Jesus Christ' Suffering for Humanities Sin has brought and continues to Bring many sons/daughters to Glory Part 3
Hebrews 2:13-15 And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given Me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:13-15) (KJV)
Our Lord, Master and Savior Jesus Christ has fellowship or communion with us (His brethren and sisteren) as we continue in our sojourn or pilgrimage here on the earth away from our heavenly home. He (Christ) shares in all our feelings of joy, gladness, or ecstacy, likewise He shares in our feelings of sadness, pain, and sufferings, therefore, the writer of Hebrews declares that He presents us to God the Father as His children, "And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given Me." (Hebrews 2:13) (KJV). Our Lord Jesus Christ so identifies Himself with us that He decrees, declares, and even designates Himself as puting His trust in God the Father just as we adopted sons and daughters do daily through our personal relationship with Him. This statement put down for us here by the writer of Hebrews 'I will put my trust in Him' is so remarkable in the sense that Christ Jesus and God the Father are One (1 John 5:7), yet it shows the selfless, sacrificial, and submissive way in which our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself below the angels (He created) and made Himself man (also whom He created) out of love for humanity in order to give everyone who would come to Him redeemption, rebirth, and reconciliation with God for time (right now) and for eternity (after the death of the body). I know this sounds very narrow (Matthew 7:14), but remember it is very narrow in the way one becomes a member of the human race, it only happens through the womb of a woman, no other way, likewise, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him. Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." (John 14:6-10) (KJV).
Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of this verse, "A perfect manhood must needs be a dependent manhood. A reasonable creature who does not live by faith is either God or devil: Jesus Christ's perfect manhood, sinless, stainless, did not absolve Him from, but obliged Him to, a life of continual dependence upon God; His divinity did not, in the smallest measure, interfere with the reality of the faith which, as man, He exercised, and which was the same in kind as ours. So, dear friends, it all comes to this; there is one way to know God and only one. 'He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.' All else is darkness. There is one life, noble, pure, worthy of humanity, and only one: the life of trust in Christ, who is at once the object and pattern of our faith; and believing in whom we believe in the Father also. There is but one fountain of life opened in the graveyard of this world, and that is in the Son, drinking of whom there shall be in us a fountain springing up to life everlasting. There is but one way by which we can become sons of God, through the elder Brother, who grudges the prodigal neither the ring nor the feast, but Himself has provided them both. So listen to Him declaring the name; say, 'I will put my trust in Him'; for you trust God when you have faith in Christ; and then be sure that He will give you of His own life; that He will invest you with the spirit of adoption and the standing of sons, that He will keep His hand about you, and never lose you. 'Them whom Thou hast given Me, I have kept,' He will say at last, pointing to us; and there we shall stand, 'no wanderer lost, a family in Heaven,' whilst our brother presents us to His Father and ours, with the triumphant words -'Behold I and all the children whom Thou hast given Me.'"
Because the first created man Adam (who was flesh and blood like each of us) gave over dominion to the devil, that dominion had to be regained by a man back from the devil, that man was and is the God/Man Jesus Christ, whose death, burial, and resurrection from the dead defeated the devil for mankind for time and eternity, therefore, we read these next two verses by the writer of Hebrews, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14) (KJV) and "And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:15) (KJV). Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother, for He is the first One of us to be resurrected from the dead with a new Glorified Human Body. Did you know that Jesus Christ right now in heaven has a Glorified Human body. That is just what we will have when He returns for each one of us (His adopted sons and daughters), as it is written, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:1-2) (KJV).
By virtue of Christ taking on man's sin on the Cross and suffering for man's sin by shedding His very own blood and dying to pay man's sin debt, the power of death (given to Satan by God's permission) was broken and more importantly for those of us who are redeemed sons and daughters the fear of death is broken because we know and understand and firmly believe these words written by the Apostle Paul, "Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:14-18) (KJV) and also these words written by the same Apostle Paul, "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:6-10) (KJV).
Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of these two verses, "For no higher nor lower nature than man's that had sinned could so suffer for the sin of man as to satisfy the justice of God, and raise man up to a state of hope, and make believers the children of God, and so brethren to Christ. He became man that He might die; as God He could not die, and therefore He assumed another nature and state. Here the wonderful love of God appeared, that, when Christ knew what He must suffer in our nature, and how He must die in it, yet He so readily took it upon Him. The legal sacrifices and offerings God could not accept as propitiation. A body was prepared for Christ, and He said, Lo! I come, I delight to do Thy will. The devil was the first sinner, and the first tempter to sin, and sin was the procuring cause of death; and he may be said to have the power of death, as he draws men into sin, the ways whereof are death, as he is often permitted to terrify the consciences of men with the fear of death, and as he is the executioner of divine justice, haling their souls from their bodies to the tribunal of God, there to receive their doom, and then being their tormentor, as he was before their tempter. In these respects he may be said to have had the power of death. But now Christ has so far destroyed him who had the power of death that he can keep none under the power of spiritual death; nor can he draw any into sin (the procuring cause of death), nor require the soul of any from the body, nor execute the sentence upon any but those who choose and continue to be his willing slaves, and persist in their enmity to God. That He might deliver His own people from the slavish fear of death to which they are often subject. This may refer to the Old Testament saints, who were more under a spirit of bondage, because life and immortality were not so fully brought to light as now they are by the Gospel. Or it may refer to all the people of God, whether under the Old Testament or the New, whose minds are often in perplexing fears about death and eternity. Christ became man, and died, to deliver them from those perplexities of soul, by letting them know that death is not only a conquered enemy, but a reconciled friend, not sent to hurt the soul, or separate it from the love of God, but to put an end to all their grievances and complaints, and to give them a passage to eternal life and blessedness; so that to them death is not now in the hand of Satan, but in the hand of Christ - not Satan's servant, but Christ's servant - has not hell following it, but heaven to all who are in Christ."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
I am a Christian Writer of non-fiction primarily and a little fiction. My purpose for forming this site is to Edify Christians with my writing and reach the lost with the uncompromising Gospel of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Letter to the Hebrews Volume 14
Jesus Christ' Suffering for Humanities Sin has brought and continues to Bring many sons/daughters to Glory Part 2
Hebrews 2:11-12 For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee. KJV Note: MKJV = Modern King James Version
As we declared in the last study/commentary, the Blood of Jesus Christ is the ONLY acceptable payment for everyone's sin debt, but at the same time His Blood is the means, the method, and the manner in which all of us who are sanctified and who are continually being sanctified get clean and washed from our sin, "For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren," (Hebrews 2:11) (KJV). For example in the natural when a person's body gets muddy or dirty or filthy from work or play then he or she can only get clean or washed from that filth or dirt on their body by using soap and water, blowing yourself with air won't work, standing in the sun won't work, rolling around on the ground won't work. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, nothing else can give a soul a true sense of being washed and cleansed from sin but the Blood of Jesus, as it is written, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." (1 John 1:6-10) (MKJV).
