God Offers So Much

in this, the love of God is revealed in us because God sent his only Son to the extent of the world so that we live through him (1 John 4:9)

We see in the new testament a contrast between the old covenants. The old said, do these things and you will live. If you lived by the commandments you would be blessed earthly. Do these and you will reap a harvest (Leviticus 26). In the new covenant, God offers man so much.

There were offerings that were said to be "food offerings" to God like the burnt offering, grain offering, and peace offering (Leviticus 1:17; Leviticus 2:16: Leviticus 3:16). There were sin offerings (unintentional sin) that were made for atonement of sin and parts could be eaten by the priests that would be on top of the food offering (Leviticus 4:32-35). Guilt offerings were an atonement for guilty sins (Leviticus 5:17-19). There was also an ordination offering for the priests, so they would serve before God and not die.

The priest received a portion of the food offering to God, they would eat themselves and since this offering before God was holy, by their consumption they were made holy. (Leviticus 7:5-6; Leviticus 6:16-18). There were many things they had to do so that the offering went up as a sweet-smelling aroma to God. These were sacrifice and food offerings to a Holy God and their purpose was so that there would be atonement and appeasement of God's wrath toward sin. He could not dwell in their presence without these. In the new, we see a better covenant whereby we can draw near to God.

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2)

This mystery that was hidden in God from the beginning is being manifested to us in Christ, this which God eternally purposed in Christ. Man in the old made atonement for sin and offered sacrifices that would appease God each year. He offered food offerings to God. In the new God, a sacrifice was made once and for all and God offers us food, he doesn't want "food offerings" but offers food to us, food that lasts forever.

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

In the new Jesus, the Son of Man was the spotless Lamb of God that would take away the sin of the world. Once and for all he was a propitiation, appeasing God's wrath toward sin. This offering came not from a guilty man but from the Son of Man who was also God. Jesus sacrificed his life so that we may receive atonement for sin, eternally, and that we might live through him.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him, God the Father has set his seal (John 6:27)

In the old covenant man offered to God sin, guilt, peace, food, and incense offerings, to be an atonement for sin and a sweet-smelling aroma to God. In the new covenant, God offers us so much. Let us remember the new covenant is in his blood, Jesus died to bring it into being. In which God offers forgiveness of sin and food to man which endures unto eternal life. Moses gave the people manna from heaven but this food only met their earthly needs. Jesus offers food that is much greater.

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35).

Oh, that we know that God offers so much in a new covenant. We can boldly approach his throne of grace because of what God offered and the sacrifice he made (Hebrews 4:16-17). Let us not go back to the old which are no longer acceptable sacrifices and offerings to God. Let us worship and sacrifice what is pleasing to God. Let us eat from the portion of the living bread that God offers, eat and drink from real food, that which makes us holy, which is freely offered to man which money can not buy.

"So Jesus also suffered outside the city. He died to make his people holy with his own blood. So we should go to Jesus outside the camp and accept the same shame that he had. Here on earth, we don’t have a city that lasts forever. But we are waiting for the city that we will have in the future. So through Jesus we should never stop offering our sacrifice to God. That sacrifice is our praise, coming from lips that speak his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with others, because sacrifices like these are very pleasing to God" (Hebrews 13:10-16).

The Crucible

" The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies ." 1 He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. The definition of zeal is great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. It is this time, to arouse zeal, shout, raise a war cry! As Paul writes, " In diligence not lagging in spirit being fervent serving the Lord ." 2 Our energy comes in the bond of brotherhood, formed in the crucible of combat. A crucible is place of severe test or trial, it is derived from Latin crucibulum ("night-lamp, metallurgic melting-pot"), and is a derivative of crux ("cross"). 3 The Bible speaks of the crucible of the cross for Jesus and for those who follow Him. The purpose of a soldier is two-fold; to accomplish the mission and to care for one another, as commanded. Each soldier has a role to play on a team. Without knowin...

One Grace

" moreover, One, to each of us has been given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ ." 1 Grace is a founding principle of Christianity. It is by Grace we grow into the fullness of Christ through faith; " to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. " 2 Without Grace we will never reach this fullness. The weakness in the Law was it attempted to do it in the flesh, and people failed over and over, so God in His infinite wisdom, unveiled this mystery, through faith in Christ we have grace to boldly approach His throne of Grace, to receive grace and mercy as needed! This gift of Grace is properly understood by examining this verse in three parts; moreover, One Grace, to each of us has been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ . First, we understand, One grace, it is easy to miss the One, and this verse is translated in different ways, I believe it says One Grace and i...

