We Use How He

God uses us sinners because we use how He freed us from destructive sin to encourage others to join His family Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

Consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest

The keynote to the Epistle to the Hebrews is “consider Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Messiah.”  It admonishes us to set our heart on Him. “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1).

The word “consider” (katanoeo) literally means, “to direct one’s whole mind to an object,” to immerse oneself in it and hence to apprehend it in its whole compass” (TDNT).

In order to grow spiritually, we must fix our mind on Christ.  It is imperative that we consider carefully and understand fully the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The word “consider” is formed from the root of the Latin word for “star” and originally means to contemplate with the idea of a quiet, patient, persevering concentrated gazing in order to study the stars.

The writer of Hebrews admonishes his readers to gaze upon Jesus and contemplate Him, therefore increasing our knowledge, devotion, and faith in Him. What does he wish for us to “consider?”

He wants us to see the significance and thoroughly weigh the evidence of Christ’s superiority over the prophets, angels, and the patriarchs of Israel.  Because of the greatness of His person, the effectiveness of His redemptive work will be pleasing to God the Father.

The writer of Hebrews is addressing Christians calling them “holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling” (v.1).

Believers in Jesus Christ are saints. We are “holy brethren” in our standing with God because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are holy in Christ. It is Jesus who makes us holy. The word “holy” in this verse is emphasizing our position in salvation.  We have been “set apart for God.”  Christian believers are saints, set apart ones.  Sainthood does not take place in some distant future.  The believer is already a saint because He is “in Christ.”  This perfect standing with God should be the greatest incentive to make every effort to live a godly life before Him (Phil. 3:14).

He has made a perfect propitiation for the sins of His people (1 John 2:21; 4:10).  The believer is holy because God has made him so (Heb. 2:11).  We “share in the heavenly calling” because God “is bringing “us” to glory” (2:10).  We share in Jesus Christ (Heb.3: 14; Eph. 5:30).  We are “partakers of a heavenly calling” (Heb. 4:14; 10:23). 

 “The call comes from heaven and is to heaven in its appeal,” says A. T. Robertson.

Jesus Christ is both “The Apostle and High Priest” of Christians.

Jesus is “The Apostle” because He was sent by God the Father to be His spokesman and revealer (Heb. 1:1-3; Jn. 3:17, 34; 5:36, 38; 6:29; 8:42; 10:36; 11:42; 13:3; Matt. 17:5; Deut. 18:15, 18).  Because He is God’s ambassador, we need to consider carefully and fully understand what He has revealed to us about a right relationship with God.

Jesus is also our great High Priest (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14).  He represents God before men and man before a holy God.  “As an apostle, He is close to me; as Priest, He is close to God.”  “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2Cor. 5:19).

Christianity is Christ.  Therefore it behooves us to contemplate and meditate on Him.  Lord Jesus, will I see you today?

The Lord is not ashamed to call us His brethren (Heb. 2: 12).  May we never be afraid or embarrassed to call Him our Lord and Master (Matt. 10:32-33).

God has done something marvelous for sinners. Because of our vital union with Christ, He has imputed to us His righteousness.  We are partakers of the heavenly calling.  “What He has, we have.  Where He is, we are.  He is the Holy One of God; therefore, we are holy. He has been made higher than the heavens; therefore, we are partakers of the heavenly calling.”

No passing glance of Christ will do. Understand and learn the lesson that God wants to teach you.  “Consider attentively and thoughtfully the Apostle and High Priest of our confession Jesus” (Wuest Expanded Translation).Selah!

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006

Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s written consent.

It Just Blooms.

“A flower does not think about competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” Unknown

How Do We Wait?

