App
(Go To Meeting)
Lyall Johnston—March 21, 2025
- Video - 
- PDF | Audio | [Up]
What Id like to do is to start by quoting from Isa. 57. This really is not part of the message today, but its something that is one of those Scriptures that are indelibly or can be indelibly printed in our minds and within our hearts. This is such a powerful Scripture. So let's just see this:
Isaiah 57:15: "For thus says the High and Lofty One…"
Here we're addressing God in His place in heaven. Now, before God Himself, before He created the heavens and the earth—it says with His hand—I just ask:
- Did He just do it with one hand?
- I wonder what the other hand was doing?
He is just so great and so powerful. For this says "…the High and Lofty One…"
We just pause and think about that. We think about God, how great He is, that:
- before the creation He was
- before the universe existed
- before the earth existed
- before the angels
- before man. God existed
- before everything
He is "…the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity…" (v 15)—and He has called us to be there with Him for all eternity as His children!
"…Whose name is Holy…" (v 15). Yes, indeed, God's name is Holy, and we pray that every day as we address Him at His Throne.
He's quoting God Himself personally: "…I dwell in the high and Holy place…" (v 15).
That's where He wants you and me, and eventually, that's where He wants everyone who is willing to follow in:
- His Ways
- His Laws
- His Commandments
"…even with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit…" (v 15).
Coming up to the Passover in three weeks, today we are to be before God's Throne, seeking to have that humble and contrite spirit.
"…to revive the spirit of the humble..." (v 15).
- Are you humble?
- Am I humble?
"…and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (v 15). What a beautiful Scripture!
Isa. 66—here is a similar comment from God Himself. This is a Scripture that we can think about and meditate on, on a continuous basis. Just to realize how great God is, and how small and how insignificant you and I happen to be.
Yet, what God wants to elevate us to the position He wants to elevate us to!
Isaiah 66:1—God is speaking to us: "Thus says the LORD…"
So here are again the words of God directly from His mouth as recorded. Let's remember, they are Spirit, and as they enter into our mind and into our heart, they're also Life.
"…'The heaven is My Throne..." (v 1).
So we think of the entirety of the universe; that's His Throne! What is there beyond that?
"…and the earth is My footstool. Where then is the house that you build for Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all these things... [and here it is, singular] …My hand has made, and these things came to be,' says the LORD. 'But to this one I will look, to him… [or woman, person] …who is of a poor and contrite spirit and who trembles at My Word'" (vs 1-2).
This is good instruction for us as we approach the very solemn Feast, that incredible observance of the Christian Passover, to which mainstream Christianity doesn't have a clue. Why? Because they have been distracted by pagan philosophies! Satan has deceived the whole world into observing Easter, which will not take place at the Passover time, but Easter happens around that time. Passover:
- is not the Lord's Supper
- is not the Eucharist
- is not the Mass
It is the Passover of the Lord; it is the Christian Passover! No other observance does it. There is only this one way! There is none other.
Regardless of what all the theological thinkers and the Biblical scholars say to the contrary, we know that that is one great, massive lie! The Passover occurs on the 14th of the 1st month in the evening, as we know so well and we hear regularly every year.
We are so blessed to have that book called The Christian Passover, where:
- every question
- every error
- everything that has been brought against the Passover
- which represents the death and the blood of Jesus Christ
- which brings about the remission of sins for those whom God calls and those who respond
Why do you think Satan would want to hide that? That's why/how he deceives the whole world! We can read about that in Gen. 3:15, where God began to reveal the Passover in that particular verse.
So in Gen. 2, what do we have? I know we've mentioned this before, but we need these things repeated so we have the focus on the Truth of God. In the first place, Gen. 1 begins by God saying that He is the One Who created all things! Gen. 2, he shows that He is the Creator by resting on the Sabbath Day!
- No other day!
- No other day will suit!
- God has not blessed any other day!
