Day 353, 19th December Bible Commentary With Dr Oluwatoyin Ojo From the Book of Hebrews.
COVENANTS
Today the unknown writer; continue to expose believing minds to spiritual covenants with particular emphasis on the superior covenant — THE NEW COVENANT being CHRIST. I will like us to open our minds to mercy, grace and love as we become more familiar with divine ordinance. How covenants are relationships and how the superior covenant models forgiveness, a better experience of life (a guilt free and clear conscience), confidence, access, love and better things.
HEBREWS 8:1-13
“Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,” v.1; Christ is our high priest referred, he serves on our behalf in an invisible sanctuary.
It is this sanctuary that Moses was shown and instructed to observe and replicate — in these words “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” v.5
THE NEW MEDIATOR
The ministry of Jesus and the new covenant is superior to the former. The former was faulty, so much was wrong, it wasn’t God that had lapses, it was members in that covenant (the people).
Therefore acts; relationships; oaths; agreements; of this kind that categories as a covenant could make a new covenant — As the sovereign God declares for his people Israel and Judah (v.8-9).
He in love sought what went wrong, not in a fault-finding mission, but to forgive, love, empower, found the cause to be incapacity — The minds and the hearts being weak and unable to stay on divine instructions and precepts to birth his will. In his capacity as God in preparedness to establish a new, he declared “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people”
v.10; and forgave our sins, with the promise to remember our sins no more ( v.12; ref Jeremiah 3131-34)
CHAPTER 9:1-28
“Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.”
v.1 — it was arranged and accessed very carefully (it had the Holy Place, Most Holy Place, the gold-covered ark of covenant); v.2-6.
And in fact, the high priest could only enter behind the second curtain that is, the inner room (Most Holy Place once every year); this was only made possible after blood sacrifices first for his sins and then the peoples’.
And that is rather ceremonial as the act does not have true lasting impact on the worshippers — spiritually they remain helpless and dependent.
Christ’s Tabernacle Not A Part Of Genesis 1:
“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not part of this creation” v.11.
It therefore does not require the blood of goats and calves like Moses' and Aaron’s did. “ But he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” v.12. Unlike the blood of animals which sanctified God’s people outwardly to partake of the religious ceremonies, “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our conscience from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.” v.14
HIS BLOOD; HIS DEATH EFFECTED THE WILL so that we receive
(present continuous) the promised eternal inheritance.
• “Because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living” v.17
• Likewise, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (v.22)
The new covenant banished the old and its yearly requirement, Christ has entered God’s presence once and for all — An eternal, everlasting mediator, with the offer of salvation for those waiting for him (v.22-27).
“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgement, so Christ was crucified once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,
NOT TO BEAR SIN, but to bring salvation to do those who are waiting for him.” v.2728
HEBREWS 10:1-39 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS TO TAKE AWAY SINS v.4
To this extent we must understand that “the law that required frequent sacrifices is only a shadow of the good things coming” v.1
“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you do not desire’,.… Then he said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.’” (v.5,7 extracts) see Psalm 406-8.
• God sets aside the first to establish the second; “by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (v.910)
• Much is ongoing; confidently Christ waits for his enemies to be made his footstool — “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” v.14
Also see {v.15-17, Jeremiah 3134), as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit unite; forgiving to remember no more, “sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary” v.18
EXPRESS CONFIDENCE, FAITH, ASSURANCE; fellowship and
encourage each other: in prayer, in praise, word, thanks, come into the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus — (Read v.20-24)
But those who choose to continue in sin will receive judgement in God’s wrath. “For we know of him who said: ‘ It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’” v.30
• “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” v.31
(v.32-35) —You suffer and or witness fellow believers suffer; PERSEVERE, “do not throw away your confidence it’ll be richly rewarded”. v.35
• “For in just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” v.37 {ref Isaiah 2620, Habakkuk 2:3}
• “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one that shrinks back.” v.38
We choose faith, and are saved!
NIGHT:
Christ the one sacrifice for sin ( Read Hebrew 109-11)
DECEMBER 20, DAY 354. THE BIBLE IN 365 DAYS WITH TOYIN OJO. COMMENTARY AND SUMMARY FROM THE BOOK OF HEBREWS
THE INVISIBLE CREATED THE VISIBLE
Every of our faith starts from believing that God exist, and that he created all things
HEBREWS 111-40
FAITH
Spiritually, the definition and act of faith are same: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” v.1,3.
Faith is popularly referred to as the currency of heaven — it endeared Abraham to God.
Similarly, ancient faithfuls expressed faith in various capacities and situations and were commended by God —
Abel’s righteous giving, Enoch, Noah’s reverential fear and obey, even Sarah Abraham’s wife (v.11). All these people considered themselves sojourners on earth seeing the temporariness of their time on earth rather than permanent residents; a mindset that made it possible for them to long for heaven with an assurance.
THE LIFE AND FAITH OF ABRAHAM IS CELEBRATED — his eagerness to sacrifice Isaac (v.12,17-19)
The act of prophetic blessing practiced by Isaac, Jacob the fathers of faith in said in prayer for their children and descendants are all commended (v.20-22)
MOSES
The parents of Moses’ courage and foresight (v.23). Then Moses himself when he had come of age, by faith forsook the pleasures of the palace and treasures of Egypt, and in due time led Israel out of Egypt — they “passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.” v.29 (read v.24-29)
• “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them.” v.30
Rahab the prostitute’s welcome of the spies was also mentioned (v.31).
More prophets and kings were mentioned all of whom received divine commendation, promise and rewards(v.32)
• Through faith, men and women of faith, realized, expressed, experienced supernatural powers: Some conquered wars, administered justice, received back their dead, many endured persecution—unto death, deprivation, perils “living in caves and in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”v.38c-40.
HEBREWS 121-29
“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” v.1-2a,b.
He endured the cross and despised the suffering for his reserved seat and eternal glory with God.
In view of this, we must embrace correction when rebuked by the divine, “because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” v.6, Proverbs 311,12.
With God the Father of all spirits, discipline proves our legitimacy — just as it is between earthly parents and their children (v.7-9).
• God is grooming us for holiness (v.10) — “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” v.11; Be strengthened therefore, and make your paths secure (v.12)
v.14-17
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” v.14
Be gracious and avoid bitterness — God is in our mist. Ensure sexual sanity, and prudence in deed, not just for yourself but for the believers. None must have the outcome of Esau — who lost his birth right (v.16-17)
• It is my conclusion that; to fulfil the above divine expectations a believer must led a diligent life like the ants, always observing, reaching out, correcting, entreating, supporting, persuading, in and out of season. While not neglecting their personal role as lifestyle ambassadors.
We are before God and thousands and thousands of angels and the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus the commander of our new covenant “ and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better word than the blood of Abel.” v.24 (see v.2224)
• The manifestation of God’s presence use to be different; it was terrible such that even Moses feared (see v.18-21; ref Exodus 1912,23 , Deuteronomy 919
• Therefore, ensure obedience because God promised to shake the “heaven and the earth once more.” v.26; Haggi 26.
• “The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” v.27
• You will agree that there is yet to be a building so high, a personality so eminent that has not be shaken — we all have been shaken for example as a world by the COVID-19 pandemic — shutting down all doors including the glass doors. All airlines and airports were unused.
Fellow believers, we inherited a kingdom “that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” v.28-29 (see Deuteronomy 424)
Hebrews 1229
“Our God is a consuming fire” Let him purify us, and protect us. Let him burn for our help. Amen.
©️ 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Dr Oluwatoyin Emiola Ojo.
Warmth
Toyin
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