February

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 For it pleased the Father. We often miss the significance of the first portion of this verse. Our salvation, which rests entirely of Jesus death on the cross, was accomplished by God because it “pleased” Him. SO what was the true pleasure God enjoyed? The renewed one on one relationship He could enjoy again with His most precious creation; us. 

Colossians 1:19-20 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 

 At the beginning I wrote an overview on Colossians pointing out that Paul was making a strong stand against Gnosticism, and for the grace of God in the Colosse church. In Romans 3:10, Paul points to the word of God stating that there is none righteous not one person. Paul is quoting from Psalms 14:1-3, 53:1-3, & Ecclesiastes 7:20. Much like science you must first identify a problem or at least a target of study before you can solve the problem. On one hand it appears that most people do not understand that they are, and will forever be absent from God while in their own natural minds and personal abilities to live a righteous life for God. On the other hand those who do recognize that they are not in a right standing with God tend to fall back into working it out in their mind and actions after accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

 “For it pleased the Father”, is the most powerful statement in the argument for God’s love for all people. This substantiates the verse John 3:16 that many Christians today can quote, but may not fully understand the breadth of the verse. Where Christians also tend to lose understanding is in the second half of verse 19; “that in Him all the fullness should dwell”. Everything we believe must stand on Jesus since He was and is the only one capable of paying the sin debt for every person, past, present, and future. As additional proof of the deity of Jesus consider this; if I chose to go to the death chamber for my  friends crime of murder because of my deep love for him and wanting him to have a second chance, once dead how could I do the same for you if I loved you just as much. Jesus lives forever! Christians must understand that no human being could ever live up to the complete and perfect criteria of God except God Himself doing so through the flesh of His Son. Since God gave complete dominion over the earth to Adam, God spiritually could not go against His word and take over. The battle had to be done through “a man” that was capable of meeting God’s pure and perfect requirements. 

Verse 20 states just that; through Jesus, God has reconciled all things to Himself. In the KJV verse 20 starts out with the statement “having made peace through the blood of His cross”. This is the pivotal statement in all of verse 20 and should have been left in its original position for the NKJV. Romans 5:1 tell us we have peace with God through the blood of Jesus. The only way in the natural to have peace with God is to meet all of His righteous requirements; and that is naturally impossible. Peace with God can only come through complete faith in Jesus’ perfect work on the cross.

The question always comes up; if God knows everything before it happens, why did He make man knowing that man would fail and so many would turn away from Him? In all my years of walking with God I have not met anyone who asks this question that has a true understanding of love and that God is love. Love is not selfish so if you have great love in your heart how can you show it and express it if you keep to yourself and NEVER see or talk to another person? God made man for true fellowship which is expressed through love between two or more people. True God had angels to talk to, but they were created as messengers and servants and do not have a free will. Think about this; which would you rather have a person choose to show you their love or a person that you make tell you they love you every day because they have to. Everyone will choose the first scenario because it means so much more for a person to love us out of their free will. Love is only real if it is from a free will. As I said earlier, God wants fellowship, He wants our love. Think about this; the more a person does for you out of their love for you, the more you love and appreciate that person. Man often has ulterior motives for showing love, but God’s only motive for showing us His love is because He is love. Do you want to bless God and show God that you love Him? The only way to show God that you truly love Him is accept His “FREE” gift of true salvation and stop trying to work for it or relying on your thinking and mental ascent to reach Him.   

 The challenge Paul was issuing the Colossians and us is our ability to stay faithful in Jesus’ perfect work on the cross. An easy task on the surface and every Christian will say that they do, but do you completely. The Colossians had begun to slip back into a “works” mentality by incorporating segments of the Law into their daily actions of their walk of faith. This is no different than holding on to one of man’s doctrines or misguided scriptures from the Old Testament as an action item for proof of one’s own righteousness. We are to walk by faith, not by sight (actions). Does this mean we are not to do anything? On the contrary, there is much for Christians to do while here on earth. The difference we are to do these actions to help spread the gospel, not develop our own standard of righteousness.