• Prayerfully Psalm 25:4-5
• With strength and courage Psalm 27:14, 31:24
• Rejoicing and trusting in His holy name Psalm 33:21
• Based on the fear of the Lord and His unfailing love Psalm 33:18,22
• With hope Psalm 33:20, 39:7
• Patiently Psalm 37:7, 40:1; Habakkuk 3:16, Romans 8:25, Hebrews 6:15
• Obediently Psalm 37:34, 119:166; Isaiah 26:8-9
• Desiring Him Isaiah 26:8-9
• Single-mindedly Psalm 62:5
• Expectantly Psalm 123:2, Micah 7:7
• Believing His Word Psalm 130:5
• Assured He is all we need, He is our portion Lamentations 3:24
• Quietly Lamentations 3:26
• Always Hosea 12:6
• In anticipation of joy John 3:29
• Eagerly Romans 8:19,23

Not Bond it Together

Denominations split the church Peter built apart not bond it together Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

Saves the Expense Of

Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits. Hannah More

The Church of Christ

All of us who are trusting in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior are members of the true church of Christ. We are members of His body. We have experienced the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His grace. “We are accepted in the Beloved,” and we are “redeemed through His blood.”

The moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ we are born again, and at the same time placed in the body of Christ in a vital union with Him. The essence of saving faith is to rest upon Christ alone for eternal salvation. We trust in the atonement and the righteousness of Jesus Christ to save us. Saving faith is to trust in Jesus Christ and what He has done for your salvation.

Our justification is an instantaneous act from the moment we believed on Christ as our Savior.  Justification is completed in one instant never to be repeated. It is complete the moment a sinner believes on the atoning death of Jesus Christ. In that moment is the remission of all our sins. In that moment we are made clean by the blood of Jesus.

What a gracious joy to know that in one single instant we are declared just, complete in Christ, without a sin, freed from all its condemning power, guilt and iniquity. In an instant a person is pardoned. Never again will the Christian ever be unjustified! “There is therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

From the Day of Pentecost on as each believer became saved he also became a member of the body of Christ. It is impossible to be saved and not be a member of the church, which is Christ’s own body, because a part of the divine work of salvation is the uniting of the individual to Christ by the baptism with the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).

Every Christian is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ at the moment he or she believes on Jesus Christ to be saved. We are by the Holy Spirit brought into the body of Christ. This baptism into the body of Christ is not limited to any particular group of believers. Every Christian, from the moment he believes in Christ and is saved is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ and therefore the universal church of Christ. The church of all the people of God, all the redeemed, all believers is the real and only Church of Christ.

Are you a member of the true church of Christ? Are you a member of His body? Have you been saved by the grace of God alone through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ?

It is obviously true that an individual may be saved and not be a member of a local organized church. All born again believers should declare their identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus by believer’s baptism, and become a member in a Bible-believing congregation.

Moreover, water baptism and church membership are not required for salvation. The true church of Christ is composed of all people who have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and who are thus joined together in one living union by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Does an individual have to be baptized in order to be saved? Yes, if you are referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit when you believed on Christ as your Savior; however no, if you are referring to water baptism.

The New Testament refers to the “church” in two ways. The main emphasis is on the church as a living organism, a vital living union of all true believers in Jesus Christ.

The second category is the local church, which is composed of professing Christians in any local community (1 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:1; Phil. 1:1).

The only candidates for membership in a visible local Bible-believing church are individuals who have put their faith in the work of salvation of Jesus Christ, and have given testimony of their salvation by water baptism.

Every person who is a candidate for baptism and church membership must give a clear testimony as to their salvation. Am I saved? Have I believed in Jesus Christ? Have I been born again? Church membership is simply the recognition of the profession of saving faith in Jesus Christ. It is to join the fellowship of other believers of kindred spirit.

You do not have to be a member of the local Church of Christ, or be baptized by one of their officials in order to be saved.

If you are looking for a perfect church, you will not find one on this earth. If you did find one, they would not let you become a member because you are not perfect. However, do find a local group of believers in the area where you live who are saved by grace through faith, and who are nearest to the Scriptures in doctrine, the ordinances of the church and practice. Become a member of the local church regardless of what tag their wear.

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006 Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s written consent.

I Say Our

I say our lives are the greatest testimony for Christ. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

Breaks the Bridge Over Which

“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass!” — Scott Nicholson

The Further Away We Get From

The further away we get from prayer, the further away we get from Jehovah. Joseph- Anthony: Green