Praise His Name for b-u-t!!! part 7

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Praise His Name for b-u-t !!! part 7

(If you haven't read part 1 of this series, you need to read at least the first 2 paragraphs of it before proceeding with this message, so you will understand its premise.)

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) Priests and preachers can try to counsel and lead us, but they seldom, if ever, really understand us and what we go through; they are not touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Therefore, we can't always be sure they know and lead us in the perfect way; but Jesus knows everything we suffer and go through, for HE went through all we could possibly face and more, yet HE never slipped and sinned. We can trust Him to understand, empathize with, and guide us in the precisely right way. Praise His name for b-u-t!!!

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12) The priests of Old Testament times only had blood to offer for our sins that came from animals. That blood had to be offered continually, because it could not truly atone for our sins, but, the blood of our perfect Sacrifice, The Lord Jesus, the Christ (sent One, Messiah) of God, has paid our debt in full, forever. Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24) Hundreds of men served as the High Priest of Israel before Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. These men all went once a year into the awesome Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle to make the offering for sin demanded by God. Although they offered a spotless, unblemished animal as prescribed by God through Moses, it was still an earthly thing in an earthly place, therefore not perfect. Jesus, though, as the ultimate High Priest, took the perfect sacrifice to the perfect Tabernacle, in Heaven, and offered that as the final and complete sacrifice for sin, once, forever. No longer must an imperfect man repeatedly offer an imperfect sacrifice in an imperfect place. As Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished!!" Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12) As in the paragraph above, we are reminded of the difference between Jesus' and man's sacrifice. His was done once, and it lasts absolutely forever, never needing to be done again. Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13) The Old Testament believers, including the "heroes of the faith" Paul had just mentioned, were not as blessed as we who have the "complete" Bible. They heard the promises of God, but did not get to see their fulfillment. Such promises as the coming of the Messiah and Abraham's seed becoming more numerous than the stars, among others, must have seemed "unbelievable", if you will, but they accepted and acted (embraced them) as if they were a sure thing. They were able to do this because God gave them the gift of faith and grace, just as HE does us (Ephesians 2:8). Think of those promises God has spoken to you, which seem so unbelievable, and believe them, living as those Old Testament believers did, by walking in faith. To the unbelieving world, they may seem untrue, but to we who believe, they are true! Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!