12/21/18

Exactly Who is Jesus Anyway (Part 2) By Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1312

Exactly Who is Jesus Anyway (Part 2) A Man

Exactly Who is Jesus Anyway  (Part 2)
By Ben Fronczek
Most all of us have read and heard that Jesus is God’s one and only son. Quite frankly there is no other quite like Jesus.
Yes in one sense we are all God’s children in that He created us, and gave us life, but Jesus is so much more than that. Somehow by miracle God’s Spirit impregnated a virgin by the name of Mary. Exactly how that happened no one really knows, but it did happen. It is the only time in history a virgin woman was ever impregnated without the seed of a human male, and it will probably never happen again.
The skeptic may say, ‘Prove it.’   I personally cannot. I can only show you the testimony of eye witness who made these claims in the Holy Scriptures.
I personally believe some of the best evidence is the fact that this whole event of God coming in the flesh was foretold or predicted years earlier.
Centuries before Jesus ever came on the scene the prophet Isaiah wrote down a prophecy that came from God Himself. In Isaiah 7:14 he wrote, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”  (or God with us)   So 700 years before it ever happened God told His people through the prophet Isaiah that one day this miracle would occur – ‘A virgin would conceive and God would come in the flesh.
Through the Old Testament prophets Micah, God lets his people know that He would be born in Bethlehem. (5:2)
The Old Testament is just full of prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus. I read online  that Jesus actually fulfilled some 360 Old Testament prophecies. Either you are going to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, as God incarnate, or our God in the flesh or you’ll choose not to believe in this wonderful glorious event.  I choose to believe. There is too much evidence for me to deny it.
As I thought about this lesson I kept coming back to the question, why? Why was it so important for God to come to us in this manner? Why did He choose to leave all the splendor and majesty of Heaven  behind to come in contact with all the sorrow, and pain, the corruption and evil of this world. I mean, are we really that important, that significant  for Him to leave all that behind and experience poverty, and hunger, and temptation, and arrogant know it all people, as well as the pain and suffering He knew He would have to go through?  Are we really that important to Him?
Apparently we are; even though not one of us is good enough to make to heaven on our own.  He apparently thought it was worth His effort to come to us in person and make things right.
But then the question comes to my mind again, ‘But why? Why couldn’t you just do something from up there? Why expose yourself to all this? You were born in a barn. Not to long after your parents had to take you and flee to Egypt because King Herod wanted kill you and so he killed all the boys 3 years and under. You life was a struggle from the very beginning until they nailed You the crossed which You died on?   WHY go through all that?
Here are a few reasons I came up with; why He chose to come to us in the flesh, as a man.
To begin with it all stems back to His amazing love for each one of us. Simply put, you and I are worth that much to Him. He was willing give it all up and leave it all behind, and endure all  the evil that this world could dish out and experience the pain and suffering, even death on the cross because He loves every one of us that much. So, first and foremost it was because of His unquenchable love for us that He came in the flesh.
But why? Why does He love me, or any of us for that matter? Probably because He created us, He put life in us. We are His. He made us all special and unique. And because He is God it is His choice to love us.
So why come in the flesh; what is the significance?
#1) So that we could come to understand a little more about Him
Last week I read an interesting discussion between Jesus and His disciple Philip in John 14: Where Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered:“Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.””
The point of what He was telling Philip is, ‘you want to know what God the Father is like, just look at me! If you’ve seen Me you’ve see the Father. If you what to know what He is like, how He feels about things, how He acts or reacts to things, if you want to know how much He cares about you just look at me.  ”Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
The letter to the Hebrews starts off by stating, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”
Do you want to learn more about God? Study everything you can about Jesus. Jesus is God but in a human body.
 #2. ‘A second reason that God became man was so that He might be able to identify with us. God knows everything about us – even the number of hairs on our heads. It is possible to KNOW a lot about someone but not  UNDERSTAND who that person is or how the feel in a situation.
Jesus understand us and knows what we are going through because He has gone through it all himself. We can’t say, ‘God you don’t know what it like to hurt or feel hungry or cold or lonely or bored. You don’t know what it feels like to hit your thumb with a hammer or stub your little toe in the middle of the night. Or you don’t know what it feels like to be tempted by food or by the opposite sex, or what it feels like to be teased or made fun of or to be falsely accused or have friends and family turn their back on you when you need the most. God knows about those things because He experienced all of them in Jesus. He knows what it is to be tempted, abandoned and mistreated.
The author in Heb 4 wrote,  14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)
Did you get the last part of that verse? Jesus understand what we go through, He can empathize with us and therefore we don’t have to approach God’s throne with fear. Why? Because He is more incline to show us grace and mercy because He understands.
King James V of Scotland would on occasion lay aside the royal robe of king and dress as a peasant. In disguise, he could move freely about the land, making friends and entering into their difficulties, appreciating their handicaps, sympathizing with them in their sorrow. When as king he sat again upon the throne, he was better able to rule over them with fatherly compassion and mercy. God shared in the human experience and thereby is better able to accept and show us mercy and helps us. Isn’t that wonderful?
#3) God also came in the flesh to save us.
The Word of God makes it abundantly clear that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. We read in Hebrews 10:4-7 “It is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christcame into the world, He said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.But You have given Me a body to offer. 6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do Your will, O God— as is written about Me in the Scriptures.’” NLT
Scripture also declares that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).  Animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were really not good enough, they were only a temporary fix until God Himself came in the flesh, shed His blood, and died on that cross for us.
He was the perfect Lamb who was sacrifice for us. Listen to what Peter writes in I Peter 1:18-19: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.” NLT
God, in the state of His eternal glory, cannot die. Therefore it became necessary for God to become a man so that He could put away sin by sacrificing Himself (Hebrews 9:26).
What an honor it is to have a God who loves us so much!
One of the ancient kings of Persia loved to mingle with his people in disguise. Once, dressed as a poor man, he descended the long flight of stairs, dark and damp to the tiny cellar where the fireman, seated on ashes, was tending the furnace.. The king sat down beside him and began to talk. At meal time the fireman produced some coarse black bread and a jug of water and they ate and drank. The king went away but returned again and again for his heart was filled with sympathy for the lonely man. They became very good friends as time passed. At last the king thought, “I’ll tell him who I am, and see what gift he will ask.” So he did, but the fireman didn’t ask for a thing. The king was astonished and said, “Don’t you realize that I can give you anything—a city, a throne?” The man gently replied, “I understand your Majesty. But you have already given the greatest gift a man could receive. You left your palace to sit with me here in this dark and lonely place. You could give nothing more precious. You have given yourself and that is far more than I could ever deserve.”  God did the same thing! He came to us in this dark world.
God gave us Himself in Jesus. Because HE loves us, and wanted to He show Himself to us. He got to know us better; what we go through and feel. And then He allowed Himself to become the ultimate sacrifice to save us from our sin. And now He is ready to adopt us as His children and make us His heirs. No cost to us, He just wants our trust, belief, faith, and love. Wow, what a God! He offers us so much and has given us so much. Let us praise and love HIM forever!
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

