September 24, 2008 5:45 AM
Sam wrote:
Great summary of salvation from the Blood of Jesus, not of animals. Along with the writer's explanation of this, comes a call to persevere to the end by not deliberately sinning. Tough challenge. HOw many times have you knowingly committed a sin, on purpose? I bet a few. And the warning we get in this chapter is that "no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire." Scarey. Then later on, comes something that is confusing. The author says "For in just a little while" and "He who is coming will come and will not delay". IF this letter was written approx 2K years ago, dont ya think that probably "a little while" might have already occurred???? Hard to explain these passages. But, as the saying goes, only the Father knows when Judgement day is. (Paraphrased from Acts 2). Tony---U back in town? Rich---U back? Rik---you been relatively consistent...that's a good thing. How's Jeanette and Zack doing now? Reply to this
September 24, 2008 8:02 AM
Tony wrote:
Wow what a chapter! To think that if you knowingly commit a sin then you are in serious trouble. To know the sacrifice that was made for us and then go out and sin is to trample the Son of God. To nail Jesus to the cross again and put Him on public display. To lose any chance we have of salvation. That's the way it reads. But how can that be a true interpretation when God knows that we are full of folly. King David himself knew God personally and yet he committed adultery and murder, God forgave him in time. If we read this scripture this way then it would mean that God keeps a record of wrongs, which scriptures say He does not. I think it all boils down to the heart, and Godly sorrow. We blatenly sin every time we loose our temper, we yell at our children, we get angry at someone whether it be in our mind or verbally. Scriptures say to take control of our thoughts, we can, and do, think ourselves into sin. Bottom line is Jesus died for us to be the one and only offering that needs to be given for this covalent. If you were in prison about to die and someone stepped in willingly, someone you know and love, to take your place, what do you think you would do for that persons family here on earth? Most likely you would do everything in your power to make sure that they were taken care of. Jesus died for us. We were all about to die and He stepped in and saved us all, what can we do for Him? Take care of His family, one another,do what He asks, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, Love your neighbor as yourself. You would think these would be easy to do, but they are not. We are so involved, so engrossed, so absorbed with the world and our needs that we very seldom see the needs of others. Actually that last part is probably not true, I am sure we see but we do not act. A kind word, a helping hand, a hello is sometimes all it takes, but those things are outside of our comfort zone. Do you think Jesus was comfortable on the Cross? I don't and I am just as guilty as everybody. Lets once again attempt to be like Jesus. Be careful of our actions and ask for forgiveness and the ability to be more like Jesus. You guys are awesome Reply to this
September 24, 2008 9:12 AM
Rich wrote:
How much God must love us! He gave us a way to be forgiven of sins once and for all. We do not need to keep sacrificing. When we unite with Jesus in baptism, ALL sins, past, present and future are cleansed away. What is the risk for God in this? That we will not appreciate his love. That we will treat his love as a blanket to continue sinning. That is the fullest extent of love that I can possibly imagine. God says 'I love you unconditionally. I want you to love me back in the same way, however, I cannot make you do that or guarantee that you will do that. I trust you to make the decision.'
I do not love unconditionally. There area a few people I love a lot (wife and kids come to mind) but not unconditionally. I reserve the right to protect myself from too much hurt. I have been hurt before and that has "hardened" me. I will love, but only up to a point. I am guarded against being too exposed. But not so with God. He opens himself up fully to us. He exposes himself to be hurt by us. In fact, I think he actually EXPECTS to be hurt by us. That is incredible!!!
So, if God really loves us this much, how should we react? Should we purposefully hurt God - treat as unholy that gift which he has given us? Should we sin at will knowing that our sin hurts him? If so, we do not understand God and we do not understand love. God's love (if we can ever grasp it and understand it) is so overpowering that the only true response we can have is to want to please him, to want to be close to him.
I forgot this over the past 1 1/2 weeks. I have not been reading the Bible, blogging (as you all know) or working to be close to God. I have taken his love and friendship for granted this past 1 1/2 weeks. I lost touch with God and got caught up in work, politics, the economic situation, and every other distraction going on around me. I am sorry to you guys and I am sorry to God. I think I actually forgot how wonderful it is to read and reflect on God's word.
One last comment and this is specifically to Rik. I have been reading through your blogs for the past month. As Mac says, you have been consistent. Even more impressive is the depth of what you have been saying of late. There is much to the idea that those who spend daily time with God grow in insight and understanding. Reading our Bibles everyday does not guarantee us blessings, rewards, happy family lives, more money and any of those "things" we think about way too much. But it does bring us wisdom, understanding and closer to God. Rik, I am proud of you. Keep it up. What you said today and HOW you said it inspired me to write today. Thanks. Reply to this
Great summary of salvation from the Blood of Jesus, not of animals. Along with the writer's explanation of this, comes a call to persevere to the end by not deliberately sinning. Tough challenge. HOw many times have you knowingly committed a sin, on purpose? I bet a few. And the warning we get in this chapter is that "no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire." Scarey.
