NT: “By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward. By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible. By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:23-31‬ ‭CSB)

As we look back on past events with hindsight, it is amazing and somewhat sobering to think of the things that came to pass because of faith and the things that could have been limited because of a lack of faith. Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and conquer of the promised land are factual historical events because of a series of acts of faith in an invisible God.

While enslaved in Egypt, the people of Israel had grown so numerous that the Pharaoh at that time began to feel threatened. To slow down the growth of the Israelites, Pharaoh ordered that all male children under a certain age be executed. Moses’ parents believed that God had a purpose for their infant son, so by faith in God’s destiny for Moses, they defied Pharaoh’s orders, risked their lives, and provided a way for Moses to be delivered from death. By providence, Moses was found and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, and was nursed and “nannied” by his own mother.

As Pharaoh’s adopted grandson, Moses could have lived a comfortable life of power, prestige and pleasure. However, Moses had faith that the God of his people had a much grander purpose for his life. Perhaps that faith and calling was passed on to him by his faith-filled mother. However that faith developed, by faith Moses refused the privilege of Pharaoh’s family and embraced that greater purpose. He left Egypt behind and persevered in all the things of God by faith. It was faith that allowed him to see beyond the pleasures of sin and forsake an easy life for a life of promise.

It was by faith that Moses led his people through the first Passover, allowing them to be saved from the touch of the destroyer that ravaged the Egyptians. It was by faith that Moses held out his staff and saw the Red Sea part, saving the Israelite people from the hand of the Egyptian army. At each challenge that Moses faced, he could have given into his fear and discouragement and given up – but he didn’t. Why? The answer is faith… faith in the word of God and faith in the God of the word. Faith allowed him to see the unseeable and be certain that God’s word would come to pass.

After Moses passed away, leadership was passed to Joshua, one of two men from that generation that persevered in faith. God’s word to Joshua was this, “Moses my servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving to the Israelites. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses (Joshua 1:2-3).” Those words undoubtedly stoked an already faith-filled man with more faith. On the other side of the Jordan River was Jericho – a seemingly impenetrable city. However, Joshua didn’t lead by sight. He led by faith in the word of God. By faith, Israel marched around the city walls, and by faith those impenetrable walls fell down.

Inside the city of Jericho, living on those very walls, was a pagan prostitute by the name of Rahab. Despite her profession and her pagan upbringing, she had heard the stories of Israel and the God that they served. Those stories had culminated into a faith for God. It was that faith that allowed her to see beyond the strength of the walls of Jericho to see the mightier strength of the God of Israel. That faith moved her to protect the two Israelite spies that knocked on her door. That faith ultimately delivered her and her family from the annihilation of the rest of the city. Being a pagan prostitute, she didn’t know much about God, and her faith probably wasn’t great… perhaps the size of a mustard seed. But that little amount of genuine faith was enough for her to experience deliverance and salvation.

When we place our faith in God, we experience and benefit from what God can do. When we place our faith in Christ, we experience and benefit from what Christ has already done. No matter what God calls us to do, we can and will see it accomplished by faith in Him and His Son.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that all things are possible for those who have faith and obey in faith. Thank You for the deliverance that I have experienced by faith. Thank You for the salvation that I have experienced by faith. The improbable, impossible and miraculous occur by faith. Help me to not limit what You want to do in me and through my by unbelief. Help me instead to walk in all that You have called me to by faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:17-22‬ ‭CSB)

A few verses earlier in this chapter, the writer of Hebrews explained that Isaac, the son of promise, became a reality by faith. But then God asked something of Abraham that was quite unexpected and unexplainable. He wanted Abraham to sacrifice that son of promise on the altar. There were plenty of reasons to disobey God’s request. First of all, child sacrifice was a pagan practice. God never required children to be offered as sacrifices. Secondly, Issac was to be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. By sacrificing Isaac, he would be sabotaging his posterity. However, Abraham’s faith in God was so strong, he knew that whatever God called him to do, God would be able to fulfill His promise – even if it meant bringing a sacrificed son back to life. When Abraham left with Isaac to obey God’s request, he said this to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you (Genesis 22:5).” Whatever would end up happening on the mountain, Abraham fully expected by faith to return with Isaac so that God’s promise to him would endure. Through Abraham’s obedient faith, God provided a type of how His promise to Abraham would ultimately be fulfilled. God had promised Abraham that from his seed, all the nations of the world would be blessed. That promise was ultimately fulfilled in Christ, a seed of Abraham, who was God’s son, sacrificed on the cross and then brought back to life to fulfill His promise.