And by keeping any other day, and particularly Sunday—the day that worships Satan, the sun—the whole world is deceived! So, with the three basic facts:
- God is the Creator of all things
- the seventh-day of the week is Holy
No other day; every seventh-day is Holy and receives God's blessing. And as we observe it according to the will and to God's good pleasure, we are blessed:
- with Truth
- with His love
- with His companionship
It is so wonderful! It's so incredible!
- Do we have problems along with that? Of course, we do.
- Why?
- Because the whole world—as God tells us through Rev. 12:9—has been deceived
That's everyone! The whole world is walking according to Satan unless or until Almighty God reaches out in His loving kindness and His mercy and leads us to repentance!
We are a group—a very small group—of people that God has called out. He hasn't called everyone. Yes, Jesus said, 'many are called'—but what did He say about how many are chosen?—but few are chosen!
Why? We know the answer to that: because they:
- refuse to obey His words
- refuse to walk in the path that Jesus has said
- refuse the Sabbath Day
because that would interfere with their lives
- have no interest in the Holy Days
because that also interferes with their lives
Why Sunday?
- you can do what you like
- you can spend time with people and have a social occasion
- you can hear some words
I was thinking the other day. When I think back to my previous experience in the Christianity of this world—the false, fake, and phony Christianity of this world—I only remember ever one sermon. I was following the Presbyterian teachings. Not happy with them. But we had one, I believe, it probably was one Easter weekend that we had a combined service with the Methodist Church.
There was this little Methodist minister and his mission that day was he went through point-by-point the crucifixion of Christ Jesus, just as you could read it in a history book.
As we in the Churches of God have explained it and talked about, the agony and the passion that Jesus went through. He did it; and that's sharpened my mind, that had to happen.
That sermon, I would have been about 18 at the time—1955—is the nearest I can place it. But it's the only sermon that ever stuck with me. It's amazing! You know in recent years that we have many sermons and they just stay with us. Why?
- because what we are receiving are the words that come from Jesus Christ
- because in the Church, we are preaching the Truth of God, we're preaching the Word of God.
John 6:63—Jesus said: "It is the Spirit that gives Life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you, they are Spirit and they are Life."
Because we have God's Spirit, either IF we haven't been baptized yet with us, or IF we have been baptized and that Spirit of God is within us, THEN the words of God are being given into our mind and into our heart, and they're being inscribed into our mind and our heart, and they are becoming a part of us day by day-by-day:
- as we pray
- as we study God's Word
they become a part of us! The mind of God the Father and Jesus Christ indwelling within us!
So again, just read that one verse.. God says, Isaiah 66:2: "…'But to this one I will look…'"
- Are you confident?
- Do you have the faith that you are—as God said—one of Your chosen children?
- because I love You
- because I obey Your voice
- because I desire to keep Your Commandments
- I love You
- I love the brotherhood
- I love the brethren
- I want to be with the brethren
- I want to help them
- I want to encourage them
- I do not want, in any way, to be part of a sectarian system in the Church:
- whispering behind peoples back
- whispering behind the elders back
Does that happen? Of course it does! It's another subject, but one that does need to be addressed.
Isaiah 66:2: "…'But to this one…'"—this can be you:
- IF you are faithful to God
- IF you love God
- IF you love and forgive your brothers and sisters for any little thing that they may do against you that upsets you
"…I will look, to him who is of a poor and contrite spirit and who trembles at My Word" (v 2).
Humility is the mind of God the Father and Jesus Christ! Yes, Almighty God, as we mentioned back there in Isa. 57, for all He has created, He is the most humble. But let's not misunderstand, because He will look upon us, and as long as were humble, then:
- He wraps His arms around us
- He takes care of us
- He heals us
- He makes sure that we have everything that we need:
- shelter
- clothing
- food
- family
- friends
- brothers and sisters in the Church that we're going to spend eternity with
"…I will look, to him who is of a poor and contrite spirit and who trembles at My Word" (v 2).