Colossians 1:23, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

            I want to focus on this verse by itself because it is often preached by itself as if it is an “either or” statement from God. Paul of all people is not saying if you don’t walk in faith God is going to come and take away your salvation. You are not going to backslide into Hell if you have allowed sin to overtake you. Verse 23 is not a negative implication that if you don’t walk in faith that you will lose your salvation. I have even heard it preached that if you fall back into sin after becoming “Born Again” that to come back to Jesus is to put Him up on the cross again just for you. The “one and only” scripture that supports this is Hebrews 6:6 “if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame”. KJV used the words “fall away”, but the Greek word for “fall away” is PARAPIPTO means to become apostate. An apostate is a person who forsakes his religion, cause, or party (Dictionary .com unabridged). Forsaking is not just slipping away or stumbling and loosing ones fervor, forsaking is outright rejection of what was once believed in. How can a person totally forsake what they do not fully understand? Hebrews 6:6 is clarified by requirements of a person having great personal understanding in verses 4 & 5 and then forsaking what they know. I have heard the argument that “Adam fell from grace and so can we”. This is another misunderstanding of the word of God. True Adam was a man that was created without a sin nature both pure and holy and he did fall, but he was a man that had to stand on his own before God. Adam did not have the blood of Jesus, the price paid for his sins, to stand on like Christians today have. No human can ever live a perfect, flawless, and holy life; only God can do that. That is why it is so important to understand that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. That is the only way His sacrifice could pay for every sin past, present, and future.

                I am not saying that every person that runs down the aisle and accepts Jesus as their Lord and savior is truly “born again” and guaranteed to go to heaven. You have to know and understand what your salvation is. Romans 10:9 states to believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, not be whipped up in your emotions to go run down the aisle and shake the preacher’s hand, making a fearful halfhearted declaration. People can have an emotional stirring during a powerful sermon and make a quick decision without understanding what they just received. And they could have been touched by the Lord and were sincere in their proclamation of Jesus as their Lord and savior. Only God knows for sure at that moment.  If born again people continue in their search and study of the gospel of Jesus Christ they can solidify their understanding of salvation. If they never learn what they have they cannot live in it. There is an old saying, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” I believe it is possible for a person to run down the aisle and shake the preachers hand, make some confession of their sins, and never actually have fulfilled Romans 10:8-10 which says if “you believe in your heart” and “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord”. True understanding is the only way to believe in your heart. Confession without belief may leave you short. And there is no way a baby sprinkled by a priest can understand what they just did.

Example: Say you own a house and buy an insurance policy, but you never read that policy and understand what it covers or how to enforce it?  Then if your house floods and all is destroyed leaving you poor and destitute without anything, and you never invoke that policy or call the insurance company to file a claim to rebuild your house and life. Is it the policy’s fault you are now poor and on the streets? NO! Yet people every Sunday will make such a decision with their salvation and never follow up on understanding it. I am not sure this type of person is truly saved in the first place. That is between them and God, but the word is clear in that you have to understand what you have and make a conscience decision to reject it to lose your salvation. This is possible for a true believer that allows sin to control them for an extended period of time to reach a point in their thinking where the sin hardens their heart paving the way for them to knowingly reject their salvation. Remember that complete rejection, PARAPIPTO, is not stumbling and according to Jesus there is only one unforgivable sin, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31). Verse 23 is not saying that backsliders who do not know what they have are guaranteed to lose their salvation. 

 Verse 28 in Colossians chapter 1 is often misunderstood on two aspects. Paul did not reach every man with the news of the gospel, nor can Paul be the one who can present people perfect. Neither can a pastor present one of his members perfect before the Lord. What Paul is saying that we too can enter into, is that every man he came in contact with he presented the gospel of Jesus Christ in a perfect manor. This perfect manor is accomplished by teaching only Jesus and Him crucified and not a mixture of the Law and grace together.

Colossians 1:28-29 “28 “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily”

Once again Paul has used a hyperbole in his statement that they have warned and taught every man about Christ Jesus. We are still reaching people today, but God’s word has gone out more than we realize. But what was Paul warning people about? As you read all of his writings he warned people about following any other religion or going back under man’s religion once set free through faith in Jesus’ perfect work on the cross. Interesting point in that the American Indians spoke of the “Great Spirit” that walks with man long before the Pilgrims brought the gospel over to the New Land we call America. We have to remember that the gospel has been available for over 2000 years even though the written word has not been available for the average man to read until recent history. Bottom line is with all the people that have heard of the gospel of Jesus Christ over the centuries, our work here on earth as Disciples of Christ is still greatly needed and is to be carried out by word of mouth through the power of the Holy Spirit! 