Wait Patiently Upon The Lord by Alfred Shannon Jr.

https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/2011/06/page/5/

Wait Patiently Upon The Lord

We hope for what is unseen, and with perseverance we eagerly wait for it. We should never conclude that life’s deferments are God’s denials. Jesus died nearly 2,000 years ago, yet every saint of God waits patiently for his return. We are commanded to obey the gospel, but we must endure persecutions with forbearance, before our reward is assured. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen our heart, for the Lord is good to those who wait for Him. Blessed are they who wait upon the Lord, for they will soar upon wings like eagles. The best things in life are worth waiting for, because in our patience posses we our souls. So our eyes wait upon the Lord, until his tender mercy shines upon us. Let us hold on, hold fast, and hold out, and wait patiently upon the Lord.
Rom 8:25; Col 1:11; 1 Thess 1:10; 2 Tim 3:10; 2 Tim 4:2; Jam 1:12; Heb 6:11; Rev 2:10; Rev 3:11; Jam 5:10,11; Ps 25:3,5,21; Ps 27:14; Ps 37:34; Ps 40:1; Ps 123:2 Isa 40:31; Isa 25:9; Isa 30:18; Lam 3:25,26;

A Selfish, Greedy, Righteous Man by T. Pierce Brown


http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Brown/T/Pierce/1923/greedy.html