In other words, when we see the Word of God, there is no way that we want to walk in any other direction. And when God corrects us, as He does—Heb. 12—we take that correction. We make the changes so that we again begin to walk hand-in-hand with the Father and Jesus Christ as they guide us and direct us.
Okay, let's turn now to a Scripture that I find very powerful, and to begin the topic here, and that is Heb. 12. Hebrews is a wonderful book, and particularly regarding Jesus Christ:
- as our High Priest
- as the Author of our salvation
- as the minister of the sanctuary in heaven above
- Whose blood covers our sins
- Who is everything to us toward life eternal.
The whole book of Hebrews is so powerful.
Hebrews 12—Paul here is talking about the 12 tribes of Israel before Mount Sinai. And the terror that struck their hearts when God appeared with the thundering and the lightnings and the blowing of the trumpet, they were trembling. Even Moses was afraid at the power that God demonstrated there. Sadly, they didn't stay with it. Will we?
Hebrews 12:21: "And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, 'I am greatly afraid and trembling')."
Doesn't that sound like what we read earlier about God wanting to see within us a humble and contrite spirit and trembles at His Word?
Well, physically, the whole tribe, the whole nation of Israel was trembling before the Word of God. So, he's saying, that was ancient Israel. Now he begins to address spiritual Israel in the next verse.
Verse 22: "But you have come to Mount Sion…"—which is where God is going to set His Throne up! In fact, that Throne right now is in heaven.
He has called us into His presence through the Body of Christ. Every time we pray, we appear before God and spirit before His very Throne with a humble and contrite spirit;
"and to the city of the living God…" (v 22)–into God's presence.
A little later, we can read where we pass through the body of Christ, through the crucified body, that body that was torn and butchered, that was the veil. That was why His body was offered, so that we were able to break through that barrier of those who are not converted and not called.
As we go to the Throne, Jesus Christ is there with His blood before the Father, explaining to the Father our weaknesses, our sins. God our Father is so humble, and yet, so powerful, grants the remission of your sins and mine because of what Christ did through His body and His blood!
All good things to be reminding ourselves of and rehearsing and thinking about and meditating about as we approach the Passover, as Paul said were to do. To examine ourselves and see that we are in the very presence of God day-by-day because His Spirit is within us.
Sidebar: If that's the case, what right do I have to pass judgment on a brother or a sister? When I do that, I'm actually passing judgment before God's Throne on myself; and I'm going to receive the recompense for my judgment.
So, that's something we have to be very careful of, because within our brothers and sisters is dwelling God the Father and Jesus Christ in Spirit! And we need to think very deeply about that because it's so easy for you and me to have a critical attitude, to become angry.
The apostles and Christ Himself come down very heavily on this. This is why God wants us to be of a humble and contrite spirit and trembling at His Word!
We should be afraid to criticize any brother or sister. Their works, yes, were to judge their works if they're good or evil, but we can't judge the person ,because we don't know their hearts. Only God knows their hearts.
But if we see somebody is doing wickedness who's a brother or a sister, yes, we can go to them humbly and endeavor to talk to them. But sadly, some are so implacable as the Scripture says that you just can't get through to them. That's so sad, so, what do we do? We pray for them, for those who hate us and despitefully use u!
Verse 22: "But you have come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable company of angels"–around God's Throne when we approach Him in prayer, all day long!
Verse 23: "To the joyous festival gathering; and to the Church of the Firstborn…"
We're part of that Church going right clear back to the very first person God mentions who will be in the Kingdom, and that was Abel!
"…and to the Church of the Firstborn, registered in the Book of Life in heaven…" (v 23).
So, you're part of that Body if you have been baptized in water, you've committed your life to Jesus Christ under the Covenant, and you are prepared to die rather than to turn around and go away from Jesus Christ. We have all in baptism committed our lives to God the Father and Jesus Christ even unto death! And that time is coming for many.
