Thursday, November 9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people, and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." (Hebrews 9:27,28)

The Book of Hebrews consistently exposes the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, showing that He is superior to the angels and Moses.  While God had revealed the sacrificial system to Moses, its very existence pointed to the need for a more complete sacrifice.  The blood of sheep, goats, and bulls only provided a temporary atonement; God Himself would ultimately deliver salvation — by faith.  We understand from the Old Testament that God credited faith as righteousness.  But where did those faithful people place their trust?

From Hebrews, we understand that those living by faith looked forward to what we have now reached for us:  that, in Christ, God would bring fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.  They placed their hope in God's provision; when they did, they entered into the rest of knowing God and coming into His Promised Land.  Many doubted and failed to enter that rest that He had provided.

In this portion of Hebrews, the author emphasizes the "once-for-all" sacrifice that God offered through Jesus.  Rejecting that sacrifice means rejecting God's plan.  We see that "once-for-all" means that salvation rests on God's faithfulness and all-sufficient grace, not on man's weakness.  It guarantees true freedom and rest.  Praise God!

Lord God, thank You for bringing real freedom and rest to us.  Help us to become more grateful and more rooted in our faith.  Strengthen us to reflect more of Your character in our lives.  Give us confidence in Your all-sufficient grace.  In Jesus's Name, amen.