We have in this passage five generations of men enduring to experience the promise of God by faith. Abraham passed on his faith for the promises of God to Isaac. Isaac, not having experienced God’s fulfillment, passed on his faith for God’s promises by blessing Jacob. Jacob, at the end of his life, living as a refugee in Egypt, passed his faith for God’s promises to his sons and two of his grandsons. Joseph, despite all the challenges he faced through his life, knew by faith that God would one day rescue the children of Israel from Egypt and instructed his people to bury his bones in the promised land when that day arrived. By faith, God’s promises, God’s word, God’s will, and God’s ways were passed from generation to generation to generation, enduring the test of time and the trials of life. God is faithful to His word, but He is not bound to our time table. Faith allows us to see beyond the tests. Faith allows us to see beyond the trials. Faith allows us to see beyond the perceived delays and slow pace. Faith allows us to even see beyond our mortal lives and be convinced that God’s promises will one day be fulfilled in entirety. We are able to endure all by faith.

Psalms: “Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your faithful love so they may know that this is your hand and that you, Lord, have done it. Though they curse, you will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice. My accusers will be clothed with disgrace; they will wear their shame like a cloak. I will fervently thank the Lord with my mouth; I will praise him in the presence of many. For he stands at the right hand of the needy to save him from those who would condemn him.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭109:26-31‬ ‭CSB)

This psalm was written by David and is classified as an imprecatory psalm. Imprecatory psalms were written to ask God for His vengeance on His enemies and justice for the wronged and oppressed. In this psalm, David was the one being wronged. Because of the nature of the wrongs done to David, it is believed that this psalm was written before he had become king. With that in mind, David was a man who had been given a promise from God and had been anointed as Israel’s future king. At the time of this psalm’s writing, there was a man threatening the fulfillment of that promise. Instead of taking matters into his own hands, David placed the matter in God’s hands and asked Him to make things right. Instead of growing discouraged and giving up on the promise, David endured through the trials believing that God would help him. How was David able to do that? By faith.

David knew by faith that God would use that challenging situation to bring Him glory. David knew by faith that though his enemy was cursing him, God would bring blessing. David knew by faith that though his enemy was bringing shame on his head, God would bring shame on his enemy’s head and vindicate David. By faith, in the midst of challenge and trial, David was able to praise God, see beyond the challenge and trial, and know that God would save him and fulfill His promise.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You give me the ability to endure challenges, tests, trials and delays by faith. You are faithful to Your promises, and because of that, I can have faith in You to fulfill Your promises. Lord, because You endured this life and even endured the torture and death of crucifixion by the joy that was set before You, in You I can endure all by faith as well. Help me endure all by faith as I keep my eyes and my faith on You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. Therefore, from one man — in fact, from one as good as dead — came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore. These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place — a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:8-16‬ ‭CSB)

As a point of context, the book of Hebrews was written to a community of Jewish believers who were considering (because of the hardships and persecution they were experiencing)  leaving and renouncing their faith in Jesus Christ and going back to Judaism. The writer of Hebrews made the case that if they truly identified with Abraham (their father in the faith), they would not go back, but would continue moving forward by faith.

When God spoke to Abraham and told him to leave his home behind and travel to a land he didn’t know, there were plenty of reasons for Abraham to ignore the words of God and stay where he was comfortable. However, Abraham did not do that. He was literally moved by faith. By faith in the word of God and the God of the word, Abraham left behind all that was comfortable in order to move forward with God and lay hold of God’s promises.

God spoke to Abraham and told him that through Sarah, Abraham would have descendants that were as numerous as the stars. By sight, that word was impossible. Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah (nearly the same age) was well past child-bearing age. Yet, they had faith in the word of God and the God of the word. They didn’t give up on God and go backwards. They moved forward, and by faith a nation was born out of an elderly woman and a man “as good as dead.”

