Dr. Mickey Anders. When they heard the words—“If an animal touches the Mountain, it’s as good as dead”—they were afraid to move. We can’t get away from it—no matter what. God means what he says. My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline. These are his promises and warnings and they are sharp enough to penetrate to the deepest part of our hearts and our core. Hebrews 4:12-13 the Power of God's Word . We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? These priests provide only a hint of what goes on in the true sanctuary of heaven, which Moses caught a glimpse of as he was about to set up the tent-shrine. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. Vincent's Word Studies. 4-6 No one elects himself to this honored position. Take the mercy, accept the help. Scripture: Hebrews 4:12–13. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin. In his message just before being stoned to death, Stephen, a man filled with the Spirit (Acts 6:5, 8, 7:55) ... Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. What he says goes. “Melchizedek” means “King of Righteousness.” “Salem” means “Peace.” So, he is also “King of Peace.” Melchizedek towers out of the past—without record of family ties, no account of beginning or end. with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean. 16-17 Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus’ death. What he says goes. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. 11-12 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text he says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Abraham in turn gave him a tenth of the spoils. This is the GOOD NEWS. The context shows that the apostle Paul was referring to the message, or expression of God’s purpose, such as we find in the Bible. Since that old “law plan” wasn’t complete in itself, it couldn’t complete those who followed it. How did they do it? But Jesus’ priesthood is permanent. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Read verse in The Message Bible 32-39 Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. 14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he’s told us this quite plainly—he’ll also rock the heavens: “One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.” The phrase “one last shaking” means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. 4-8 Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us—if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can’t start over as if nothing happened. It judges the … The context shows that the apostle Paul was referring to the message, or expression of God’s purpose, such as we find in the Bible. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Hebrews 4:12-13. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. The message of Hebrews for the global church is that Jesus is better than every other thing believers are tempted to fall back into, such as their formers ways of sin, culturally comfortable patterns of thinking or living, or non-Christian ethical codes. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed,    “They’ll never get where they’re going,    never be able to sit down and rest.”. The Word of God becomes an issue because it tests a person's life and sets the standards of acceptable behavior and attitudes. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. An unshakable kingdom! This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Even Moses was terrified. They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. Neither did Christ presume to set himself up as high priest, but was set apart by the One who said to him, “You’re my Son; today I celebrate you!” In another place God declares, “You’re a priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek.”. While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. 9 1-5 That first plan contained directions for worship, and a specially designed place of worship. 4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. 20 By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau. 8 1-2 In essence, we have just such a high priest: authoritative right alongside God, conducting worship in the one true sanctuary built by God. By an act of faith, he turned his heel on Egypt, indifferent to the king’s blind rage. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn’t get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, canceling the old obligations and accompanying sins, and summoning the heirs to receive the eternal inheritance that was promised them. 7-10 While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. We wouldn’t need him since there are plenty of priests who offer the gifts designated in the law. Find Top Church Sermons, Illustrations, and Preaching Slides on Hebrews 4:12-13. But we know the first was found wanting, because God said. What he says goes. 11-14 If the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, which provided the framework for the giving of the law, could really make people perfect, there wouldn’t have been need for a new priesthood like that of Melchizedek. 7 1-3 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Highest God. Hebrews 4:12, KJV: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." It always feels like it’s going against the grain. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. But this intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is absolutely, eternally perfect. They didn’t keep their part of the bargain. They saw the child’s beauty, and they braved the king’s decree. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. 21 By an act of faith, Jacob on his deathbed blessed each of Joseph’s sons in turn, blessing them with God’s blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff. Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. 14-17 Work at getting along with each other and with God. If they had, the worshipers would have gone merrily on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. 24-28 By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. They’ve repudiated him in public! He is living, active, and moving. Hebrews 4:16 So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. 6 1-3 So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. “Cut that out!” can be a stern word of judgment uttered by parents correcting rowdy children. 19-21 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. He brought together God and his people in this new way. Hebrews 4:12-13 MSG God means what he says. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him—and this after he had already been told, “Your descendants shall come from Isaac.” Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. Salem Media Group. A new covenant. If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them. And there it stays, gathering dust. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice. 20-22 The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one—baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Another way—Jesus!—a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place. Scripture: Hebrews 4:14–16. If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Help each other out. God's message shows what we are really thinking. God doesn’t miss anything. This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. NIV and The Message Side-by-Side Bible, Large Print: for Study and Comparison, Imitation Leather, Brown, The Message Deluxe Gift Bible, Black/Slate Leather-Look, The Message Large-Print Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, teal, The Message Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, amethyst gem, NIV and The Message Side-by-Side Bible: Two Bible Versions Together for Study and Comparison. 15-19 But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy: Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek, not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life—he lives!—“priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek.” The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; the law brought nothing to maturity. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. 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