"…and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just who have been perfected" (v 23).
Major message from the Apostle Paul is that God is in the process of perfecting you and me and each of His children. Hebrews 12 shows us that God also needs to correct us to bring us back on track, so that
- we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ
- we are following His Word
Now let's talk about the resurrection; we are on the path to perfection! We've not only come to the joyous festival, but v 24 says that we have come to Jesus.
- What is He?
- How is He described here?
Verse 24: "And to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to sprinkling of the blood of ratification, proclaiming superior things than that of Abel."
Heb. 5–there's something we need to see there that's very important and something we need to be very careful about, because they had become perhaps a little satisfied. But Paul was quite desirous that they change the way they're living. He gives them a very solid warning. Paul is talking about Christ right from chapter 1 describing Christ. Then he says, talking about Jesus after his suffering:
Hebrews 5:9: "And having been perfected…"
Yeah, Jesus was perfected. He sinned not, but He was perfected by the things that he suffered, never once suffering. He'd never lived in the flesh before. He had to experience like you and me, and yet without sin, for your sake and for my sake.
"…He became the Author…" (v 9).
Jesus is the author of your salvation, my salvation,
"…of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him" (v 9). Key point; starting point!
- obedience leads to salvation
- obedience leads to the development of the mind of Christ and God the Father
until we are perfected in this life!
Verse 10: "After He had been designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec…"
Here comes the corrective words; he puts it very strongly, but it needs to be strong. We need to take these as strong words where its God talking to you and me through the Apostle Paul. He's the spokesman; he's one bringing the Word of God to us.
Verse 11: "Concerning Whom we have much to say and hard to explain…"
Now he goes on and explains it, but he's concerned that they're not going to get the message. That's why Paul makes it so pointed and in a sense quite blunt. Why? Because he's concerned for their salvation, for their eternal life!
"…since you have become dull of hearing" (v 11).
Every year the Passover comes around and it's our opportunity:
- to further renew the Spirit of Righteousness that God has placed within us
- to renew our commitment to God the Father and Jesus Christ
through the blood of Christ!
Remembering that were under the baptismal covenant of death! IF we fail, we die and we go into the second death! None of us want that. This is why the Word, and even the correction, is so important. Its bringing us back onto track. We need that every day. We need God to be guiding us and directing us and correcting us (Heb. 12); just read that about God's correction because He loves us.
Verse 12: "For truly by this time you ought to be teachers. But instead, you need to have someone teach you again what are the beginning principles of the oracles of God… [he goes on to explain those in Heb. 6)] …and have become those in need of milk, and not of solid food."
Verse 14: " But solid food is for those who are fully grown, who through repeated practice…"–or use!
The solid food, which happens to be shown in the Passover (John 6) that we are to eat His body. What does that represent? It represents the Word of God!
Man shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and that's the Body of Christ; He is the Word of God!
So, we're to be eating the Word, and as we're eating the Word:
- we're studying it
- we're meditating
- we're praying on it
- we're constantly researching it
We're actually doing as Jesus said, and being faithful to the Passover by the study of His Word. Every day, we are to be drinking His blood when we pray: 'Father, forgive us our sins, our trespasses,' and he adds, 'as we forgive others!' If we don't forgive others, there's no forgiveness for us!
What we sow, we reap, it's an automatic law, it's a principle. So, as we confess our sins, were actually drinking of His blood. What's the effect of our drinking of His blood? In other words, repenting for the remission of sins?
- God forgives us
- God cleanses us
So, when Satan comes along–Rev. 12–daily we notice what he's doing! Satan is daily before God's Throne accusing us–every day! What does that tell us about the sin that dwells within? I think it tells us that we are not all there, yet! There are things that we have to learn!