Abraham and Sarah… and even Isaac and Jacob who came after them, all died before fully realizing the promises of God, but nevertheless they died in faith, seeing by faith what had not yet happened. Abraham and Sarah were able to live in the future tense because faith was the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen. They didn’t keep thinking of where they came from – they kept their mind on what was generations ahead. The Children of Israel who were delivered from Egypt kept looking back to Egypt instead of looking forward to the promised land. That led them to unbelief and disobedience – which ultimately kept them out of God’s promise. Only Joshua an Caleb were able to see forward by faith, and because of their faith, they entered the promised land.

For me personally, there are things that God has spoken to me over the years that I haven’t seen fulfilled. He has given me visions of a future that has not come to fruition. Do I get frustrated by the perceived lack of progress and revert back to what is comfortable… to what I can accomplish immediately in my own strength? Or do I keep moving forward and seeing a fulfilled future (even though I may not see it with my physical eyes) by faith? For those who keep looking and moving forward by faith, God is not ashamed to be called their God – for by their faith, He is pleased. May this be said of me, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into promise.”

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You are faithful to Your word, and by faith, You give me the ability to see what is unseen and have assurance for what lies ahead. Help me to not merely walk by sight, but to continue moving forward with You by faith. It is only by You that the promises You have given me will come to fruition. Therefore, I don’t look back and don’t look to my own hand, but keep looking forward to You by faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1-6‬ ‭CSB)

The writer of Hebrews ended chapter 10 with the statement that the righteous and just shall live by faith, and encouraged believers to be among those who endure in faith and experience salvation. That begs the question, ”What is faith?” In chapter 11, the author describes and gives examples of faith, while explaining its importance and how it works. Biblical faith is not seeing and then believing. It is believing and then seeing.

Faith is the assurance that what is hoped for will indeed become reality. Earlier, the writer of Hebrews challenged the reader to hold fast to hope. Faith is what allows us to hold on with assurance. It is the foundation and confidence of our hope. Though circumstances and challenges may cast doubt on hopes becoming reality, faith says, “God said it, I believe it – it will come to pass even in the midst of trying circumstances and challenges.”

Faith is the proof – the evidence and conviction for – things that are unseen. We don’t see God, but faith is the evidence and conviction that God exists. We don’t see God working in our lives on our behalf, but faith is the evidence and conviction that He is. We don’t physically see the salvation and redemption of Christ in our lives, but faith is the evidence and conviction that it has happened and continues to happen.

Biblical faith in God and His Christ does not come by seeing, but by hearing… and hearing comes through the word of God (Romans 10:17). Believing by seeing is believing, but it is not genuine biblical faith, for faith does not rely on seeing, but on the word of God and the God of the word. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul wrote that the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to try and prevent the light and power of the gospel from impacting their lives. Yet, when the word of God and the gospel of Christ is spoken, it shines the glory of God on people’s hearts, awakening faith, and removing the blinders on the mind.

There are no images of God to look upon and believe. The closest we have to seeing God is Jesus Christ, for Jesus said that if you had seen Him, you had seen the Father. However, no one alive today has seen Christ – and no one has seen God. All we have is God’s word. God isn’t looking for people who simply see Him and then believe. He is looking for people who hear His word and have faith in Him through faith in His word. Abel worshipped God by faith, and his sacrifice pleased God. Enoch walked with God by faith, and his life pleased God. It is impossible to please God without faith. To even approach God, we must have faith that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Biblical faith is not something that can just be mustered up from within. It is not the same as athletes getting hyped up with confidence before a game. Faith comes through hearing the word of God, and faith is grown and strengthened through obedience to the word of God. To be righteous and just people who life by faith, we need to be people of the Word who apply the word and obey the word in faith.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You have created me with the capacity for faith. I thank You for Your word, which awakens faith in me to know, be convicted and be convinced of You, all that You have done, and all that You continue to do for me, in me, and through me. Thank You for faith that doesn’t have to see to believe or to hope. Help me to walk by faith, obey by faith, and apply to my life by faith, so that I may be pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries… So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-27, 35-39‬ ‭CSB)