A Selfish, Greedy, Righteous Man

In Genesis 13 we find that the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot were quarreling about where their herds should graze, so Abraham, a man of peace and good will, gave Lot the choice of which way they should go. Then we read in Gen. 13:10, "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar." Most of us who have spoken of Lot in this connection have characterized him as a selfish, materialistic man who had little concern for others or his own spiritual welfare. There is little doubt that he wanted for himself the best he could get of material things. Do you? Who does not? Is there anything especially reprehensible about that? If someone offered you a choice of a hundred-dollar bill or a dollar bill and he would take the other, which would you choose? If you had been in Lot's shoes, what would you have done? It is easy for us to say, "He should have left the choice to Abraham," but Abraham already had the choice, and gave it to him. 
It is generally assumed, and, in my judgment highly probable, that Lot knew of Sodom and its wickedness. It is easy for us to say, "He should have considered what disadvantage there would be in living so close to such wickedness." Of course he should, as each of us should always consider the consequences of any action we may take, especially one that leans toward or leads toward wickedness. A parent who sends his child to a secular, ungodly university instead of to a Christian college or university should consider the consequences. A parent who sends his child to a Christian college or university where many of the teachers promote the idea that the denominational world is about as well off as the Lord's church, and that doctrinal matters are unimportant and that the church of Christ is merely an outgrowth of the Restoration Movement should consider the consequences. A businessman who moves to Detroit, New York or San Francisco from middle Tennessee to get a better paying job should consider the consequences. A Christian who dates a person who is not a Christian or does not have high moral standards should consider the consequences.

However my point here is that the fact that Lot made the wrong choice did not indicate that he was an ungodly, selfish, unusually materialistic wretch. As we see in chapter 19, even after he lived in Sodom he still showed courtesy, hospitality, shame at ungodliness, loyalty, gratitude and other good attributes. He was basically a righteous man. The outstanding lesson is: Regardless of how good or righteous one may be, the wrong choice can reap unexpected horrible consequences. The fact that Lot may have reasoned, "I know the city is wicked, but I do not have to participate in its wickedness" did not change the consequences. The fact that a young girl goes with a boy who is not a Christian or who has questionable morals and thinks, "We love each other enough that I will change him when we get married" will not change the consequences of her actions. Nelson's Bible Dictionary says, "Lot's character is revealed by the major decisions which he made throughout his life. He chose to pitch his tent with the worldly sodomites, seeking riches and a life of ease rather than a path of obedience to God. He prospered for a while, but this decision eventually led to his humiliation and the tragic loss of his wife and other members of his family." That may be true, but it is merely an assumption that he "chose a life of ease rather than a path of obedience to God." There is nothing in the story that indicates that he did not think he could obey God and still pitch his tent toward Sodom. There is nothing in the story that shows that he was disobeying God by moving closer to Sodom. The tragedy is that millions of others have followed his example. They have not chosen a path of deliberate disobedience to God. They have merely chosen a path that indicates an improper attitude toward sin and its influence and consequence. In 2 Peter 2:7-9 Lot is called a righteous man. Matthew Henry says, "This he was as to the generally prevailing bent of his heart and through the main of his conversation. God does not account men just or unjust from one single act, but from their general course of life. And here is a just man in the midst of a most corrupt and profligate generation universally gone off from all good. He does not follow the multitude to do evil, but in a city of injustice he walks uprightly."

Barnes suggests, "Perhaps it was one purpose of his remaining to endeavor to do them good, as it is often the duty of good men now to reside among the wicked for the same purpose. Lot is supposed to have resided in Sodom -- then probably the most corrupt place on the earth -- for 16 years; and we have in that fact an instructive demonstration that a good man may maintain the life of religion in his soul when surrounded by the wicked, and an illustration of the effects which the conduct of the wicked will have on a man of true piety when he is compelled to witness it constantly. (1) He will not be CONTAMINATED with their wickedness, or will not conform to their evil customs. (2) He will not become INDIFFERENT to it, but his heart will be more and more affected by their depravity. (3) He will have not only constant, but growing solicitude in regard to it -- solicitude that will be felt every day: 'He vexed his soul from day to day.' It will not only be at intervals that his mind will be affected by their conduct, but it will be a habitual and constant thing. True piety is not fitful, periodical, and spasmodic; it is constant and steady. It is not a 'jet' that occasionally bursts out; it is a fountain always flowing. (4) He will seek to do them good. We may suppose that this was the case with Lot; we are certain that it is a characteristic of true religion to seek to do good to all, however wicked they may be. (5) He will secure their confidence. He will practice no improper arts to do this, but it will be one of the usual results of a life of integrity, that a good man will secure the confidence of even the wicked. It does not appear that Lot lost that confidence, and the whole narrative in Genesis leads us to suppose that even the inhabitants of Sodom regarded him as a good man. The wicked may hate a good man because he is good; but if a man lives as he should, they will regard him as upright, and they will give him the credit of it when he dies, if they should withhold it while he lives."