Then later on, comes something that is confusing. The author says "For in just a little while" and "He who is coming will come and will not delay". IF this letter was written approx 2K years ago, dont ya think that probably "a little while" might have already occurred???? Hard to explain these passages. But, as the saying goes, only the Father knows when Judgement day is. (Paraphrased from Acts 2).
Tony---U back in town?
Rich---U back?
Rik---you been relatively consistent...that's a good thing. How's Jeanette and Zack doing now?
Reply to this
Wow what a chapter! To think that if you knowingly commit a sin then you are in serious trouble. To know the sacrifice that was made for us and then go out and sin is to trample the Son of God. To nail Jesus to the cross again and put Him on public display. To lose any chance we have of salvation. That's the way it reads. But how can that be a true interpretation when God knows that we are full of folly. King David himself knew God personally and yet he committed adultery and murder, God forgave him in time. If we read this scripture this way then it would mean that God keeps a record of wrongs, which scriptures say He does not. I think it all boils down to the heart, and Godly sorrow. We blatenly sin every time we loose our temper, we yell at our children, we get angry at someone whether it be in our mind or verbally. Scriptures say to take control of our thoughts, we can, and do, think ourselves into sin. Bottom line is Jesus died for us to be the one and only offering that needs to be given for this covalent. If you were in prison about to die and someone stepped in willingly, someone you know and love, to take your place, what do you think you would do for that persons family here on earth? Most likely you would do everything in your power to make sure that they were taken care of. Jesus died for us. We were all about to die and He stepped in and saved us all, what can we do for Him? Take care of His family, one another,do what He asks, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, Love your neighbor as yourself. You would think these would be easy to do, but they are not. We are so involved, so engrossed, so absorbed with the world and our needs that we very seldom see the needs of others. Actually that last part is probably not true, I am sure we see but we do not act. A kind word, a helping hand, a hello is sometimes all it takes, but those things are outside of our comfort zone. Do you think Jesus was comfortable on the Cross? I don't and I am just as guilty as everybody. Lets once again attempt to be like Jesus. Be careful of our actions and ask for forgiveness and the ability to be more like Jesus. You guys are awesome
Reply to this
How much God must love us! He gave us a way to be forgiven of sins once and for all. We do not need to keep sacrificing. When we unite with Jesus in baptism, ALL sins, past, present and future are cleansed away. What is the risk for God in this? That we will not appreciate his love. That we will treat his love as a blanket to continue sinning. That is the fullest extent of love that I can possibly imagine. God says 'I love you unconditionally. I want you to love me back in the same way, however, I cannot make you do that or guarantee that you will do that. I trust you to make the decision.'
I do not love unconditionally. There area a few people I love a lot (wife and kids come to mind) but not unconditionally. I reserve the right to protect myself from too much hurt. I have been hurt before and that has "hardened" me. I will love, but only up to a point. I am guarded against being too exposed. But not so with God. He opens himself up fully to us. He exposes himself to be hurt by us. In fact, I think he actually EXPECTS to be hurt by us. That is incredible!!!
So, if God really loves us this much, how should we react? Should we purposefully hurt God - treat as unholy that gift which he has given us? Should we sin at will knowing that our sin hurts him? If so, we do not understand God and we do not understand love. God's love (if we can ever grasp it and understand it) is so overpowering that the only true response we can have is to want to please him, to want to be close to him.
I forgot this over the past 1 1/2 weeks. I have not been reading the Bible, blogging (as you all know) or working to be close to God. I have taken his love and friendship for granted this past 1 1/2 weeks. I lost touch with God and got caught up in work, politics, the economic situation, and every other distraction going on around me. I am sorry to you guys and I am sorry to God. I think I actually forgot how wonderful it is to read and reflect on God's word.
One last comment and this is specifically to Rik. I have been reading through your blogs for the past month. As Mac says, you have been consistent. Even more impressive is the depth of what you have been saying of late. There is much to the idea that those who spend daily time with God grow in insight and understanding. Reading our Bibles everyday does not guarantee us blessings, rewards, happy family lives, more money and any of those "things" we think about way too much. But it does bring us wisdom, understanding and closer to God. Rik, I am proud of you. Keep it up. What you said today and HOW you said it inspired me to write today. Thanks.
Reply to this