Devotionary

With today's episode, we move into chapter 11, the great hall of faith. We'll be concentrating our attention on verses 1-3 in a lesson I've entitled, "Faith Described and Demonstrated." In verse 1, we have what is less a definition of faith than a description. And the author will spend the rest of the chapter demonstrating what true faith looks like in real life. Faith is based on hope. And our hope is based on those things we have been promised by God, but have not yet fully received. Faith is less a commodity than it is a way of life, a means by which we understand the world around us and all that happens to us as we wait for what has in store for us.

In today's episode we'll be in Hebrews chapter ten verses 26-39. I've entitled this lesson, "No Shrinking Back" because it deals with the believer's need for endurance in the face of all the pressures and problems of this life. The temptation will be to lose hope or to think that what Christ did on the cross was somehow insufficient. The presence of difficulties can lead to doubt, which can result in disbelief. But the author reminds us that we are not those who shrink back. We press forward in faith, trusting the promises of God based on the finished work of Jesus.

This episode covers Hebrews chapter ten verses 19-25 and is called, "Hold Fast." In these verses, the author of Hebrews is trying to encourage us to consider the incredible nature of Christ's gift to us. It should create in us a confidence and assurance that shows up in the way we live our lives. He is faithful and true. What He has promised to provide for us: eternal life, He will deliver to us. But in the meantime, we must hold fast and have confidence that His death has provided us with unbridled access to God the Father – even now.

Today, we're in Hebrews chapter ten verses 11-18. This episode is entitled, "Fully Forgiven" and deals with the remarkable reality that, for those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior, their sins have been fully and completely forgiven – once for all. And not as a result of anything they have done, but because of what Christ has done for them. As a result, the author of Hebrews says, God will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.

Today we move into chapter ten of Hebrews verses 1-10. This episode is entitled, "The Good Things To Come" and will reveal how the old covenant of the law was intended to be a shadow of something better to come: The new covenant made available by Jesus' death on the cross. His selfless, sinless sacrifice was what the Mosaic law and sacrificial system pointed towards, but temporarily and imperfectly. He had to die, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that men might be made right with God.

In today's episode, we'll be in Hebrews chapter nine, verses 16-28. It's called "He Died. We Live" and continues the author's treatment of the superiority of Christ's sacrifice. He died so that might live. He gave His life in order that we might be imputed His righteousness and enjoy a right standing with God the Father based on His merit and not our own. And the best part of Christ's sacrifice is that it not only included His resurrection and ascension back into heaven, it guarantees His return. He is coming back. Not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.

Today, we'll be in Hebrews chapter nine, verses 11-15. In this episode, entitled "Blood Bought," we'll see that Jesus' death was effective because His innocent blood was shed. He paid the penalty for our sin with His own blood. Which is exactly what He foreshadowed to His disciples that night in the upper room when they celebrated the Passover meal together. He said, "this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). With His death, Jesus bought us, redeemed us, out of slavery to sin and death so that we might be made righteous and enjoy a right relationship with God.

Today's episode brings us to chapter nine of Hebrews, verses 1-10. It's called "The Time of Reformation." With the coming of the new covenant, made possible by Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, things underwent tremendous change, especially those things related to the old covenant. Whether you look at the tabernacle in the wilderness or the temple in Jerusalem, you see two structures that were filled with deep meaning and important symbolism. Dividing curtains that separated the Holy of Holies from the Most Holy Place. The mercy seat. The ark of the covenant containing Aaron's rod and the jar filled with of manna. And then there was golden the altar itself. But Jesus did away with all these things. Along with redemption, He brought reform.

Today's episode, titled, "Better Promises" takes us into Hebrews chapter 8, verses 8-13. In them, the author of Hebrews relies on the Old Testament Scriptures to drive home his point that Jesus is the better high priest offering a better sacrifice as part of a better covenant based on better promises. He will elaborate, in detail, just what those promises entail, specifically for the people of Israel. The old covenant, with its rules, rituals and regulations had been done away with. With Christ's death, burial and resurrection, it had been replaced with the new covenant. And now, our obedience to the will and law of God is not based on outward motivation, but the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

This episode is called "Better In Every Way" and in it we'll look at the overall superiority of Jesus based on the new covenant He established with His blood. As we have already seen, Jesus is the great high priest and with the sacrifice of His own life, He paid the price for the sins of mankind and satisfied God's holy requirement that justice be done. The new covenant is better because it did what the old covenant could never do: Provide complete forgiveness for sin and a restored relationship with God based on a righteousness we could have never achieved – that of Jesus.