039 Sunday, February 8, 2009

039 Leviticus 11 – 12; Hebrews 5.11 – 6.20

Why the diet instructions? Why instructions on health issues? Israel was carrying a very important message. This message was wrapped up in the seed of Abraham. This good news that was to be born was coming through real flesh and blood. This day a savior is born for the salvation of the world; His name is Jesus Christ! The community of faith had to be protected from outside enemies and threats from within, hence the health issues. Once Jesus was born those laws were dismissed because the message had been delivered. Amen! So go eat some pork or shrimp.

Yesterdays reading, in the book of Hebrews, we learned that the promise has to be mixed with faith. It is not good enough to say you know the promises of God--you must believe. Today's reading can and usually does raise the issue of, can a person lose their salvation?
I say no, but this is a difficult passage for that answer. However, the audience that this book was written to helps to clarify. The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers. The name of the book kind of gives that away. The Jews wanted to have it both ways, in that of worshiping Jesus the once and forever crucified one, and then run back to the Temple and do the sacrifices of the O.T.. The book of Hebrews is calling those people to accountability. You can not have it both ways. Jesus is Lord and the high priest of heaven who has, once and for all, taken our sins away. The author of this book is warning them there is no third way. There is only one way and that is through Jesus even if those sacrifices were once sanctioned by God, they have been done away with now! Do you believe?

I will ask you, do you believe? Do you believe your debt has been paid in full and there is not one thing you can add to get God to accept you any more than he already has? Freedom is another way to spell salvation. Wait a minute, I am asking you… do you believe that you can't be anymore acceptable to God than the minute you said ‘yes’ to Christ's free gift of eternal life? What a wonderful message God protected through out the ages for us to hear.