The English phrase 'He that sanctifieth' is translated by the Greek word hagiazō which means to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate. The Perfect and Sinless God of Very God (Jesus Christ) of whom we are sanctified and continually being sanctified by His Blood is not ashamed nor does He ever feel shame in calling me (Clifford DeWayne Tate, Sr.) His brother and so He feels about everyone of His sons and daughters that He has redeemed, as it is written, "And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign over the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10) (MKJV). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ not being ashamed to call us brethren, "NOT ashamed to call them brethren. Why should He be? It is no condescension to acknowledge the fact of brotherhood, any more than it is humility to be born. And yet there is One who had to empty and humble Himself in becoming man; and for whom to call men His brethren is a depth of unimaginable condescension. We would say that a prince was not ashamed to call his subjects his friends, and to eat and drink with them, but we should not say it of a subject. This word 'ashamed' is meaningless in the present connection unless there underlies it the lofty conception of Christ's person which is enfolded in the first chapter of this epistle. If He be, and only if He is, the 'brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person,' is it condescension in Him to enroll Himself amongst our fraternity."
It is the Son of God Jesus Christ who declares God the Father to every adopted son and daughter (John 1:18) and therefore the writer of Hebrews tells us that it is our Lord Jesus Christ who declares God the Father to His adopted children in the Church, "Saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:12) (KJV). The writer here is quoting a Psalm of King David (Psalms 22:22). This is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ said to the first disciples after His Resurrection just prior to His Ascension back to heaven when He said these words to Mary Magdalene, "Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things to her." (John 20:17-18) (MKJV). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of how Christ declared the Name of God to His brethren, "What is that 'name'? The syllables by which men call Him? Surely not. But the name of the Lord is the manifest character of God; and therefore the only possible way of declaring Him is not by words but by acts. A person can only be revealed by a person. God can only be shown to men by a life. Words will never do it; they may represent men's thinkings, but they never can certify God's fact. Words will never do it, they may suggest hopes, fears, peradventures; but unless we have a living Person whose deeds on the plain level of human history, and in this solid world of ours, are the manifestation of God, our thoughts of Him will neither be solid with certainty nor sweet with comfort. It must be a human life which is more than a human life, but yet is thoroughly and altogether man, that to men can manifest God. Our highest conceptions of the divine nature must be in the form of man. Between the little sphere of the dewdrop and the great sphere of the sun that is reflected prismatically in it, there is absolute identity in the laws that shape their round. So limited humanity has such an analogy with unlimited divinity as that, in the mirror of manhood, the brilliancy and ineffable brightness of the Godhead can be manifested. That life, the life of Jesus Christ, is the making visible for men of the glory of the invisible God."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Hebrews 2:11-12 For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee. KJV Note: MKJV = Modern King James Version
As we declared in the last study/commentary, the Blood of Jesus Christ is the ONLY acceptable payment for everyone's sin debt, but at the same time His Blood is the means, the method, and the manner in which all of us who are sanctified and who are continually being sanctified get clean and washed from our sin, "For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren," (Hebrews 2:11) (KJV). For example in the natural when a person's body gets muddy or dirty or filthy from work or play then he or she can only get clean or washed from that filth or dirt on their body by using soap and water, blowing yourself with air won't work, standing in the sun won't work, rolling around on the ground won't work. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, nothing else can give a soul a true sense of being washed and cleansed from sin but the Blood of Jesus, as it is written, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." (1 John 1:6-10) (MKJV).
The English phrase 'He that sanctifieth' is translated by the Greek word hagiazō which means to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate. The Perfect and Sinless God of Very God (Jesus Christ) of whom we are sanctified and continually being sanctified by His Blood is not ashamed nor does He ever feel shame in calling me (Clifford DeWayne Tate, Sr.) His brother and so He feels about everyone of His sons and daughters that He has redeemed, as it is written, "And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign over the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10) (MKJV). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ not being ashamed to call us brethren, "NOT ashamed to call them brethren. Why should He be? It is no condescension to acknowledge the fact of brotherhood, any more than it is humility to be born. And yet there is One who had to empty and humble Himself in becoming man; and for whom to call men His brethren is a depth of unimaginable condescension. We would say that a prince was not ashamed to call his subjects his friends, and to eat and drink with them, but we should not say it of a subject. This word 'ashamed' is meaningless in the present connection unless there underlies it the lofty conception of Christ's person which is enfolded in the first chapter of this epistle. If He be, and only if He is, the 'brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person,' is it condescension in Him to enroll Himself amongst our fraternity."
It is the Son of God Jesus Christ who declares God the Father to every adopted son and daughter (John 1:18) and therefore the writer of Hebrews tells us that it is our Lord Jesus Christ who declares God the Father to His adopted children in the Church, "Saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:12) (KJV). The writer here is quoting a Psalm of King David (Psalms 22:22). This is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ said to the first disciples after His Resurrection just prior to His Ascension back to heaven when He said these words to Mary Magdalene, "Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things to her." (John 20:17-18) (MKJV). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of how Christ declared the Name of God to His brethren, "What is that 'name'? The syllables by which men call Him? Surely not. But the name of the Lord is the manifest character of God; and therefore the only possible way of declaring Him is not by words but by acts. A person can only be revealed by a person. God can only be shown to men by a life. Words will never do it; they may represent men's thinkings, but they never can certify God's fact. Words will never do it, they may suggest hopes, fears, peradventures; but unless we have a living Person whose deeds on the plain level of human history, and in this solid world of ours, are the manifestation of God, our thoughts of Him will neither be solid with certainty nor sweet with comfort. It must be a human life which is more than a human life, but yet is thoroughly and altogether man, that to men can manifest God. Our highest conceptions of the divine nature must be in the form of man. Between the little sphere of the dewdrop and the great sphere of the sun that is reflected prismatically in it, there is absolute identity in the laws that shape their round. So limited humanity has such an analogy with unlimited divinity as that, in the mirror of manhood, the brilliancy and ineffable brightness of the Godhead can be manifested. That life, the life of Jesus Christ, is the making visible for men of the glory of the invisible God."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Letter to the Hebrews Volume 13
Jesus Christ' Suffering for Humanities Sin has brought and continues to Bring many sons/daughters to Glory Part 1
Hebrews 2:10 For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. KJV
Our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when He was born to Mary was then God and is now God and always has been God even before His birth and incarnation at Bethlehem. With that said, He did not need to be made perfect in His humanity, but what the writer of Hebrews will declare in this next verse is that He (Jesus Christ) by the sufferings in His earthly life and death was made a perfect sacrifice to God the Father for humanities sin. Here is what the writer of Hebrews declares in verse 10, "For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10) (KJV). The English phrase 'to make the captain of their salvation perfect' is translated by the Greek word teleioō meaning to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character): - consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect.
In other words, the God/Man Jesus Christ was made a perfect and complete sin offering to God the Father in Heaven. You see every human being is going to present their offering to God the Father for the payment of their sin debt to Him. The only offering or payment He is accepting is that of the Blood of Jesus Christ, therefore, every sinner will be covered by and under the Blood of Jesus or they will not; there is no other acceptable payment, not being a good person, not doing good deeds, not being a kind person, not anything but the Blood of Christ. We see in the Old Testament the two different offerings made to God by the two brothers Abel and Cain, as it is written here, "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." (Genesis 4:3-5) (KJV). The moral of the story of the two brothers is again, only the right offering (blood sacrifice or blood atonement), as it is written, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22) (KJV) will be accepted by God without respect of person, that is, no matter who you are or who you think you are.
Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of this verse, "This is not a periphrasis of Christ, who died, but of God the Father, who delivered Him to death; and who is the final cause of all things, in nature, and in grace, all things being made for His pleasure and for His glory; and He is the efficient cause of all things, as follows: all the works of creation, providence, and grace: not to worldly glory, but to the heavenly glory, which they are undeserving of; and which was long ago prepared for them; is at present hid; is weighty, solid, durable, yea, eternal: the persons whom God, of His rich grace, brings to this, are 'sons'; who are predestinated to the adoption of children; are regenerated by the Spirit of God; believe in Christ; and have the spirit of adoption given them, and so being children, are heirs of glory: and these are 'many'; for though they are but few, when compared with others, yet they are many, considered by themselves; they are many that God has ordained to eternal life, and given to Christ, and for whom He has given Himself a ransom, and whom He justifies; and accordingly there are many mansions of glory provided for them in their Father's house, whose act it is to bring them thither: He has chosen them to this glory, and prepared it for them; He sent His Son to redeem them; He reveals His Son in them, the hope of glory; He calls them to His eternal glory, and makes them meet for it, and gives them an abundant entrance into it: and Christ is 'the Captain of salvation', and is so called, because He is the author of it; and He is the Prince and Commander of these sons, who are committed to His charge, and are under His care; and He is their guide and leader; and who is gone before them to prepare their mansions of glory for them: and He is made 'perfect through sufferings'; He suffered all that the law and justice of God could require; and hereby He became perfectly acquainted with the sufferings of His people, and a perfect Saviour of them; and in this way went to glory Himself: and it 'became' God the Father, the first cause, and last end of all things, since He had a design to bring all His adopted sons to glory, that His own Son should perfectly suffer for them; this was agreeable to, and becoming the perfections of His nature, His wisdom, His veracity, His justice, grace, and mercy."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Hebrews 2:10 For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. KJV
Our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when He was born to Mary was then God and is now God and always has been God even before His birth and incarnation at Bethlehem. With that said, He did not need to be made perfect in His humanity, but what the writer of Hebrews will declare in this next verse is that He (Jesus Christ) by the sufferings in His earthly life and death was made a perfect sacrifice to God the Father for humanities sin. Here is what the writer of Hebrews declares in verse 10, "For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10) (KJV). The English phrase 'to make the captain of their salvation perfect' is translated by the Greek word teleioō meaning to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character): - consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect.
In other words, the God/Man Jesus Christ was made a perfect and complete sin offering to God the Father in Heaven. You see every human being is going to present their offering to God the Father for the payment of their sin debt to Him. The only offering or payment He is accepting is that of the Blood of Jesus Christ, therefore, every sinner will be covered by and under the Blood of Jesus or they will not; there is no other acceptable payment, not being a good person, not doing good deeds, not being a kind person, not anything but the Blood of Christ. We see in the Old Testament the two different offerings made to God by the two brothers Abel and Cain, as it is written here, "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." (Genesis 4:3-5) (KJV). The moral of the story of the two brothers is again, only the right offering (blood sacrifice or blood atonement), as it is written, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22) (KJV) will be accepted by God without respect of person, that is, no matter who you are or who you think you are.
Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of this verse, "This is not a periphrasis of Christ, who died, but of God the Father, who delivered Him to death; and who is the final cause of all things, in nature, and in grace, all things being made for His pleasure and for His glory; and He is the efficient cause of all things, as follows: all the works of creation, providence, and grace: not to worldly glory, but to the heavenly glory, which they are undeserving of; and which was long ago prepared for them; is at present hid; is weighty, solid, durable, yea, eternal: the persons whom God, of His rich grace, brings to this, are 'sons'; who are predestinated to the adoption of children; are regenerated by the Spirit of God; believe in Christ; and have the spirit of adoption given them, and so being children, are heirs of glory: and these are 'many'; for though they are but few, when compared with others, yet they are many, considered by themselves; they are many that God has ordained to eternal life, and given to Christ, and for whom He has given Himself a ransom, and whom He justifies; and accordingly there are many mansions of glory provided for them in their Father's house, whose act it is to bring them thither: He has chosen them to this glory, and prepared it for them; He sent His Son to redeem them; He reveals His Son in them, the hope of glory; He calls them to His eternal glory, and makes them meet for it, and gives them an abundant entrance into it: and Christ is 'the Captain of salvation', and is so called, because He is the author of it; and He is the Prince and Commander of these sons, who are committed to His charge, and are under His care; and He is their guide and leader; and who is gone before them to prepare their mansions of glory for them: and He is made 'perfect through sufferings'; He suffered all that the law and justice of God could require; and hereby He became perfectly acquainted with the sufferings of His people, and a perfect Saviour of them; and in this way went to glory Himself: and it 'became' God the Father, the first cause, and last end of all things, since He had a design to bring all His adopted sons to glory, that His own Son should perfectly suffer for them; this was agreeable to, and becoming the perfections of His nature, His wisdom, His veracity, His justice, grace, and mercy."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Letter to the Hebrews Volume 12
The Son of God (Jesus Christ) Suffered Death for the Sins of Every Human Being
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. KJV
We learned (from the writer of Hebrews) in the last study/commentary that all things created that are visible and invisible are put under or in subjection to the Son of God our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, however, in this next verse we will see from the writer of Hebrews that Christ Jesus our Lord willingly made Himself lower than His own creatures (the angels) and made Himself into a Man, yet know ordinary Man, for He was and is the God/Man. The Apostle Paul wrote of this fact, phenomenon, or remarkable development with these words to the Church @ Philippi speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross." (Philippians 2:6-8) (KJV). So we see the writer of Hebrews likewise expound, enlarge, and elaborate on this very fact, with these words, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9) (KJV). If God is all knowing (and He is) and if God is all powerful (and He is), then He can do anything He wants to do in order to meet His end righteous and holy objective for doing whatever it is He desires, decides, and determines to do in the Universes or planets (including the earth), which He alone (all by Himself) created for His enjoyment and glory. The English phrase 'who was made a little lower' is translated by the Greek word elattoō which means to lessen (in rank or influence): - decrease, make lower. In order for man to regain dominion over the earth from the usurper (the devil), it had to be taken back by a man just as it was lost by a man.
The first man (Adam) handed over dominion of the earth to the devil. The second Man (Jesus Christ) went to the Cross and paid man's sin debt in full and redeemed or purchased back man's rightful rule and regin upon the earth, for as it is written, "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, (Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:17-19) (KJV). When the writer of Hebrews says this, 'that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man', he means that Jesus Christ had to die for every man's/woman's sin in order that they be made right with God. Therefore, every man or woman that comes to Him believing that He alone is God will be made righteous as declared above by Romans 5:19. Jesus Christ (who knew no sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21) had to experience death which is the punishment for man's sin and satisfy that penalty by the shedding of His holy divine blood making the way for all who truly belong to Him to not fear death, but embrace it knowing that we will be immediately with Him when we pass through that dark corridor into the marvellous light of His everlasting love, as it is written, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) (KJV). The English phrase 'should taste' (in Hebrews 2:9) is translated by the Greek word geuomai which is a primary verb meaning figuratively to experience.
Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "In consequence of the fall of Adam, the whole human race became sinful in their nature, and in their practice added transgression to sinfulness of disposition, and thus became exposed to endless perdition. To redeem them Jesus Christ took on Him the nature of man, and suffered the penalty due to their sins. It was a custom in ancient times to take off criminals by making them drink a cup of poison. Socrates was adjudged to drink a cup of the juice of hemlock, by order of the Athenian magistrates: The sentence was one of the most unjust ever pronounced on man. Socrates was not only innocent of every crime laid to his charge, but was the greatest benefactor to his country. He was duly conscious of the iniquity of his sentence, yet cheerfully submitted to his appointed fate; for when the officer brought in the poison, though his friends endeavored to persuade him that he had yet a considerable time in which he might continue to live, yet, knowing that every purpose of life was now accomplished, he refused to avail himself of a few remaining moments, seized the cup, and drank off the poison with the utmost cheerfulness and alacrity (eagerness). The reference in the text seems to point out the whole human race as being accused, tried, found guilty, and condemned, each having his own poisoned cup to drink; and Jesus, the wonderful Jesus, takes the cup out of the hand of each, and cheerfully and with alacrity (eagerness) drinks off the dregs! Thus having drunk every man’s poisoned cup, He tasted that death which they must have endured, had not their cup been drunk by another. Is not this the cup to which He refers, Matthew 26:39 : 'O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me?' But without His drinking it, the salvation of the world would have been impossible; and therefore He cheerfully drank it in the place of every human soul, and thus made atonement for the sin of the whole world: and this He did, by the grace, mercy, or infinite goodness of God. Jesus Christ, incarnated, crucified, dying, rising, ascending to heaven, and becoming our Mediator at God’s right hand, is the full proof of God’s infinite love to the human race. Instead of, by the grace of God, some MSS. and the Syriac have, without God, or God excepted; i.e. the manhood died, not the Deity. This was probably a marginal gloss, which has crept into the text of many MSS., and is quoted by some of the chief of the Greek and Latin fathers. Several critics contend that the verse should be read thus: 'But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made less than angels, that by the grace of God He might taste death for every man, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor.' Howsoever it be taken, the sense is nearly the same: 1. Jesus Christ was incarnated. 2. He suffered death as an expiatory victim. 3. The persons in whose behalf he suffered were the whole human race; every man - all human creatures. 4. This Jesus is now in a state of the highest glory and honor."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. KJV
We learned (from the writer of Hebrews) in the last study/commentary that all things created that are visible and invisible are put under or in subjection to the Son of God our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, however, in this next verse we will see from the writer of Hebrews that Christ Jesus our Lord willingly made Himself lower than His own creatures (the angels) and made Himself into a Man, yet know ordinary Man, for He was and is the God/Man. The Apostle Paul wrote of this fact, phenomenon, or remarkable development with these words to the Church @ Philippi speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross." (Philippians 2:6-8) (KJV). So we see the writer of Hebrews likewise expound, enlarge, and elaborate on this very fact, with these words, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9) (KJV). If God is all knowing (and He is) and if God is all powerful (and He is), then He can do anything He wants to do in order to meet His end righteous and holy objective for doing whatever it is He desires, decides, and determines to do in the Universes or planets (including the earth), which He alone (all by Himself) created for His enjoyment and glory. The English phrase 'who was made a little lower' is translated by the Greek word elattoō which means to lessen (in rank or influence): - decrease, make lower. In order for man to regain dominion over the earth from the usurper (the devil), it had to be taken back by a man just as it was lost by a man.
The first man (Adam) handed over dominion of the earth to the devil. The second Man (Jesus Christ) went to the Cross and paid man's sin debt in full and redeemed or purchased back man's rightful rule and regin upon the earth, for as it is written, "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, (Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:17-19) (KJV). When the writer of Hebrews says this, 'that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man', he means that Jesus Christ had to die for every man's/woman's sin in order that they be made right with God. Therefore, every man or woman that comes to Him believing that He alone is God will be made righteous as declared above by Romans 5:19. Jesus Christ (who knew no sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21) had to experience death which is the punishment for man's sin and satisfy that penalty by the shedding of His holy divine blood making the way for all who truly belong to Him to not fear death, but embrace it knowing that we will be immediately with Him when we pass through that dark corridor into the marvellous light of His everlasting love, as it is written, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) (KJV). The English phrase 'should taste' (in Hebrews 2:9) is translated by the Greek word geuomai which is a primary verb meaning figuratively to experience.
Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "In consequence of the fall of Adam, the whole human race became sinful in their nature, and in their practice added transgression to sinfulness of disposition, and thus became exposed to endless perdition. To redeem them Jesus Christ took on Him the nature of man, and suffered the penalty due to their sins. It was a custom in ancient times to take off criminals by making them drink a cup of poison. Socrates was adjudged to drink a cup of the juice of hemlock, by order of the Athenian magistrates: The sentence was one of the most unjust ever pronounced on man. Socrates was not only innocent of every crime laid to his charge, but was the greatest benefactor to his country. He was duly conscious of the iniquity of his sentence, yet cheerfully submitted to his appointed fate; for when the officer brought in the poison, though his friends endeavored to persuade him that he had yet a considerable time in which he might continue to live, yet, knowing that every purpose of life was now accomplished, he refused to avail himself of a few remaining moments, seized the cup, and drank off the poison with the utmost cheerfulness and alacrity (eagerness). The reference in the text seems to point out the whole human race as being accused, tried, found guilty, and condemned, each having his own poisoned cup to drink; and Jesus, the wonderful Jesus, takes the cup out of the hand of each, and cheerfully and with alacrity (eagerness) drinks off the dregs! Thus having drunk every man’s poisoned cup, He tasted that death which they must have endured, had not their cup been drunk by another. Is not this the cup to which He refers, Matthew 26:39 : 'O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me?' But without His drinking it, the salvation of the world would have been impossible; and therefore He cheerfully drank it in the place of every human soul, and thus made atonement for the sin of the whole world: and this He did, by the grace, mercy, or infinite goodness of God. Jesus Christ, incarnated, crucified, dying, rising, ascending to heaven, and becoming our Mediator at God’s right hand, is the full proof of God’s infinite love to the human race. Instead of, by the grace of God, some MSS. and the Syriac have, without God, or God excepted; i.e. the manhood died, not the Deity. This was probably a marginal gloss, which has crept into the text of many MSS., and is quoted by some of the chief of the Greek and Latin fathers. Several critics contend that the verse should be read thus: 'But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made less than angels, that by the grace of God He might taste death for every man, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor.' Howsoever it be taken, the sense is nearly the same: 1. Jesus Christ was incarnated. 2. He suffered death as an expiatory victim. 3. The persons in whose behalf he suffered were the whole human race; every man - all human creatures. 4. This Jesus is now in a state of the highest glory and honor."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Letter to the Hebrews Volume 11
All things are Under Subjection to the Son of God
Hebrews 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him. KJV
Jesus Christ was not just a good teacher or a prophet, but He was and is the One True and Only God who made Himself into the very creature that He created. God came down to the earth and became a man in order to redeem man from the one (the devil) who had usurped man, that is, taken control of dominion of the earth; taken man's right or possession of sole authority on the earth, as it is written here concerning man's authority given to him by God, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28) (KJV). So we see that all things created by God (who is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ) are under His authority and dominion and because this is true, He could transfer or give over dominion of the earth He created to whomever He chose and so He gave this to man with one stipulation, as it is written, "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:15-17) (KJV).