There are two methods of preaching and both are needed. Paul mentions these in verse 28 as his method of presenting man perfect in Christ. Paul is not the one presenting them perfect, but he is the steward of the gospel on which those who believe will be made perfect in Christ by His blood and their belief. Warnings are sometimes considered rebukes or chastening. Rebukes which are corrections are not for the sinner as the word of God says that it is the goodness of God that draws people to repentance, Romans 2:4. Jesus Himself rebuked the religious leaders for their false teachings and warned His Disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees. 1 Timothy 5:20 is a verse that is often stood on for public rebuke of sinners and there is a place for this, but great wisdom is needed in this action and it should be used sparingly. We also read in 2 Timothy 1 that a time is coming when people will not hear sound doctrine because of their itching ears. I think that time is now when so many people are leaving churches in search for something else. The rebuke spoken of here is not for all Christians but those teaching something other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is drawing the people away from Christ. Teaching legalism mixed in with the gospel, even if from the Old Testament is leading people from the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is sad in that if people were taught the true word of God instead of man’s doctrines on how to live their lives they would know the difference between having their ears tickled versus the gospel of Jesus Christ. In my lifetime there seems to be an abundance of warnings and rebuking, but very little teaching of the true gospel.

Grace and truth go hand in hand. If all a person hears is grace it can cause people to lean toward licentiousness as Paul answers that question in Romans 6:1-2. If all they hear is warnings of sin, that will cause them to walk in legalism instead of grace; neither extreme lines up with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the gospel is NOT a mixture of Law and grace as is mostly taught in churches today. Grace is the power of the blood of Jesus to overcome the bondage of sin that has been strengthened by the law (read Romans 7:13-8:1). Paul expresses this in verse 29, “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” It is Christ working in us led by the Holy Spirit that we find the proper balance between warnings and teaching. Bottom line, it is Jesus Christ and His grace that strengthened and motivated Paul. It is God’s grace toward us that Jesus died for and if we are to error in any direction, error on the side of grace; always! 

 Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and us, is that God would give the spirit of wisdom and knowledge is referencing two of the nine gifts of the Spirit from 1 Corinthians 12. This is not a prayer of hope in God doing something, but in our asking for and receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised as found in John chapters 15, 16, & 17. He is our Helper and the first two gifts of the Spirit as found in 1 Corinthians 12:8 are wisdom and knowledge. Without which man’s carnal thinking cannot understand the spiritual truths from God found in His Word. 

Ephesians 1:17-18 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

                At first Paul’s prayer for us in verse 17 appears to be a contradiction to verse 8 where he told us that God has made abound to us all wisdom and prudence. Why is Paul praying for something that has already been given? The definition of the word “spirit” is where we must draw our understanding of what Paul is praying for. There are two predominant meanings for “spirit” and a third lesser used meaning in the New Testament; “Spirit” for the Holy Spirit and “spirit” referring to our spirit, or the third part of our make up as read in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. There is a third meaning according to “Strong” which defines “spirit” as a part of our mental disposition. At my daughters school they talk of “school spirit” or “team spirit” which is actually identifying a group of students as having one similar vein of thought or purpose; “We’re here for the school” or “We’re here to win for our school”. Paul is using the mental disposition definition verse 17 as well as in Chapter 4 to bring home a specific point.

                When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our born-again spirit received the whole package deal. Paul is not praying for God to give us more of what He has already given us. The Christian walk is not a walk of getting more faith, or getting more of God, or even drawing closer to God. According to Romans 12:3 God has given all of this to us in a measure of faith and we are to think soberly on this. Jesus tells us that all the faith we need fits in the size of a mustard seed. That’s probably one of the smallest seeds on earth and yet it grows into a large tree. Where Paul is encouraging us is in our meditation. He is praying that we will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to our minds that which is already in our new born-again spirit. Our walk is one of pulling out from our new spirit the “revelation” of God so we can understand and enjoy what we already have while still here on earth. We spend way too much time and effort asking God over and over for the things He has already given us. What is He supposed to do with that? If my daughter asked me for a new bike and I give her the actual one she wants, show it to her and put it in the garage for her to use whenever she wants, what am I supposed to do if she comes to me a few days later and says “dad can I have a new bike”? I would probably look at her like a cow looking at a new gate. I’m not sure my mind would even comprehend her asking me for something I have already given her, and yet we ask God all the time for things He has already given us. Oh God please heal me, Oh God please bless my finances, Oh God please give me the wisdom to understand, Oh God!