We think Barnes is mostly right, but to say that a good man will not be contaminated by the wickedness of those with whom he lives for sixteen years is to go too far. We cannot but wonder why he even moved into the city if it "vexed his righteous soul" as Peter said it did. The only reason that makes sense to us is that he must have assumed that he was so righteous that it would not be worth the effort to stay outside, for he would not be influenced or contaminated by their evil ways. It may be that his family had friends there whose company they enjoyed, or that his wife was so attracted to the sights and shops in the city that she nagged at him until he moved there. Whatever the reasons are, the lesson is the same: The wrong choices we make can have far- reaching and disastrous consequences, not only for ourselves, but also for our families and others.

We cannot argue with the statement that he was a righteous man, at least compared to those about him, for the Bible says so. But we can recognize that even a righteous man can have improper motives and certainly unwise choices and take care that we do not follow in his steps. This is true with every choice we make, whether it is in the political realm, the business arena, scholastic choices, marriage or even where we will spend our vacation. Choose to live in such a way that all you do in word or deed will be to the glory of God.

T. Pierce Brown


Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Laughter is the best medicine by Gary Rose



Before I say anything else- only the older crowd will probably get this one; and perhaps only a few of them. Let me spell it out for you to make “getting it” a little easier. Sak e tu mi, or as they would say in that old comedy show, laugh-in... Sock it to me!

Laugh-in was popular in the late sixties, early seventies, but its slap-stick humor is still funny to me 45 plus years later.

There are all forms of humor, most of them quite a bit more subtle than the slap-stick type found in that old show. Here is a very subtle form of it, found in the book of Genesis…


Genesis 18 (World English Bible)
 1 Yahweh appeared to him (Abraham, added) by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,  3 and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.  4 Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.  5 I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.” 

They said, “Very well, do as you have said.” 
  6  Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.”  7 Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.  8 He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate. 

  9  They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” 

He said, “See, in the tent.” 
  10  He said, “I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” 

Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.  11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.  12 Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 

  13  Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.” 

  15  Then Sarah denied, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. 

He said, “No, but you did laugh.” 

Genesis 21 (WEB)
  1 Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken.  2 Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. *n1  4 Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.  5 Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.  6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”  7 She said, “Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” 


Sarah disbelieved and laughed (scoffed) at the messengers of God. Is that so unreasonable? After all, if someone told a 90+ year woman and her 99 year old husband that they were to be parents in a year… who wouldn’t laugh?

Perhaps she didn’t fully understand the situation or who these messengers were; I don’t know, but God turned her disbelief into the joy of laughter.

If you argue with God, you are going to lose; God will have the last laugh and the joke will be on you. Fortunately, Sarah understood the ironic humor in her situation and was overjoyed at the way things turned out.

In closing, as a character from Laugh-in (Artie Johnson?) would say… VERRRY INTERESTING!!!

12/19/18

"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS" God's Perfect Spokesman (1:1-3) by Mark Copeland 


 "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

God's Perfect Spokesman (1:1-3)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our introductory lesson, we saw how "The Epistle To The Hebrews"
   is unique in its beginning...
   a. There is no mention of the author's name, nor the recipients
   b. Rather, it starts like an "essay" - cf. He 1:1-3

2. We also noted regarding the purpose of the epistle...
   a. To encourage Jewish Christians to remain steadfast in their faith
   b. Accomplished by showing the superiority of Christ and the New
      Covenant

3. That superiority is demonstrated through a number of contrasts...
   a. The very first contrast begins in these first three verses
   b. In which Jesus is contrasted with the prophets of the Old 
      Testament

4. In this lesson, we shall take a close look at the contrast...
   a. Noting how God spoke "in time past", and how He speaks "in these
      last days"
   b. Observing how Jesus is certainly qualified to be "God's Perfect
      Spokesman"

[We begin by considering what is said regarding...]

