Hebrews 9, part 2

Last week we considered the first section of chapter 9. This week, we will pick up where we left off. Jesus' sacrifice of Himself for us is the pivotal doctrine of salvation. No other religion teaches anything like it; contrariwise, man is always called upon to sacrifice himself or offer something else in order to please his god. That God Almighty, the Perfect and Holy One, would condescend to come and not only take away our sin, but bear the punishment in Himself; coming to dwell with us and live among us. Jesus is truly a faithful high priest!

Hebrews 8

This Sunday our text leads us into the specific ministry of Jesus as our High Priest bringing in a new covenant for our relationship with God. The old covenant is the law, most well-known in the Ten Commandments.

The old covenant is base on a mutual agreement of man's obedience and God's fulfillment of His promises once the obedience is completed. The new covenant is based completely on the work of Jesus in perfectly satisfying the full requirements of the law of God.

Our sins are removed and we find that the law is no longer a requirement without but a desire put within the heart by God Himself. This is good news!

Hebrews 7, part 2

As we began considering the subject of Jesus as our High Priest last week, this Sunday we will enter more fully into the details of how it all works out, according to the law of God given in the Old Testament.

Since most of us are not of Jewish background, it may seem that these things are a foreign concept; however, these are powerful truths about our relationship with God. We couldn't even be part of His salvation if Jesus hadn't come to do all these very specific things, down to the last detail, meeting and fulfilling every point in the law.

We never have to worry about a change of who represents us in heaven. Jesus is our once and forever advocate before God, the assurance that can give rest to our souls.

Hebrews 7, part 1

This week we are covering the topic of Jesus as our High Priest. Since it is such a vast subject, however, we will be taking more than one week to work through the passage.

Certainly the covenant of God between Himself and His people Israel was centred around the priesthood and the offering of sacrifices at the temple. Further, most world religions have a priesthood of some kind; some person or persons who are the mediators and deliverers of their teaching and the pardon of their deity.

But what does this mean for us? Do we need priests today? The seventh chapter of Hebrews provides a thorough examination of this question.

Hebrews 6, part 2

This Sunday we will be finishing chapter 6 of Hebrews. This section covers the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God in keeping His promises. As stated by the writer in verse 18, "it is impossible for God to lie". What an amazing comfort and hope this provides for the Christian! We have what no other religion on earth offers: the sure blessing of God.

Guest Teacher this Weekend

This Sunday we are blessed to have guests visiting us from Southern California. Pastor Louie Monteith and his wife Cheryl oversee a ministry within Calvary Chapel that facilitates missionary work, and they have come all the long way up to Edmonton to be with us.

Pastor Louie will be teaching from Ezekiel 47:1-5 with a message titled "Go Deeper". We know that you will be encouraged and challenged to continue growing in your relationship with the Lord as we spend time in His Word meditating on this subject. And then join us for a potluck afterward!

Hebrews 3

Strong warnings and exhortation here for us. We have the witness of those in the past, recorded in the journeys of God's people, that we cannot neglect the work of salvation that God has wrought for us. The overarching message of the book of Hebrews is to keep Jesus front and centre in our lives. After all, if we drift away from Him, can we really say that we are his followers or that He is our Lord? Today is the day that we need to focus on our relationship with Him, and every day that is called "today".