BACKGROUND
The background to this teaching is found in the book 'Eagles Fly High!'.
DOWNLOADABLE HERE
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION ON ATONEMENT
THE BOOK OF HEBREWS
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The interpretation of the Day of Atonement is an underlying theme of a good part of the New Testament, particularly the book of Hebrews which is largely devoted to this theme. It is both interesting and highly significant that the two least understood books of the New Testament are Hebrews and Revelation. For these two books have at their very heart, the Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles respectively.
As we participate in the Feast of Trumpets God reveals the deeper truths of the book of Hebrews, for they must be understood in order to experience Atonement. As we absorb the truths of Atonement a greater understanding of the book of Revelation will evolve. For the ‘revelation of Revelation’ will introduce us to the exciting realms of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Each new truth revealed to the Church is but a stepping stone to the next, no matter how wonderful and glorious a revelation it may appear at the time. It is only with the return of Christ that all truth will be finally revealed. For death, the final frontier, is the final truth to be understood, and the final barrier to be overcome.
It is ironic that death, so inevitable for all of us, is to be the last stronghold to be defeated. Doctors can delay, but never stop the inevitable. It would be fantastic to get our resurrection bodies right now, wouldn’t it? My back would say amen to that today!
But let’s stop the wishful thinking and get back to reality! i.e. the intriguing reality of the book of Hebrews. See what it has to tell us about the post resurrection application of the principles of the Day of Atonement. We will of necessity, take a brief, simple, yet hopefully revealing walk through this book. Seeing how the Atonement of Jesus both fulfilled the Old Testament pattern and set the scene for the role of the Tabernacle church in experientially entering into the positionally completed work of Jesus. Sorry to use these theological words, but it is important to clearly define the position. In simpler terms, Jesus has done it all, but we are yet to experience all of it, that is to fully embrace it in our lives.
Hebrews is split into three major sections; a meaty filling, sandwiched between the prologue and the conclusion. Let’s take a bite!
Today we will look at the first 2 of 5 areas of explanation that Hebrews contains.
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1. The Superiority of God’s New Revelation: (Hebrews 1:1-4) |
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.†(Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus is supreme, a mirror of the Father, and far superior to the angels.
Hebrews 1:1-4
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2. Christ is Superior to Old Covenant Leadership: (Hebrews 1:5-7,28) |
a. Superior to the Angels: (1:5-2:18)
“To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet� Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?†(1:13-14)
Hebrews 1:5-2:18
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Jesus had to be made like us, his brothers, in order to successfully make atonement for us.
“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.†(2:17)
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Made like us but superior to us.
“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself.†(3:3)
We are warned not to become like the Jews, who constantly disobeyed Moses,
“We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first.†(3:14)
and invited to enter our Sabbath-rest,
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.†(4:9-10)
for God knows us better than we know ourselves!
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (4:12)
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Jesus is our Great High Priest to whom we can turn to find grace, mercy and help in our time of need because, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.†(5:8-10)
We are warned not to fall away, but to grow up in Christ and seek more of Him.
“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And God permitting we will do so.†(6:1-3)
for there is more to be found in God than these Passover and Pentecost truths. Rather, we are to aim towards attainment of perfection, to be like Jesus.
“For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.†(7:28)
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<i>NEXT WEEK</i> BEYOND THE VEIL – 2 NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION ON ATONEMENT THE BOOK OF HEBREWS continues |
With the final 3 points of explanation about the appliacation of Atonement today from the book of Hebrews.
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A NOTE FROM DAVID |
Once again, in this study, we can see how the Old Testament foreshadows the New.
I never cease to be amazed at how God works! Seeing the development of His pattern through the ages increases our faith - well mine anyway!
His progressive revelation makes me excited about what is still to come! For there is yet more yet He has to reveal.
Ancient Babylonia - Isin and Larsa
Around the middle of the 18th century BC two cities, Isin and Larsa ultimately dominated the scene so that the era has been called the Isin-Larsa period.
The city-state of Larsa was soon captured by an Amorite ruler named Kudur-mabug, who appointed his two sons Warad-Sin and Rim-Sin, to rule over Larsa while he was away on military campaigns. Rim-Sin (1822-1763 BC) continued to build upon his father's small Empire and eventually conquered their ancient rival, Isin, in his 30th year.
Larsa's period of glory lasted for little while longer, approximately 30 years (1763 BC), when Hammurapi of Babylon came to conquer, thus ushering in a new era.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
929. As God grows in me, there is less and less room for me myself!
David Tait
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