This blog began as documentation of my journey into formal ministry. Now that I have received a call it will continue to function as a place for me to address concerns, celebrations and anything else that might catch my fancy. Please remember to "Be A Blessing To Someone Today"! God Bless, Roy
Last Thursday night we continued our trek through "Hebrews". The author is winding down as we near the end of this Epistle and here they contrast the 'Old Covenant' with the 'New Covenant' by an illustration using Mount Sinai and Mount Zion to represent the two. Let us not jump to the conclusion that the 'Old Covenant' is bad or lacking. Too many times these verses and others have been spun to support an Anti-Semitic rhetoric. It was not a long sermon, I tried to keep it short so we could come in near our goal of a 30-minute worship service. We've (I've) gotten a bit long lately and I wanted to keep closer to our original intention for Thursday nights. Take a listen and please remember to... Be a blessing to someone today!! In Christ, Roy
Hebrews 12:18-29 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 18 You have not come to something[a] that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20 (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly[b] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26 At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29 for indeed our God is a consuming fire. Footnotes: a) Hebrews 12:18 Other ancient authorities read a mountain b) Hebrews 12:23 Or angels, and to the festal gathering 23 and assembly
Many of the stories that the author of Hebrews (and it most likely, almost certainly, wasn't Paul) uses here are stories where action was the result of faith. In a very concise and nutshell version of the sermon, our faith requires action. Believing and not acting out upon and in that faith accomplishes very little (generally). I compare this message in Hebrews and the message found in the Letter from James. Though Hebrews wasn't written by Paul, I do believe it was composed by a follower/disciple of Paul. And as such, I contrast the general misunderstanding of James and Paul's conflict on faith and works. Though they certainly bunted heads on other issues, I really don't think there was a chasm between them on this issue. Take a listen to the video, it wasn't a long sermon even though it was perhaps a little longer than most Thursday night messages. Hopefully, you'll enjoy the message. I'm a bit behind with the blog as Gail and I took a couple of days last week and went up to Minnesota for the "Minnesota Blue Grass Festival". The Festival is out in the country near Richmond, MN and we spent two days there enjoying the music and festivities. We had planned to then spend one day at the "Minnesota Irish Festival" in St. Paul, but, that day it decided to rain... pour actually. So we decided to just bounce around and see what else we could find in that area to see or do. It was a great trip but of course, we are happy to be home and back into our regular routine. With that I need to run, please have a very blessed week and remember to... Be a blessing to someone today! In His Love & Grace, Roy
Hebrews 11:29-12:2 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes 29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,[a] because she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two,[b] they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. The Example of Jesus 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[c] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[d] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Footnotes: a) Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving b) Hebrews 11:37 Other ancient authorities add they were tempted c) Hebrews 12:1 Other ancient authorities read sin that easily distracts d) Hebrews 12:2 Or who instead of James 2:14-26 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Faith without Works Is Dead 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,[a] if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. Footnotes: a) James 2:14 Gk brothers
During the sermon last Thursday night, I posed the question of "Did Christ have to die on the Cross?". The reality is that no... He did not... God could have chosen any means He wished to demonstrate His grace to us. The question isn't really valid, the reality is He choose to demonstrate grace and forgiveness to us in this manner. We can ask why this 'symbolic' representation of the forgiveness of sin? But, really we can't say did He have to do it this way, to do that ignores that God is all powerful and can do whatever He chooses to do in whatever fashion He chooses.
A good 'symbol' is impactful and weighty, it serves to drive home the point of the great meaning behind the symbol. In this regard, the crucifixion and the resurrection with all their violence and blood... are perhaps the greatest symbols ever devised. Our job as Christians is to pass the weight and import of the 'blood' of Christ and the meaning of the Cross on to our children and grandchildren.
I had prepared several OT references to use during the sermon and I have those attached below. Time did not allow me to use more than one though I believe several of these could pertain to a longer sermon over these verse in Hebrews.
Be a blessing to someone today! (Tell them about Jesus!)
In His Grace (and by His blood),
Roy
2
Hebrews 9:6-15 Revised Standard Version (RSV) 6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent,[a] performing their ritual duties; 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent[b] is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,[c] then through the greater and more perfect tent[d] (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking[e] not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your[f] conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.[g] Footnotes: a) Hebrews 9:6 Or tabernacle b) Hebrews 9:8 Or tabernacle c) Hebrews 9:11 Other manuscripts read good things to come d) Hebrews 9:11 Or tabernacle e) Hebrews 9:12 Greek through f) Hebrews 9:14 Other manuscripts read our g) Hebrews 9:15 The Greek word here used means both covenant and will Isaiah 1:11-17 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.“When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Ecclesiastes 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Psalm 40:6-8 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Amos 5:21-24 “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Micah 6:6-8 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Jeremiah 7:22-23 For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Hosea 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Psalm 51:16-17 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
This past week we continued on with the book of Hebrews and the message concerning Jesus as the 'New/Old High Priest'. Jesus was and is different than the human High Priests in that He was eternal and without sin. Therefore, He wasn't bound to sacrifice for His sins prior to performing the sacrifice for the people. He also was, of course, the sacrifice as well as the priest. I alluded at the end of the sermon as to why a blood sacrifice was required, I do have my own opinions on this and that will be the basis of the next sermon this coming Thursday night... well... that is unless I change my mind on what to preach over before then... Be a blessing to someone today! In His Grace, Roy
Hebrews 7:20-28 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 20 This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, 21 but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” 22 accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save[a] those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other[b] high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. Footnotes: a) Hebrews 7:25 Or able to save completely