Truth All Around You

Stand then girding your loins in truth and putting on the breastplate of righteousness. * How can a soldier stand in battle if he has not been prepared, trained? How can a house stand if it has been built on sand? How can we stand against spiritual forces if we have not been prepared? Our battle is not against flesh and blood so in regards to such, what good is armor to a child or how can one stained with dirty clothes stand with a defiled conscious? To stand one must be prepared, be his workmanship, someone prepared beforehand to do battle. For this purpose you begin girding your loins in truth, putting on truth, wrapping truth all around you. ... girding your loins in truth... * The word girding is perizōnnymi (from peri "about, around" and zōnnymi "put on") meaning around about put on. Often gird your loins with truth is translated as putting on a belt. Surely we can say truth holds on the garments and confidence in truth is important in standing. I like th...

Word Of Life

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. " 1 Jesus is the Word, He was in the beginning with God. 2 All things were made through Him. He is the Word and Light of men, the way, the path, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 4 Thus we can say as the Psalmist, Jesus, the Word, is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. 5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 6 Concerning the Word of Life, " the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life ," Proclaimed, that our joy may be complete, a glory like that in the beginning, fellowship with the Father, with one another, and with his Son Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot...

Those He Calls He Equips

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21 When God calls us he equips us, the God of Peace, the one who brought us from the dead by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, will equip you so to do his will. So in this concept of being equipped, we see the calling being irrevocable. "For it is God who works in you to Will and to act on behalf of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 God called you, he's working in you equipping you to work on behalf of his good pleasure. "So that the man of God may be complete fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17 . In Hebrews 12 we read God disciplines those he loves, so that we share in his holy character, as the scriptures...

Hypocrisy and Self-righteousness

“ Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you ” Matthew 7:1–2 In Mathew 7 Jesus is speaking out against hypocrisy, he coins the term, it is exposed as a very serious sin. Because of their hypocrisy these religious leaders were leading his people astray. Today it is the same, it is a top reason why people do not attend a church. Of course we blame the sinner and hear cute little sayings like, come join us you will fit right in... which makes light of the situation. On a more serious note, Jesus gives seven woes to the Pharisees, he even warns them of hell fire and damnation, for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Hypocrisy is basically pretending to be something you are not, it is not to be confused with our imperfection. Our righteousness is found in Christ alone, not in self. Hypocrisy and self righteousness is usually seen by others when we in our own righteousn...

Formed Into The Same Image

because those he foreknew also he predestined, to form to the image of His Son, to the extent He exists the firstborn of many brethren . * The word for form in this verse is σύμμορφος ( symmorphos ) from sym "same, with, or together" and morphos "form or shape." We are being formed, shaped into the same image as Christ. This word has the same root word morphos as in transformed, μεταμορφόω ( metamorphos ) from meta "among, with, after" and morphos "form or shape." Into the same form as Christ we are predestined. Adam was a living soul, but Christ was a life giving Spirit. Adam was formed in the image of God but that image was corrupted. In Christ we are formed a new, so that image is being restored. To be a Christian is more than just doing good works, more than just going to heaven, we are called to be formed into an image after Christ, Christ like. who will transfigure our lowly bodies into the same form as his glorious body, according t...

Feed On Me

"Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me." 1 This "living" Jesus speaks of is eternal or everlasting Life but what does this mean? Is this life an after life in heaven as traditionally taught or something we begin to experience here on earth? We read that Life is in knowing, a personal experience, " this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent ." 2 We receive the Spirit of life when we first believed, but the true disciple of Christ is known by abiding, these have learned that Life is in eating the bread of Life and drinking living water. Life is in Christ, all else has become as rubbish but to know Christ, and the Life he gives, "so also the one who feeds on Me will live." "So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. and you will know the truth, ...

Kiss the Son

Why do the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel, together against Yahweh and against his anointed. Break apart their bands and cast away their cords. He who sits in the heavens laughs, Yahweh scoffs. Then shall he speak unto them with anger, fury, and dismay. I established my King upon Zion, My Holy Hill. I will declare the decree of Yahweh who said, you are my son, you I have this day begotten. Ask concerning, I will establish nations your inheritance Your possession the uttermost parts of the earth. You shall afflict them with a staff of iron on a potter's vessel dashed to pieces. Now, O, kings be wise, be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, because brutish is his wrath. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him. 1

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