I had in mind, the Bible, especially full context of Heb 10. Your post below -- I saved and will consider after I get home from another day working for the big bucks. Thanks for taking the time.
JD
In a message dated 12/27/2004 5:36:50 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Sorry about that!
Back to the books? Which ones? The Torah? Great choice! I would suggest Leviticus...
When we understand Leviticus, Hebrews really comes alive. I had a big "DUH" moment (several actually) when we went back and studied Hebrews along with Leviticus. When we really understand the sacrificial system, we really understand exactly what Jesus did for us in becoming the Passover lamb. I understood "why" better. There's a couple of other verses that causes one to wonder...forgive me while I jump around and hopefully tie it all together...(a preacher I am not)...
John 19:19 We see a problem here with the leadership (v. 21) with what had been written on the notice above Yeshua's head "Yeshua from Natzeret Melech haYehudim". Hebrew has pictures and the pictures tell a story. It's my understanding that these "pictures" literally meant....salvation through the nailed hands of God. So, when we understand the sacrifices, know what Jesus did for us, then see why the leadership freaked out over the notice above His head, it puts things into more perspective for us.
Continue on to a future point in time....Revelation 12:17...the dragon was infuriated over the woman and went off to fight the rest of her children, those who obey God's commands and bear witness to Yeshua.
Who is the dragon going to fight? Those who obey God's commands AND bear witness (or have faith in depending on your translation preference) to Yeshua. Is it ONLY those who obey the commands AND have faith? What about those who have faith but don't obey? We see this yet AGAIN...Revelation 14:12....v11..and the smoke from their tormenting goes up forever and ever. They have no rest, day or night, those who worship the beast and its image and those who receive the mark of its name. This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God's people, those who observe His commands and exercise Yeshua's faithfulness.
What?? Perseverance is needed. Why? I guess it's gonna really suck. Who needs this? God's people. Who again? Those who observe God's commands AND exercise His faithfulness.
Jump back in time again...Matthew 5:17-20 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I come not to abolish, but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah--not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom!
OUCH! We always forget those Prophets, don't we? We've got a bunch of people running around today claiming to BE Prophets, too. I think we're in trouble....Not so much as a yud....wow, that's the smallest Hebrew letter there is. Not until everything has happened that must happen. Methinks this must continue on, even after this wonderful sacrificial gift we're given through Jesus. Why else would we still be here and still be struggling if it was just so he could give His life (blood) for us? Let's see....disobeys the commands and teaches others to be disobedient, you are called least in the Kingdom. Obey and so teach, you're called great. I don't know the difference between being called "least" and "great" in the Kingdom, but I would think I'd want to be called great rather than least. Then the kicker....uh-oh, here are those baaaaaad Pharisees again...righteousness far greater than...than those nasty Pharisees? You've got to be kidding! Those are the dudes we pick on all the time...but yet God (Jesus) calls them RIGHTEOUS??? And I won't enter the Kingdom unless MY righteousness is far greater than THEIRS?
Houston, we've got a problem!
Fast forward again, please...to the future again. Revelation 20:11-15
Next I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven fled form His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it; and Death and She'ol gave up the dead in them; and they were judged, each according to what he had done. Then Death and Sh'ol were hurled into the lake of fire. This is the second death--the lake of fire. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of Life was hurled into the lake of fire.
I think we know Who the One sitting on the throne is. There's no place to hide from Him anywhere. We're all going to be standing in front of the throne. Books were opened, and the book of Life. Well, we all know what the Book of Life is, I hope. Pretty self-explanatory. But, wait a minute....what are the bookS? How many bookS? We are judged from what is written in those bookS. Uh-oh. Well, I know of several books that tell us how to live holy lives. They tell about God, who He is, how He expects His people to live. They teach us to know Him, honor Him, obey Him, what we should do and what we shouldn't do. Are they the same books spoken of here? Sounds like it's possible, since we're judged according to what we DO (or don't do?) None of us are going to escape this. Maybe that's why if we continue on to chapter 21, we're told He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. In chapter 22 we hear the words of Yeshua...v12 Pay attention! I AM coming soon, and my rewards are with me to give to each person according to what he has done. I am the A and the Z, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Wow. I'm trying to pay attention. I guess I should go back to the Beginning....Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The apostles didn't have the New Testament. But they certainly had the Beginning. They taught from the Beginning. People were saved from the Beginning. I think I'd rather have the whole picture, rather than a piece. I think I'll start the book from the Beginning, not the middle, or two-thirds of the way through. I better have a good foundation before I get to the end, lest I wind up totally confused, or......lost. Fire isn't really my bag. And a whole lake of it? No thanks. I don't think God would set me up to fail, just to get thrown in the lake. I don't think He would let me drown and burn all at the same time. I think He would give me the tools, the resources I need to avoid it. I think he did. All the way back at the Beginning....
I'll shut up now. I have no idea why I wrote this.
Kay
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, 26 December, 2004 21.46
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Deliberate sin
In a message dated 12/26/2004 6:18:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Ya gotta keep on going there, John....to hebrews 10:28...Someone who disregards the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.
That puts your verse into perspective....if we go on sinning willfully...well, what IS sin? We know what sin is from the Torah.
Kay
Now you've gone and done it ! Back to the books.
Geeeez
John
