He's there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them.
It is awesome to know that God has provided the Ultimate Covenant relationship for us to enjoy with Him. Most native tribes have blood covenants (or blood brotherhood). There is something about blood that seals a relationship in the ultimate bond of integrity and trust.
Most of us have heard the old expression "Blood is thicker than water" This meant to signify that familial ties are much stronger than non familial friendships. We all love our good friends and at times we even like and enjoy our friends more than our blood relatives. But when "push comes to shove", as it were, our blood ties with our close family relatives will supercede even our best friendships and social relatives. This is true even if a family member is not even enjoyable to associate with. The recognition of shared blood and genealogy trumps other factors like shared interests and sense of humour.
This is why we feel we need to be there for our families even when we are irritated by them at times. This is what the saying "blood is thicker than water" means. Ancient tribes have cut the blood covenant with each other for thousands of years. A tribe that is strong econonomically may cut a covenant with one that is strong in military matters. This way they share each others strengths and cover one anothers weaknesses. This means they may make an incision on their arms and mingle each others blood to display blood ties and cohesion in the face of a mutual enemy or problem.
God Himself is the originator of the Blood Covenant in the human family. Marriage is the Ultimate Blood Covenant in earthly relationships. In this case the shedding and mingling of blood etc takes place in the awesome bonding of spiritual, mental, emotional and sexual intercourse. The breaking of the female hymen on the wedding night was the evidence of the Blood Covenant between man and wife on the marriage bed sheet. In ancient Israeli culture (and many others) this was a time of great joy and celebration when the family and wedding guests saw the evidence of the covenant on the sheet that was shown to the crowd outside the bridal chamber.
Of course in our modern dating culture the shedding of the blood is rarely seen on a wedding night as most people lose their virginity (male or female) long before the wedding night. Nevertheless, even without the attending physical evidence a true marriage celebrated before God is still seen in Gods eyes as a Blood Covenant that binds a man and woman in fidelity and self sacrificing love until death.
Now we come to the Spiritual side of Covenant between God and man. Under the old testament there was the Abrahamic covenant (male circumcision was the token of the covenant) There is much to say on this subject, but we will save it for another article. This was a blood covenant that gave man at that time access to God like never before. I will now move on to the New Covenant or New Testament, this is the ultimate covenant and can never be changed or improved on. In this Covenant God Himself becomes a Man and allows His own being to be mutilated beyond description as a self sacrifice for all of mankinds sin so that we can have the Ultimate relationship with God forever.
This involved the Precious Blood of Christ to be shed to inaugaurate the Everlasting Covenant. This means we gave our sin to Him on the Cross and He gave His Righteousness to us based not on what we did, but on what He did. This is why its His Righteousness! Its not our good works but His Finished Work forever, that seals our covenant and guarantees Heaven for all who have Faith in Jesus and His work on the Cross (The Cross involved His Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension.)
The Mediator’s Death Necessary
Hebrews 9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.
Hebrews9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant.
Hebrews 7:22 The Message version
God gave his word; he won't take it back: "You're the permanent priest." This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant. 23-25Earlier there were a lot of priests, for they died and had to be replaced. But Jesus' priesthood is permanent. He's there from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always on the job to speak up for them. 26-28So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God's presence in heaven itself.
Unlike the other high priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He's done it, once and for all: offered up himself as the sacrifice.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
the Ultimate Fix
We live in a notoriously "buzz" oriented culture, vast numbers of the populous are desperately searching for a "fix". In drug circles, a fix is often associated with narcotic drug usage.
It denotes the sense of relief and short lived well being that a drug user has when the drug delivers him from the gnawing pain and emptiness of heavy drug withdrawals. Of course this is just a fleeting fix of the problem, as it were.
Sadly, with addiction,the cure is the disease. With every extra "fix" that is received, there is an equal and opposite compounding and escalation of the disease or problem. This creates a vicious cycle which necessitates an even increased dosage of the substance to "fix". This tyrannous addictive cycle keeps ramping up and becoming something like an all consuming conflagration that overtakes all of the dependents waking hours.
Of course, this cycle is not limited to drug or alcohol addiction but a very similar cycle of destructive desire and appeasement is all too familiar also in the realms of pornography, gambling, promiscuity. Even food addiction is a life threatening problem today. It is common today to see TV shows showing the plight of 300 kilo (600 lb) victims of food induced obesity that has absolutely decimated a victims life.
Some even weigh almost half a ton and are bed ridden and unable to stand and need a staff of handlers to even function. One man had to have the wall of his house removed in order to be taken to hospital, he could not be taken through doorways he was so huge. Cranes were deployed to lift him.
This is all due to a firestorm of addiction in a persons life. It all comes from seeking a "fix" or relief from life's stresses and problems.