Therefore, the writer of Hebrews declares once again the Surpreme Authority of the Son of God when he writes these words concerning Him, "Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him." (Hebrews 2:8) (KJV). The 'Thou' refers to God the Father who has anointed, affirmed, and appointed God the Son (Jesus Christ) to have dominion over all things. The English phrase at the beginning of this verse, 'thou hast put all things in subjection' is translated by the Greek word hupotassō which means to subordinate; reflexively to obey: - be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto. When we look around our world today, it is obvious that all things (including all human beings) are not in subjection or in obedience or subdued or subject to His authority. This is because right now our Lord Jesus Christ sits on a Throne of Grace ready, willing , and able to dispense said grace to anyone who would come to Him in repentance and faith. However, there will come a time when the dispensation of grace will end and then judgement will begin and He then will be sitting on a Throne of Judgement, as it is written, "And I saw a great white throne, and Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15) (KJV).
Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of this verse, "'We see not yet all things put under man.' Where are the men of whom any portion of the psalmist's words is true? Look at them - are these the men of whom he sings? Visited by God I crowned with glory and honour! having dominion over the works of His hands! Is this irony or fact? Let consciousness speak. Look at ourselves. If that psalm be God’s thought of man, the plan that He hangs up for us His workmen to build by, what a wretched thing my copy of it has turned out to be! Is this a picture of me? How seldom I am conscious of the visits of God; how full I am of weaknesses and imperfections - the solemn voice within me tells me at intervals when I listen to its tones. On my brow there gleams no diadem; from my life, alas! there shines at the best but a fitful splendour of purity, all striped with solid masses of blackness. And as for dominion over creatures, how superficial my rule over them, how real their rule over me! I can tame animals or slay them; I can use the forces of nature for my purposes; I can make machinery, and bid the lightning do my errands and carry messages, the burden of which is mostly money, or power, or sorrow. But all these, and the whole set of things like them, are not ruling over God’s creation. That consists in using all for God, and for our own growth in wisdom, strength, and goodness; and he only is master of all things who is servant of God. 'All are yours, and ye are Christ's.' If so, what are most of us but servants, not lords, of earth and its goods? We fasten our very lives on them, we tremble at the bare thought of losing them, we give our best efforts to get them - we say to the fine gold, 'Thou art my confidence.' We do not possess them, they possess us: and so, though materially we may have conquered the earth (and wonderfully proud of it we are now), spiritually, which is the same as to say really, the earth has conquered us. The same impression of human incompleteness is made by all the records of human lives which we possess. Go into a library, and take down volume after volume-the biographies and autobiographies of the foremost men, the saints and sages whom we all reverence. Is there one on whose monument the old psalm could truthfully be written? Are not the honest autobiographies what one of the noblest of them is called, 'Confessions'? Are not the memoirs the stories of flawed excellence, stained purity, limited wisdom? There are no perfect men in them - no men after the pattern of David's words. Or if some enthusiastic admirer has drawn a picture without shadows, we feel that it is without life or likeness; and we look for faults and limitations that we may be sure of brotherhood. And if we take a wider range, and listen to the sad voice of history chronicling the past, where in all her tragic story of bright hopes brought to nothing, of powers built up by force and rotted down by pride and selfishness, of war and wrong, of good painfully sought, and partially possessed, and churlishly treasured, and quickly lost - where on all her blotted pages, stained with tears, and sweat, and blood, do we find a record that verifies the singer's rapture, and shows us men like this of the Psalm?"
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Hebrews 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him. KJV
Jesus Christ was not just a good teacher or a prophet, but He was and is the One True and Only God who made Himself into the very creature that He created. God came down to the earth and became a man in order to redeem man from the one (the devil) who had usurped man, that is, taken control of dominion of the earth; taken man's right or possession of sole authority on the earth, as it is written here concerning man's authority given to him by God, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28) (KJV). So we see that all things created by God (who is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ) are under His authority and dominion and because this is true, He could transfer or give over dominion of the earth He created to whomever He chose and so He gave this to man with one stipulation, as it is written, "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:15-17) (KJV).
Therefore, the writer of Hebrews declares once again the Surpreme Authority of the Son of God when he writes these words concerning Him, "Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him." (Hebrews 2:8) (KJV). The 'Thou' refers to God the Father who has anointed, affirmed, and appointed God the Son (Jesus Christ) to have dominion over all things. The English phrase at the beginning of this verse, 'thou hast put all things in subjection' is translated by the Greek word hupotassō which means to subordinate; reflexively to obey: - be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto. When we look around our world today, it is obvious that all things (including all human beings) are not in subjection or in obedience or subdued or subject to His authority. This is because right now our Lord Jesus Christ sits on a Throne of Grace ready, willing , and able to dispense said grace to anyone who would come to Him in repentance and faith. However, there will come a time when the dispensation of grace will end and then judgement will begin and He then will be sitting on a Throne of Judgement, as it is written, "And I saw a great white throne, and Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15) (KJV).
Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of this verse, "'We see not yet all things put under man.' Where are the men of whom any portion of the psalmist's words is true? Look at them - are these the men of whom he sings? Visited by God I crowned with glory and honour! having dominion over the works of His hands! Is this irony or fact? Let consciousness speak. Look at ourselves. If that psalm be God’s thought of man, the plan that He hangs up for us His workmen to build by, what a wretched thing my copy of it has turned out to be! Is this a picture of me? How seldom I am conscious of the visits of God; how full I am of weaknesses and imperfections - the solemn voice within me tells me at intervals when I listen to its tones. On my brow there gleams no diadem; from my life, alas! there shines at the best but a fitful splendour of purity, all striped with solid masses of blackness. And as for dominion over creatures, how superficial my rule over them, how real their rule over me! I can tame animals or slay them; I can use the forces of nature for my purposes; I can make machinery, and bid the lightning do my errands and carry messages, the burden of which is mostly money, or power, or sorrow. But all these, and the whole set of things like them, are not ruling over God’s creation. That consists in using all for God, and for our own growth in wisdom, strength, and goodness; and he only is master of all things who is servant of God. 'All are yours, and ye are Christ's.' If so, what are most of us but servants, not lords, of earth and its goods? We fasten our very lives on them, we tremble at the bare thought of losing them, we give our best efforts to get them - we say to the fine gold, 'Thou art my confidence.' We do not possess them, they possess us: and so, though materially we may have conquered the earth (and wonderfully proud of it we are now), spiritually, which is the same as to say really, the earth has conquered us. The same impression of human incompleteness is made by all the records of human lives which we possess. Go into a library, and take down volume after volume-the biographies and autobiographies of the foremost men, the saints and sages whom we all reverence. Is there one on whose monument the old psalm could truthfully be written? Are not the honest autobiographies what one of the noblest of them is called, 'Confessions'? Are not the memoirs the stories of flawed excellence, stained purity, limited wisdom? There are no perfect men in them - no men after the pattern of David's words. Or if some enthusiastic admirer has drawn a picture without shadows, we feel that it is without life or likeness; and we look for faults and limitations that we may be sure of brotherhood. And if we take a wider range, and listen to the sad voice of history chronicling the past, where in all her tragic story of bright hopes brought to nothing, of powers built up by force and rotted down by pride and selfishness, of war and wrong, of good painfully sought, and partially possessed, and churlishly treasured, and quickly lost - where on all her blotted pages, stained with tears, and sweat, and blood, do we find a record that verifies the singer's rapture, and shows us men like this of the Psalm?"