Warren Wiersbe wrote this in his commentary on this passage out of Hebrews 10, “The believer who begins to drift from the Word (Heb. 2:1-4) will soon start to doubt the Word (Heb. 3:7-4:13). Soon, he will become dull toward the Word (Heb. 5:11-6:20) and become “lazy” in his spiritual life. This will result in despising the Word, which is the theme of this exhortation.” The sign of someone who despises the Word is continual and unrepentant deliberate sinning. The writer of Hebrews isn’t talking about someone who has had a bad day or has unwittingly done something wrong, but a person, in full knowledge of what is righteous and true, deciding to willingly sin and continue sinning. According to the author, that is akin to trampling on the Son of God and regarding His sacrifice and blood as common and unclean. If God was willing to bring judgement on those who willingly disobeyed God’s law, how much more willing is He to bring judgement on those who willingly cast Christ aside after experiencing His mercy and grace.

It is for that reason that the writer of Hebrews exhorts us as believers to not neglect gathering together and encouraging each other in the faith. One of the primary purposes in maintaining a regular gathering of the saints is so that each person in the faith can be provoked by one another to love, good works and faithfulness. When we isolate ourselves from other believers, which has become the habit of many in the past two years, we make ourselves highly susceptible to drifting from, doubting, and despising the Word and the life Christ has won for us.

Christ prophesied that as the end draws near, many will be drawn away from the faith (Matthew 24:10-13). As we see the end approaching, it is so important that we find ways to encourage and provoke one another and not allow ourselves to drift away. The writer of Hebrews quoted from Isaiah 26:20 and Habakkuk 2:3-4 to underline the fact that Christ is coming back one day, and the just are the ones that live by faith. Don’t throw away your confidence that comes by faith. Don’t be the ones that drift away and lose endurance. Instead be in the company of those who endure in faith until the end and are saved.

Psalms: “My heart is confident, God; I will sing; I will sing praises with the whole of my being. Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your faithful love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭108:1-4‬ ‭CSB)

Psalm 108 is a compilation of various other psalms written by David. David was a man that was found in an act of willful sin against the word, will and ways of the Lord. But David did not continue in that sin. Once confronted, he quickly confessed and rapidly repented and experienced the forgiveness of God. He still had to bear the consequences of his sin, but his relationship with God was reconciled. It was through his experience of the mercy and grace of God, and his ongoing relationship with God, that David was able to say, “My heart is confident!” David did not allow his confidence to be thrown away – but instead humbled himself, repented and maintained his confident standing before God. So confident was he that he couldn’t wait to give God praise and honor… even waking up before the sun rose to sing songs of praises to His Lord. That is the kind of faithfulness God is looking for – and that is the kind of faithfulness we can have if we do not allow our confidence to be thrown away.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the role that other believers have in my life: to encourage me and provoke me to love, good works, and remaining in the faith. I also thank You that You have instilled in me a priority for regularly gathering with other believers and not allowing myself to become isolated. Continue using my spiritual family to provoke me towards godliness as I endeavor to endure in faith. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus  —  he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh) —  and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:19-23‬ ‭CSB)

When Christ’s body was broken on the cross, and the last ounce of His blood was spilled out,  the heavy curtain that prevented access to the Holy of Holies in the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. The curtain in the temple was no mere thin piece of cloth. Tradition describes it as a heavy piece of woven material about a hand breadth (four inches) thick. Imagine densely woven tapestry as thick as a 2×4. It was not easily torn, yet God ripped it in two when Christ gave His life. At that moment, a new and living was was opened to God. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” And now, because of Christ’s sacrifice, we have bold access to the sanctuary of God through the blood of Jesus. Christ is the new and living way – and we have access to that way through faith in Christ.

Because Jesus has opened for us a new and living way to God, and because Jesus Christ has gone before us to secure our entry as our Great High Priest, the writer of Hebrews invites us to take advantage of what Christ has done and draw near to God. Before a priest could approach the Holy of Holies, the priest had to wash himself at the bronze laver, a sacrifice had to be offered on the brazen altar, and the blood of the sacrifice had to be applied to the priest and sprinkled on the mercy seat. Christ, who was without sin, was clean. He offered Himself as the sacrifice, He spilled His blood on our behalf, and secured our salvation at the true throne of God. When we place our faith in Christ, we are cleansed and His blood is applied to us, giving us entry into God’s presence. We can now, not only approach God, but draw near to Him and stay near to Him in the full assurance of what Christ has accomplished once and for all.