You and I know there are things that we have yet to overcome. But God is long-suffering, giving us that time to accomplish this so we can become perfected in:
- obeying His Word
- loving Him
- loving the brethren
Verse 12: "For truly, by this time you ought to be teachers, but instead you need to have someone teach you again what are the beginning principles of the oracles of God, and have become those in need of milk, and not of solid food. For everyone who is partaking of milk is unskilled in the Word…" (vs 12-13).
Because they haven't been regular in studying it, or they've just been skipping the surface and not attempting to go deeper into the Word and do some studies. Sometimes just a word study and following that word study through the Scriptures can be a powerful way to learn and understand the Word of God.
Verse 14: "But solid food is for those who are fully grown…"
Now, as newborn babes, God understands that. Milk is for us if we are newborn babes, but we are to grow in the grace and knowledge so we can take on that solid food!
Verse 14: "But solid food is for those who are fully grown, who through repeated practice have had their senses trained to discern between good and evil."
Hebrews 6:1: "Therefore… [because of what Paul just said] …advancing beyond the beginning principles of the doctrines of Christ… [here's the point, and it's a point he makes throughout Heb.]: …we should go on to perfection…"
- by putting on the mind of Christ
- by being renewed day-by-day
- by the blood of Christ
- by the Holy Spirit
- by God empowering us
That's the key!
"…not laying again the foundation of repentance…" (v 1).
What does that tell us? It tells us or indicates as I read it, a lack of faith in the promises of God! They're not certain! They're shaky in their belief and they can't progress! There can be many reasons for that:
- our background
- our upbringing
But God wants us to trust in His Word 100%, not the word of some man!
The words that God delivers to us through His human servants who must remain of a humble and contrite spirit so God can use them with His messages so we can understand!
How we have been blessed in this way with the vast amount of knowledge and information that takes more than a lifetime to get through was everything that's already been produced. Absolutely miraculous! Given to us on a silver golden platter by God.
all we've got to do is:
- participate
- eat the body of Christ
- drink His blood
as we will do on the Passover evening! Why did Jesus say we should do this? This do; take these new symbols…
The Lord's Supper, the supper He ate before that with His disciples–which was the Old Covenant Passover meal–was put aside. Jesus introduced us to the New Covenant symbolism. The Old Covenant was the physical lamb that they looked to.
The Church of the Living God looks to Christ as that Lamb whose body was torn and ripped and butchered. His blood was poured out:
Luke 22:20: "…He took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.'" Poured out on the ground; the precious blood of Christ.
- How precious is that to you?
- How precious is that to me?
We need to think and meditate. deeply on these things! As Paul also wrote in:
Colossians 3.16: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…"–and deeply!
Heb. 6–Paul goes on to show these other doctrines; Yes, they're all foundational doctrines, and we can go back and visit them time and time again. That's not the point Paul is making. He's not saying don't restudy these so that they're firmly fixed in your mind. He's saying you've got to go beyond that!
You've got to add to the basic doctrines the life that is walking the path towards the perfection that we see in Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, perfect in every way. That's our goal, perfection! That's why we have time. It's not something that happens instantly. This is what is so wrong with mainstream Christianity, they do not understand this.
I didn't understand it. I used to look upon myself as evangelical. But at the same time, no one that I approached, no one that I talked to of any theological background was able to answer the question I had. All it took was the book The Ten Commandments saying that the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week is the day were to worship God. And BAM! It was like a bolt of lightning! It turned my life around.
I was quite young, married; we had one child. That was 1962, and within a few weeks I'd written off to England, to Ambassador College. I had to go there. I had to find out about what this is all about.
And I think it was about June next year when we finally got approval, because being married, a decision had to be made whether they would accept a married student. Mostly, as the letter that I had from Ernest Martin said, we accept people from basically 18 to 23. Further decisions have to be made for somebody who's married.
So, it was just by the grace of God, I believe, that we managed to quit where I was. What I was involved in was just a goal. It was like that sunken treasure. I could see it there so clearly, so plainly. and it was about June or July, I think, that year that we received word that I had been accepted and of course my family along with that.