I. GOD'S SPOKESMEN "IN TIME PAST" (1)

   A. THE EXPRESSION "IN TIME PAST"...
      1. Refers to the period of time prior to the coming of Jesus
      2. I.e., that period of time described in the Old Testament
         (Genesis-Malachi)

   B. GOD SPOKE "TO THE FATHERS BY THE PROPHETS"...
      1. The "fathers" would be the ancestors of the Israelites
      2. The "prophets" would include great men like Samuel, Elijah, 
         Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
         a. The Hebrew word for "prophet" means "one who boils over"
         b. It refers to one who is inspired by God to speak for Him 
            - cf. 2Pe 1:21
      3. At times, the prophets themselves were unsure of what they 
         spoke - 1Pe 1:10-12

   C. GOD SPOKE "AT VARIOUS TIMES AND IN DIFFERENT WAYS"...
      1. His revelation did not come all at once, but progressively at
         different times
      2. His methods varied as well, using visions, dreams, symbols, 
         etc.

[So God has clearly revealed Himself as One who "speaks"; that is, He 
communicates His will to mankind! What He revealed through His prophets
"in time past" is certainly wonderful, but now consider what we learn
regarding...]

II. GOD'S SPOKESMAN "IN THESE LAST DAYS" (2-3)

   A. THE EXPRESSION "IN THESE LAST DAYS"...
      1. Literally, "at the end of these days", which may be understood
         as referring to either:
         a. The closing period of the Jewish age (cf. Milligan)
         b. The period of the Messiah (most commentators)
      2. The Old Testament often spoke of "the last days" 
          - e.g., Isa 2:2; Micah 4:1
      3. As such it often had special reference to the age of the Messiah
         a. The apostles spoke of their time as the time of this 
            fulfillment - Ac 2:16-17
         b. Thus it denotes the final phase of history, brought on by
            the first coming of Christ, continuing until His second 
            coming and the consummation of all things - cf. He 9:26;
            1Pe 1:20; 1Co 10:11

   B. GOD "HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON"...
      1. God has spoken once again, but note the contrast!
      2. "In time past" it was through "prophets"; but "in these last
         days" it is by "His Son"!
         a. God has sent His own Son to speak for Him!
         b. As wonderful as the prophets were, how can they compare to
            God's own Son?
      -- There is no contrast, especially as we read on and notice...
      
   C. THE EXCELLENCE OF "GOD'S PERFECT SPOKESMAN"...
      1. Jesus is "the appointed heir of all things"!
         a. The author may have had Ps 2:8 in mind, for in verse 5 he
            quotes from Ps 2:7
         b. As the "beloved Son", it is only natural that He would be
            the appointed heir
         c. What does "all things" include?
            1) All that the Father has! - Jn 16:15
            2) The authority to raise and judge the dead - Jn 5:26-29
            3) The authority to rule in heaven and on earth - Mt 28:18
            4) This authority Christ has even now! - Ac 2:36; 10:36;
               Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22; Re 1:5
      2. Jesus is "through whom He (God) also made the worlds"!
         a. Not only the "Heir", but also the "Creator"!
         b. For it was through the Son that God created the universe 
            - cf. Jn 1:3; Col 1:16
            1) All things were created "by (or through) Him" (He is the Creator)
            2) All things were created "for Him" (He is the rightful Heir)
      3. Jesus is "the brightness of His (God's) glory"!
         a. In Jesus we see the very radiance of the glory of God!
         b. As John wrote, "...we beheld His glory, the glory as of the
            only begotten of the Father..." - Jn 1:14
         c. When we behold Jesus, we see an extension of the glory of God!
      4. Jesus is "the express image of His (God's) person"!
         a. He is the exact representation of God's being and 
            character! - cf. Col 2:9
         b. Therefore Jesus could say...
            1) To Thomas:  "If you had known me, you would have known
               my Father also; and from now on you know Him and have 
               seen Him." - Jn 14:7
            2) To Philip:  "He who has seen Me has seen the Father;" - Jn 14:9
      5. Jesus is "upholding all things by the word of His power"!
         a. Not only the Creator, but also the Sustainer of the 
            universe - cf. Col 1:17 ("in Him all things consist")
            1) By His word the universe holds together!
            2) All He has to do is say the word, and the universe is no more!
         b. Note well:
            1) This illustrates the power of His Word
            2) Shall we not listen when He speaks? - cf. Lk 6:46
      6. Jesus has also "by Himself purged our sins"!
         a. A clear reference to His death on the cross for our sins
         b. This speaks to His role as our Redeemer, a theme that will
            be prominent later in this epistle - cf. He 2:17; 9:26,28
      7. Jesus has also "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on
         high"!
         a. This Jesus did when He ascended to heaven - Ep 1:20; 1 Pe 3:22
         b. Sitting at the right hand of God is a place of honor, but 
            for Jesus it is also a place from which He reigns!
            1) As indicated in Ep 1:21-22; 1Pe 3:22
            2) It is true that He is waiting for the His enemies to be
               made His footstool (He 10:12-13), but He is reigning
               until that time! - cf. 1Co 15:25-26
            3) As stated in Ps 110:1-2, from which the author to the
               Hebrews quotes, the Messiah was to "rule in the midst of
               Your enemies"
         c. Thus Jesus is truly "the ruler over the kings of earth"
            - Re 1:5; 17:14