The writer of Hebrews also challenges us to hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering. This is our hope: because of what Christ has accomplished, as we remain in Him, we have access to all the blessings of Heaven and will, at the end of days, be resurrected bodily to spend eternity physically present with God the Father and our Savior. We can hold on to that hope without wavering because God does not waiver and Christ does not waver. We can be faithful because He is faithful. So, let us draw near and hold fast until the end.

Psalms: “He turns rivers into desert, springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into salty wasteland, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into a pool, dry land into springs. He causes the hungry to settle there, and they establish a city where they can live. They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest. He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; he does not let their livestock decrease… Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord’s acts of faithful love.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:33-38, 43‬ ‭CSB)

As an act of judgement, God is able to turn rivers into a desert, springs into dry ground and fruitful land into barrenness. Yet, as an act of blessing, He is also able to turn a desert into refreshing pool, dry land into ever-gushing springs, and barren land into fruitful vineyards. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. He opposes those who go their own way, but richly blesses those who place their faith in Him and submit to His word, will and ways. As the psalmist wrote: “Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord’s acts of faithful love.” God is faithful to His word. He who promised is faithful – so humble yourself, place your faith in Him, draw near and hold fast.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You have opened a new and living way to the Father through faith in You. I also thank You, that I can hold steadfast and unwavering to the hope that I have in You because of Your steadfast and unwavering faithfulness. I choose to draw near and hold on to that hope. Help me, by your grace, to stay near and not let go. In Jesus’ name I pray amen.

NT: “Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds, and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:11-17‬ ‭CSB)

The sacrificial system established in the law was insufficient and could never complete the sanctification of God’s people. Christ’s sacrifice, however, was sufficient. After offering His life as the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin, He raised Himself from the dead and ascended to heaven. In heaven, Christ sat down at the right hand of God, showing that His work to secure mankind’s salvation and sanctification was complete. Christ now waits at the Father’s side for the fullness of time and the Father’s designated time for the day His vengeance to arrive.

By Christ’s offering of Himself, He has completed all that was required to secure our sanctification and make perfect forever those who are sanctified. Who are those who are sanctified? Those who have repented of their sin and believed on the completed work of Christ. When we repent of our sin and place our faith on Christ, we are sanctified (Acts 26:18). At that moment, we are sanctified (declared righteous and set apart as God’s), and begin a process of being ongoingly sanctified from glory to glory by the work of the Holy Spirit. We then, as sanctified saints in Christ, participate in the fulfillment of the prophecy given by Jeremiah over 2,500 years ago. We become the ones of the new covenant who have our sins forgiven and the word, will and ways of God written on our minds and on our hearts.

Psalms: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; he rescued them from their distress. He led them by the right path to go to a city where they could live… He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart… He sent his word and healed them; he rescued them from their traps. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and announce his works with shouts of joy.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:6-7, 14, 20-22‬ ‭CSB)

In this section of psalm 107, the psalmist described three types of distressed people: 1) those lost and wandering in the desolate wilderness and suffering from hunger and thirst (vs 4-5), 2) those who rebelled against God and found themselves bound in darkness (vs 10-11), and 3) fools (those who quarrel and mock) who were suffering affliction because of their iniquity and sins (vs 17-18). In all three scenarios, when the lost, the rebellious, and the foolish cried out to God, repented of their sin, and placed their faith in Him, He rescued them from their distress. The lost, He set on the right path. The rebellious, He broke their chains and freed them from darkness. The foolish, He filled them with wisdom from His word and rescued them from their traps. The lost, the rebellious, the foolish – they all describe us before Christ. We who have cried out to the Lord and been rescued from our sinful state – we of all people hold give thanks to the Lord for saving us, sanctifying us, and perfecting us forever in Him.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your perfect sacrifice that has provided the way for me to be sanctified and perfected forever. Thank You, that when I cried out to You, repented of my sin, and placed my faith in You, You rescued me, set me on the right path, freed me from the kingdom of darkness, and filled me with Your wisdom from Your word, will and ways. In You, I have been made perfect. As I remain in You by faith, You will continue to perfect me into Your image. I am forever grateful. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, “See — it is written about me in the scroll — I have come to do your will, God.”” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:1-7‬ ‭CSB)