We had to be on the way to England within just a few weeks, selling our house and our property and booking a passage. But by the grace of God, I think back, I don't think I could have managed it unless He had been involved in it and guiding and directing and providing the way.
Then, of course, all those years and Worldwide CoG, and then the demise of Worldwide and now where God has called us to be, where, as far as I'm concerned, I don't see any other way that I want to follow except the path that God has put you and me on right now. The path to eternal life and the degree of Truth that God is exposing to us! Do we really appreciate how much it is? I'm sure you do. It is so exciting!
Hebrews 6:1: "…not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God."
- we believe God
- we believe His Word
Absolutely! Not a question! Utter faith! No one is going to teach or tell us otherwise! That's our calling! It's a wonderful calling that will end up in immortality!
So we have that faith, but were going on to perfection; every day were going on to perfection. We have slip-ups, we make mistakes, we sin because of the sin that dwells within us. But God is helping us faithfully day-by-day to overcome those things.
Romans 2:4: "…knowing that the graciousness of God leads you to repentance?
1-Corinthians 2:1: And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom… [of men that is, but in God's wisdom] … in proclaiming the testimony of God to you. For I decided not to know anything among you except… [two things, closely connected] …Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (vs 1-2).
- What does that tell us?
- What is it about the crucifixion?
It's about the blood of Jesus Christ! That's the point of the crucifixion. His blood was necessary for our sins to be blotted out, and to be continually dealt with before the Throne of God.
As we enter through the veil, into the very Throne Room of God, through the body of Christ–the beaten and bruised body–we're able to enter the very presence of God, where we can have our sins forgiven!
Now, I would like to encourage you to, particularly, read through Heb. 8-10, because what they cover is the New and Superior Covenant!
When Paul was writing in 61AD, the Old Covenant was still functioning in Jerusalem, but he said its going to become redundant, and it was no longer going to be, but that was that.
Hebrews 8:11: "Now, here is a summary of the things being discussed: We have such a High Priest… [Jesus Christ, Who was the priesthood of Melchizedek] …Who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle…" (vs 1-2).
We had the physical temple, tabernacle and temples on earth, but this, they were just a shadow of God's true tabernacle,
"…which the Lord set up and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer both gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it is necessary for this One [Christ] also to have something that He can offer. Now, on the one hand, if He were on earth He would not even be a priest since there are priests who offer gifts according to the priestly law" (vs 2-4).
Well, at least back in the time while the priesthood and the tabernacle were still functioning.
All the physical tabernacle; v 5: "Who serve as a representation and shadow… [just a representation, not the real thing, not the true thing] …of the heavenly things, exactly as Moses was Divinely instructed…" To make them after that same pattern,
Verse 6: "But on the other hand, He has obtained a supremely more excellent ministry, as much greater as the superior covenant… [exists because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ] …of which He is also Mediator, which was established upon superior promises."
So, Jesus Christ, Who is the spiritual High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, is the Mediator of the New Covenant, which–if you are baptized, or you are seeking baptism–your mediator between you and God the Father; for all the Church, and ultimately for all mankind, or at least all those who will choose.
The choice will still be there in the next life, for those who will live into the established Kingdom of God on earth, and then on into the second resurrection.
Verse 7: "For if the first covenant had been faultless… [there was a fault, but the fault was with the people] …
"…then no provision for a second covenant would have been made. But since He found fault with them, He says, '"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will establish a New Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah'" (vs 7-8).
This is future, this is going to happen when Christ returns. When He sets up the Kingdom, He's going to begin with the whole house of Israel and bring them into the New Covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ! Even the Jews are going to have to accept, finally accept, that Jesus was and is the Messiah. He is the High Priest of the New Covenant. They–those who opposed Him–are going to have to take on some ashes and sack cloths by way of repentance to establish a New Covenant with the house of Israel.