Verse 18 is actually the answer to what Paul is praying in verse 17. We cannot see what we have with our natural eyes. Think about this; it is a whole lot easier to find and use something you already have than it is to go out and try to get something you do not have. I believe there would be a lot less frustrated Christians if they could understand this truth. Think about this; would you stand on top of a thick book so you could be taller and then look across the room in an effort to find the very book you are standing on?  In the newest version of the movie “Flubber” Robin Williams asked his flying robot helper, “Where are my socks? Answer “In your shoes”, second question, “where are my shoes” second answer “on your feet”. The audience laughed and so did I, and immediately it dawned on me that Christians are no better off than the absent minded professor when we ask Him for something we already have. According to Ephesians 1:3; we have been given all spiritual blessings. That is why Paul in Romans 12:2 tells us to renew our minds.

Our prayers need to be more like “open my spiritual eyes so I can see what is already mine”, “praise you father for answering my prayer”, “thank you Jesus that by Your stripes I was healed”, “I have been given the mind of Christ”, “praise You God that You have made me the head and not the tail”.

                How else can we ever know the hope of His calling? We have to learn who we are in Christ Jesus and who God truly is. This can only happen through study and meditation on the word of God. We have to let go of what we see and the natural things we understand and reach out to the call God has for us. When we answer God’s call on our lives, He does not want us to hold on to our own comfort zone of natural understanding. He wants us to step out of our natural way of seeing things and walk by faith and trust in Him. When the disciples were in the boat with the storm all around, Jesus walking up to them on the water, called Peter to step out of the boat and come to Him. When Peter first stepped out of the boat he too was on top of the water, but as soon as he looked at the natural circumstances I know his mind remembered the safety he had while still standing in the boat. Peter was use to the water, he was a fisherman and fishermen know that as long as you stay in the boat you have a better chance of getting back home than being in the water. Peter held onto his past understanding which produced doubt in what he was doing, and he sank. There are several self-help groups, like AA and NA that use the phrase “let go and let God”. They seem to have a better understanding of walking with God than a lot of Christians do. I know, I was one of them, when God was calling me into the ministry. I kept trying to make it work out where I was and continued doing the same thing I was doing, while all the time asking Him to help me get to where He wanted me to be. 

 For by grace you have been saved, and that not by your own actions or efforts; but completely by the gifts from God which are the faith which He gives us and by His grace that we are made to walk in. This is possibly the most powerful concept a Christian can understand in their walk with Christ. God’s grace is where we can find the faith He gives us to receive the forgiveness He provided for us because of the result of Jesus’ perfect work on the cross. Where are your efforts in any of this other than to believe in Jesus and confess Him as your Lord and Savior? 

Ephesians 2:8-10, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

In the first few verses of Ephesians, Apostle Paul establishes that our salvation is through the grace of God’s love. He now establishes the catalyst necessary to receive that grace, faith. We know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). In Romans 12:3 we find that it is God that has dealt a measure of faith to each of us and we know by the teaching of Jesus that very little faith is needed to move mountains. (Matthew 17:20 I “say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you”. Jesus is referring to the mountains in our lives that keep us from moving in a Godly direction, but the fact that very little faith is needed is the most important point. According to Ephesians 2:8 faith is also given to us by God and God only gives perfect gifts, (James 1:17) therefore our faith is perfect. All of the faith we need is given to us according to Ephesians 1:3 where “God has given us ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places”. (Emphasis on all, mine) See the commentary on Ephesians 1:3. I believe one of the reasons Christianity today is losing ground, at least here in the US, is due largely to the miss-understanding of faith works versus man’s works. The contrast between the two is clearly seen in verses 8 & 9. (it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them). We seem to be following the same path of the Pharisees in all of our doctrinal rules and precepts for membership. Those that call themselves non-Denominational are, more often than not, a denomination unto themselves with their own list of do’s and don’ts and “works” for the kingdom. This next statement often makes people mad, but I believe that the United States has never been more segregated in history than it is right now on Sunday mornings. God, who knows what is best for us, through the bloodshed by Jesus Christ, brought all people together as one body in Christ, but man in his “infinite wisdom” has never worked so hard to separate the body of Christ as Americans do today.