Though the sacrificial system was set up by God through the law that He gave to His people through Moses, sacrifice was not God’s ultimate desire. The sacrificial system was a necessity for God to be both just and merciful. God established that the consequence for sin was death: “And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:16-17).”” After Adam (and Eve) disobeyed God, God was merciful to them by allowing an animal to die in their place and cover their nakedness, their shame and their sin. Though the sacrificial system was provided, God’s ultimate desire was for obedience, not sacrifice.

Throughout the bible, there are several times where that truth is communicated – that God does not ultimately want sacrifice… that obedience is better than sacrifice. One of those places is Psalm 40:6-8: “You do not delight in sacrifice and offering; you open my ears to listen. You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering. Then I said, “See, I have come; in the scroll it is written about me. I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40:6-8‬).”” More than sacrifice, God wants us to have listening ears to hear His word. Instead of burnt offerings, the Lord would rather have us delight to do His will. The writer of Hebrews quoted that passage from Psalm 40 here to basically say that Jesus was the fulfillment of that scripture. David wrote it, but Christ fulfilled it. A body was prepared for Christ, and He came and was born into that body. As a man, He fully listened to the Lord and completely obeyed God’s will – even unto death.

The sacrificial system was established because of our disobedience. However, the sacrificial system could not remove sin, it could only temporarily cover sin… and the fact that sacrifices had to continually be made underlined our problem with sin and the lack of a suitable solution. But through Christ’s obedience, a way was made for us to be made righteous. As Paul wrote, “For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous (‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:19‬).” Christ’s act of obedience was truly better than all of the sacrifices and burnt offerings that had been made up to that point. And because of Christ’s act of obedience, we can be freed from sin by faith and given the grace to walk in the same obedience by grace.

Psalms: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe and has gathered them from the lands — from the east and the west, from the north and the south.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:1-3‬ ‭CSB)

Because of Christ’s obedience, we can be redeemed. As we simply place our faith in His act of obedience, we are redeemed. As recipients of Christ’s redemption, we should give thanks to the Lord and proclaim the good news of our redemption to all who will hear. In fact, Christ commissioned us to do just that. Will we be obedient to the One who saved us through His obedience?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your obedience that was much better than the sacrifices of bulls, goats, rams and lambs. It was Your sacrifice, born out of Your complete obedience, that made a way for sin to be removed from my life completely. Help me now, as I place my faith in You, to walk in the same obedience that You walked in – an obedience that is willing to sacrifice all for Your purposes and Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment  —  so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:24-28‬ ‭CSB)

The first covenant was established by the blood of animals applied in the tabernacle that was made by hands. The new covenant was established by a better sacrifice, applied in a better place. The Greek word for ‘better’ has to do with being more forceful, stronger, more mighty and powerful, more noble with greater dominion – more excellent in every way. The sacrifice of Christ and the true sanctuary are not just a little bit better than the earthly copies and shadows – they are infinitely better.

The things of earth, made by human hands, do not last forever. The tabernacle of Moses was later replaced by the temple of Solomon. That temple was completely destroyed by the Babylonians. When the Jews returned to Israel after exile in Babylon, they built a new temple and King Herod expanded it and improved upon it. But that temple was later destroyed by the Romans, never to be rebuilt again. The earthly sanctuary is gone, but the true heavenly sanctuary lasts forever.

The sanctuary on earth was limited by the flow of time. The sacrifices applied in the earthly sanctuary could only cover sins that had been committed up to that time. Therefore the high priests had to enter the sanctuary year after year to atone for the past years sins – over and over. The true sanctuary, where Christ applied His sacrifice, is eternal and unbound by time. Therefore His sacrifice was not just for a time, but was for all time. His sacrifice did not just cover sins, it provided for the removal of sin. Christ did not have to offer Himself over and over to continue covering sins. He offered Himself once to bear (place on the altar) the sins of many (all those through the ages who have placed their faith in Him). The work of Christ is a completed, final and eternal work.

