Bible Study - Beyond Belief (6) - GOD Is Faithful - Hebrews 6:17-20; 10:19-23 - July 6, 2014

Bible Study – Beyond Belief (6) – GOD Is Faithful – July 6, 2014

This is our sixth and final lesson in our series entitled “Does What I Believe about GOD Change Anything?”

GOD does not change according to the latest fad. HE is consistent. HE loves you and that is a fact that never changes. HIS desire is for us to be in a personal, dynamic relationship with HIM. But HE leaves that up to us. HE does not override our right to choose. The Bible is very clear about the attributes of GOD. So, if you want to know GOD, study the Bible and ask HIM to reveal truth to you as you obediently serve HIM.

CHRIST in you is the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27:

27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Our focus scripture is Hebrews 6:17-20; 10:19-23.

GOD’S past faithfulness ensures that a Christian’s future is secure.

We are living in interesting times. Making vows or promises and breaking them are a frequent part of our society. Our president and other leaders tell us one thing and they do another, yet the vast majority of Americans seem to let it go by. There is no accountability. We take wedding vows and break them. We are fast becoming a society where lying is okay.

We have extended lying to religion. Keep in mind that religion is manmade. This is why those searching for a genuine relationship with GOD must consider the truth of GOD revealed throughout the ages. GOD Keeps HIS Vows and Covenants – HIS covenant with the Israelites in the Old Testament and HIS new covenant with the world through the death and resurrection of HIS only Son JESUS. JESUS, the promised Messiah, was prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. The Bible is the revelation of GOD on an ever ascending scale culminating in CHRIST, GOD’S only Son Who willingly came to earth in the flesh as a baby and grew as a human.

When we look back in scripture, we see the handiwork of GOD revealing Himself to the Israelites, HIS chosen people. We see HIS promises regarding the coming and life of the Messiah. We see that GOD warned the Israelites of HIS wrath if they did not repent and return to HIM. When they didn’t repent, HE did what HE said HE would do. Was keeping HIS Word wrong? No! HE still keeps HIS Word and HIS covenant of salvation through forgiveness and faith in CHRIST. GOD is faithful and keeps HIS promises.

How do we know that GOD keeps HIS promises? We look back. We look back over history and we look back over our lives. Yes, we get false notions about GOD because HE is love and we get notions about how HE is supposed to respond in certain issues in life. When HE does not respond, as we think HE should, we get angry with HIM. We must keep in mind that HE is sovereign and HIS ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are above our thoughts. We have to trust in HIM and in the fact that HE is omnipotent, omnipresent, omnificence and omniscient.

As we study scripture, we see that HE says what HE means and means what HE says. But when we are surrounded by those we trust and that trust is violated, we often extend that mistrust to GOD.

Keep this fact in mind, GOD is trustworthy. I have found in my journey with HIM that I have had misconceptions about HIM, which led me to question HIM. Once I saw truth, although not liking the outcome of an issue, to trust in HIM.  Let’s explore!

The writer of the book of Hebrews is not known. Many suspect that it was the Apostle Paul. It was written mainly to Jewish Christians. It bridges the gap between Judaism and Christianity. It reveals how CHRIST fulfills the practices and rituals Jews were taught and practiced in Judaism.

Hebrews 6:13-16:

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself: 14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. 15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.

Verses 13-16 introduce the promise GOD made to Abraham. GOD swore by Himself that the promise HE made to Abraham would be fulfilled. GOD considered Abraham as righteous because of his faith in GOD. Faith in CHRIST makes a person righteous before GOD. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Abraham and Sarah had to wait for GOD’S promise of a son, Isaac, to be born to them. They had to wait until they knew that it was GOD Who provided their son. GOD promises but the timing is completely in HIS hands. During the time of waiting, we must trust. But we live in a society of instant everything. We have a, “want it now attitude.” Seek and you will find. JESUS revealed in Matthew 7:7-8:

7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

We may ask, “Why the process of seeking?” Often, we have to ponder and explore Spiritual matters to bring us to the point of realizing that we cannot figure them out for ourselves. We may have to exhaust all of our human efforts before we can take a step of faith and trust CHRIST to reveal truth to us. I have heard others say that they have explored/searched Spiritual matters by reading the Bible and somewhere along their journey they realized the truth of CHRIST. Sometimes salvation comes in a very stark moment and other times it is like the dawning of a new day. We seek and keep seeking until truth dawns on us that CHRIST is the promised Messiah.

Let’s read Hebrews 6:17-18:

17 Because God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.

GOD’S desire is to reveal Himself to all people. HE chose the Israelites and the Israelites, in turn, agreed to be HIS chosen people. Yet, many choose to ignore HIM or to question HIS existence. The two unchangeable things are GOD and HIS Word which began with Abraham and culminated in the birth of JESUS, the promised Messiah through the ancestry of Abraham.

Who are the heirs of the promise? Christians! Why should Christians trust the promise? It is impossible for GOD to lie. Therefore, Jews have fled from the Mosaic Law, the old covenant, to take refuge in the hope of the new covenant established by CHRIST. Thus, Christians seize the hope that is in placing their faith in CHRIST and HIS passion. What does this hope in CHRIST do for us?