Our salvation does not depend on what we wear, how we fix our hair, when we go to church, how many people we evangelize, how often we pray, or who we pray with. We are not closer to God because of how our denomination chooses to sing praises. We do not remain saved by attending every church function listed in the bulletin. Sacrificing your time from your family, your work, or even your rest, just to go up to the church because the doors are open for the next function will not get you saved, keep you saved, nor make you a better Christian. It will make you tired, you risk becoming burned out, you may be neglecting someone in your family or your family as a whole. Many Christians develop a disbelief in God when they do all these “works” and still do not see their prayers answered nor their lives any better for it. Sad thing of all is I can show people the single verses, that when taken out of context from the text and vane of thought in the word, which could justify every one of the “works” I just listed. Here lies the problem; we do not fully understand that God wants to communicate with us on a personal basis. (“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works”) As we begin to understand this gift and open it with expectation of joy, like we do at Christmas or a birthday, we will find ourselves becoming more peaceful. As we draw closer to God in our understanding, we will find that the sins that so easily ensnared us do not cause us to stumble as often, and often stop the sin altogether. We will choose to go to some of the church functions to fellowship with like-minded believers, but will tend to our families first, knowing that in doing so we will be a living witness to a loved one that does not believe. We will sing praise to God from our heart, not because we like the music, but because we recognize what He truly has done for us. When we do share our faith with another person it is because we recognize this precious gift and do not want anyone we know personally to miss out on receiving it for themselves. Once we truly recognize the depth of this precious gift of salvation, we will begin to see it in our fellow Christian even if they choose to worship at a different church or have a different color of skin. We will recognize when a religious doctrine does not line up with the complete word of God and begin to pray for those seekers that attend that church, for their eyes to be opened and not put them down as a whole. It is God’s will that no man should parish, but that all should come to the fullness and understanding of Him. (Ephesians 4:13-16)

So what are the works prepared for us in Christ as written in Ephesians 2:9? That we should love one another and in doing so, preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and be Jesus to those around us who do not know Him. (Matthew 10:8, Luke 4:18, 9:2 & 10:9, Romans 1:5, 10:15, 15:20, 1 Corinthians 1:17, 9:14,16,18, Revelations 14:6) This is our works to do here on earth, and we can do this with our actions even better than we can our words, but especially if our words and actions are the same and are in line with the full word of God. 

 Do we really see Jesus? We see Him on the cross. We see Him in artist renditions hanging on walls. Some people even see him in their toast. Buy if we were to truly saw Him as He is today; seated at the right hand of God claiming each one of us as His children we would love Him more. And we would understand how much He loves us, and knowing that love would strengthen our walk.

Hebrews 2:9 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

                Do we really see Jesus? I don’t think so, but let’s look at this verse and discover how important it is in the life and walk of a Christian. For starters Jesus came to earth just like we did through the womb of a woman. His first breath of air was probably through the gasp of a cry just like babies born today. In the natural aspect Jesus was made just like man with exception of His spirit which came from God and not from a natural fallen father. This is referenced as the virgin birth as recorded in Luke 1:34-35 when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and she became with child. We also can see through John 1:1-3, & 14, along with 1 Timothy 3:16, that Jesus is actually God come down from heaven in the form of man to do what man could otherwise not do, live a perfect life and fulfill the requirements of God for righteousness. God is omnipresent and can be everywhere at the same time so the old question of “how could God leave heaven for 33 years and come live as a man” is simply small minded. The presence of the Holy Spirit is everywhere which is a good thing since man covers the whole earth and we all can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to come as a man since in the previous verse we read that Man was given all authority on earth and we know that man gave up his authority by submitting it to Satan in the Garden of Eden. God is Spirit and since He gave this authority to man here on earth, He could not just come and take it back. God’s word is pure and un-changeable. God cannot go back on His own word.

Jesus, in the form of man, was and is the only answer for God to deliver man from his fallen state. A man, Adam, gave away our position of free access to God which was only for a perfect and pure man to have. With sin came death and the grave for fallen man along with absence from his creator God. The requirements for righteousness are to be as perfect as God and no man born of a natural father could ever live up to that level of perfection. Jesus, having been born as a man with the perfect and pure Spirit of God was and is the only answer for redemption of mankind into a right standing and free access into the presence of God. Bottom line is Jesus suffered death on the cross for sins He never committed, so that those of us who believe and confess Him as our Lord and savior can have that original right standing with God. Every Christian can say, “Jesus died for me”.

We really do not see Jesus for who He is and for what He has done for us. Many Christians think they do, but when you look at the life of works and rules many try to live by in effort to be righteous before God, you realize that these Christians do not have a full understanding of the true “power of grace”, Ephesians 2:8. We miss it in our healing, in our finances, and in our relationships every time we try to attach a “cause and effect” to our earthly situations. Christians by nature live with a sticker chart, “if we do than we can” mentality that will always keep us from receiving all of the blessings promised to us by God. This is why Paul in Romans 12:2 tells us to renew our minds, and in 2 Corinthians 5:7 we are to walk by faith and not by sight.   

 Although Hebrews was written nearly 2000 years ago to the First Church, it still applies today in that Jesus is preeminent over every religion including religions within Christianity. Because of Jesus we are all one people; the children of God. Hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. 