After offering the atonement sacrifice, the high priest of the first covenant would leave the Holy of Holies, stand at the entrance of the tabernacle, and bless the people. Christ does not have to leave the heavenly sanctuary. He remains there to this day interceding for us before the Father. However, He has blessed us by sending us the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, empowering us, leading us, and filling us with resurrection life. At the end of this age, Christ will appear again. But at that time He won’t appear to bear sin, but to bring final salvation to all who have believed on Him and remained faithful to Him to the end.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your completed, final and eternal work. You have not just covered sins, You have dealt with sin. You have paid for my sin, which covers past, present and future sins. I don’t have to sin, but if I do, I can always find forgiveness by confessing and repenting because of what You have done. Help me, by Your grace and the Holy Spirit, to walk fully in what You have completed, and to remain faithful to You until the end. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:11-14‬ ‭CSB)

Blood is quite an amazing fluid and bodily tissue. Both a fluid and a connective tissue, blood flows through every part of the body, and without it, we could not live. Though our understanding of the function and composition of blood is much more advanced than it was in biblical times, it was understood then that blood brought life, and without it, creatures in the animal kingdom would die. In Leviticus 17:10-14, the Lord God explained that the life of a creature is in the blood, therefore blood was considered very sacred. It was blood that God used to represent the life of a creature, which is why blood was used ceremonially to atone for the sins of God’s people.

On the subject of blood, it is actually quite insightful to consider the functions of blood in a body as we consider what Christ’s blood has done for us. For a person to live, their body needs oxygen, water, nutrients and a way to regulate its temperature. Blood is a necessary component in all of those things. As a person breathes in air, blood flows through the lungs and transports oxygen to every part of the body. When a person eats and digests food and drinks water, blood flows through the intestines and carries needed nutrients and fluids to the rest of the body. Blood also works to regulate temperature – keeping the body warm in the cold and cool in the heat. When a person is injured, the blood that flows to that injury brings the components necessary for healing. When a person is sick, it is the blood that carries the necessary antibodies to fight the infection. If that wasn’t enough, blood also keeps the body clean. In all of our living and breathing and eating and working, a lot of waste is created. As blood flows through the body bringing the things the body needs, it also removes the things that it doesn’t need, preventing the body from becoming toxic.

Under the first covenant, priests would offer the life blood of an animal in order to become ceremonially clean and undefiled from sin momentarily. Under that once-a-year covering, they could approach the mercy seat of God and offer the life blood of an animal for the temporary atonement of the people. While the animal sacrifices were enough to make people ceremonially clean for a time, it could not truly remove sin and make people truly clean. Christ’s sacrifice was much different. He didn’t offer animal blood. He offered His own life blood. He allowed every drop of His blood to be poured out, not only to pay for our sin, but to cleanse us from all sin. Just as our blood removes impurities from our body, Christ’s blood is able to remove the impurity of sin from our souls and make our consciences clean. When we place our faith on the work of Christ, we appropriate His blood into our lives. His blood cleanses us… but not only that, His blood brings the necessary things for us to live healthily and thrive unto God. As the old song says, What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Proverbs: “Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the Lord. For then you will have a future, and your hope will not be dashed.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23:17-18‬ ‭CSB)

Often times, unscrupulous and godless people become successful in this world. But also, people – who may not be unscrupulous – who just live life on their own terms end up becoming successful. It can be tempting to look at those people, their worldly successes, and their apparent freedom to do what they want, and become envious. There is a worldly abundance that is temporary, and then there is an abundance that comes from the Lord which is eternal. Don’t give up eternity for the immediate. Trust in the Lord who is able to provide for the here and now, as well as give you a sure hope for your eternal future.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You were willing to shed and offer Your own blood for my cleansing and my eternal life and salvation. By faith in You, I appropriate all that Your blood has accomplished and continues to accomplish for me. Now help me, by Your grace, to walk in all that You have given me through Your blood. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.