CONCLUSION

1. The sentence does not end with verse three...
   a. It continues on into verse four, with a declaration of Jesus' 
      superiority over angels
   b. But that verse and the rest of the chapter we shall save for the
      next study

2. But what have we seen in this lesson?
   a. God is clearly a God who speaks, He makes His Will known to mankind!
   b. And now He speaks through His Son, Who is:
      1) The appointed Heir of all things!
      2) The Creator!
      3) The brightness of God's glory, the express image of His person!
      4) Our Sustainer, Redeemer, and King!

How can one turn their back on Him?  Especially when the Majesty on 
high proclaimed at the Mount of Transfiguration:

   "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 
                                       - Mt 17:5

Are you heeding the words of the Beloved Son, "God's Perfect 
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Two Different Questions: What and When? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.


http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1864

Two Different Questions: What and When?

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.
“Do you believe that baptism is essential for salvation?” “Yes.” “So you believe in water regeneration?” “No.” “But you believe that you must be immersed in water before your sins are washed away?” “Yes.” “So you believe that the power to wash away your sins is in the water?” “No.” “How can you say you do not believe in water baptismal regeneration if you think that a sinner is not saved until after he is baptized?” “Because when one is saved and what saves a person are two different questions.”

The Bible makes clear that Jesus saves. “[A]ccording to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). It is by His grace that we have hope of eternal life (Ephesians 2:5,8-9). We are “justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). We are “redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). “Jesus Christ...loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). As Jesus ate with His disciples the night before His crucifixion, He said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). What is it that saves a sinner from eternal separation from God? What is the remedy for sin? Without any doubt, “the blood of Christ” is what saves us (Hebrews 9:14). The idea of water having some kind of spiritual regenerative power is never taught in Scripture, nor have I ever met a member of the Lord’s church who believed such.

Another question altogether is when something happens. Naaman was healed of his leprosy (by the power of God!) when he washed in the Jordan River seven times (2 Kings 5:1-19). The blind man of John chapter nine was healed of his blindness (by Jesus!) when he washed in the pool of Siloam. And what about a sinner? When does the blood of Christ save one who is separated from God spiritually? The answer to that question is found in such passages as Acts 22:16 and Acts 2:38 (among others), which discuss water baptism. Once Saul (later called Paul) came to believe and confess that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and expressed sorrow for his sins (cf. Acts 9:5-11), Ananias, whom God had sent to Saul, instructed him to “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). A sinner has his sins washed away when he is “baptized.” [NOTE: The participial phrase, “calling on the name of the Lord,” describes what Paul was doing when he was baptized and had his sins washed away (cf. Acts 2:21,38)—see Miller, 2003; Lyons, 2004.] Sadly, many have read Acts 22:16 and rejected the necessity of baptism because they approach their study of this verse with the wrong question in mind. This verse does not tell us whatsaves, but rather when a person is saved, i.e., has his sins washed away. Passages of Scripture such as those previously noted (e.g., Matthew 26:28, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Revelation 1:5) answer what saves, but in order to find out when a person is saved, one must consult passages like Acts 22:16 and Acts 2:38.

In short, the blood of Christ is what saves a sinner. But the blood of Christ washes away sins when a sinner confesses faith in Christ, repents, and is baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16). May God help us to understand the difference between what and when, especially in regard to salvation.

REFERENCES

Lyons, Eric (2004), “Calling on the Name of the Lord,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/597.
Miller, Dave (2003), “The Bible is its Own Best Interpreter,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2293.
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