Verse 9: "'Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not continue in My covenant… [here's what God did to Israel] …and I disregarded them,' says the Lord."
Warning: Can God disregard you and me if we follow the path of ancient Israel?
Sadly, many have! Many have walked away from the Truth and turned to their own understanding of what they think is the Truth! So they have become self-deceived. We pray that God will open their minds to see the Truth, and stop pointing the finger at other people when they should be pointing the finger at themselves; turning to God in humility and repenting.
Verse 10–Here is the foundation of the New Covenant, the blood and obedience. How are we going to learn obedience? If we're
- studying God's Word
- devouring the body of Christ, which is the studying of His Word
- we're repenting of our sins
This is what God has covenanted in the New Covenant to do for you and me.
Verse 10: "'For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days,' says the Lord: 'I will give…'"
Now if we put Heb. 8:10 here, and we put Heb. 10:16 together, I'm going to combine them in what I say:
I will give My Laws into their minds and in their hearts, and I will inscribe My Laws into their minds and into their hearts.
So, you put the two together, God is going to give and inscribe both into our minds and into our hearts
- so we can understand His Word
- so we can understand His Law
- so we can obey His Law
- so we can love Him because of His Law
As David says!
"…'I will give My laws into their minds, and I will inscribe them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people'" (v 10).
This, brothers and sisters, is already in action in the Church. This is a prophecy for physical Israel in the future. But we are the firstfruits to be resurrected on a day of Pentecost in the future, because of the covenant of the blood of Christ, which we have, the precious blood of Jesus Christ!
It's all been poured out, its all gone into the ground as he was scourged and as he was butchered with that Roman spear so the blood went onto the ground, the physical blood no longer exists. But what that physical blood represented is eternal!
We will be remembering that shed blood of Jesus Christ into the ages of eternity as we remember how God brought His Plan about through the sacrifice of the body and blood of His Son.
Now it's interesting that there's so much in these two chapters. I would like just to make this comment, one offering only, and we read this in Hebrews, only one offering was needed, not multiple offerings. Jesus did not have to be crucified many, many times, only once!.
Paul here is talking about the blood of Christ, and he's talking about the Day of Atonement. What he says, as you read through these three chapters, you find that the high priest brought the blood of an animal, and in
Hebrews 9:22: without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins."
Now, the blood of the bulls and goats and of the animals only purified the flesh; they did not affect the conscience of those high priests and the people of Israel they represented! When they went in before God's Throne–the type of God's Throne–into the Holy of Holies, it only purified the flesh!
It never removed their sin. And in those three chapters–Heb. 8-10–it shows that the conscience of all those people who went through the sacrificial system right up until the temple in 70AD was destroyed by the Romans, not one conscience of any man or woman was purified.
Their conscience remained as it was. Why? Because it was to picture the blood of Christ! Only the blood of Christ can purify your conscience and my conscience! You will read this in those three chapters talking about the New Covenant. That precious blood covers us every day. It's a poor way of explaining it, but its like an umbrella that covers us from all attacks.
Let's never forget how important and precious the blood of Christ is to us.
Something you'll read also, is the high priests under the Old Covenant took the blood, someone else's blood, the blood of an animal. They never took their own blood; it was impossible for them.
They took the blood of another. Whose blood did Jesus take to the Throne of God on the day of the Wave Sheaf Offering, when He went to be with His Father, and present His perfect sacrifice to the Father. It was His blood! He took his blood, which means
- He had to die
- He had to be crucified
- His blood had to be shed
- His body had to be brutalized
For you and for me!
That's how much God loves each person that has had life. Not all are going to choose life, sadly! We have the opportunity to do that.
Revelation 12:10: "And I heard a great voice in heaven say, 'Now has come the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ because the accuser [Satan] of our brethren… [you and me] …has been cast down…"
- What's he accusing us of? The sin that dwells within!
- What are we going to do about that?
