November 9 – Our Promised Eternal Inheritance

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”  Hebrews 9:15 (ESV).

The practice of offering a sacrifice to cover for our sins is not an obligation for those adopted by God. Through our faith in Jesus, God’s wonderful provision was made once by Jesus and is for all who belong to His family.  Our Bible verse today reminds us of this provision. God has also  promised that Jesus will be our go between, our arbitrator before God. Jesus is our perfect mediator. There’s also a promised inheritance for us who belong to His family. Normally inheritances are planned in advance and there is a document to specify what it will be.  Well, that is the case with the promise we are considering here. This inheritance, is our salvation in its fullness, nothing lacking. God’s promise is the ‘document’ which seals forever our eternal inheritance.  It will never run out, never decay, and never be taken away from us.  It is an inheritance more precious than we are able to imagine.  Friends, if you have believed in Jesus, you are God's child.  You are free from any condemnation and He is preparing to bring you to heaven where you will forever enjoy what our verse tells us about. 

 

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February 26 – Served Or Served

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45 (NASB)

It has always been that some served, some were served, but the ones served never really served others. It was not that long ago while not necessarily a career goal, a life in “service” might have been one’s only option.  Choosing one’s own way in life has not always been possible. The homes of the wealthy and even middle class with the means, had a servant or two. But Jesus Christ, the Son of Man who is our creator, our sovereign God, did not come to earth as a man to be served by others even though it would be appropriate. He came to do the serving. Throughout his 3 years of public ministry he taught his disciples and preached that service to others is our calling. As humans we find serving others very difficult and we prefer our own personal servants. By example, the ultimate service performed by Christ was to die and a cross carrying the sins of all the world in order to pay the penalty of our sins. By his service, he made us free from being servants to sin and death and we were made servants to Christ to proclaim His name.

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January 29 – There is But One

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NASB)

Have you ever needed someone to stand up for you or stand between you and another who has reason to hold your behavior or actions accountable? Some of us have had mediators plead our case for us. We hope our mediators are good at their job and can persuade the judge to decide in our favor. The Judge in our verse today is God our Father and our Mediator is the man Christ Jesus. The Anointed Son of God, Jesus. It is good and reassuring that we are promised here that there is one God. An exact translation is, “For (there is but) one God, and (there is but) one Mediator...” Also the promise that our Mediator, Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all. And all who by faith believe Christ Jesus, will receive eternal life purchased by that ransom. There is not one God for this nation, one for another; one God for slaves and one for free men; one God for rulers, one for subjects; there's but one God for all the race of Adam, the one and only true race. It's wonderful that our Mediator purchased our salvation.

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September 3 – Unquestioned Truth

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.  1 Timothy 2:5-6  (NASB)

On the second journey Paul the Apostle took into Asia Minor, Paul and Silas meet Timothy.  Eventually, Ephesus would become Timothy’s parish to minister after traveling several years with Paul and working with him in the spread of the Gospel.  It may have been from Rome that Paul wrote this letter to Timothy who he calls “my true child in the faith.”  Paul had assigned Timothy to be the teacher of the believers in Ephesus.  In this first letter to Timothy Paul encourages the young pastor  to work wisely fulfilling his responsibilities.  Ephesus, a major city and a center for commerce, challenged the young church and their pastor.  Paul emphasizes important and unquestioned truths or promises of the gospel.  These were a defense against the false religions that were there.  First, there is only one God.  Second there is only one way for men to approach Him—through the Man who was God in the flesh, Christ Jesus. Third, Jesus willingly gave Himself up to die on the cross as a ransom for the human race. This self-sacrifice by Christ Jesus is a clear testimony, offered in God’s proper time. Also all important truths for us today.

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November 9 – Set Free and Promised

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”  Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)

God has made wonderful provision for those who belong to His family by faith in Jesus.  The Bible verse we have today reminds us of this provision.  What is it that God has promised? It is an inheritance for those who belong to His family. We know that inheritances are usually planned in advance and there is usually a document to specify what it will be.  Well, that is the case with the promise we are considering here.  This inheritance in our verse, which is the document, is an eternal inheritance.  It will never run out, never decay, and never be taken away from us.  It is an inheritance more precious than we are able to imagine.  Friends, if you have believed in Jesus, you are God's child.  You are free from any condemnation and He is preparing to bring you to heaven where you will forever enjoy what our verse tells us about.  

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November 9 – Standing For Us and With Us

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)

We are reminded today from this verse how our God has provided for us, far more that we ordinarily aware of. During the times covered by the Old Testament people recognized their need of someone to stand between them and God. That was the foundation of the priests in the temple. Our verse today gives us the confidence that we have someone standing between us and God. Jesus Christ, the Son of God is our mediator. His purpose is to make sure that we come through to enjoy all the eternal blessings of God's family. God has promised an inheritance to all His children and our heavenly brother Jesus Christ is praying to His Father to be sure that we make it and receive that  inheritance. It is a promise and Jesus is securing through his death that promise of our eternal life.