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Letter to the Hebrews Volume 10
God made Man a little lower than the Angels
Hebrews 2:5-7 For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: KJV
The old world or that which was under the Old Testament has now been done away with since our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ has come and so does the writer of Hebrews declare just that with these first words here, "For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak." (Hebrews 2:5) (KJV). The Old Testament world was that of Law and Order, nothing done outside of the 'Law' was dismissed, discounted, or disregarded (as we documented in volume 9 with the immediate deaths of Aarons sons who brought profane fire before the Lord). However, now that Christ Jesus our Lord has come, He has ushered in a new dispensation of grace now, meaning that those who break God's Laws now are not immediately delt with, but are given grace in order that they might someday come to the foot of the Cross of Christ and believe on Him so that all their sins can and will be put under His Blood, but those who continue to persist in rebellion are just storing up wrath for themselves in the day of wrath to come.
As it is written by the Apostle Paul to the Church @ Rome with these words, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" (Romans 2:1-6) (KJV), Note: Go back and read Romans Chapter 1 to get exactly what sins Paul the Apostle spoke of to the Church.
Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say of this verse, "The writer's object is to show that the salvation, the new order of things inaugurated by Christ, is in pursuance of the original purpose of creation, to wit, that universal dominion was to pertain to man, and not to angels. The great salvation means lordship of the world to be. This purpose is carried out in Christ, who, in becoming man, became temporarily subject to the earthly dispensation of which angels were the administrators. This was in order that he might acquire universal lordship as man. Being now exalted above angels, he does away with the angelic administration, and, in the world to come, will carry humanity with him to the position of universal lordship. This thought is developed by means of Psalms 8:1-9. Having set Christ above the angels, the writer must reconcile that claim with the historical fact of Christ's humiliation in his incarnate state. The Psalm presents a paradox in the antithesis of lower than the angels and all things under his feet. From the Psalm is drawn the statement of a temporary subordination of Christ to angels, followed by his permanent exaltation over them."
Next the writer of Hebrews begins to chew over and contemplate the seemingly insignificance of man with these words, "But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Hebrews 2:6) (KJV). When one would look up into the heavens (especially at night) taking note of the vast array of stars along side the moon, seeing how big it is compared to tiny, puny man sitting down here on the earth (like a tiny ant staring up at a giant elephant), so is man a speck of dust in God's great universe. The writer takes his scripture from what was written by the Psalmist King David (who probably wrote this in his latter years as he looked up into the night sky), "LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." (Psalms 144:3-4) (KJV).
Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "As applicable to mankind in general, in which sense we have an affectionate thankful expostulation with the great God concerning His wonderful condescension and kindness to the sons of men. (1.) In remembering them, or being mindful of them, when yet they had no being but in the counsels of divine love. The favours of God to men all spring up out of His eternal thoughts and purposes of mercy for them; as all our dutiful regards to God spring forth from our remembrance of Him. God is always mindful of us, let us never be forgetful of Him. (2.) In visiting them. God's purpose of favours for men is productive of gracious visits to them; He comes to see us, how it is with us, what we ail, what we want, what dangers we are exposed to, what difficulties we have to encounter; and by His visitation our spirit is preserved. Let us so remember God as daily to approach Him in a way of duty. (3.) In making man the head of all the creatures in this lower world, the top-stone of this building, the chief of the ways of God on earth, and only a little lower than the angels in place, and respect to the boy, while here, and to be made like the angels, and equal to the angels, at the resurrection of the just, Luke 20:36. (4.) In crowning him with glory and honour, the honour of having noble powers and faculties of soul, excellent organs and parts of body, whereby he is allied to both worlds, capable of serving the interests of both worlds, and of enjoying the happiness of both. (5.) In giving him right to and dominion over the inferior creatures, which did continue so long as he continued in his allegiance and duty to God."
The writer continues on with this theme in the very next verse of describing how man, that is, Adam (the first man) was created by God in His very own image a threefold being with (1) A life giving spirit and (2) A unique soul unlike any other creature or other humans and (3) The spirit and soul of man residing in or living in a body made from the dust of the earth to occupy the earth. Just as God is One, but He is Father, Son, and Spirit. Man is made a little lower than the angels, meaning in power and ability, not in love and adoration by God and so writes these words next by the writer of Hebrews, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:" (Hebrews 2:7) (KJV). Here is what John Wesley said of this verse, "Thou hast made him - Adam. A little lower than the angels - The Hebrew is, a little lower than (that is, next to) God. Such was man as he came out of the hands of his Creator: it seems, the highest of all created beings. But these words are also in a farther sense, as the apostle here shows, applicable to the Son of God. It should be remembered that the apostles constantly cited the Septuagint translation, very frequently without any variation. It was not their business, in writing to the Jews, who at that time had it in high esteem, to amend or alter this, which would of consequence have occasioned disputes without end."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Hebrews 2:5-7 For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: KJV
The old world or that which was under the Old Testament has now been done away with since our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ has come and so does the writer of Hebrews declare just that with these first words here, "For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak." (Hebrews 2:5) (KJV). The Old Testament world was that of Law and Order, nothing done outside of the 'Law' was dismissed, discounted, or disregarded (as we documented in volume 9 with the immediate deaths of Aarons sons who brought profane fire before the Lord). However, now that Christ Jesus our Lord has come, He has ushered in a new dispensation of grace now, meaning that those who break God's Laws now are not immediately delt with, but are given grace in order that they might someday come to the foot of the Cross of Christ and believe on Him so that all their sins can and will be put under His Blood, but those who continue to persist in rebellion are just storing up wrath for themselves in the day of wrath to come.
As it is written by the Apostle Paul to the Church @ Rome with these words, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" (Romans 2:1-6) (KJV), Note: Go back and read Romans Chapter 1 to get exactly what sins Paul the Apostle spoke of to the Church.
Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say of this verse, "The writer's object is to show that the salvation, the new order of things inaugurated by Christ, is in pursuance of the original purpose of creation, to wit, that universal dominion was to pertain to man, and not to angels. The great salvation means lordship of the world to be. This purpose is carried out in Christ, who, in becoming man, became temporarily subject to the earthly dispensation of which angels were the administrators. This was in order that he might acquire universal lordship as man. Being now exalted above angels, he does away with the angelic administration, and, in the world to come, will carry humanity with him to the position of universal lordship. This thought is developed by means of Psalms 8:1-9. Having set Christ above the angels, the writer must reconcile that claim with the historical fact of Christ's humiliation in his incarnate state. The Psalm presents a paradox in the antithesis of lower than the angels and all things under his feet. From the Psalm is drawn the statement of a temporary subordination of Christ to angels, followed by his permanent exaltation over them."
Next the writer of Hebrews begins to chew over and contemplate the seemingly insignificance of man with these words, "But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Hebrews 2:6) (KJV). When one would look up into the heavens (especially at night) taking note of the vast array of stars along side the moon, seeing how big it is compared to tiny, puny man sitting down here on the earth (like a tiny ant staring up at a giant elephant), so is man a speck of dust in God's great universe. The writer takes his scripture from what was written by the Psalmist King David (who probably wrote this in his latter years as he looked up into the night sky), "LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." (Psalms 144:3-4) (KJV).
Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "As applicable to mankind in general, in which sense we have an affectionate thankful expostulation with the great God concerning His wonderful condescension and kindness to the sons of men. (1.) In remembering them, or being mindful of them, when yet they had no being but in the counsels of divine love. The favours of God to men all spring up out of His eternal thoughts and purposes of mercy for them; as all our dutiful regards to God spring forth from our remembrance of Him. God is always mindful of us, let us never be forgetful of Him. (2.) In visiting them. God's purpose of favours for men is productive of gracious visits to them; He comes to see us, how it is with us, what we ail, what we want, what dangers we are exposed to, what difficulties we have to encounter; and by His visitation our spirit is preserved. Let us so remember God as daily to approach Him in a way of duty. (3.) In making man the head of all the creatures in this lower world, the top-stone of this building, the chief of the ways of God on earth, and only a little lower than the angels in place, and respect to the boy, while here, and to be made like the angels, and equal to the angels, at the resurrection of the just, Luke 20:36. (4.) In crowning him with glory and honour, the honour of having noble powers and faculties of soul, excellent organs and parts of body, whereby he is allied to both worlds, capable of serving the interests of both worlds, and of enjoying the happiness of both. (5.) In giving him right to and dominion over the inferior creatures, which did continue so long as he continued in his allegiance and duty to God."
The writer continues on with this theme in the very next verse of describing how man, that is, Adam (the first man) was created by God in His very own image a threefold being with (1) A life giving spirit and (2) A unique soul unlike any other creature or other humans and (3) The spirit and soul of man residing in or living in a body made from the dust of the earth to occupy the earth. Just as God is One, but He is Father, Son, and Spirit. Man is made a little lower than the angels, meaning in power and ability, not in love and adoration by God and so writes these words next by the writer of Hebrews, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:" (Hebrews 2:7) (KJV). Here is what John Wesley said of this verse, "Thou hast made him - Adam. A little lower than the angels - The Hebrew is, a little lower than (that is, next to) God. Such was man as he came out of the hands of his Creator: it seems, the highest of all created beings. But these words are also in a farther sense, as the apostle here shows, applicable to the Son of God. It should be remembered that the apostles constantly cited the Septuagint translation, very frequently without any variation. It was not their business, in writing to the Jews, who at that time had it in high esteem, to amend or alter this, which would of consequence have occasioned disputes without end."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Letter to the Hebrews Volume 9
God the Father Warns Humanity to Not Neglect the Free Gift of Salvation through one way & One Person Only Jesus Christ
Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will? KJV
The writer of Hebrews having spent the time in the entire first chapter detailing the magnificence, marvellousness, and majesty that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and detailing how much higher and greater than the angels is He because He is the One who made or created every angel, now turns to warn the human race of what a disaster it would be (eternally) for every individual human being to neglect or ignore the great sacrifice He (Jesus Christ) made to secure their salvation and a place in heaven with Him for all eternity. First the writer of Hebrews declares these words to humanity, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." (Hebrews 2:1) (KJV). Because Jesus Christ has ushered in a New Covenant (making the Old Covenant null and void) it is far better and surperior to the first which called for immediate death to the person or persons found guilty of sin, but now (because of grace) this is not so under the New Covenant. Therefore, we (the human race) should see the urgency of our sinful condition and run to the Cross of Christ for shelter and refuge and forgiveness, this is exactly what the writer of Hebrews in this verse means when he writes, 'to give the more earnest heed' which is an English phrase translated by two Greek words, the first being prosechō meaning (figuratively) to hold the mind towards, that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to. The second being perissoterōs meaning more superabundantly: - more abundant, the more earnest, (more) exceedingly, more frequent, much more.
We should pay attention with seriousness because our eternal destiny hangs in the balance, for if we neglect to do so, then we will let our opportunity for redemption and rebirth pass us by or as the writer of Hebrews puts it here with this English phrase 'we should let them slip' which is translated by the Greek word pararrhueō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to flow by, that is, (figuratively) carelessly pass (miss): - let slip. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "Because God has spoken to us by His Son; and because that Son is so great and glorious a Personage; and because the subject which is addressed to us is of such infinite importance to our welfare. We should hear the doctrine of Christ with care, candour, and deep concern. 'Lest at any time we should leak out.' This is a metaphor taken from unstanch vessels; the staves not being close together, the fluid put into them leaks through the chinks and crevices. Superficial hearers lose the benefit of the word preached, as the unseasoned vessel does its fluid; nor can any one hear to the saving of his soul, unless he give most earnest heed, which he will not do unless he consider the dignity of the speaker, the importance of the subject, and the absolute necessity of the salvation of his soul." Now the writer of Hebrews again contrast the authority of the Old Testament with that of the New Testament by again comparing angels to our Lord Jesus Christ with these words, "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;" (Hebrews 2:2) (KJV). The Mosiac law came from God through angels being His mouthpiece (so to speak) as it is written, "Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it." (Acts 7:53) (KJV).
The law was proven to be stedfast, that is, sure and true. Likewise, every transgression, that is, breaking or violation of the law received its just punishment do and that was then death to the transgressor, for example as it is written here, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Leviticus 10:1-2) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "The law, (according to some), which was delivered by the mediation of angels, God frequently employing these to communicate His will to men. But the Apostle probably means those particular messages which God sent by angels, as in the case of Lot, Genesis 19, and such like. Was so confirmed by the Divine authority, and so strict, that it would not tolerate any offense, but inflicted punishment on every act of transgression, every case in which the bounds laid down by the law, were passed over; and every act of disobedience in respect to the duties enjoined. That kind and degree of punishment which the law prescribed for those who broke it." If this was the result of sin and disobedience under the Old Testament, then how in the world will we get by or skate by if the human race rejects the only remedy for our sinful condition, that being, the Lord Jesus Christ and so declares the writer of Hebrews here with these words, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him;" (Hebrews 2:3) (KJV). Even though this is a question that everyone should know the answer to it, however, many human beings don't see the obvious that is set right before them because of spiritual blindness, as it is written, "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world (the devil) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) (KJV).
Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "If they who had fewer privileges than we have, to whom God spoke in divers manners by angels and prophets, fell under the displeasure of their Maker, and were often punished with a sore destruction; how shall we escape wrath to the uttermost if we neglect the salvation provided for us, and proclaimed to us by the Son of God? Their offense was high; ours, indescribably higher. The salvation mentioned here is the whole system of Christianity, with all the privileges it confers; properly called a salvation, because, by bringing such an abundance of heavenly light into the world, it saves or delivers men from the kingdom of darkness, ignorance, error, superstition, and idolatry; and provides all the requisite means to free them from the power, guilt, and contamination of sin. Those who neglect it, are not only they who oppose or persecute it, but they who pay no regard to it; who do not meddle with it, do not concern themselves about it, do not lay it to heart, and consequently do not get their hearts changed by it. Now these cannot escape the coming judgments of God; not merely because they oppose His will and commandment, but because they sin against the very cause and means of their deliverance. As there is but one remedy by which their diseased souls can be saved, so by refusing to apply that one remedy they must necessarily perish. Though John the Baptist went before our Lord to prepare His way, yet he could not be properly said to preach the Gospel; and even Christ’s preaching was only a beginning of the great proclamation: it was His own Spirit in the Apostles and evangelists, the men who heard Him preach, that opened the whole mystery of the kingdom of heaven. And all this testimony had been so confirmed in the land of Judea as to render it indubitable; and consequently there was no excuse for their unbelief, and no prospect of their escape if they should continue to neglect it."