Hebrews 3:4-6 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

                Another way of adding emphasis to the superiority of Jesus over Moses is found in verse four. Houses are not nature built. True there are caves and for years man liven in them, but a house is something created and built over time. To build a house takes a commanding knowledge of all of the aspects that go into its construction. Just knowing what a house is supposed to look like and how it is to function is a small thing compared to building a house. John 1:3 states that all things were created through Jesus and in understanding this concept is foundation to understand that verse 4 is telling us that even though Moses was a great man of God, even he was created through Jesus. 

                Moses was a faithful servant in that he kept the very house that was committed to him by God, but he was not the builder, just the ordained keeper. Today when we meet a man that has built his own home we tend to give him praise and rightly so as it was no small feat, we give him more praise than just a home owner purchasing their new home. Verse six clearly states that Jesus was such a Man in that He created us as His house, as well as, He is the keeper of us. Notice the last half of verse 6 has an “if” in it. When we let go of the fullness of Jesus and His New Covenant and grasp onto the laws of the Old Testament or the rules of man’s denominations in effort to gain righteousness, we are in essence pulling ourselves out of the very house we want to be a part of. We must hold fast with confidence and rejoice in our salvation through the blood of Jesus in effort to remain in His house.

                Even though Hebrews was written for Jewish Christians back in the 1st century church, it still applies today. I believe even more so since there are so many denominations and variations even with in some denominations. All of these different Christian religions are chocked full of ritual, rules, regulations, and actions all of which are man’s requirements to be a good member of that denomination. Satan’s only power is through his deception and casting doubt and getting us to enter into agreement with him. Anytime he can get our eyes off of Jesus he has a little victory against God and it is at our expense. Satan knows he will never win over God and can’t stand the fact that we have won over him through the blood of Jesus.  He is no different than the cowardly bank robber that knows he is not powerful enough to over through the bank guards, but if he can get his hands on the weakest hostage he has some control over the most powerful guard. When we look to man’s doctrines as means of righteousness, (don’t look, don’t touch, don’t listen, etc) or stay focused on the sin nature of man, or lean on the laws and regulations from the Old Testament we are actually broadcasting to Satan, “here we are the weakest one to take hostage”. Stop being his hostage! Pick up the word of God and make it your own. (MAJOR NOTE: The entire gospel is scriptural, but not all scripture is gospel. Put on the whole armor of God as described in Ephesians 6 and get into the battle. Jesus is the captain of the army of God and tells us of the battle in Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force”. 

 The death of Jesus tore down the veil of separation between man and God, but it also tore down the veil of separation between brothers in Christ be it Jews or Gentiles. We should love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of the denomination we choose to worship in.

Hebrews 3:13-14 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

                These two verses are pivotal points for a Christians walk, the first is straight forward, but sometimes hard to do and the second often becomes misunderstood and is used by the Devil to keep people stuck in works for salvation. Christians need to remember that we are sojourners here on earth, 1 Peter 2:9-11. As such we need to consider the difficulties of living in a foreign land with different morays, customs, and even language. If you notice how people from other countries tend to gravitate to areas in the US or areas within a city where other people like themselves are already living; you will see verse 13 in living action. There is much comfort in community especially when trying to rebuild a life in a foreign land. Christians are not much different than foreigners. Sure we speak the same language after we become born again, but we begin to use it in a different manner. Instead of taking God’s name in vane we say “praise God”, instead of “I am catching a cold”, we should be saying “I am not receiving this cold from the enemy”.  Instead of saying “These colds seem to hang on forever”, we can learn from others how to begin saying “by His stripes I am healed from this cold”. See the difference; you are still using the same basic language, just using it differently. 1 Peter 5:5 tells us “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

I have heard some pastors and even elders use the first half of this verse to hold people, under them in a humbled state, but that is not what Peter is talking about. We are to be submissive to one another, all alike. To be submissive is not to be a slave to a person’s every wish, but Peter is telling us to have a servant’s heart toward each other and to show a special reverence to your brother or sister in the Lord. To exhort a person you are lifting them up and it is always easier naturally to get your center of gravity under that of the person you are trying to lift instead of towering offer the top of them and just using your arm strength to pull them up. The same principle applies in the spiritual in that when you exhort someone you are attempting to support them to the next level through Godly lifting. There was an insurance TV add the showed random acts of kindness and the effects it has on the recipients lives. Being kind is easy, but once you try to openly encourage someone you may not know well in the name of Jesus, you will find that more difficult. The reason is you are using a new language, a Godly language and it needs to be exercised. I guarantee you that if you change your communication patterns to people around you and begin practicing your new Godly way of communication, especially with likeminded believers; you will find yourself in fewer battles with your sinful flesh. Jesus told us that in Matthew 15:11 that it is what comes out of a man that defiles a man; flip that verse around and you will see that if Godly communication comes out of a man so will Godly actions.

