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Jesus
promises to forgive our sins if we believe or trust in Him. Because
He lives He is always ready to make intercession for us - to defend
us against accusations of sin. He can do this because He died for
our sins. He died once for all. He does not need to die again and
again, as the priest offers sacrifices again and again. He offered
Himself - the perfect lamb of God (John 1:29).
Better
Future.
If the readers of Hebrews went back to Judaism, they went back to
second class priests and a weak law.
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For
the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word
of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made
perfect forever. (NASB) Heb. 7:28 |
But Jesus is our priest - a better priest - who offers us a better
hope - forgiveness of sins once and for all. Our sins do not need
to be forgiven again and again as in the old law. Once we truly trust
in Jesus, we are truly saved - always forgiven. He died once for total
forgiveness! He offers us a better hope!
Conclusion.
The readers of Hebrews were discouraged with Christianity. They were
suffering and not regularly attending church (as we will see later).
They did not have much hope for the future. So their spiritual walk
was poor. They were like the folks in the town whose valley was to
be flooded. They had no reason to stay. They had no reason to read
God’s Word, to pray, to confess their sins or do anything else.
The absence of real hope in the life of a Christian results in a lukewarm
faith. The marks of run down Christians - little faith, little prayer,
little time in the Word, and little confession of sins - are a sign
of little hope! We think we have found something better - a better
high priest - not Jesus - and a better hope - the world’s hope.
Instead, this is a call to come back to a better walk with God realizing
He offers a better high priest and a better reason to live.
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