Even good legitimate gifts from God like, food, sex, sports, or even work can be deadly when linked to serious addictive tendencies.
The Bible describes the principle of addiction as the "Law of Sin and Death". It also uses the term "sowing to the flesh". The Biblical term "carnal minded" is also used. All of these terms describe the problem of unrestrained attempts to satisfy the heart cry of the human spirit with carnal, fleshly unspiritual things or experiences.
Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Galatians 6:8
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
All of the above verses speak of the miraculous antidote to addictive tendencies that God has graciously prescribed for all who ask for His help to solve impossible problems in every area of life. The Bible term "sin" is an old archery term meaning "to miss the mark". If we are honest ,we can all relate to "missing the mark" in our actions, thoughts or attitudes.
Usually when the word "sin" is used it often evokes a negative religious understanding in many people minds. This is not what Jesus or God intended. Rather it is an understanding of our own imperfection and tendency towards negative and even dangerous habitual cycles that become big problems if the right solution is not found.
When the Bible speaks of all having sinned, it is not intended to condemn or denigrate but that rather we be honest with ourselves and admit our dilemna, whether it be internal or external in expression. God alone has the ultimate free and true solution to mans common problem.
Jesus promises freedom,Love,Joy and Peace to all who come to Him in honest recognition of their situation. He is the true answer. Yes medical science, therapies and all the other wonderful sciences have their place in expediting the healing process. But even when medicine and science fails, there is One Greater than all who asks us to believe and receive His Divine healing, Forgiveness and recreation.
Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
John 7:38
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
All of the above verses also speak of the tangible release from fear and addiction that Jesus provides to all who come to Him with a humble desire to be renewed and set free.
Godspeed to all! Never give up hope, God loves even the worst sinners.(mark missers) They often become his best instruments to touch the world with Jesus Love.
.
It denotes the sense of relief and short lived well being that a drug user has when the drug delivers him from the gnawing pain and emptiness of heavy drug withdrawals. Of course this is just a fleeting fix of the problem, as it were.
Sadly, with addiction,the cure is the disease. With every extra "fix" that is received, there is an equal and opposite compounding and escalation of the disease or problem. This creates a vicious cycle which necessitates an even increased dosage of the substance to "fix". This tyrannous addictive cycle keeps ramping up and becoming something like an all consuming conflagration that overtakes all of the dependents waking hours.
Of course, this cycle is not limited to drug or alcohol addiction but a very similar cycle of destructive desire and appeasement is all too familiar also in the realms of pornography, gambling, promiscuity. Even food addiction is a life threatening problem today. It is common today to see TV shows showing the plight of 300 kilo (600 lb) victims of food induced obesity that has absolutely decimated a victims life.
Some even weigh almost half a ton and are bed ridden and unable to stand and need a staff of handlers to even function. One man had to have the wall of his house removed in order to be taken to hospital, he could not be taken through doorways he was so huge. Cranes were deployed to lift him.
This is all due to a firestorm of addiction in a persons life. It all comes from seeking a "fix" or relief from life's stresses and problems.
Even good legitimate gifts from God like, food, sex, sports, or even work can be deadly when linked to serious addictive tendencies.
The Bible describes the principle of addiction as the "Law of Sin and Death". It also uses the term "sowing to the flesh". The Biblical term "carnal minded" is also used. All of these terms describe the problem of unrestrained attempts to satisfy the heart cry of the human spirit with carnal, fleshly unspiritual things or experiences.
Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death
Romans 8:6
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Galatians 6:8
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
All of the above verses speak of the miraculous antidote to addictive tendencies that God has graciously prescribed for all who ask for His help to solve impossible problems in every area of life. The Bible term "sin" is an old archery term meaning "to miss the mark". If we are honest ,we can all relate to "missing the mark" in our actions, thoughts or attitudes.
Usually when the word "sin" is used it often evokes a negative religious understanding in many people minds. This is not what Jesus or God intended. Rather it is an understanding of our own imperfection and tendency towards negative and even dangerous habitual cycles that become big problems if the right solution is not found.
When the Bible speaks of all having sinned, it is not intended to condemn or denigrate but that rather we be honest with ourselves and admit our dilemna, whether it be internal or external in expression. God alone has the ultimate free and true solution to mans common problem.
Jesus promises freedom,Love,Joy and Peace to all who come to Him in honest recognition of their situation. He is the true answer. Yes medical science, therapies and all the other wonderful sciences have their place in expediting the healing process. But even when medicine and science fails, there is One Greater than all who asks us to believe and receive His Divine healing, Forgiveness and recreation.
Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
John 7:38
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
All of the above verses also speak of the tangible release from fear and addiction that Jesus provides to all who come to Him with a humble desire to be renewed and set free.
Godspeed to all! Never give up hope, God loves even the worst sinners.(mark missers) They often become his best instruments to touch the world with Jesus Love.
.
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