Verse 11: "But they overcame him [Satan] through the blood of the Lamb…"
As we go before God's Throne and the presence of our High Priest, our Mediator, the Author of our salvation; and God deals with it.
Verse 11: "But they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb, and through the word of their testimony…"
Yes, Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He's the Son of God and He is the Savior of all of His saints–all of His people–which we hope and pray, and we trust that are part of the saints, the sons and daughters of the living God into the ages of eternity.!
"…they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb, and through the word of their testimony…" (v 11).
Of course, if that Word of God is dwelling within us, how powerful is that? Its That's the power of God within us!
- His power
- His deliverance
- His blood
- His calling
- the New Covenant that He has established
As we come up to Passover, we think on these things to make sure that we are really and truly in the faith!
It is so exciting, it is so wonderful, but it is also very solemn as we remember what Jesus did for us.
"…and they loved not their lives unto death" (v 11).
Martyrdom, I don't want to undercut it, but it's a ticket–If were faithful—into immortality. Now, there was another Scripture I had in mind that I wanted to mention, but maybe we can just close in
Heb. 12:1–these are beautiful verses; the book of Hebrews is about Jesus Christ. It's about His blood and His sacrifice. Its about what God the Father has done and is doing for us today, for all His people—past, present and future! Were living in a wonderful time.
Hebrews 12:1: "Therefore… [referring back to chapter 11] …since we are surrounded by such a great throng of witnesses… [back to Abel, Abraham, Moses, David, the rest] …let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily entraps us; and let us run the race set before us with endurance."
Doesn't matter what age we are, doesn't matter how fast we are, maybe were just a little bit difficult in walking these days, but this is
- a race of the mind
- a race of the heart
racing towards that goal at the end of immortality!
Verse 2: " having our minds fixed on Jesus, the Beginner…"
- here's where your faith began
- here's where my faith began
"…and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that lay ahead of Him… [it lies ahead of you and me] …endured the cross…" (v 2).
- Are we prepared?
- Are we willing to carry our cross, the same as Jesus did?
- the persecution
- the suffering
- the oppression
- the judgments against us because we obey God
"…although He despised the shame… [He thought nothing of it] …and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God." (v 2). You and I have been called to be there with Him!
Verse 3: "Now meditate deeply on Him…"
- on His blood
- the meaning of His blood
- what His blood does for us
Probably one of the best places to study that is the entire book of Hebrews, because Paul has so much Remember, he said to the Hebrews, 'it's difficult, it's hard for me to explain it to you, because you're hard of hearing, you're still rumbling around on the beginnings, when you should be more mature. You should be seeking the stronger food that God is supplying for you when you are ready for it.
"…Who endured such great hostility of sinners against Himself so that you do not become weary and faint in your minds" (v 3).
Well, brethren–all those who are listening–may God be with you all, strengthen you as you keep your focus on the mind on Christ, and on the sacrifice of His precious blood, which covers you and me and prepares us and helps us to move toward that perfection that God the Father and both Jesus Christ are working at and building within Them.
We just have to give ourselves to Them and let Them do Their work. We have our part, of course:
- study
- prayer
- fasting
using those spiritual tools and obeying every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!.
Scriptural References:
- Isaiah 57:15
- Isaiah 66:1-2
- John 6:63
- Isaiah 66:2
- Hebrews 12:21-24
- Hebrews 5:9-12, 14, 12
- Hebrews 6:1
- Luke 22:20
- Colossians 3:16
- Hebrews 6:1
- Romans 2:4
- 1-Corinthians 2:1-2
- Hebrews 8:1-10
- Hebrews 9:22
- Revelation 12:2, 10-11
- Hebrews 12:1-3
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Genesis 3:15; 2; 1
- Revelation 12:9
- Hebrews 10:16
Also referenced: Book:
The Christian Passover
LJ:bo/po
Transcribed:
Copyright 2025—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.
