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Hebrews 4:12-16: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (ESV – all emphasis is mine.)
Just a couple of notes here: our Heavenly Father did not have to send a most precious part of Himself to this earth to give all of us sinners a pathway to Heaven – but He did!
Our Jesus could have refused to become lower than the angels for a time (Hebrews 2:7 & 9) so that He could face crucifixion as the only pure, sinless blood sacrifice that the Father could accept – but He didn’t!
In John 10:9-11: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
God designated Abraham that, through him, his offspring would be God’s chosen, blessed people. Genesis 12:3 still stands today, as the Father has no time restraints on His promises. “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you, I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Jesus followed this up in John 10:14-16: “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, One Shepherd.”
Jesus came to provide a pathway to eternity with Him for God’s chosen people, and with His “other sheep” statement, He included every single human on Earth. All who truly receive and accept Jesus as their Eternal Savior will be saved, Jew or Gentile (Romans 10:9-13).
Likewise, all who reject the Savior, Jew or Gentile, will end up at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15, and will spend eternity in the lake of fire with Satan and his demons (fallen angels). There are no pardons or suspended sentences at this Judgment.
These are the only two pathways that are available, no matter what any false prophet or antichrist may try to tell you. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is breathed out by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul warns us: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having “itching ears” they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Do we have any of this going on today? How about 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”
Looking at 1 Corinthians 1:25: “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” True foolishness belongs to those who believe they can outwit the Heavenly Farther. And yes, there are those being influenced today by Satan who convinces them they can do this. Satan’s favorite line from Genesis 3, “Did God Really Say?” is still effective for those who reject our triune Godhead.
A wonderful thing about our Heavenly Father is His grace and mercy toward all who truly have Jesus as our eternal Savior. He knows that we are fallible humans and have a nature that we will sin. His response to us who call out and confess and ask forgiveness is found in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
All of our Hope is in Jesus, which is the title of a song by David Wallace Crowder in 2016. Consider the words of these verses.
1.) I’ve been held by the Savior; I’ve felt fire from above. I’ve been down to the river; I ain’t the same, a prodigal returned.
Ref.) All my hope is in Jesus; Thank God my yesterday’s gone. All my sins are forgiven, and I’ve been washed by the blood.
2.) I’m no stranger to the prison; I’ve worn shackles and chains. But I’ve been freed and forgiven; I’m not going back; I’ll never be the same. That’s why I sing…(Ref)
3.) And there’s a kind of thing that just breaks a man, breaks him down to his knees. God, I’ve been broken more than a time or two; yes, Lord; then He picked me up and showed me what it means to be a man. Come on and sing…(ref x2)
Our Heavenly Father wants us to “talk” to Him more than any earthly father ever could have. Even though He knows our hearts and minds, He loves for us to just tell Him what concerns we have. “Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Common sense here would tell us that we should not ask for selfish gain and expect it to be given. We do not look for material luxuries, but for the necessities and means to meet those daily needs.
Reading God’s letter to us – the Bible – should be a daily habit. For anyone who has never read God’s word, the Book of John would be a good place to start. Romans would be next, then back to Matthew. From Matthew, read through Revelation 22:21. Finally, go to Genesis 1:1 and read all the way through Revelation. It will take time, of course, but once you are used to reading daily, it flows much easier.
For all who have not called out for Jesus to forgive them and to become a part of His precious flock, today would not be too early to do so. Again, Romans 10:9-13 gives the steps to Salvation. We are not promised tomorrow; to wait could be the biggest mistake you could ever make.
God will force no one either way, and our Savior is available 24 hours a day, every day, to receive our call. Take that step that will lead you to our only Hope for eternal life – Call On Jesus Today!
Shalom!
The post Jesus Is Our Only Hope :: By Dennis Huebshman appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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