Our top family highlight this summer was traveling throughout Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado on what I deemed our "Wild, Wild West 2010 Expedition." We undoubtedly traveled 2,000+ miles visiting extended family in Post Falls, Idaho and Big Timber, Melville, Livingston, and Billings, Montana. After dropping my mother and niece off in Montana, Sabrina, Cortni, and I traveled down to Colorado Springs, Colorado for an unforgettable and spiritually enriching conference at Glen Eyrie (Navigator HQ). It was a spectacular time of meeting new and old friends from Ireland, Kazakhstan, Missouri, Ohio, Georgia, and British Columbia. We studied the Epistle to the Hebrews, truths from Romans, and discussed the implications of the conditional "if" statements addressed to the redeemed throughout the holy scriptures. On top of that, we so enjoyed the opportunity to forge new relationships with others who are thirsty to understand and apply God's Word and encourage and exhort one another as the Day draws near (Heb. 10:24-25).
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
One of the many privileges at the "Pressing on to Maturity Conference 2010" included benefiting from some fabulous and deep teaching from friends and brothers-in-Christ Iain MacMillan, Tony Stinson, and brothers Bill and Steve Ramey (both of whom I shared last summer's "Kingdom Ride 2009" with). As we studied the current role of our Great High Priest , the reality of a coming kingdom under the worldwide rule of Christ Jesus (the Son of the living God), and the sober implications of the call on disciples to walk in holiness and be partakers and companions in that kingdom on this earth, one of the themes brought out in the conference continued to ring in my ears and heart: "The gospel demands a changed life." Tony preached a sermon recently at a church near Atlanta that reflected that theme and I was so inspired, encouraged, and challenged by what he taught, that I wanted to share it with as many as possible. If you'd like to discuss the contents of this message with me, I'd be happy to. You can contact me via email at twblack1@verizon.net.
1 comment:
The Book Of Hebrews is written to 'holy brethern' ie. Israelites who could not make up theri minds as to whether to accept Jesus as the sacrifice for their sin or continue on with the old outmoded OT method of continual animal sacrifcies which had now been replaced with a better covenant with better promises.
As is often with those epistles it was written to a mixed audience some of whom were already born-again therefore redeemed so when the writer says "we" he is speaking in an all embracing manner in the same way that we nowadays might say for example "how that we are an ungodly nation" in that this does not mean that every one it it is ungodly but rather in general terms implies the nation as a whole.
I would have thought that this ought to have been obvious. If you are born-again then your redemption is absolutely not losable by sinning and even if it was then exactly which sin would cause you to lose it? 10:26 in context makes it clear the sin of not accepting Jesus as the sacrifice for your sin. This augments the rest of chapter 10 where ist says that those saved are 'sanctified for ever' and concoerds with John 16 etc etc.
To say that Jesus is insufficient sacrifcie for all of my sine i.e past, present and future is to diminish his sacrifce where there ought to be no more consciousness of sin (10:2)
If you wish to see you sick get healed rather than going to doctors (a system which God did not ordain) then you really need to gain a revelation on the permanence of your redemption then the signs, miracles and wonders will follow. The you will be able to say that you are of those who 'believe'
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