                There should be no doubt that we have become partakers with Christ when we become born again and almost everyone that has a true touch from God will say this. There is often a difference in enthusiasm between a new believer and one that has been born again for a long time. A new believer feels they can conquer the world and many “old” believers act like the world is on their shoulders. Our walk with Jesus should be just the opposite. The more faith you exercise the spiritually stronger you will be. It is not the sin that pulls us down because all of our sin has been forgiven. Verse 14 and Hebrews 3:6 are encouraging the continuance of faith for our salvation. It is not our sin after we become born again that will cost us our salvation, if that were the case the best thing that could happen to a brand new convert would be to drop dead right where they stand once they make their confession for Jesus. James 2:10 tells us that if we fail even in one point of the law we are guilty of ALL of the law, so sin is not what will defeat us, it is unbelief and doubt.

Moses lead several million Jews out of Egypt and performed numerous signs during the process, but only two men from the original men that came out of Egypt made it to the promise land. There were only three people that believed God would do what He said He would do. Moses believed God would deliver them into the promise land full of giants, but he did not believe that only speaking to the rock the second time in the wilderness would produce water. Since he struck the rock the first time and it worked as God said, he struck it the second time in disbelief and it cost him the ability to enter in. Sin can and will harden your heart and the hardening of your heart can cause you to denounce your salvation, but the sin in itself will not keep you out of heaven. In fact only a mature Christian can denounce their salvation because you have to fully understand what you have to throw it away. You can’t throw away what you do not own. Hebrews 6:4-6 is describing a mature Christian that denounces their salvation and once that is done there is no other means for salvation. A baby does not know they have even messed in their diaper and once you get older you can still have an accident, but to make a conscience decision without some kind of external force to soil your britches is a person that has lost their mind. Sin left unchecked will cause even a mature Christian to lose their mind, the mind of Christ, that Paul tells us we have in 1 Corinthians 2:16.

                A person will strengthen their faith and their walk through exhortation of others in Christ. In doing so you will be stirring up in your spirit, what Jesus has done for you, Philippians 4:8. Anytime we ignore a sin in our life it can cause a hardening of our heart, but unbelief in what God has said He did on the cross through His Son Jesus is spiritual suicide. Falling into works through following man’s rules; over living in grace is the same as unbelief. 

 Even when Paul was in prison for sharing his love for the gospel, instead of dwelling in self-pity he chose to seek the wellbeing of others. Instead of begging for their prayers and support, he chose to comfort their concerns for him instead. This is a true example of putting others before yourself. 

Philippians 2:23-28 “23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. 25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.”

                We must remember that Paul was a prisoner in Rome at this time.  He had every right as a typical man to be down on life as he was a Roman by birth and Romans were never to be put in jail.  He had to be considered an enemy of Rome to be where he was, and in Philippians 3:7-8 we read that Paul counted everything he had as a Roman citizen as loss for the gain of Christ.  This is important to remember since he is writing this letter while in prison.  Paul was facing his sentencing which could be death or life in prison and wanted moral support from Timothy at this time in his life.  This is another reference to the character of Timothy in that Paul, who had been in prison before, sought the comfort of his fellow worker Timothy at this time in his life.  It was not the fleshly comfort we might consider today, but the spiritual strength Timothy had and was willing to stand with Paul at this time of need.  Fellowship is extremely important as you will go through trials in your life and to have not only a friend, but one who you know has a proven Godly character to stand with you at your darkest hour.  We also read in verse 24 that Paul held on to the hope of the Lord making a way for his release.  Paul, just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3), knew His God could deliver him from death but even if the Lord did not deliver him from death, Jesus was still his Lord.

                Epaphroditus, which means “lovely”, was obviously more than just the messenger from the Philippians to Paul.  True he brought financial support that Paul needed, but also stayed and tended to the personal needs of Paul as well as served with Paul in the spreading of the gospel.  It is apparent that Epaphroditus’ demeanor matched the meaning of his name in that Paul would have had great personal sorrow had he died while in service for the Lord. Once again remember that it is Paul who is in prison facing death and yet he is concerned for the hearts of the Philippians knowing they were saddened at the possible loss of their brother in the Lord, Epaphroditus.  Even though Epaphroditus could have stayed and continued with his chosen labor with Paul, it brought Paul joy to send him back home to his beloved brethren in Philippi.  How often do we see Christians today who are willing to do what is right and beneficial to another, even to their own hurt?  This all points back to the living the second commandment, you should love your neighbor as yourself. 

