Devotionary

In today’s episode, we continue 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.

Jesus’ death was effective because 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.

With the coming of the new covenant, things underwent tremendous change, From the tabernacle in the wilderness to the temple in Jerusalem, these structures were filled with deep meaning and 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.

The author of Hebrews drives home his point that Jesus is the better high priest offering a better sacrifice as part of a better covenant based on better promises. 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. 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.

Today’s episode finds us in Hebrews chapter 7, verses 23-28. We will take a look at radical difference between the never-ending, incomplete nature of the sacrificial system and that of Jesus’ never-to-be-repeated, fully sufficient sacrifice of His own sinless life. And Jesus, unlike the priests who administered the sacrifices in the Temple, required no cleansing from His own sins before His sacrifice could be made. He was sinless and, therefore, the perfect priest to offer the perfect sacrifice.

Today, we’ll be in Hebrews chapter 7, verses 11-22. The title for this episode is “A Better Hope” because the author of Hebrews is going to present Jesus as just that: A better hope. Jesus, as the new and improved high priest, provided a way for sinful men to be made right with and draw near to God. Jesus provided a better way, a better sacrifice, and a better guarantee of a having a right relationship with God that will last for eternity.

Today, we’re covering Hebrews chapter 7, verses 1-10. In this passage, the author brings back the Old Testament character, Melchizedek. And once again, he will compare Jesus to this ancient priest-king, but clearly presenting Jesus as superior in nature and importance. The issue here is one of blessing. Melchizedek blessed Abraham, even though Abraham had done nothing to deserve his blessing. In the same way, believers have been blessed by Jesus – all according to God’s grace and mercy, not our merit.

In today’s episode, called “An Anchor For the Soul,” we’ll be in Hebrews chapter 6, verses 13-20. In these verses, the author of Hebrews will talk about holding fast to the hope set before us. He wants to encourage us to endure by keeping our hope firmly placed in the One who endured the shame of the cross on our behalf. He has promised to return some day. And because God does not lie, we can have hope, like an anchor for our soul in the storms of life.

The title for this episode is “Hope Until the End.” In it, we will be looking at the very real danger of apostasy or falling away from the faith. Apostasy is the direct result of complacency – a spiritual apathy and insensitivity to the remarkable gift we have been given in Christ. Our faith is to be vibrant and growing, not stagnant or satisfied with the status quo. Our hope in Christ is to increase daily, resulting in our ongoing spiritual maturity.

In today’s episode we will cover the central issue the author of Hebrews seems to be addressing: The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ or the Message of Righteousness. In a sense, he wanted his readers to know that salvation without sanctification, or spiritual growth, was illogical. Babies are meant to grow. Children are intended to mature. So are believers. But there is always the temptation to settle for the status quo, all the while missing out on what God has called you to become.

In Hebrews chapter four, verses 1-10, the author discusses Jesus’ appointment by God as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. This reference to a somewhat obscure character from the book of Genesis has far-reaching significance. Jesus was not from the priestly line of Aaron, yet He was designated a high priest by God Himself. And because He was sinless, He was able to offer the perfect sacrifice – Himself – becoming the source of eternal salvation.

Today’s episode covers Hebrews chapter four, verses 14-16 and is called “Help In Time Of Need.” The author will present Jesus as our great high priest, a righteous representative who understands us because He was one of us. He was fully God, but fully human, and knew what it meant to be tempted. Yet, without sinning. And now, He makes it possible for us to find mercy and grace, straight from the throne room of God, when we encounter times of need.

Today’s episode is called “No Rest For the Weary.” There is a sense in which the original readers of this letter were struggling with finding rest in the finished work of Christ and were being tempted to turn back to the rules and rituals of Judaism. They were being influenced to believe that faith in Christ alone was not going to be enough. There was more they needed to do. But they were being deceived and that deception was resulting in disbelief in the promises of God.

Today, in Hebrews chapter three, verses 7-19, we’ll be taking a look at the ever-present danger of disbelief. The author of Hebrews is not addressing a lack of belief in Jesus as Savior, but a temptation on the part of Christians to doubt God and turn from trusting in Him. Belief is not just necessary for salvation, but is an instrumental and non-negotiable part of our life journey. According to the author of Hebrews, even a believer can suffer from an unbelieving heart.