In the Old Testament God the Father bore witness to all His revelations to mankind/humanity as it is written here by the writer of Hebrews, "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:4) (KJV). The one and only sign and wonder or miracle manifested in the New Testament is that of Him becoming a Man and then humbling Himself before His own creation (man) and allowing them to kill Him as the One and Only sacrifice for humanities sin, then He raised Himself from death and now sits on a Throne of Grace ready, willing, and able to dispense said grace to any sinner, even the worst of sinners that would come to Him for forgiveness of their sin and to receive salvation through Him Alone. This is greater than all the miracles in the Old Testament combined. Hallelujah!!! Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "He did not leave the confirmation of these great truths to the testimony of men; He bore His own testimony to them by signs, wonders, various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost. And all these were proved to come from Himself; for no man could do those miracles at his own pleasure, but the power to work them was given according to God’s own will; or rather, God Himself wrought them, in order to accredit the ministry of His servant."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will? KJV
The writer of Hebrews having spent the time in the entire first chapter detailing the magnificence, marvellousness, and majesty that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and detailing how much higher and greater than the angels is He because He is the One who made or created every angel, now turns to warn the human race of what a disaster it would be (eternally) for every individual human being to neglect or ignore the great sacrifice He (Jesus Christ) made to secure their salvation and a place in heaven with Him for all eternity. First the writer of Hebrews declares these words to humanity, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." (Hebrews 2:1) (KJV). Because Jesus Christ has ushered in a New Covenant (making the Old Covenant null and void) it is far better and surperior to the first which called for immediate death to the person or persons found guilty of sin, but now (because of grace) this is not so under the New Covenant. Therefore, we (the human race) should see the urgency of our sinful condition and run to the Cross of Christ for shelter and refuge and forgiveness, this is exactly what the writer of Hebrews in this verse means when he writes, 'to give the more earnest heed' which is an English phrase translated by two Greek words, the first being prosechō meaning (figuratively) to hold the mind towards, that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to. The second being perissoterōs meaning more superabundantly: - more abundant, the more earnest, (more) exceedingly, more frequent, much more.
We should pay attention with seriousness because our eternal destiny hangs in the balance, for if we neglect to do so, then we will let our opportunity for redemption and rebirth pass us by or as the writer of Hebrews puts it here with this English phrase 'we should let them slip' which is translated by the Greek word pararrhueō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to flow by, that is, (figuratively) carelessly pass (miss): - let slip. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "Because God has spoken to us by His Son; and because that Son is so great and glorious a Personage; and because the subject which is addressed to us is of such infinite importance to our welfare. We should hear the doctrine of Christ with care, candour, and deep concern. 'Lest at any time we should leak out.' This is a metaphor taken from unstanch vessels; the staves not being close together, the fluid put into them leaks through the chinks and crevices. Superficial hearers lose the benefit of the word preached, as the unseasoned vessel does its fluid; nor can any one hear to the saving of his soul, unless he give most earnest heed, which he will not do unless he consider the dignity of the speaker, the importance of the subject, and the absolute necessity of the salvation of his soul." Now the writer of Hebrews again contrast the authority of the Old Testament with that of the New Testament by again comparing angels to our Lord Jesus Christ with these words, "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;" (Hebrews 2:2) (KJV). The Mosiac law came from God through angels being His mouthpiece (so to speak) as it is written, "Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it." (Acts 7:53) (KJV).
The law was proven to be stedfast, that is, sure and true. Likewise, every transgression, that is, breaking or violation of the law received its just punishment do and that was then death to the transgressor, for example as it is written here, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Leviticus 10:1-2) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "The law, (according to some), which was delivered by the mediation of angels, God frequently employing these to communicate His will to men. But the Apostle probably means those particular messages which God sent by angels, as in the case of Lot, Genesis 19, and such like. Was so confirmed by the Divine authority, and so strict, that it would not tolerate any offense, but inflicted punishment on every act of transgression, every case in which the bounds laid down by the law, were passed over; and every act of disobedience in respect to the duties enjoined. That kind and degree of punishment which the law prescribed for those who broke it." If this was the result of sin and disobedience under the Old Testament, then how in the world will we get by or skate by if the human race rejects the only remedy for our sinful condition, that being, the Lord Jesus Christ and so declares the writer of Hebrews here with these words, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him;" (Hebrews 2:3) (KJV). Even though this is a question that everyone should know the answer to it, however, many human beings don't see the obvious that is set right before them because of spiritual blindness, as it is written, "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world (the devil) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) (KJV).
Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "If they who had fewer privileges than we have, to whom God spoke in divers manners by angels and prophets, fell under the displeasure of their Maker, and were often punished with a sore destruction; how shall we escape wrath to the uttermost if we neglect the salvation provided for us, and proclaimed to us by the Son of God? Their offense was high; ours, indescribably higher. The salvation mentioned here is the whole system of Christianity, with all the privileges it confers; properly called a salvation, because, by bringing such an abundance of heavenly light into the world, it saves or delivers men from the kingdom of darkness, ignorance, error, superstition, and idolatry; and provides all the requisite means to free them from the power, guilt, and contamination of sin. Those who neglect it, are not only they who oppose or persecute it, but they who pay no regard to it; who do not meddle with it, do not concern themselves about it, do not lay it to heart, and consequently do not get their hearts changed by it. Now these cannot escape the coming judgments of God; not merely because they oppose His will and commandment, but because they sin against the very cause and means of their deliverance. As there is but one remedy by which their diseased souls can be saved, so by refusing to apply that one remedy they must necessarily perish. Though John the Baptist went before our Lord to prepare His way, yet he could not be properly said to preach the Gospel; and even Christ’s preaching was only a beginning of the great proclamation: it was His own Spirit in the Apostles and evangelists, the men who heard Him preach, that opened the whole mystery of the kingdom of heaven. And all this testimony had been so confirmed in the land of Judea as to render it indubitable; and consequently there was no excuse for their unbelief, and no prospect of their escape if they should continue to neglect it."
In the Old Testament God the Father bore witness to all His revelations to mankind/humanity as it is written here by the writer of Hebrews, "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:4) (KJV). The one and only sign and wonder or miracle manifested in the New Testament is that of Him becoming a Man and then humbling Himself before His own creation (man) and allowing them to kill Him as the One and Only sacrifice for humanities sin, then He raised Himself from death and now sits on a Throne of Grace ready, willing, and able to dispense said grace to any sinner, even the worst of sinners that would come to Him for forgiveness of their sin and to receive salvation through Him Alone. This is greater than all the miracles in the Old Testament combined. Hallelujah!!! Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "He did not leave the confirmation of these great truths to the testimony of men; He bore His own testimony to them by signs, wonders, various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost. And all these were proved to come from Himself; for no man could do those miracles at his own pleasure, but the power to work them was given according to God’s own will; or rather, God Himself wrought them, in order to accredit the ministry of His servant."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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