Saved
From what do we need to be saved; Sin, Satan, Self? Yes. all of these things are strong enemies, from which we cannot save ourselves. All glory to our Savior who came conquering and to conquer, binding the ‘strong man’ (Satan), and ‘spoiled’ (seized), his house (Rev. 6:2; Matt. 12:29) that we might be saved. However, in the end we need to be saved from the justice and judgment of God Himself. He is the only one that has the power to cast both body and soul into hell. Matt. 10:27 Saved from the wrath that is to come. While in that day, some will be rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Peter 1:8-9, others will cry to the mountains to fall on them that they may be hid from the ‘wrath of the Lamb’, Rev. 6:16. Oh, what a glorious and gracious God we have. Only He could justify sinners without sacrificing His own Holy justice. Back to the first question; From Whom do we need to be saved? Only God could save us from God. ~GE
What About My Sin?
The believer walks by faith, not by sight. Faith believes what God says when it cannot be seen any other way. The child of God cannot see in any part of their experience that they are “dead to sin”. Rom. 6:2. Sin seems to them to be very much alive. Yet God says that our “old man was crucified with Christ”. Rom 6:6. The Lord tells us to “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” Rom 6:11. Our sin nature will remain with us until we are separated from this body of death. Like an incurable disease, the believers desire and hope are to have its manifested symptoms minimized. God’s medicine for this terminal disease is faith in Christ. The only way sin will be restrained from “reigning in our mortal bodies”, Rom 6:12, is not by the works of the law or the determination of the will. We do not use carnal weapons in a spiritual war. 2 Cor 10:4. It is by looking through the eye of faith to the glorious person and accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not fight to kill sin. We believe God in reckoning it to be in Christ, already dead. ~GE
Who wrote Hebrews?
Since the penman does not identify himself in the text, many have speculated as to who wrote the book of Hebrews. In the end, it is just that, speculation. Though we esteem highly those “holy men of God moved by the Holy Ghost” who are often identified in other books of the Bible, there is something very wonderful about the unknown penman of Hebrews. Whoever it was, had an extraordinary understanding of the scriptures. The comprehensive clarity of the Old Testament in revealing Christ in this sublime book is unparalleled. I must confess, had I written it, I would not have been able to resist the temptation of putting my name on it. Which brings me to my point. It is a testimony to our own vanity that we would even try to figure out what God intended to be secret and what this inspired writer kept silent. Let us learn a lesson here. Let us resist the temptation of letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing. Let us do what we do as unto the Lord and not unto men. Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Ps115:1. Oh, how highly we esteem the humility of this dear unnamed brother. We ought not to even speculate who he might be, lest we rob him of this reward. ~GE
One Thing
Life in this world is often complicated and confusing. Time and again our flesh has no rest, troubled on every side with fighting without and fears within. 2 Cor. 7:5. The only thing more complicated than our circumstances, our relationships, and our feelings is a free will, works gospel. That is not only complicated but a complete contradiction. Oh, to be able to say with the blind man in John 9; “One thing I know, that, wherein I was blind, now I see.” What exactly does the believer see so convincingly? They see themselves as sinners. Like anyone born blind, they had no idea what it meant to be blind until they were able to see. They see the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Sovereign, Successful, and Sufficient Savior of sinners. Like Mary, they know that the one thing needful that cannot be taken away, is found at the feet of the One who is The Christ. They know and are sure that He alone has the words of eternal life. Amongst all the confusing voices of this world, they have been given ears to hear His voice and follow Him. ~GE
When he (Esau) would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he
sought it carefully with tears. Heb. 12:17
For many years this verse struck fear in my heart. Could I, like Esau, seek God’s blessings with tears and yet find no place for repentance? What was the blessing Esau was refused? It is the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. Why could Esau not receive this blessing? Because Esau had “despised” his birthright. Gen. 25:34. The Old Testament birthright clearly pointed to the eternal covenant of grace fulfilled in Christ. Christ Jesus is the FIRSTBORN among many brethren. Heb. 12:23. The entire church of the FIRSTBORN which is written in heaven can only come to God and receive the blessing of His salvation in Christ, their Mediator. Heb. 12:23-24. To cry for the blessing without the FIRSTBORN is to find no place for repentance. All of the Father’s blessings in heavenly places are only found in Christ. Eph. 1:3. For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20. How very, very sad it is. Everyone wants to go to heaven, but only God’s redeemed saints will look in faith unto Jesus as the author and the finisher of their faith. Heb.12:2. No, my dear brethren, fear not. Esau, as his name reflects, is that earthy man of the flesh. We who are born of God bear the image of the heavenly. 1Cor.15:47-49. We have no expectations of the blessing, without the birthright of the FIRSTBORN. ~GE