 I have heard some religious zealots try to twist the scripture regarding “beware of dogs” as proof that man places too much affection on his pets. This is just simply not true. When you look at Philippians 3:2-3 it is clear that Paul is warning them and us to stay away from the religious. Those people who promote the Law of Moses, or by today’s standards their choice of denomination, as supreme over faith in Jesus’ perfect work on the cross.  

Philippians 3:2-3 “2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,”

                No one is 100%  sure what Paul is referencing to in verse 2 when he starts out “beware of dogs”, however by looking at its past uses in the bible and coupling it with the truth of the gospel we can come to a solid conclusion.  It is interesting to note that the term “dogs” is a disparaging remark used by the children of Israel when they referred to the Gentiles (Matthew 15:27, Mark 2:27).  This term “dog” was a reference to an unholy or non-Jewish person.  My thought is that Paul is turning the tables on the Pharisees and anyone else that is hanging on to the works of the law including circumcision as the means of gaining righteousness with God.  Jesus Himself even warned us about these people in Matthew 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves”.  It is clear that our salvation is through faith and anyone holding on to their work or promoting any form of law over the blood of Jesus for redemption will not inter into heaven, Revelations 22:15.  Because Paul ties in the term “dogs” with evil workers and mentions the mutilation he must be referring to the Jews that were trying to keep others in bondage and under the Law. Christians need to understand how important it is to stay away from any form of legalism.  Three books of the gospels, Matthew 16:6, Mark 8:15, & Luke 12:1 record Jesus as warning His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees.  In Mark 8:15 “and Herod” was included indicating that it was not just the Pharisees that had bad doctrine, but also the world.  Paul’s warning to the Corinthians and Galatians was that even a little leaven “legalism” leavens the whole lump.  Legalism was the main issue Paul had with the Galatians.  Anytime anyone perverts the gospel by adding a rule or an action that “must” be done to gain salvation, repentance, or to maintain righteousness (which is actually being in “right standing with God”), they are counting the blood of Jesus as worthless.  A person trying to live in legalism and the gospel of Christ together would biblically be considered unstable in all of their ways.  My suggestion when you cross paths with such a person is to gently point them into the truth of the gospel.  If this person happens to be a pastor or some form of church leader, run from such a person as they cannot be trusted in their doctrine even if they say good things that may help or often line up with the word of God.  According to the word of God, even a little legalism leavens, makes worthless, the whole lump.  A person that mixes rules or legalisms with the gospel would be considered an evil worker as their doctrine would actually be contrary to the truth of the gospel.  Even the word of God taken out of context and used contrary to what the gospel is, is a lie from the devil.  Remember that Satan used this trick in the wilderness when tempting Jesus, all three temptations were truths taken from the word of God and twisted out of context.  The mutilation spoken of here is a reference to the physical circumcision of a male in effort to somehow become righteous.

                Verse 3 is the awesome truth of the gospel and a complete answer to any attempt to add works, rules, or legalisms in a person’s life in effort to be righteous.  The actual act of circumcision was a sign of separation unto a life of holiness and started back with Abraham.  Anyone that calls on the name of Jesus for their salvation is actually “separated” unto God from the rest of the world.  It is our faith in the blood of Jesus shed for our sins that spiritually circumcise us from the world.  Therefore Paul tells us that we, “Christians” are the true circumcision, but it is in the spirit and not in an action that we are circumcised.  Romans 2:29 says, “but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God”.  God is Spirit and we can only worship Him in spirit not by actions.  Don’t misunderstand what I am saying; we must be responsible for our actions and abstain from sin.  Romans 6:1-23 addresses our sinful nature along with a life in grace and is very clear that if we are born under grace and have died to sin that we should no longer live in it. The point made in verse 3 is that we no longer have to focus on abstaining from sin in order to draw close to God or be in His righteousness, nor do we live a life of works and actions in effort to be holy in our natural bodies; the blood of Christ has made that possible.  It is BECAUSE we are believers in Jesus Christ for salvation that we should not live in sin and not the sinless life itself that is of any worth.  We therefore, can truly only worship God in the spirit, we must rejoice in Christ Jesus, and can NEVER have any confidence in our actions as a means to obtain righteousness.