Let’s read Hebrews 6:19-20; 10:19-21:

Hebrews 6:19-20:

19 We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

This hope is JESUS CHRIST. HE is the anchor of every Christian. When the storms of life come into our lives, our faith in HIM and HIS faithfulness, anchors us securely until the storms pass. Hope, CHRIST, enters into the Holy of Holies, which is behind the curtain in the temple where GOD is present. JESUS entered into the presence of GOD because HE was the perfect acceptable sacrifice to pay in full the penalty for sin. HE willingly gave HIS life by the shedding of HIS blood for all who will place their faith in HIM. They will be forgiven for their sins, receive salvation and eternal life through the miracle of rebirth.

CHRIST came to earth, was born as a human and experienced life as a human. HE was GOD in the flesh. HE was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted, yet HE remained sinless. HE was the perfect acceptable sacrifice to GOD to satisfy the judicial sentence of eternal death which resulted from the original sin. HIS shed blood opened the path between GOD and mankind. JESUS was the perfect sacrifice Who gave HIS life to atonement for the sins of all who will accept HIM as their Savior.

The shed blood of JESUS does more than satisfy the penalty for sin. HIS shed blood sustains every Christian through the miracle of rebirth until he or she exits his or her earthly body and meets the LORD JESUS face to face in heaven. When we see HIM, we will be like HIM.

CHRIST came to earth and lived as a human. HE was 100% flesh, yet 100% GOD. Because HE lived a sinless life in the flesh, HIS shed blood made ready the human body of all who place their faith in CHRIST to follow HIM into the Holy of Holies into the presence of GOD. JESUS was the forerunner. JESUS revealed in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

JESUS is the path to GOD: period. When we place our faith in HIM, we experience rebirth in our spirit. Christians are born into GOD’S family. They become the Sons and Daughters of GOD, thus, they can follow CHRIST, their Brother, into the presence of GOD their Father.

The author of Hebrews then wrote “because He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Who was Melchizedek or Melchisedec? He first appeared in Genesis 14:18-20. He was a priest of GOD and a king. Abraham gave him a tithe or a tenth. He existed hundreds of years before the Levitical priesthood was established. He was called the King of Righteousness, which was the interpretation of his name and King of Peace which was a title given to him in Genesis. Thus, the coming together of righteousness and peace which are attributes of JESUS. JESUS’ ministry is different from that of the Levitical priests. The Levitical priests were bound to or authorized by the Law. JESUS’ priesthood is eternal and patterned after Melchisedec – righteousness and peace.

Hebrews 10:19-21:

19 Therefore, • brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

Since JESUS was the forerunner into the presence of GOD, Christians have the boldness to enter into the very presence of GOD by this new and living way. Christians no longer have to go through an earthly priest. JESUS was resurrected from the dead and Christians serve a living Savior. CHRIST opened the path to GOD by giving HIS life to redeem all who will place their faith in HIM. When JESUS gave HIS life upon the cross, the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies, tore from top to bottom as recorded in Matthew 27:50-51:

50 Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split.

The curtain separated the Holy of Holies from other areas of the temple. The priests could only go into the Holy of Holies once per year. CHRIST broke the barrier between GOD and mankind.

Christians have a new High Priest, JESUS, Who intercedes in behalf of all Christians when Satan accuses them before the Father. JESUS is our advocate before the Father. Satan is eager to sift GOD’S chosen but he cannot harm a Christian unless GOD allows him. Of course, we can take ourselves out of the circle of GOD’S protection by making bad choices. GOD allows bad things to happen to get our attention and to guide us in the right direction. JESUS is the great high priest over the house of God. The house of GOD encompasses the entire spiritual realm, including GOD’S chosen.

Let’s read Hebrews 10:22-23:

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled •clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

The term “draw near” carries the idea of continually drawing near to GOD with a true heart. Christians are to draw near to GOD every day. JESUS said to take up your cross daily (Luke 9:23)

Christians are to draw near to GOD with “true hearts in full assurance of faith.” True hearts are honest hearts. What the person professes is in harmony with what he or she thinks. Their actions match their true inner being.

Hearts sprinkled clean likely refers to the cleansing nature of the blood of the sacrifice. This referred to the inner cleansing through the atoning work of JESUS shed blood.

Some say that the statement “our bodies washed in pure water” likely refers to baptism. I think of the pure water referring to being washed with the living water which comes from the internal presence of the Holy Spirit. The living water flows from the inside and flows over the outside of the Christians body. The Christian’s body is thoroughly cleansed, inside and out, by the shed blood of CHRIST to come into the presence of GOD.

The faith of Christians, especially the Jewish Christians, was being challenged and the writer of Hebrews wanted the Christians to remain firm in their faith. Wavering means “to cause to fall back.” “Without wavering” meant to remain firm and unswerving. When Christians are in right relationship with CHRIST, they are firm and rest upon the foundation of CHRIST.

If you have doubts, it is never wrong to reveal them to GOD and ask HIM to help you find the truth. In this six week study, we have explored the character of GOD – Holy, Loving, Just, Wise and Faithful. What you believe about GOD is important. But what you believe about GOD must be based upon truth. Seek truth and seek a personal, intimate, loving relationship with GOD by placing your faith in HIS only Son, JESUS. JESUS gave his life just for you. Will you accept HIM as your Savior? Blessings!!!