when Jesus died, He introduced the New Covenant which forgave man his sins and granted him eternal life.
Application: the amazing gift Jesus gave us could not be experienced until His death. But, now nothing is preventing anyone from receiving forgiveness and new life except themselves. Thank you, Jesus for your willingness to take on humanity and provide salvation to the whosoever’s Jn 3:16.
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Heb 8 NEW COVENANT
Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
Heb 8:13
By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear: God found fault with the Old Covenant because His people did not remain faithful—the inability and weakness of man Heb 8:9. The New Covenant is different in the sense that God will write His laws in every believer’s mind and on their hearts Heb 8:10. The transformation will be from within, not regulation through external law. The Holy Spirit will teach the people about God Heb 8:11. The Old Covenant’s key words were, “if you” Ex 19:5 but in the New Covenant, the focus is not on man but God, “I will” Heb 8:10.
Application: we are now able to obey the New Covenant because God has given us a helper, the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth Jn 16:13. God has also forgiven all our sins and will remember them no more Heb 8:12, making us grateful for the goodness of God and putting love in our hearts.
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Heb 7 PERMANENT PRIESTHOOD
Tuesday, February 22, 2022.
Heb 7:24 Adobe Color: 3b441c
But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood: the writer to the Hebrews has given the people many reasons to trust in Jesus. He is superior to the angels, greater than Moses and now demonstrated He was the ultimate High Priest, for He lives forever, whereas the Leviticus priesthood was prevented from continuing because of death Heb 7:23,24.
Application: therefore, Jesus can intercede for His people because He lives forever. He has experienced all temptations common to man, yet without sin Heb 4:15. Draw near to Jesus and walk in the newness of life that He desires us to experience.
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Heb 6 PROFESSORS
Monday, February 21, 2022.
Heb 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace: Paul is describing professors who say they are Christians but by their actions deny their words. Judas is a great example. He tasted the heavenly gift—the benefits being around Jesus, was sent to preach the Good News and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in transforming people. He was taught the Word and how it changes a person’s attitudes and He saw the miracles Jesus accomplished yet, he turned from Jesus and Christianity.
Application: John described similar people that belonged to the church for a while, then left proving that they had never believed 1 Jn 2:19. Trusting and remaining in Christ Jn 15:5 proves you are truly a Christian.
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Heb 5 RESURRECTION
Sunday, February 20, 2022.
Heb 5:5
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” High priests were chosen by God Heb 5:4 and Jesus was chosen by God to be the ultimate High Priest. The key to interpreting this passage is to determine what day is “today” referring to. Is today referring to Jesus’ birth or His resurrection or a timeless, ever present eternal day which Christ inhabits? In regards to the context, becoming High Priest, it appears that the writer is speaking of Jesus’ resurrection. When the Father raised Jesus from the grave, Jesus became the firstborn of the dead Col 1:18, so that He could raise up many brothers Ro 8:29. Paul confirms this point of view by quoting the same Old Testament verse Ps 13:33 and then relating it to our opportunity for salvation Ps 13:39. The Father begot Jesus to beget many sons of God.
Application: the “Son of God” became the “Son of Man, “ so that the “sons of men” could become “sons of God.”
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Heb 4 JESUS-OOUR SABBATH REST
Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Heb 4:1
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it: how do we enter into God’s rest? And what can cause us to fall short of it? We enter into God’s rest by accepting His righteousness—Jesus paid for our sins. We must surrender our wills to Jesus and recognize we cannot earn salvation for it is a gift Eph 2:8,9. We can fall short of it through unbelief which leads to disobedience.
Application: Jesus is our Sabbath Rest Heb 4:9. The Word of God is our living guide Heb 4:12, along with the Holy Spirit Jn 16:13. If we harden our hearts and refuse to obey the Spirit and the Word, we will have wandered outside of God’s rest—resulting in our perishing Heb 4:11.
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Heb 3 UNBELIEF
Friday, February 18, 2022.
Heb 3:19
So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief: the Promise Land symbolized heaven. The Israelites were not able to enter Canaan because they did not trust God, they were not dependent upon Him. When Moses went up the mountain to get the commandments of God, the people turned to idols Ex 32:19,20; Dt 32:21.
Application: true belief requires us to walk by faith and not by sight 2 Co 5:7. Jesus described the type of person that believed for a while when things went well, but when difficult times came, they turned from God because they never truly trusted in Him Mt 13:20,21. Let us demonstrate to God that we are grateful for Christ’s sacrifice and endure whatever comes our way.
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Heb 2 JESUS LOVES US
Thursday, February 17, 2022.
Heb 2:18
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted: Jesus, who is God Php 2:6 took on the form of a man Php 2:8 to suffer death for everyone Heb 2:9. Since He experienced suffering, Jesus is able to help us when we are going through tribulation.
Application: Jesus understands our suffering and promises never to leave or forsake us Heb 13:5. If we feel that no one cares about us and we are insignificant, think again. Jesus died for us, so that we could spend eternity with Him. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend Jn 15:13, and Jesus wants to be our friend.
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Heb 1 JESUS IS GOD
Wednesday, February 16, 2022.
Heb 1:6
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” The writer of Hebrews used many Old Testament verses to convince his readers—the Jews, that Jesus was God. Angels and men are only to worship God, anything less would be idolatry. John the apostle was told not to worship any angel but to worship God Rev 19:10; Rev 22:8. When king Herod accepted worship, an angel struck him down dead Ac 12:22,23. Here, we are told that the angels should worship Jesus, confirming that He was God.
Application: All cults refuse to grant Jesus, His rightful worship as God. Only God could save mankind and Scriptures are very clear that Jesus is God Jn 1:1 and that He is the only way to salvation Jn 14:6.
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